NASHVILLE RADIO SHOW FEATURES CHEF LARA LYN CARTER

A Lively Discussion with Host Suzie Sterling about the New Cookbook

Lara Lyn Carter's Interview With  Suzie Sterling

NASHVILLE-The Nashville Broadcast Radio Network (NBRN.FM) announced the broadcast of Suzie Sterling’s interview with Chef Lara Lyn Carter. The show airs on the highly popular “Tall Timber Antiques Show,” Saturday March 29 at 10 a.m. Central, 11 a.m. Eastern. Don’t live is Nashville? No problem. NBRN.FM is carried throughout the U.S. plus Canada, Afghanistan, South Africa, Germany and many other countries.

Suzie Sterling is a star in her own right, with a successful career ranging from drama, composing, performing and of course as an acclaimed radio host and expert interviewer.

The interview gives listeners the opportunity to learn first hand the inspiration for the new cookbook with wine pairings, Southern Thymes Shared (Pelican Publishing 2014), co-authored by Ms. Carter. During the fascinating session with Liz Sterling, Carter, a TV chef at WALB-TV, shares anecdotes about her original recipes, how food honors her culinary heritage and the meaning and importance of gathering with family and friends at the dinner table.

Frank Spence says the book "is a work of art."

Old and New World wines are paired with Chef Carter’s original recipes. Chef Carter discusses the role of wine including ones from states like North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Texas with Southern cuisine and how bringing these together makes Southern Thymes Shared a truly original work, “a perfect gift for Mother’s Day!”

The interview can be heard live on www.nbrn.fm during the regularly scheduled time and will be available online shortly thereafter for listeners who miss the Saturday broadcast.

Southern Thymes Shared is available everywhere at major bookstores and Amazon.com. Former Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons top executive Frank Spence, a Nashville native, has few peers with his level of knowledge about Southern food. “This wonderful cookbook is not only collectible for the original recipes,” he said recently, “but it stands alone as a truly beautiful work of art when I placed it on my coffee table. Every cook should get a copy of this now.”

SCARLETT AND RHETT RETURN

“Stars Fall On Atlanta”
75 Years of Gone With The Wind

By Doc Lawrence

Georgia Tourism's Kevin Langston and Emily Murray

ATLANTA-The book and movie are timeless. What a young reporter intended to throw away became, thanks to a manuscript rescued from rubbish by her husband, a saga for the ages. This year, Atlanta and all of Georgia celebrates the 75th anniversary of Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell’s story of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. And the timing couldn’t be better. During this Civil War Sesquicentennial year, we recall that in 1864 Atlanta was besieged and destroyed, becoming the launching site for the “March to the Sea.”

For millions of readers and moviegoers, Scarlett and Rhett were never fictional. More than one critic has observed that Ms. O’Hara is forever a metaphor for the South, particularly Atlanta which came back from the ashes to occupy the status as the capital of the New South.

The Margaret Mitchell House, now a popular museum and event center operated by the Atlanta History Center faces fabled Peachtree Street,. Margaret Mitchell’s apartment is on the bottom floor and inside, on a small desk, is the ancient Remington typewriter she used to plunk out her story, word by word.

Margaret Mitchell's Typewriter

Georgia Tourism has a new Travel guide with a cover celebrating the 75th.. The Margaret Mitchell House has a new exhibit, “Stars Fell on Atlanta,” joining in the anniversary festivities, and expectations are for millions more visitors to come to Atlanta and Georgia searching for Tara and Miss Scarlett.

Just in time for all the fun, a new cocktail has emerged. It’s been a long time since the Southern Comfort-based Scarlett O’Hara cocktail was first served. Now, we have a modern cocktail tribute, “Scarlett’s Serenade", created by Atlanta’s gifted Vajra Stratigos of Fifth Restaurant Group. Here’s how to make it:

SCARLETT’S SERENADE
 Ingredients:
1.5 oz Dry Sack Medium Sherry
.5 oz Southern Comfort
.5oz Famous Grouse Scotch
.75 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
4 slices of ripe Georgia peach
.25 oz honey Syrup
Methode:

Scarlett's Serenade

Muddle sliced peaches into a highball glass, add ice. Add liquid ingredients and shake with ice till frosty and cold. Strain into rocks glass over muddled peaches and new ice. 
Atlanta’s legendary first lady is the namesake of a venerable cocktail, the Scarlett O’Hara. Using one of the original cocktail’s ingredients, Southern Comfort, we added Sherry, a favorite of Rhett Butler and a popular drink during Atlanta’s Civil War days, and finished with other ingredients for taste, balance and authenticity.

Chef Lara Lyn Carter In Thomasville Saturday

The Bookshelf Hosts Cookbook Author, TV Celebrity Chef

Chef Lara Lyn Carter

THOMASVILLE, CEORGIA--She’s a familiar, friendly face for fans who enjoy her highly popular show on WALB-TV. Chef Lara Lyn Carter has become the pride and joy of Southern cooks, an unofficial but very real association of kitchen wizards taking the cuisine of the Deep South to a growing national audience yearning for originality. And as viewers of her show will attest, the ebullient and talented chef makes everything herself from available local farm products, honoring the influences of family and friends.

The best news for Chef Carter’s fans is that her new and truly beautiful cookbook is in major bookstores everywhere. Southern Thymes Shared (Pelican Publishing 2104), a hardcover masterpiece is critically praised as a book worthy of a coffee table.  According to a recent review in Southwind Journeys Magazine by North Carolina journalist Lynne Brandon, the book “really should be considered as a wedding or Mother’s Day gift.”

For all those lucky enough to live in or near Thomasville, Chef Lara Lyn Carter makes a special appearance at The Bookshelf in the historic city this Saturday, March 15 beginning at noon. She will talk about her cooking heritage (“vintage South Georgia”), her rise to television stardom and how Southern Thymes Shared became a popular cookbook. Chances are very good, according to sources, that she will have some treats for the audience and sign her cookbook.

A Saturday afternoon at a renowned bookstore in one of America’s must beautiful cities is a great way to welcome in the spring just around the corner. Add in all the possibilities that come from a conversation with Chef Lara Lyn Carter and that urge to go home and prepare a meal with some new twists and turns might just appear.

And there is more than a little wine


Chef Lara Lyn Carter’s appearance in Thomasville is part of a tour to introduce Southern Thymes Shared to audiences. She has recently appeared in Albany, Valdosta and Cordele and will appear next week at the Historic Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia. Other appearances are scheduled throughout the Southeast.

*Full disclosure. Doc Lawrence contributed the wine pairings in Southern Thymes Shared.

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL

Rockin’ With Little Richard

By Doc Lawrence

ATLANTA. It was once a shrine for some of the best music in the western world and home to a restaurant that would put to shame most of the big dining names in today’s South. Atlanta’s Imperial Hotel during the late 50’s and early 60’s was home of the Domino Lounge and Dale’s Cellar, and the city really rocked.

News that the shell of the hotel built in 1911 has been saved and the interior renovated as a downtown historic preservation is reassuring. Too much of our city’s heritage has been destroyed .The Commons at Imperial Hotel will offer 90 units for Atlanta residents in need of permanent supportive housing.

Little Richard Packed The Domino Lounge

This, of course, is a far cry from the halcyon days of rock, rhythm and blues, raucous comedy, burlesque and gourmet dining, all available every evening at the Imperial. Here, I saw Little Richard, Laverne Baker, The Drifters and the pioneer of Southern comedy, Brother Dave Gardner. Who was Gardner? Lewis Grizzard and Ron White were influenced by him and some believe Gardner was funnier.

Dale’s Cellar, the namesake restaurant of Atlanta’s gourmet pioneer Joe Dale (yes, that’s his Dale’s Steak Seasoning on the grocery store shelves) served up steak with no counterpart I’ve found. It was there I was introduced to fine wines, cocktails like the Martini and Old Fashioned and each visit was a prelude to a night of music and comedy next door and the Domino Lounge.

The dance floor was packed between shows as the house band played music encouraging jitterbug to rumba. It was a place for couples and for those who liked an occasional walk on the wild side.

The reasons for the demise of the Imperial are for others to explore. The country became a little darker during the Vietnam war days and the assignations of the 60’s. Social upheaval was commonplace.

The loss of night club entertainment and elegant dining was hardly noticed.



SPRING BASEBALL IN FLORIDA. Join me with "The Boys of Summer."
http://www.mycookingmagazine.com/gourmet-highway-food-wine-and-more-with-the-boys-of-summer/

STONE MOUNTAIN'S MAGNIFICENT ART STATION

"MAKING GOD LAUGH" SOARS

 "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans"
                                                   Woody Allen

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA- It’s the unchallenged headquarters of live theater in this area of metropolitan Atlanta. With the mighty granite sentinel Stone Mountain hovering over, David Thomas’ theatrical company housed in Art Station after so many years continues to present high quality comedy, drama and musicals. The current production, Making God Laugh is a gem of a play and you need to cancel movie plans and get over and behold this before Sunday’s final performance.

Making God Laugh is a touching and heartwarming family comedy that takes place in four holiday scenes at a family home, each ten years apart.  Scene one is Thanksgiving, 1980.  Next is Christmas, 1990, followed by New Year's Eve, 2000 and finally, a family gathering for Easter in 2010.  It begins with two middle-aged parents and three children in their twenties gathered at the family home for the holidays.  Old family rituals are observed, dubious recipes trotted out as old wounds surface.  Near the end, the children are middle age and no one's life has quite gone according to plans. Sound familiar?

Making God Laugh says you can go home again, but is it a good idea? The talented cast features Matt Baum, Ellen McQueen, Benjamin Mitchell, Frank Roberts and Tania Yegelwel.

David Thomas-playwright, artistic director and visionary community leader- has deep roots in Georgia’s arts community beginning as Director of Grants for the Georgia Council for the Arts, the state’s arts agency and a division of the Governor’s Office. He conceived, wrote and directed From My Grandmother’s Grandmother Unto Me, performed at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, which toured the United States and was featured in the Cultural Olympiad of the Winter Olympic Games in Norway.

Art Station is an epicenter of creative energy and boundless vision. The highly popular Cabaret debuted last year and remains one of the top places in the state offering live music by virtuoso musicians like Janet Metzger and Tony Hays where you can dine and enjoy wonderful libations in an intimate club setting. Michelle Martin performs this month and just might be persuaded to do a few Patsy Cline songs.



 Upcoming productions include Southern Ghosts, April 24-27 and Life Could Be A Dream, July 10-27.. For tickets, www.artstation.org.