Eating With erica: Cafe Verna

Feeling culinarily challenged? Erica Key, creator of the Eating with Erica Dinner Club, has the cure. She scours the varied restaurants of Atlanta to highlight the very best, a practice she started as a child selecting which eateries her family would patronize each week. Erica then shares her treasures with her club. Her most recent event was held August 24th at Café Vena in Vinings. In attendance were café owner Bruce Speer, Kal Williams, Brand Manager for Le Grand Saint, and hostesses Harvin and Meye Eadon, of Big Rich Atlanta fame.

Upon arrival attendees were treated to a delicious Rose Sparkling Vodka cocktail from Le Grand Saint. Executive Chef Brett Bowen and Executive Sous Chef Jeff Stone created a memorable 5-course meal, of which the highlight was the Dijon and herb-roasted, salt-rubbed lamb lollipop, served with a blueberry demi-glace, crumbled grit cake and chive oil. Other courses consisted of an heirloom watermelon salad, lemon pepper chicken confit, scallop crudo and flash fried beignet. While eating, we were treated to live performances of songs from the 50’s through the 70’s, led by Broadway standout Jai Luci. The café staff was very courteous, helpful and knowledgable.

The evening was definitely a success, and I highly recommend the Eating With Erica Dinner Club for evenings of good entertainment, daring food and purposeful networking.

Write-Up & Photography
By Stephen Williams