Sunday, October 3, 2010

BRUNCH WITH BINGO: MARY MAC'S TEA ROOM-PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO
BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S
"BRUNCH WITH BINGO DAY"
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS SUNDAY'S
"BRUNCH WITH BINGO DAY"
FOOD BOOK CHOICE IS.....

GIVEAWAY ENDED
MARY MAC'S TEA ROOM
65 YEARS OF RECIPES FROM
ATLANTA'S FAVORITE DINING ROOM
BY JOHN FERRELL

ABOUT THE COOKBOOK:

In Mary Mac's Tea Room, author and owner John Ferrell brings together over 100 classic recipes from this venerable institution of Southern comfort food.

When Mary Mac's opened in 1945, it was one of 16 tea rooms around Atlanta, Georgia. More than 60 years later, it stands alone in carrying on the tradition of bringing great Southern cooking to everyone from blue collar workers to celebrities.

Now you can bring home many of the restaurant's famed recipes, along with richly illustrated photography, old menus, postcards, and artwork from its magnificent history.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John Ferrell purchased Mary Mac’s Tea Room in 1994 from the original owner. Margaret Lupo handpicked Ferrell to share her historic business and recipes, and her vast knowledge of down-home Southern food. Ferrell has expanded the business while still maintaining the beloved traditions of “Atlanta’s Dining Room.”

Mary Mac’s Tea Room has been serving up classic Southern comfort food to the people of Atlanta, Georgia, since opening in 1945. The last of the city’s old Southern tea rooms, Mary Mac’s thrives today, serving more than 1,000 customers every day.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT:

Mary Mac’s Tea Room doors first opened in 1945 when Mary McKenzie decided to use her good Southern cooking to make money in the tough post-World War II days. In those days, a woman  couldn’t just open up a restaurant, so many female proprietors used the more genteel Southern name of “Tea Room.” Ponce de Leon Avenue sported clanking trolley cars, the Atlanta Crackers Baseball team and tents serving ice cold watermelons. There were many ornate movie theaters like the Fox Theatre just down the street. And there were at least 16 other Tea Rooms around intown Atlanta with Mary Mac’s being the only one of them left.    

In the early 1960s, Margaret Lupo bought Mary Mac’s and over the next 30 years grew it into a larger restaurant by buying up property next door to it and expanding. She was a hard working business woman who loved Southern cooking and brought Mary Mac's from a small little Tea Room to one of the South's best known restaurants. She accomplished all this during a time when there were very few women in business and it would be difficult for any woman to secure a bank loan. Click here to read Serenbe's Marie Nygren's blog about the early days of Mary Macs. It contains some great insight and history on Mary Macs. Marie is the daughter of Margaret Lupo.

The current owner, John Ferrell, purchased Mary Mac’s in 1994. He was actually hand-chosen by Margaret Lupo to take over her beloved restaurant. And he has not let her down as he continues a great tradition of Southern cuisine and hospitality. The location has stayed the same, and the food remains nearly identical to what it was over sixty years ago.

SAMPLE A RECIPE:

Georgia Peach Cobbler

peach cobbler Georgia Peach CobblerFrom Mary Mac’s Tea Room: 65 Years of Recipes from Atlanta’s Favorite Dining Room

Serves 8 to 10

2 pounds fresh fruit or 1 (16-ounce) can sliced peaches in heavy syrup, undrained
1 cup plus 3/4 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cornstarch
8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup ice water (with crushed ice)
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted  butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Peel and slice the fresh fruit. (If using canned fruit, taste before adding the sugar.) Place the fruit in a bowl and add 1 cup of the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and cornstarch. Toss together gently. Pour the sweetened fruit into a 13 by 9-inch baking dish and dot with the butter pieces.

In the work bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, beat the shortening, salt, and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon sugar. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the flour to the shortening mixture and mix together lightly. When the mixture becomes stiff, add 1 tablespoon of the ice water. Repeat the process until all the flour and water is used. The mixture should be soft, but not wet. Cover and let chill for 30 to 40 minutes. Roll out on a floured surface to a 13 by 9 1/2-inch rectangle. tablespoon of the ice water. Repeat the process until all the flour and water is used. The mixture should be soft, but not wet. Cover and let chill for 30 to 40 minutes. Roll out on a floured surface to a 13 by 9 1/2-inch rectangle.

Cover the fruit with the pastry, crimping the edges. Make 3 or 4 slits in the pastry with a sharp knife for steam to escape. Brush the crust with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter. If using fresh fruit, cook for 1 hour. If using canned fruit, cook for 25 to 30 minutes at 400˚F. The cobbler is done when the pastry is golden. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

GIVEAWAY

I HAVE ONE COPY MYSELF TO

GIVE AWAY OF THIS DELIGHTFUL,
BRAND NEW COOKBOOK.


--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS UNIQUE "COOKBOOK" 

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT THE MARY MAC'S TEA ROOM WEBSITE HERE


+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT IF YOU ARE A GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT FOLLOWER (STILL TRYING TO GET TO 800). IF YOU AREN'T, SIGN UP PLEASE!

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST,
OCTOBER 17!


GOOD LUCK!

44 comments:

debbie said...

I love cookbooks with history, and this one has it. With recipes that have been around awhile they always come out good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I love their menu. As a side dish for dinner you can order fried green tomatoes. Everything sounds so good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I love that it features southern cooking - love that!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I am a GFC follower

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

holdenj said...

That cobbler recipe looks delicious! I love the idea of the tea room and think there are probably plenty of gems in this cookbook! Thanks for the info and chance to win.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Their website is great. I love the history of it and how they've kept up with the times by offering online takeout ordering!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

I love that the cookbook is Southern and the tea room is in Atlanta - not too far from me! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I found it interesting that out of over 16 tea rooms in Atlanta, Mary Mac's is the only one still going strong - I want to go there now.

Connie said...

Hi! I like the fact they have collected so many recipes over the years to make a cookbook. Also, I like the fact that everyone has been keeping the restaurant going over the years and trying to maintain a sense of belonging in the community. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

g.g. said...

Oh, I really want this book! It sounds amazing as it not only has homestyle recipes but all the interesting "stuff" about a landmark in Atlanta..please enter me

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

g.g. said...

I went to the MM website and found the info on Serenbe's Marie Nygren's blog very interesting

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

g.g. said...

I AM a GFC follower...good luck on 800..you are close

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

Suburban prep said...

There is something special behind the book and behind the place that the book is written from. There is history and the fact that the gentleman who wrote it bought it from the original owner.
msgb245 at gmail dot com

Suburban prep said...

I am a Google friend follower.

petite said...

This delightful cookbook is so appealing and wonderful for its history, recipes and excellent old and new approach. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a GFC Follower. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

The website is informative and lovely. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

This type of cookbook is unique and the type I find interesting and fascinating. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

This tea room is a great concept which I love. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

When I was young, we spent summers in the south. I love southern cooking. That cobbler looks inviting.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Their menu looks terrific. If I ever get to Atlanta...

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love cookbook with lots of beautiful pictures and history and I really like that Mary Mac decided to call her restaurant a tea room so that she could still open her restuarant. She sounds like a strong woman.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

On the Mary Mac Website, I went straight to the Testimonials and it sounded like everyone enjoyed the food, especially the woman who said that it was the "best meat and three". She mentioned a tomato pie. I have never heard of that before.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Oh no, got that awful "Service Unavailable message again". Please post this one if the one about being a GFC follower didn't take.

I am definitely a GFC follower of this blog. Only 8 more to go.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

+ 5 SWAG


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Andrea I said...

I don't want to enter as cookbooks aren't my thing. I live in metro Atlanta and have eaten there several times. It's still as good now as when Margaret Lupo owned it.

Pamela Keener said...

I love southern cooking and I find the history behind this book inspiring.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

OMG check out the pages and pages of testimonials about Mary Mac's Tea Room. You can even order an autographed copy of the cookbook.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

gcpeach17 said...

I love the recipe and ironically enough it matches my email address, gcpeach and the G stands for Georgia! Does that get me an extra entry? :) The tea room was started, too, the year before I was born. Thanks, for the chance to win this, I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

hendy said...

I like that it appeals to a variety of different people from "blue collar workers to celebrities"
hmhenderson AT yahoo dOT com

hendy said...

I found it interesting that they don't take reservations on Sunday
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com

Adam Smith said...

I'd love to win this! I lived in Atlanta for 20 years, and love the food here.

alipkin (at) gmail (dot) com

Adam Smith said...

As for what I found interesting on the Mary Mac website, the blog entry by Serenbe's Marie Nygren was fascinating.

alipkin (at) gmail (dot) com

bison61 said...

the old menus, postcards, and artwork is great

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

throuthehaze said...

I like that it is a Southern cookbook..my favorite kind of food!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

LAMusing said...

I love that it's a cookbook with a fascinating history behind it :)
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

I follow you on GFC
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

I love that it's Southern food!
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

I found it interesting the web site has a place for fans to share their stories of Mary Mac's
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

Their menu sounds great! Wish I lived nearby :)
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Benita said...

I love that this cookbook is dedicated to southern comfort food. I'd love to try these recipes.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I love that their websoite really makes you feel like you're in the restaurant's dining room.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

GFC Follower.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

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