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

From 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!