Note: The giveaway is open to all US entries, regardless if you are located in Atlanta or not.

Come join me at The Olive Garden at 905 Holcomb Bridge Rd in Roswell for a series of complimentary wine tasting events.  I’ll be there on 10/5,  but you are welcome to come on 10/6, 10/12 and 10/13 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. in honor of the Italian farmhouse-inspired interior design refresh if you can’t make it on the 5th.

Led by Olive Garden’s Wine Specialists, these events will further educate guests on Italian wines including their origin, body style, aroma, flavor/finish and food pairings. The wines featured are from around Italy and will be paired with some of Olive Garden’s delicious food.  Why?  Well you have to check out the new digs!  Select locations have gotten a Tuscan-inspired interior design change inspired by the timeless warmth of farmhouses in Tuscany, Italy.   Although design changes differ from restaurant-to-restaurant, some interior updates include new décor, tables, chairs and booths that emanate the warm, rustic tones of a Tuscan Farmhouse.

Another update includes a refreshed bar area that reflects a true, Tuscan-inspired space, with a more modern and sophisticated feel.

I don’t know about you, but what better way to experience Tuscany, Italy than to break bread with friends and experience different wines of the region.  Will you be there?

Giveaway

Do you want your chance to see the new interior design of your local Olive Garden?  One winner will receive a $25 GC to Olive Garden! Tell me where your closest Olive Garden is for your mandatory entry.

Additional entries can be earned by (please leave separate comments):
2. Follow my blog or if you are already following – tell me who you are. (1 entry)
3. Blog about this and link back to me or email 5 friends about this giveaway copying me on the email. (10 entries)
4. Follow me on twitter @lisasamples and tweet this contest leaving me a link. (1 entry per tweet/2 tweets per day) Please leave time between tweets.
5. Subscribe to my email feed. (2 entries)
6. Connect via Facebook with my blog Life with Lisa. (2 entries)
7. Favorite me on technorati, digg, or stumble leaving link. (1 entry per fav)
8. Vote for @lisasamples as a Top 50 Twitter Mom and get one entry per vote http://www.babble.com/mom/work-family/top-50-twitter-moms-nominate-favorites/index.aspx. (1 entry per)
9. “Like” Olive Garden on Facebook and learn about the Never Ending Pasta Bowl contest. (1 entry)
10. Leave a comment on any post on Mobile Massage Atlanta. (2 entries)

This giveaway will end October 15th 2010 th at 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be determined by Random.org or through random selector installed on my site and will have 48 hours to send contact information to lisa(dot)samples@gmail.com.  US entries only. This listing is compliments of  Olive Garden and I was compensated for my time, but my opinion is 100% mine and honest!

West of I-75 on Barrett Pkwy.

1125 Ernest Barrett Pkwy.
Kennesaw, GA 30144-4534

(GIVEAWAY GOOD FOR ANY LOCATION)

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to go to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner to try out their “Around the World in Eight Weeks” promotion. On our visit we got to take a tour of Asia through marvelous cuisine such as Thai Peanut & Red Pepper salad, a make-it-yourself Asian inspired broth and Won Ton Chicken Happiness.   Every two weeks, Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes chefs are cooking up different internationally inspired recipes from around the globe.

In addition to the delicious menu they also have some great specials including their online kids’ activity sheets (available for download) which include coupons for 99 cent kid’s meals and $19.99 family dinner coupons! You can also save an additional 10% off on your next visit by sharing your trip around the world by sending a virtual postcard from the different countries you’ve “visited” to friends and family via email, Facebook or Twitter.

Our opinion?  We have always been huge fans of Sweet Tomatoes.  It never ceases to amaze me to sit and watch my husband eat 2 plates full of salad when I can’t get him to eat a single carrot at home.  The food at the Barrett location in Kennesaw is ALWAYS very clean and the buffets are always properly filled so there isn’t a wait.  I especially love their New England Style Clam Chowder, the chocolate chip cookies, and their sweet tea.  My husband is a huge fan of the tons of salad topping choices you find on their salad bar.  Although they have a very nice pasta station neither of us eat off of it very often because we fill up on the soup and salad; however, everything we have had has been yummy!

Here are the tour dates and cuisine:

Asia: August 17-29

Wonton Chicken Happiness Tossed Salad

Thai Chicken & Peanut Foccacia

Greece: September 1-14

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup (a guest favorite!)

Whole Gran Greek Couscous with Feta and Pine Nuts

Mexico: September 16-28

Azteca Taco Tossed Salad

Chicken Enchilada Soup

If you need an event catered – here is a coupon!

Giveaway

Share with me which country you would like to experience cuisine from Asia, Greece, Italy, or Mexico.  Leave a comment below with your choice and you will be eligible to win two (2) dining passes from Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes GOOD AT ANY LOCATION, NOT JUST ATLANTA.

Additional entries can be earned by (please leave separate comments – you must complete mandatory step first!):

1. Subscribe to my email feed or if you are already do- tell me who you are. (1 entry)
2. Blog about this and link back to me or email 5 friends about this giveaway copying me on the email. (10 entries)
3. Follow me on twitter @lisasamples and tweet this contest leaving me a link. (1 entry per tweet/2 tweets per day) Please leave time between tweets.
4. Let me know if you have ever eaten at either restaurant and tell me what you thought or look to find the location nearest you and tell me how far it is. (1 entry)
5. Post my button on your blog. (5 entries)
6. Vote for @lisasamples as a Top 50 Twitter Mom and get one entry per votehttp://www.babble.com/mom/work-family/top-50-twitter-moms-nominate-favorites/index.aspx

This giveaway will end September 30th  at 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be determined by Random.org or Twitter (I’ll let my followers pick the winner) and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This post was written for Family Review Network & Sweet Tomatoes & Souplantation who provided the complimentary product for review and giveaway in exchange for my honest review.

• Executive Chef Robert Gerstenecker
• Sous Chef Tommy Greer
• Spa Director Garth Mamicpic
• Massage Therapists – Joy, Alicia, John
• Esthetician, Eleonora
• Nails, Bertha
• Yoga instructor, Dawn
• and most of all our lovely host, Abigail

One of the most enjoyable things at The Four Seasons Atlanta is Park 75 – their restaurant and food!

Our Dinner

The Rooftop Garden where they grow their herbs, other veggies, and harvest their own honey.

My incredible room!

My day at the Spa

No worries if you forget your suit – they have disposable suits for you!

I got my very first facial while here and it was not anything I would have expected.  Actually, there are no words to describe it.  It was so relaxing and enjoyable that I cannot believe I waited this long to have one.  The girls said my face glowed afterward and I believe it did!

A great deal for you!

The wonderful Moms I got to share this special weekend with!

Disclosure: I was honored a free night stay, spa treatment, and other goodies by The Four Seasons in order to share my experience with you.

I had a chance to experience the Park 75 Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta this past weekend and it was a delight.  I learned a lot of interesting facts, met some really incredible bloggers, and ate some of the best cuisine that Atlanta has to offer.  I took a bunch of photos for a pictorial post.  I hope you enjoy them..

Our #bloggersbrunch started out on the terrace with Mimosas.

Executive Chef Robert Gerstenecker explains how Park 75 grows their own garden of veggies and herbs on the terrace.

It was amazing all the things they grow up on the roof.  You can taste the freshness in the food.

They even have a hydro tank of lettuce and other greens.

I was totally amazed to find out they harvest their own honey from their colony of bees on the roof.

Executive Chef Robert Gerstenecker gets ready to break out the bees, but first he smokes them to make them confused.

The bees were busy making yummy honey for the restaurant.

After coming inside from the muggy Atlanta weather we were treated to cool towels and spritz.

The service at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta is beyond reproach.

And their floral arrangements aren’t too shabby either.

After our tour we were sent to the Park 75 Restaurant to find a table.

I’m particularly lucky because I got to sit with Christie from Inside the Chatterbox.

We were greeted by amazing Bloody Marys that were garnished with bacon, pickled okra, pearl onion, and sweet pickles (made on premises – not the bacon).

They served us homemade banana bread with chocolate chips that was so moist you didn’t need the yummy butter with their onsite honeycomb/honey on top…but I used it anyway.  It was a delicious as it looks.

First on the menu was the Athens Benedict:

heirloom tomato, sprouts, avocado, herb hollandaise

A healthy twist to Eggs Benedict.

Next came the Chicken & Waffle that would make Snoop Doggy Dog proud.

Featuring roof top honey glazed southern fried chicken.

The slight hint of salty/sweet made this a “don’t miss” menu item.

But for me the kicker was this incredible ensemble of

Wood Grilled Waygu Skirt Steak served with Blue Cheese Potato Salad

The steak melted in  your mouth and the blue cheese potato salad was the perfect compliment and not at all over powering.

Tempura Squash Blossom with Split Creek Goat Cheese

Squash blossoms are one of my most favorite fried foods.  This twist with the goat cheese filling was a special treat.

Seared Scallop with Spring Vegetable Risotto

The scallop was divine.  The freshness and flavor made it my favorite part of the meal.  I’ve never had risotto before, but would compare it to large pieces of rice cooked al dente.  It was my least favorite thing on the menu but still good enough that I ate every last bite.

After all that food I was stuffed.  However, they had something else in mind…a trip back to see the legendary kitchen.

It was super spotless and all the kitchen staff and chefs were friendly – see those smiles?

Did someone say freshly made dessert?

Hand-Dipped Park 75 Doughnuts

Boston cream, glazed, chocolate sauce

House Made Sorbet

strawberry, mango, lemon

I had the mango and it was better than any mango I have ever had.

Another amazing thing I learned is they make their own chocolate.  I got to try some.  Hershey, beware!

Thank you Park 75, Four Seasons Hotel, Marsha (@MsquaredPR), and Abby for an incredible experience I am sure not to forget any time soon.

I hope you will check out some upcoming Park 75 Promotions:

Celebrity Cocktail Nights

May 27th, June 3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th 6pm – 9pm

Doughnuts with Dad

June 19th 11am – 2pm

Yelp Restaurant Week

June 21st – 27th

You can also follow them on twitter at @FSatlanta

and Facebook: Robert Gerstenecker

I highly recommend treating yourself to the Park 75′s Chef’s Table for up to 10 guests featuring food and wine pairings that will leave you speechless.