Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

Tacos Mexicanos, anyone? We can't wait to dive into this delicious dinner when Chepe's newest location opens at the Old Alabama Square shopping center in Johns Creek on Wednesday, November 16!

From Piedmont Park to the Georgia Dome... Catch Chef Janine Falvo Around Town This Weekend

Janine Falvo seems to be everywhere these days! While "Top Chef:  Texas" had her skedaddling out west, Briza's executive chef spends the majority of her time creating Southern-influenced, whimsical dishes that are drawing happy diners in at the Midtown restaurant. On Saturday, November 12, she won't have to travel far when she journeys the few blocks from Briza's turf adjacent to the Atlanta Renaissance Midtown Hotel to the Piedmont Park Green Market. Falvo will lead the Green Market chef's demo from 11 a.m. until noon on the patio. Market opens at 9 a.m. for shopping; fill your shopping bags with seasonal good stuff then get some prep and serving tips from Falvo.    

On Sunday, Falvo will be at the Georgia Dome, heading up the local chef stand while the Falcons take on the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. While the Falcons battle it out on the field, Falvo will be stirring things up inside 2View Restaurant located in the Dome's east end zone on the executive concourse (near the suites). Chat with Falvo and savor her dishes without missing a minute of the action on the field.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @designsponge

Grace Bonney founded Design*Sponge in 2004. These days, global readership tops 75,000 blog readers daily and 315,000+ Twitter followers. The New York Times calls it "Martha Stewart Living for the Millennials." With multiple daily updates on design, decorating, DIY, entertaining, travel, how-to videos and beyond, it's easy to see why followers are so absorbed. Follow her on Twitter(@designsponge) and soak in more on her Design*Sponge blog.  

Every Day I'm Trufflin'

Guests are euphoric about November's new $5 cocktail and appetizer promotion at Truffles Grill in Buckhead. Six Absolut martinis and an "Absolut-ly Your Way" cocktail are offered for $5 each -- all day, every day -- in the bar or dining area. That's not all, there's more! From 4 -7 p.m. daily, a $5 appetizer menu draws guests to the bar for baked brie in puff pastry, black bean cake, coconut shrimp, jumbo lump crab cake, fresh mushroom crostini or spinach and artichoke dip. Drop a $5, $10, $20 or more -- small prices for one big, happy setting.

Truffles Grill: 3345 Lenox Road; 404-364-9050.

Five After Five in the City

As if you needed one more reason to let rush hour pass before heading home after work, Ray's in the City is now offering $5 cocktails and appetizer specials starting at 5 p.m. every weekday in November to help keep you out of traffic - and sane! As part of the Downtown Dining District's "Five After Five" program, guests can sip on cocktails like a skinny margarita, sake mojito or blood orange old fashioned while nibbling on small plates such as Maytag blue cheese chips, crispy calamari, Ray's BBQ shrimp and select sushi rolls. Settle into a seat in the lounge area at Ray's in the City (240 Peachtree Street, NW) and say goodbye to road rage.

It's Open House Season - Come Visit New York Butcher Shoppe

I just love going to open houses. It's legitimized snooping. You can check out everything you've wondered about and there's usually food and drink involved too!

This week's open houses at the two locations of the New York Butcher Shoppe are no exception. You'll get to snoop to your heart's content, finding out that they carry a lot more than the best steaks around! Come by the Dunwoody location on Wednesday, November 9 or to the Sandy Springs location on Thursday, November 10 (5 - 8 p.m.) and sample chef-prepared holiday menu items and party appetizers, discuss menu options and get advice on holiday party and catering opportunities. As a bonus, order your turkey and sides while you're there, and New York Butcher Shoppe will give you 20 percent off your chef-prepared sides. See you there!

New York Butcher Shoppe - Dunwoody: 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328.

New York Butcher Shoppe - Sandy Springs: 4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704.

Cocktails and Ra Sushi Make The Perfect Pear

North Georgia apples fall close to trees. In Midtown, "The Perfect Pears" fall into RA Sushi's cocktail glasses. The Pear Martini and Asian Pear Smash are two seasonal cocktails, $8 each, that both begin with the crisp pear taste of Absolut Pears vodka and pear nectar. 

For kicks, the Pear Martini shakes in St. Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and a splash of Prosecco. The Asian Pear Smash muddles in falernum for spice, shiso leaf and fresh lemon juice and splashes in some nose-tickling soda. Try one or both of these "Perfect Pairs" before the last pear falls... November 30 to be exact.

RA Sushi:  1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

How Sweet It Is – A Sugar Coma Awaits And You Could Win Tickets

Seeing as how quite a few of us on the MLA staff are dyed-in-the-wool sweet tooths (don't tell our dentist), we had to dish about the upcoming Sugar Coma event right here in Atlanta on Sunday, November 13 at Atlantic Station from 2 to 6 p.m.! It’s a dessert-lover’s dream, with a cornucopia of delicious vendors to tempt you with all sorts of amazing desserts. We hear that there are less than 30 tickets left, so be sure to snag yours online! 


If you’re feeling lucky today, we also have a pair to give away here…  just tell us what your favorite dessert is in our comments and we’ll be picking a winner at random later this afternoon. Good luck and happy desserts to you!