Bellina Alimentari August Class List Dangles Distilling, Sauces, Gelato, Meats and Beer

Bellina Alimentari tolls the August school bell for all those interested in picking up new culinary skills beyond pasta making. All classes take place in the Ponce City Market restaurant and market Culinary Club area. Click on the class links to register.

Distill, your beating heart when experts from locally based Old 4th Distillery clarify the essence of the fine art of distilling. Build a bank of high proof knowledge by learning basic distilling techniques, sipping through a guided tasting and watching Corey Philips demo mixology. Tuesday, August 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; $28.

Add three Italian staple pasta dishes to your repertoire -- cacio e pepe, carbonara and red Sicilian pesto -- by attending Bellina’s Classic Italian Pasta Sauces chef demo/class on Wednesday, August 17 from 6:30-8 p.m.; $38. Spoons-on learning means tasting creations after class.

Study charcuterie and craft beer on a tabletop 3 meats 3 beers culinary tour with Kevin Ouzts from The Spotted Trotter and Rebecca Royster from Orpheus Brewing on Wednesday, August 24 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; $28.

Lime sherbet is green. Arugula, however, might color green gelato and chocolate brown could be pure frozen chocolate bliss when chef Philip Meeker mans the churn during a Gelato Making Class ($35) on Tuesday, August 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. Make two flavors and take a pint home to share with family and friends.

Ray’s Restaurants Crack Open Lobsterfest

Lobsterfest 101. Be nice. No clawing. Ray’s Restaurants has a direct line to succulent whole Maine lobsters for Lobsterfest, which is now available at all three locations -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek. Appease crustacean cravings with a 1.25 pound whole Maine lobster, choice of artisan field greens or Caesar salad and a side choice of Yukon Gold whipped potatoes or chef’s vegetable du jour for $29.95 (excludes tax, gratuity, drinks). The “Summertime at Ray’s” two-course dinner menu is available for those who prefer surf & turf ($29.95) or wild salmon ($24.95) to making the Maine thing their main thing.

Appetizing Aperture: That Coconut Cocktail at Bellina Alimentari

Seems every week someone in our office mentions being nuts about “that coconut drink.” And everyone knows exactly what coconut elixir they’re referring to: the Re Del Cocco cocktail ($9) at Bellina Alimentari. Turns out the elixir is a little more complicated and contains ingredients more challenging to pronounce than straight up coconut: Encanto pisco, Don Ciccio & Figli Luna Amara, coconut crème, ginger, lime and mint. Maybe we’ll just stick with “that coconut drink.” And we’re definitely sticking with it.

The Big Ketch Canton Street Summer Lawn Party is Mow Fun July 31

Right before the back-to-school bell rings for most Atlantans,The Big Ketch Canton Street rolls out a backyard bash on the front yard grass on Sunday, July 31. The sociable Roswell seaside restaurant floats a family fun-filled Summer Lawn Party loaded with lawn games, live music and $4 mini lobster rolls to enthrall all ages. We don’t know if $1 grilled oysters offer pearls of wisdom, but they sure are tasty. Adults can gather liquid courage from $5 margaritas and mojitos -- to take on youngsters and drivers sipping lemonade, tea, soda and other alcohol-free (but no less spirited) beverages at the cash bar.

Ray’s Rio Bravo Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with $1 Queso, Koozies and More During August

One year ago, Sandy Springs welcomed an old friend back to the fiesta when Ray’s Rio Bravo opened its doors. Tex-Mex fans, elated to see their friend return, wasted no time getting reacquainted over queso, margaritas and fresh-made tortillas from “El Machino” enfolding tacos and burritos. August marks anniversary “numero uno,” and Ray’s Rio Bravo founder Ray Schoenbaum and staff are excited about carrying the celebration throughout the month. During August, guests can dip into $1 cups of chili con queso or queso blanco.
Order a bottle or canned beer, and it will arrive in a commemorative koozie (supplies limited, one per customer per visit). On Wednesday, August 3, all guests will receive a complimentary mini birthday dessert to celebrate Ray’s Rio Bravo’s anniversary.

New! Live Music Strums a Few Bars at The Southern Gentleman

Croon, swoon or simply sit back and sip a small batch bourbon, fashionable cocktail or cold craft beer while listening to live music Friday and Saturday nights at The Southern Gentleman. Come in and enjoy a bite to eat before the music begins at 9 p.m. in the bar area of this Buckhead gastropub. The inaugural month lineup of music includes Americana, “Roots & Soul,” a modern day troubadour and more:

Friday, August 5 - David Winkles

Saturday, August 6 and 20 - Jeremy Wayne Dean

Friday, August 12 - Brandon L. Reeves

Saturday, August 13 and 27 - Joe Garner

Friday, August 19 - Adam Harris Thompson

Saturday, August 26 - Reed Waddle

5Church Launches Lunch at 14th and Peachtree Streets in Midtown

There’s no need to wait until dinner to dine at 5Church. The swanky new Midtown restaurant now serves lunch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. While exciting Atlanta palates with a progressive American dinner menu, chef RJ Cooper and 5Church partner/chef Jamie Lynch have been keeping their fingers on the city’s midday meal pulse. Their fresh takes on appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées will appeal to appetites large and small, adventurous and tame. Our crew is already hankering for the 5Church lamb burger sporting red onion marmalade, Gorgonzola fondue and arugula served on a house-made sesame bun along with hand-cut fries; Peach & Lord’s country ham flatbread with peach-heirloom tomato coulis, arugula and ricotta salata; oyster po’ boy with hand-cut fries; and Peruvian roasted chicken salad sandwich with hand-cut fries. For Midtown professionals and residents, High Museum and Woodruff Arts Center visitors, come noon, the coolest spot to lunch is 5Church. And baby, you can drive your car because 5Church validates parking for guests using the Colony Square deck.

Buy a BOTE SUP “Save the Hooch” Raffle Ticket at Ormsby’s through July 30 or Your Chances of Winning are Sunk

Truthfully, you don’t stand a chance of standing up on that BOTE SUP if you fail to buy a raffle ticket at Ormsby’s before the July 30 drawing. Furthermore, all raffle proceeds go to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, which needs your support to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River Basin. How to? Through July 30, buy $5 raffle tickets for chances to win a high-quality BOTE standup paddle board. Additionally, Ormsby’s is donating $1 from every SweetWater brew sold, June through July, to the environmentally conscious organization. Cold brews, hip board, friendly bar. Summer doesn’t get much sweeter.

Rack Up Hits from Gunshow Chef Joey Ward at Ponce City Farmers Market Chef Demo July 26

Did someone say tomatoes? Chef Joey Ward and the Gunshowcrew nailed first place for their tomato “sandwich” at the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival on July 17. The next best thing to tomatoes on sliced bread (or dining at Gunshow) is to marinate in kitchen wisdom and wizardry from Ward at the Ponce City Farmers Market chef demo on Tuesday, July 26. Chef demos are held in The Shed covered space at the 4-8 p.m. weekly market.

What's New on Pinterest: Praise the Lord for Pasta!

Is there a lean-on-me pantry staple that segues from picnic to potluck to tailgate more successfully than pasta? Hallelujah for Pastas to be Praised, a year-round mealtime savior. Show off summer’s fresh veggies in pasta with corn, zucchini and tomatoes or play up shrimp with tomatoes and spinach in a garlic butter sauce. Ever-flexible pasta salads please dill pickle lovers, BLT cravers and Caesar salad hailers alike. And then there’s the lasagna noodle, planking in Tricia Yearwood’s cowboy lasagna with pepperoni and green chili and chicken pasta or folding around family pleasing, easy-to-serve cheese rollups. Yep. We’re praising pasta. Can we get an amen out there in Pinterestland?

Sooie! Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails ‘Cues a Whole Hog Hootenanny Pig Roast on July 31

Squeal, we must! Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is unleashing the second Whole Hog Hootenanny in its summer series of smokin’ hot barbecue blowouts. Starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, gather on the patio and front lawn of the historic Crabapple restaurant to partake in an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of roast pig, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, beloved barbecue sides, sweet treats and more. Jump into live game fun and move those legs to live music between plates. Cash bar wrangles thirsts. Hog tie August 28 and September 25 on your calendar for the remaining 2016 Whole Hog Hootenanny events. Available online through Eventbrite, tickets for all-you-can-eat barbecue are $35 per person (plus service fee; includes gratuity).

Appetizing Aperture: Reel in a Lobster Roll from Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar

For the best lobster rolls, go deep. Deep into cool Maine waters for lobsters and deep down to the bottom of the dinner menu at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in Marietta. Drift’s much-raved-about lobster roll floats among the sandwiches ($25). Catch one New England-style, served cold with lemon mayo, or bite into a decadently hot buttery roll. Either way, fries and slaw anchor the plate. 

5Church Chef RJ Cooper Schools ACFB Simple Abundance Class August 8

James Beard award-winning chef RJ Cooper is stepping out from newly opened 5Church Atlanta at 14th and Peachtree streets to lead the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) Simple Abundance class on Monday, August 8 from 7-9 p.m. at The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown. Hailing from its original Charlotte, North Carolina location and Charleston, South Carolina, 5Church made a wise choice selecting chef Cooper to lead its new Midtown Atlanta location. Over his years working with chefs Eric Ripert, Guenter Seeger and Gilbert LeCoze and growing through his own executive chef experiences, Cooper developed his unique progressive style, grounded in French cooking fundamentals and showcasing local ingredients. Class includes demonstration, wine tastings and a chance to win door prizes. Register online; $55 per person.

Ho, Ho, Ho. Gypsy Kitchen and The Southern Gentleman “Christmas in July” Promo Gives Gift Cards to Early Bird Holiday Party Planners

We could swear we saw Santa sporting swim trunks and sunscreen while running the Peachtree. He’s training for the holiday party season that will race in faster than one can lap the last drip off that boozy snow cone. Gypsy Kitchen and The Southern Gentleman are looking ahead past fall and adding incentives for party planners who do likewise. If your crystal ball shows a seated dinner, happy hour, luncheon, social or a takeover-the-restaurant event on the holiday horizon, note that the two restaurants in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta are handing out gift cards to those who book events by August 31. Gift card ratios are $50 for events under $1,000; $75 for $1,000 to $2,000; $100 for $2,000 to $5,000; $200 for $5,000-$10,000; and $300 for bashes more than $10,000. Additionally, early bookings receive a complimentary bottle of bubbly for every 10 people in the party. Something to toast while roasting in the July and August sun.

New Lunch Menu at Ray’s Rio Bravo Speaks Fluent Texican

The new lunch menu at Ray’s Rio Bravo in Sandy Springs is a game changer, injecting a fresh Tex-Mex punch into the daily routine. Start with a few group-friendly munchables like “no beans about it” Texas chili Frito pie ($8), duck meat-filled “Taquito Quackers” ($12) or crispy mole chicken wings ($9). Crisp “Field Fare” includes the Meredith D. salmon salad with pineapple-marinated salmon, grilled avocado, roasted corn, pico de gallo, cilantro-lime vinaigrette and cortija crisps ($15). Take the fork in the road toward Tex-Mex and Texican specialties such as the fried grouper tacos that come with three soft flour tortillas -- two hold fried grouper, grilled jicama-tortilla slaw, chipotle aioli and pineapple salsa -- and one catches the drop outs ($14). Fajitas sizzle their way to the table over a bed of sautéed onions and peppers with compadres of lettuce, guac, pico de gallo, El Machino flour tortillas, rice and refried beans ($18 steak; $10 roasted veggie; $12 chicken). When it’s not lunch without a sandwich, grab the Texas brisket sandwich boasting house-smoked brisket, grilled jicama-tortilla slaw, pickled jalapeños, grilled red onion, barbecue sauce and mango on a challah bun with fries ($12). Depending on how your day is going, opt for Ray’s house-made lemonade or a potent margarita. Ray’s Rio Bravo opens for lunch at 11 a.m. seven days a week. Si, lunching along the Rio is “Rio” grand.

Gunshow Welcomes Billy Cole as Restaurant’s First Pastry Chef

Atlanta chef, restaurateur, speaker and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie welcomes Billy Cole to his Gunshow team. Cole, the first pastry chef for the Glenwood Park restaurant, totes a well-balanced background that includes 12 years of culinary experience in both the pastry and savory sectors. The innovative chef comes to Gunshow from The Luminary, a French brasserie where he served as chef de cuisine for two years. Before The Luminary, Cole was the assistant pastry chef under James Beard Award semi-finalist Aaron Russell at Restaurant Eugene for four years. His foundation-building timeline includes overseeing pastry production for The Chocolate Bar in Decatur and staging at Michelin-starred restaurants In de Wulf in Dranouter, Belgium, and Manresa in Los Gatos, California. The graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York began his culinary career working for chef Richard Blais in Atlanta as chef de partie at Element Gastro Lounge and Food Lab, then as sous chef at Home Restaurant & Bar and at culinary production company Trail Blais. Calling Gunshow “Atlanta’s best sounding board for culinary creativity,” Cole loves the freedom of “not being restricted to one genre of cuisine...and being surrounded by so many great young chefs in the Gunshow kitchen.” Taste and see what he’s all about --- the restaurant serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 6-9 p.m. Reservations are recommended and can be made one month in advance online.

Nosh Talks Networking Event Tackles Technology and Staffing at Monday Night Brewing July 25

Keeping up with the latest technological advances is one of the key challenges facing Atlanta’s food and beverage industry, especially when it comes to staffing. To help hospitality workers understand those challenges and advances, Nosh Talks, the networking organization for the city’s restaurant industry, is hosting the Restaurant NEXT: Technology & Staffing Panel. This can’t-miss event takes place Monday, July 25, at Monday Night Brewing (670 Trabert Ave., NW) from 2-5 p.m. Nosh Talks is teaming up with SPLIT, the platform that allows users to pay restaurant and bar bills from their mobile devices, to host the event that includes light bites and signature beers from Monday Night Brewing. Additionally, Nosh Talks is partnering with Culinary Agents, a professional networking and job matching website for the food, beverage and hospitality industry, to launch an Atlanta job board on the Nosh Talks website. See the page debut during the Restaurant NEXT event. Tickets, available through Eventbrite, are $15 for industry members and $35 for non-industry guests. For more information and to discover ways to get involved, go to noshtalks.com or follow Nosh Talks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Avión Tequila Flight Special Soars at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina during Weeklong National Tequila Day Celebration through July 24

Avión tequila flights to National Tequila Day are now boarding at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina locations, and they will continue to take off through the salt-rimmed day itself, Sunday, July 24. The FlexMex taqueria is celebrating “Top Gun” style, lining up $10 flights of three (one ounce) pours of Avión tequila, including Silver, Reposado, Añejo and espresso varieties. From drinks to food and seating to service, Tin Lizzy’s does everything first class. Flights will land on tables atop Avión-branded wooden paddles, and generously sized tables easily accommodate any of more than 25 soft tacos, quesadillas, specialty skillets and other items on the FlexMex menu. Flights depart when lunch service starts, 11 a.m. daily at all Tin Lizzy’s locations.

Get Creamed. Sublime Doughnuts Homemade Ice Cream Takes a Licking 24/7

2 p.m. or 2 a.m. No telling when inner screams for ice cream call out. Sublime Doughnuts scoops their homemade ice cream 24 hours a day, seven days a week at both the Midtown and North Druid Hills stores. Ice cream is crafted from high-quality ingredients in edgy, artisanal flavors just like in Sublime’s doughnuts. The shops use Italian ice cream-making equipment to churn out lick-and-love flavors like orange dream, white chocolate Oreo, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and salted caramel. And, to think they’re accessible 24/7! Sublime Doughnuts is located at 535 10^th Street, NW and 2566 Briarcliff Road, NE.

Buy Taste of Atlanta Tickets Now and Save

Tickets for the 15th annual Taste of Atlanta are now on sale. Atlanta’s must-do food festival is already on your calendar for October 21-23 so jump on buying tickets before prices rise August 1. General admission is $20; fork over $65 for tickets to the VIP Grand Tasting Experience with exclusive tasting opportunities. Starting August 1, ticket prices rise to $25 general admission and $75 VIP. Enjoy more, save more by purchasing tickets now for the special Friday night kickoff party featuring drool-worthy bites from The Optimist, Marlow’s
 Tavern and Colletta. Pay $55 for general admission tickets and $70 for VIP access to this event through July 31 or $65/$85 starting August 1. For those new to Atlanta, Taste of Atlanta is an unforgettable food, craft beer, wine and cocktail festival where guests savor tastes and spirits from Atlanta’s hottest restaurants and trendsetting chefs. Admission to the festival nets each guest 10 “Taste Points” to purchase nibbles, bites, sips and samples. Additional “Taste Points” are available for $1 each. Nibble on the list of participating restaurants, including Seed Kitchen & Bar, The Big Ketch and Smokebelly BBQ and start craving! Visit TasteofAtlanta.com and follow updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Midweek Wow: Cotton Calf Kitchen Wine Dinner July 20

Cotton Calf Kitchen chef Javier Viera and the wine wizards at United Distributors are setting the table for an oenophile’s delight on Wednesday, July 20 -- an intimate four-course dinner with wine pairings at the contemporary, classic American steakhouse in historic downtown Braselton. A quick peek at Viera’s menu shows tempting unions of wild cobia sashimi and chilled tomato consommé with Stag’s Leap Karia chardonnay, Napa Valley; pan-roasted rabbit filet with saffron mashed potatoes, Romesco sauce, braised Brussels sprouts and crispy prosciutto served with Villa Maria pinot noir, Marlborough; 10-ounce Manhattan steak with risotto croquettes and sautéed wild mushrooms with Conn Creek cabernet sauvignon, Napa Valley; and dulce de leche trifle with Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne, France. Seats are limited for the 6-9 p.m. dinner; $135 per person (includes tax and gratuity). Call 706-684-0410 for reservations.

#Foodgram: The Most Important (and Beautiful) Meal of the Day

SymmetryBreakfast has one wondering, “Am I dreaming or seeing double of all of these amazing breakfast foods?” Not dreaming. Preparing and sharing a beautiful breakfast can set the mood for the rest of the day. Sorry, cereal. SymmetryBreakfast has us thinking outside the box (and looking forward to reading the soon-to-release”SymmetryBreakfast: Cook-Love-Share” cookbook).

Appetizing Aperture: Pastrami-Cured Hamachi at 5Church Atlanta

5Church Atlanta is open at the corner of 14th and Peachtree streets in Midtown, and the restaurant is dazzling guests with a mouthwatering menu of new American cuisine, conversation-cueing artwork and genuine, friendly and attentive service. When you go, start with a first course of pastrami-cured hamachi dressed up with red mole, radishes, finger limes and corn nuts ($14). Not to overwhelm you with other delicious decisions, but here’s the rest of the totally delicious dinner menu.

Call Out the Chowhounds. Fried Chicken and More at Milton’s Farmyard Chowdown July 24

Yee, doggies, there’s a Farmyard Chowdown feast on the horizon at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple. Mark your Farmer’s Almanac calendar for Sunday, July 24, and prepare to fill up on oysters, fried chicken, low country seafood boil and more in Milton’s backyard garden. The shindig commences at 7 p.m. with live music and lawn games, i.e. fun for everyone from wee chicks to seasoned farmhands. Tickets are $40 per person (plus small service fee; tax and alcohol not included). Buy tickets online through July 17.

Net Best of Land and Sea with Ray’s Restaurants’ Summer Prix Fixe

Sea or shore? Ray’s Restaurants straddles both options on a two-course menu available at Ray's in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray's at Killer Creek through early August. The “Land & Sea” menu dives right into a choice of artisan field greens or Caesar salad. For an entrée, choose Ray’s Surf & Turf featuring a six-ounce filet mignon, four-ounce lobster tail and Yukon Gold whipped potatoes ($29.95) or a six-ounce cut of wild salmon with asparagus risotto and red wine butter ($24.95). Call it a meal or add on a dessert course of New York cheesecake or chocolate mousse cake for an additional $5. Priced per person; price excludes beverage, tax and gratuity. Sorry, no splitting the menu.

Georgia’s on My Mind and Plate at Drift, Seed, Stem and Ray’s at Killer Creek during Georgia Restaurant Week July 18-24

Georgia is a gourmand’s paradise! Georgia Restaurant Week(GRW), Monday, July 18 through Sunday, July 24, is a fantastic time to experience the rich array of dining options and Georgia products used across our fair state. Atlantans have it easy and can spend more time dining and less time driving by visiting local participants.

Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar features North Georgia mountain trout, Georgia-grown field peas in field pea salad and wood-roasted peach crisp with brown sugar bourbon pecan ice cream. Peruse the full $35 dinner menu here.

Ray’s at Killer Creek offers a three-course menu with choices such as soup du jour, locally grown greens in an artisan field green salad with Statesboro blue cheese or Caesar salad as the first course; a choice of Parmesan colossal day boat scallops, salmon Oscar, horseradish-encrusted black grouper or an eight-ounce filet mignon for the main and chocolate mousse cake or a handmade praline basket holding High Road bourbon burnt sugar ice cream, seasonal berries, pecans and caramel sauce for dessert.

The $35 GRW dinner menu at Seed Kitchen & Bar embraces Georgian ingredients. Starter choices include Heritage Farms pork belly served with soy pineapple glaze, jalapeño and allspice crème fraîche or Pearson Farm peach salad with Craig Tucker arugula and Many Fold Farm brebis. Entrées include Springer Mountain Farms chicken sidling up to potato purée, arugula, Vidalia onions, capers and lemon; mountain trout and creamed corn with jalapeño and bacon vinaigrette and pickled summer vegetables; and Bear Creek flat-iron steak with polenta, oyster mushrooms, turnips, carrots and red wine jus. Select one of three desserts: peach crisp with Pearson Farm peaches, strawberry shortcake with strawberry sorbet or chocolate peanut butter pie with roasted banana ice cream. (By the way, the Benton’s country ham on the pimento cheese crostini and the Bear Creek flat-iron steak come from next-door neighbor Tennessee.)

At Stem Wine Bar, the $25 GRW “Tapas Tasting for Two”menu features a shareable board bearing local salumi and artisan cheese; a choice of two tapas from a list that includes caramelized peach and ricotta bruschetta, shaved Brussels sprouts with warm bacon vinaigrette and local apples, deviled eggs three ways, heirloom tomato panzanella salad, crispy Sicilian arancini with smoked mozzarella, chicken wings al ajillo, and White Oak Pastures lamb meatballs. Share salted caramel flan or house-made zeppole (Italian doughnuts) with red wine chocolate sauce for dessert. Prices exclude beverage, tax and gratuity. Reservations suggested. Thanks go out to the Georgia Restaurant Association and theGeorgia Department of Economic Development for sponsoring this yummy week and superlative excuse to eat out.

#Foodgram: Liven up your morning routine with a refreshing smoothie bowl!

No one said all smoothies come in tall cups. @smoothiebowls will bowl you over with spoonable smoothies packing an antioxidant punch, an “Afternoon Pick Me Up” or the banana mango green smoothie. Too pretty to eat, too tempting to abstain. Smooth operators, all.

Aria, Ormsby’s, Gunshow and Milton’s Ambush Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival July 17

The stockpile is deep and ripe. Chefs, mixologists and farmers exchange code words like “Green Zebra,” “Mr. Stripey” and “Cherokee Purple” and strategies such as juice, dice, slice and fry. It’s time to roll. The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival is going down Sunday, July 17, at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park, and chefs from Aria, Ormsby’s,Gunshow and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails are elbow deep in the action. Who will contrive the tastiest tomato dishes and the best adult elixirs during the 1-5 p.m. battle backed by live music? One way to find out: Buy tickets to this eighth annual bombardment benefiting Georgia Organics. General admission tickets are $45 each; Georgia Organics members pay $40 per person; Garnish & Gather AKTF package is $70 per person. Buy tickets at Xorbia through July 16 (small service charge added at checkout).

Pastured Poultry Week Flies the Coop on July 18. Don’t Miss Out

Through July 18, Atlanta restaurants showcase the outstanding and delicious characteristics of pastured poultry during the fifth-annual Pastured Poultry Week. Flock to Aria, Bellina Alimentari, Gunshow, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails and Seed Kitchen & Bar – all are featuring special pastured poultry dishes on their menus. More info on our Atlanta Dish blog.

Matthew Ridgway Reps The Southern Gentleman and Gypsy Kitchen at Piedmont Park Green Market Chef Demo July 16

Multi-talented chef Matthew Ridgway parlays Spanish inspirations through the kitchen of Gypsy Kitchen and spins modern takes on Old South traditions at The Southern Gentleman gastropub. This Saturday, July 16, Ridgway branches out even further, leaving his two wards in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta to lead the chef demo at the Piedmont Park Green Market. Stop by and tuck a few of his ideas into your market basket along with those locally grown and Georgia-made goodies. Market hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

What’s New on Pinterest: Chill Out and Cool Off with Our Brain Freeze Board!

Brain Freeze churns slushies, milkshakes and smoothies to put the kibosh on the sidewalk-egg-frying days of summer. A homemade frosted coffee calls on caffeine and creamy goodness to perk up a hot and heavy summer afternoon. A vanilla latte protein smoothie freezes away hunger pangs. Save the perfect green smoothie formula chart and become a mean, green smoothie-making queen. How to eat a blueberry muffin without leaving a trail of crumbs? Trade crumbs for a purple mustache and slurp a healthy blueberry muffin smoothie. Be sure to stockpile a kid-pleasing slush fund with Coca-Cola slushies, Dr. Pepper slushies, color-layered sunset slushies, tropical slushies and more.

Andreas Müller of Revival Demos at Peachtree Road Farmers Market July 16

Revival executive chef Andreas Müller communes with locally grown produce and those who seek its garden goodness when he demos at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market on Saturday, July 16. Müller’s soul-filled Revival menus pull from Southern plow to plate so he’s a natural for this teaching stint. Saturday hours for the market at The Cathedral of St. Philip are 8:30 a.m.- noon. Needless to say, early birds catch the best selections at the state’s largest producer-only farmers market.

The Beat Goes On with Live Music at Ray’s at Killer Creek on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights

Sometimes, hot summer nights call for air-conditioned comfort, cool cocktails and real cuisine on real plates, not plastic. So long, outdoor concerts. Hello, live music at Ray’s at Killer Creek. Head to the lounge and bar area of the popular Alpharetta restaurant for live music on Thursday nights from 6-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 p.m. No tickets to buy, no cover charge, just a full menu of libations and shareable bites as well as substantial salads, handhelds, specialties and desserts. Here’s the calendar lineup:

Marty Manous --Thursday, July 14 and July 28

Lauren Jordan -- Friday, July 15

David Pretlow -- Saturday, July 16

Perry Kit -- Thursday, July 21, Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 30

Lee Gamble -- Saturday, July 23

Jacob Newman -- Friday, July 29

Garrett Teckmyer of The Big Ketch Buckhead Sails to Milton’s Garden Dinner July 17

Chef Garrett Teckmyer, executive chef at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead, puts down the fishnet and picks up the plow, so to speak, landing a special appearance at the July 17 Garden Dinner at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple. The Milton’s Acre garden harvest guides the night’s farm-to-fork menu for Teckmyer and Milton’s executive chef Derek Dollar. Guests enjoy libations and passed hors d’oeuvre upon arrival at the 7-9 p.m. food fête, and they’re welcome to tour Milton’s Acre. A memorable four-course meal follows, served family style on communal tables set amid garden rows and accompanied by wine and a cellist’s soothing music. Menu items may include squash blossoms stuffed with prosciutto and cream cheese; pimento cheese and crawfish; or roast duckling with fingerling sweet potatoes, oyster mushrooms, heirloom snap beans and candied pecan apple butter. Regardless, it’s all downright delicious. Buy tickets online, $135 per person plus service fee (non-refundable tickets include reception, dinner with wine, tax and gratuity).