Spring is Here. Truly. Time to spring forward with menu ideas, swapping in-season freshness (think pea, fennel and mint soup) for winter’s rib-sticking stews. Make aheads of chickpea, tomato and basil salad, spring rolls and tomato-basil-artichoke chicken help get chow on the table fast. Turn spring’s greens into a cheery cherry tomato, leek and spinach quiche; spring vegetable gnocchi; asparagus-goat cheese soufflé; beet, avocado and grapefruit salad; or a spring pizza with egg, prosciutto and asparagus. Blend smoothies for slurpable nourishment on the way from point A to point B activities or stir sippable cocktails and teas for relaxing at home or outdoor concerts. And, we have a sweet spot for pretty desserts -- pavlova with berries and lemon curd, pastel macarons, strawberry pie and blueberry Key lime cupcakes to name a few.
The sugary gems pastry and chocolate chef/lover Daniel Jongsma turns out rival jewels to those in any store or museum…excepting these are also edible. See for yourself on Daniel.83. Did we mention he’s on the Dutch pastry team (Team NL) and won a bronze medal at the World Pastry Team Championship in Las Vegas? A prize catch.
Get ‘em hot, get ‘em cold. Lobster rolls, that is, enfolding tender morsels of the succulent deep-sea delicacy at Brine Modern Seafood Shack in Alpharetta’s Avalon. Order a small ($17.95) or large ($26.95) depending on the size of your craving; both come with a choice of side.
Grab your rubber boots and umbrella and head over to your favorite Tin Lizzy’s Cantina location for free queso on rainy days during the month of April. Dip crisp tortilla chips into that luscious, gooey goodness…and order a couple of margaritas or cold brews to whet those whistles. Oh, queso, so there is some fine print: dine in only with $10 purchase, one per table and it has to be raining, not just cloudy with a threat of showers.
Crack open the world of oyster connoisseurs and collect pearls of wisdom at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in Marietta. Chef/owner Doug Turbush and sous chef Will Puryear pry open a bed of bivalve knowledge at their Oyster 101 Workshop at the restaurant on Saturday, April 14. Soak up how-tos: shuck like a pro; prepare oysters at home; appreciate oyster flavor profiles; oyster history and sustainability; and oyster etiquette. Employ tasting sheets and a tasting wheel to stimulate oyster “merroir” discussion when enjoying a selection of six raw oyster varieties along with a glass of sparkling wine for workshop “students” ages 21 and over. Class begins at 3 p.m. on the dot and concludes by 4:30 p.m. so attendees can dive right into an exclusive Oyster 101 Happy Hour marked by half-price oysters. Class size caps at 24 participants. Buy tickets now or you’ll be saying “Awe, shucks, missed that boat.” $45 per person plus small online service fee. Know before you go: Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar is the first restaurant in Georgia to be an official partner of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. Drift’s ship-shape crew is committed to procuring the highest quality, sustainable seafood available, encouraging healthy oceans for generations to come.
They spread their enthusiasm for gusto! daily, raving about its fresh bowls, wraps and bold global flavors. gusto! guests are the best brand ambassadors around. On Saturday, March 31, gusto! celebrates these devotees with a T-rrific BOGO special. Wear a gusto! T-shirt to either of the restaurant’s two locations during lunch or dinner and purchase a bowl or wrap to receive a free bowl or wrap (max value $8.95). Sharing the gusto! love with a friend is encouraged (but optional). Buy a T-shirt anytime for $20 at either location. March 31 hours: gusto! Peachtree, 1935 Peachtree Road, NE, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; gusto! Ponce, 782 Ponce de Leon Avenue, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. with a DJ on the patio from 12-4 p.m.
Sean and Becky Yeremyan are expecting number three! The couple will open a third HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Dunwoody’s Perimeter Place (1221 Ashford Crossing) with a due date sometime late this summer. Classic, Southern-inspired comfort food and a cozy, friendly environment endear the original Midtown location and Town Brookhaven outpost to customers, and these traits will carry across the perimeter into Dunwoody. In addition to a chef-driven menu of tavern fare with Southern flair, HOBNOB offers one of the most comprehensive bourbon lists in the Southeast and an extensive selection of craft beer, wine, boozy and non-alcoholic milkshakes and signature handcrafted cocktails. The Dunwoody location will be the perfect place to stop in after a long day of work or shopping. Area businesses will appreciate what HOBNOB’s new catering menu will do to feed productive meetings. HOBNOB Perimeter will serve lunch weekdays, dinner nightly and weekend brunch as well as serving up live music and daily specials such as Slider Night and BBQ Thursdays. Sean Yeremyan says “many Brookhaven customers told me they live in Dunwoody and would love to have HOBNOB there.” Wish granted.
We “fore”-see a week of highly focused pros and incredible skills playing out at the Masters Tournament over the week of April 2-8. Perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones like Umi executive chef Fuyuhiko Ito cruising toward Augusta National Golf Club to follow golfers on practice or final rounds. If not, instead of puttering around in despair, pull on your golf shirt or cap and venture to Atlanta eateries teeing off Masters-themed specials and just-like-being-there viewing options.
Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland encourages golfers and duffers to “witness a tradition unlike any other with a tavern unlike any other.” A Masters-themed food and drink menu drives the course April 5-8, flagging egg salad, pimento cheese, bar-b-que, chicken breast or turkey sandwiches ($5-$6); fries, sweet potato fries or field greens salad ($3); Miller or Stella Artois drafts ($4-$5.50) and golf-y cocktails including John Daly, Sand Wedge, Transfusion and Green Jacket ($6-$7). The Masters Tournament will play out on all televisions, volume on. To open tournament week, Atkins Park is tapping into a special Masters draft beer at 8 p.m. Monday, April 2.
All three Henri’s Bakery locations -- Westside, Buckhead and Sandy Springs -- are teeing up a $7.99 Masters special, available April 5-7. Grab the same kind of lunch items tournament attendees can claim at Augusta’s tradition-laced golf club: a pimento cheese or egg salad sandwich, Arnold Palmer drink and a green shortbread cookie.
The hunt is on for prized places to honor Easter over brunch, lunch or dinner on Sunday, April 1. Dig into our dining destination-filled basket for egg-ceptional restaurants offering special menus, buffets and some Easter Bunny sightings. Feast on roasted meats and an eggs-traordinary salad bar, dining indoors or out on the patio, at Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse in Buckhead and receive a complimentary slice of carrot cake for dessert when enjoying Easter brunch from 1-3:30 p.m. ($34.50 per person) or Easter dinner ($44.50 per person). A few more options, already in our basket (well worth repeating), are 5Church Atlanta in Midtown's Colony Square, classy American Cut in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta and elegant Livingston Restaurant & Bar in Midtown’s historic Georgian Terrace Hotel. Bring appetites and smartphones/cameras for lovely Easter photos. Go ahead and hop over to our blog list – and remember to crack open the reservation links or phone numbers to save your seats or you might be dining on Peeps and jelly beans instead of succulent roasted meats and garden-fresh salads.
All morning long, thoughts race toward tacos. And something you can stick a fork or spoon into, like leafy greens and bean mix or a thick soup. Truth be told, your appetite feels bigger than your wallet. Babalu Tapas & Tacos in Midtown serves a delicious solution -- a lunch special available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at price points of $7.99, $8.99 or $9.99. Full-filling news: each option includes a side of either the soup of the day or the fan-favorite of Babalu chop salad, which boasts healthy romaine, black beans, Anaheim peppers, red onions, grilled corn, tomatoes, toasted pumpkin seeds, cotija cheese tossed with a house lime vinaigrette. Choose between enchilada of the day, half portion of Babalu chop salad or two tacos. For $8.99, select tacos of the day, chicken satay or a black bean burger. Up it to $9.99 and choose something like a Cubano Torta, a Baba burger or a fresh and delicious grilled shrimp/strawberry salad. Babalu’s taco list boasts seven different tacos pleasing meat, seafood and veggie lovers alike. Save the day and lunch bunch dollars by spreading the word!
Spot on! Revival Tea Time at the bar is back. While away two of the happiest hours of the day, 5-7 p.m., every Wednesday through Friday. Chef Kevin Gillespie’s Decatur restaurant tweaks British tea time in a uniquely Southern hospitality-ish way with spirited drinks and snacks (heartier than petit fours). Stopping by after work is just your cup of high-test tea. And if Tea Time segues into a dinner of Revival’s Southern cuisine, we say, “Cheers, y’all!”
The Regent Cocktail Club invites its rooftop patio friends to “Spring into Rosé All Day” from 4 p.m. until midnight on Thursday, March 29. See the world through Whispering Angel rosé-filled glasses, priced at $10 each (regularly $15/glass) and nosh on passed hors d’oeuvre at this spring season launch hosted by Paul Chevalier, national fine wine director at Shaw Ross Imports (importer of this fine dry rosé from Provence, France). Lilac Wine pours out live music from 6-9 p.m. then DJ EU mixes and spins tunes from 9 p.m. until midnight for guests. The classy, open-air cocktail lounge above American Cut steakhouse in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta raises the bar by providing a Peachtree skyline view along with bubblies, wines, brews and handcrafted cocktails. R.S.V.P. at rmihanyar@ldvatlanta.com.
A foraging we will go. Or, thankfully a nearby scouter has sought and found local chanterelles for Aria chef Gerry Klaskala to sauté with olive oil and shaved shallots for a sprightly addition to the restaurant’s seasonal mix. Take a walk and absorb the sunshine and the view knowing to find these treasures you’ll only have cast eyes on Aria’s salad and soup selections.
Toss the Peeps and jelly beans in favor of Easter Delights. Cheesecake-filled chocolate Easter eggs, cupcakes topped with shaved chocolate nests and Cadbury mini eggs and “golden” chocolate eggs. Dye eggs for fun then devil them for the Easter spread. Italian Easter torta, braided Easter bread, cute bunny biscuits and Easter tea cakes are too precious to pass up, as are spring table settings and luscious entrées. And actually, bright Peeps do look pretty cute bouncing up straws or hopping atop Jell-O shots.
Amaury Guichon takes the cake -- and tarts, tortes, pralines and pastries -- to extraordinaire. Like what you see? Feed your face with more delicacies and instructional video clips from this Las Vegas-based international pastry consultant/instructor on Facebook.
The Alden, a sleek, yet casual restaurant coming soon to Parkview on Peachtree in Chamblee, is set to satisfy a lengthy wish list: farm-to-table; open-kitchen concept; local, organic and sustainably sourced ingredients; healthy menu selections; and artful and delicious “American” cuisine with modern global inspirations. The restaurant’s mission statement checks those boxes and more, striving to serve exceptional food and drink in a convivial atmosphere of gastronomic gratitude with respect and appreciation for the Earth’s bounty and the art of service. Chef Jared Hucks returns to his hometown after building a 20-year career as a chef working in Michelin-starred restaurants across five continents -- and, he’s done his homework on what Atlantans desire when dining out. The Alden is set to open this spring at 5070 Peachtree Boulevard, Suite B-140 in Chamblee, initially serving dinner Tuesday through Sunday and adding Friday and Saturday lunch service at a later date.
Hippity-sippity-hop to the historic Georgian Terrace Hotel and burrow down into Edgar’s Proof & Provision, Midtown’s coolest basement bar, for high-spirited Hoppy Hours on Thursday, March 29. Partnering with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Edgar’s carries out its well-earned reputation for creating craft cocktails and inventing innovative libations centered on the distiller’s Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition. Enjoy two specials from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Gangs of New York -- Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition, cacao, Amaro Averna and bitters ($12); and The Classic Duo -- Scofflaw POG Basement IPA plus a shot of Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition ($12). Chef Mark Breault plays his hand showing snacks in step with the season. Hop back to Livingston Restaurant + Bar, upstairs in The Georgian Hotel, to enjoy a repeat of Hoppy Hours on April 18.
PlumpJack Winery bears the name of one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters, Sir John “PlumpJack” Falstaff. The fun-loving, down-to-earth guy with a convivial spirit was known to tip “more than a few” goblets with Prince Henry V. Intrigued? Share some goblets of PlumpJack yourself at Ray’s at Killer Creek’s PlumpJack Wine Dinner on Wednesday, April 4. Guest speaker Scot Gaffney of PlumpJack, CADE and Odette wineries will be on hand to chat with guests as they enjoy executive chef Mike Fuller’s multi-course menu with wine pairings. The 6:30 p.m. evening cruises through lobster biscuits and ripe pear with cave-aged bleu cheese, shaved ham and lavender butter served with Perrier-Jouet grand brut; lemongrass-seared bay scallops with 2016 CADE sauvignon blanc; grilled Alaskan king crab with 2016 PlumpJack chardonnay; spring lamb kibbeh and 2015 CADE Estate cabernet sauvignon; prime, dry-aged strip with vanilla bean demi paired with 2015 PlumpJack Estate cabernet sauvignon, Oakville; foie gras tarte with blueberry compote joined by 2015 Odette Estate cabernet sauvignon, Stag’s Leap District; and an end note of raspberry, peach and pepper crème brûlée with caramelized bacon paired with 2015 PlumpJack syrah. Cost is $150 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Space is limited and credit card-held reservations are required. Call 770-649-0064.
Because “the ultimate local food is the food you grow yourself,” Georgia Organics is planting an organic gardening workshop smack dab center in a well-irrigated urban setting, 5 Season’s Brewing on Atlanta’s Westside. On Tuesday, March 27, rub elbows over beer, enjoy local farm tastes then glean seeds of knowledge -- seven steps to creating your own organic garden, what to plant and when, controlling bugs and diseases organically and more -- from Mike and Judy Cunningham of Country Gardens Family Farm in Newnan. The 6-8 p.m. event is free for Georgia Organics members and $25 per person for everyone else. Plant your registration here. See you at the watering hole! Bib overalls and gardening gloves not required.
Paella, the savory, rice-based staple of Spanish cuisine, is a dish to celebrate over and share with friends, and Bulla Gastrobar presents the perfect place on National Spanish Paella Day. On Tuesday, March 27, gather on the Midtown restaurant’s patio for a Paella Day Celebration and watch Bulla chefs prepare a huge pan of paella over an open flame and dole out complimentary samples during happy hour from 5-7 p.m. One lucky guest will win a $50 Bulla gift card. Bulla bartenders will serve $5 red sangrias all day long keeping that fiesta-like feeling flowing. Salivating for more? Large plates of paella made for sharing are available on the dinner menu, made with Valencia-style rice, calamari, prawns, clams, shrimp, red sofrito and saffron ($39). Plentiful validated parking is available at 12th and Midtown.
