Ormsby’s New Menu Offers Just Right Season’s Eatings

Ormsby’s executive chef Nick Anderson has his own kind of spring cleaning -- giving some cold weather craves time off and ushering spring’s seasonal flavors onto the menu. Pork belly bites with General Tso’s sauce, green onion and cilantro ($7) are new “Snacks & Starters,” and a cornmeal-crusted Georgia trout with roasted spaghetti squash, seasonal beans, pecans, arugula, basil and saba ($18) is a fine new entrée catch. Sandwich devotees chomp into several newbies: a Philly sandwich true to its namesake with house-made “cheese whiz” on a pretzel hoagie ($13); the roast beef sandwich with horseradish cream, arugula and onion on rye ($12); and the veggie ciabatta plump with grilled portobello mushroom, mozzarella, tomato, arugula and saba ($10). Crispy s’more sandwich with house-made whipped cream ($4) camps out in the dessert section. Lots of go-with options in the craft beer and cocktail department! Westsiders note, several Ormsby’s favorites have Cinco de Mayo potential – guac and warm tortilla chips ($7), crispy shrimp tacos ($13) and the black bean burger with tortilla chips, guac and aged cheddar ($10).

Ormsby’s New Menu Appeases Daily Grind with Veggie Grinder, Black Bean Burger, Milk Stout Chocolate Custard and More

Get a load of Ormsby’s executive chef Nick Anderson’s plump black bean burger ($10) wearing tortilla chips and guac (yes, you can have it all), Adda’s blackened chicken Greek salad ($12), Uncle Lenny’s Southern Cuban ($11), the veggie grinder ($10) and veggie bowl ($10) – all among the newbies and old favorites on Ormsby’s fall menu. Break from darts or another of Ormsby’s goodtime games to share pork belly bites ($7) or shrimp and crab risotto balls ($7) over a few beers or handcrafted cocktails. Heavenly milk stout chocolate custard or crispy banana pecan bread pudding ($4 each) and a nightcap promise sweet dreams. Stop by the Westside eatery for lunch, dinner, late night and hours in between. 

Spice Trade Influences Chef Matthew Ridgway’s New Gypsy Kitchen Menu

Traditions live and breathe like the rest of us. Just ask Matthew Ridgway, executive chef of Gypsy Kitchen. In Ridgway’s kitchen, culinary traditions are dynamic, and The Shops Buckhead Atlanta restaurant’s rich repertoire of Spanish cuisine easily welcomes to the fold new recipes inspired by global spices and Southern harvests. New on the Gypsy Kitchen menu are Pinchos Calientes y Frios (hot and cold snacks) like marinated octopus salad, littleneck clams pipérade, foie gras escabèche and uni-stuffed eggs with colatura. The tapas menu welcomes hot mussels with red lentils, chorizo, torn basil and coconut milk; roasted cauliflower and quinoa salad; Pennsylvania duck al pastor with crushed white beans and tamarind ketjap manis; and tuna tartare-stuffed piquillo peppers. New Raciónes (entrées) include Georges Bank cod with green onion pil-pil, glazed eggplant and black garlic migas; braised Berkwood Farms pork jowl with romesco and roasted heirloom apples; and grilled yellowfin tuna fideo with toasted vermicelli short noodles and lemon confit. Looking ahead to 2016, groups of six to eight guests will be able to sit down to family style “Gypsy Kitchen Experiences,” three-course meals featuring entrées such as lobster and seafood paella, whole suckling pig or Moroccan lamb shoulder tagine served with a seasonal appetizer and salad. Ordered one week in advance, the experiences are a surefire way to spice up the cold months.

New Menu at Milton’s Grows from Fall Planning for Milton’s Acre Spring Harvest

Chef lingo of “seasonal” and “local” bear a whole new dimension when the executive chef and resident grower collaborate in planning garden plantings. Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple is such a place, where executive chef Derek Dollar and Peter Kohm, resident grower for the right-out-back Milton’s Acre, work together with menu and guest pleasure in mind. That’s seed-to-fork dining right down to the roots. Dollar’s new spring menu testifies to garden goodness with dishes such as garden herb flatbread with goat cheese-pesto spread and heirloom tomatoes ($10); baby red romaine salad with celery, carrot curls, toasted sunflower seeds, shaved Parmesan, caper blossoms and lemon-basil vinaigrette ($8); chef’s vegetable plate of garden vegetables and almond quinoa, grilled asparagus, garlic wax beans, pickled beets, summer squash casserole and sunflower pesto ($21); honey-glazed bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with aged white cheddar rice grits, yellow wax beans, cracked mustard-country ham demi and black truffle butter ($28); and crispy striped bass with summer squash casserole, arugula and crispy red onion salad, sunflower romesco and arugula oil ($30). More dishes incorporating Milton’s Acre herbs and gems include shrimp and country ham ceviche ($10), deviled farm eggs ($8) and mussels and Sapelo Island clams ($14). Back in November when we were giving thanks for our Thanksgiving Day feasts, Dollar and Kohm were poring over a pile of 40 seed and plant catalogs, evaluating customer favorites, garden successes and other factors while determining this spring’s planting scheme. For their foresight and our backdoor-close, farm-fresh feast, we truly give thanks. Make reservations online or call 770-817-0161.

Fall for the New Menu at Marlow's Tavern

Craving the intense, rich flavors that roasting and searing develop? Marlow's Tavern is right with you, rolling out a new fall and winter menu to appease cool weather appetites. A quick peek points to wild mushroom toast bearing seared oyster, shiitake and button mushrooms with roast thyme brandy cream; lump crabcake with baby arugula, grapefruit, fresh avocado and jalapeño; Asian ahi tuna on mixed greens with miso-soy vinaigrette and crispy wonton; pan-seared snapper; BBQ blazed lamb; crispy short rib with jalapeño and corn grits, sautéed kale and red wine demi reduction; and perfectly seasoned, grilled "center cut" filet with roasted fingerling potato, seared butternut squash and a red wine shallot reduction. Bird lovers the crispy chicken stack of grilled Prestige Farms chicken, Parmesan barley risotto, caramelized mirepoix, seared wild mushroom, sautéed spinach and roasted thyme gravy. There's a Marlow's Tavern location near you, and this is the perfect excuse to visit the newest one at Avalon in Alpharetta.

RA Sushi Adds Four New Salads to Summer Menu

Four crisp, new salads from RA Sushi Bar Restaurant are the newest additions to the summer menu. With the Asian chicken salad, the Midtown restaurant tosses together mixed greens, chicken, cucumbers, onions and tomatoes in seasoned soy vinaigrette and tops it with sweet cayenne cashews, fried ramen noodles and sesame seeds ($10). The grilled shrimp and pineapple salad brings together mixed greens, shrimp, pineapple and green onion with Suehiro vinaigrette and sweet cayenne cashews ($11.75). Sushi and salad become one with the sashimi salad that includes tuna, yellowtail, salmon and shrimp sashimi with mixed greens, seaweed, cucumber, avocado, lo bok, poke dressing and is topped with sesame seeds, wonton chips and sliced red pepper ($12). The last salad on the menu is the dill salmon cucumber salad that combines seared salmon with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber asparagus and house dressing and is topped with dill, lemon and truffle salt ($11). Stop by RA Sushi for lunch or dinner from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and freshen up your summer taste buds. 

Marlow’s Tavern Posts Exciting Spring Menu on April 22

The Marlow’s Tavern culinary team spent Atlanta’s cold winter days conjuring up dishes and cocktails to usher in spring. Now, the kitchen is ready to launch the much-anticipated menu on April 22. Two new appetizers are crab beignets and smoked trout dip, featuring Georgia mountain smoked trout packed in a Mason jar and served alongside house-made “wheat thins.” Powerful new salads include a baby kale Caesar and two spring green-based items -- ahi tuna niçoise with Kalamata olives, parslied fingerling potato, jumbo asparagus, chopped egg and house-made lemonette and the Tavern salad with jumbo asparagus tips, sugar snap peas, and toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds with apple cider and honey vinaigrette. Try a hefty new sandwich, such as the grilled lamb wrap with marinated lamb loin, baby arugula and chipotle tzatziki dressing. Strawberry season places RumChata tres leche front and center among desserts. To break that spring fever, try Marlow’s newest cocktails: the Left Coast Negroni featuring DH Krahn gin, Giffard Pamplemousse and Grand Poppy.

New Lunch Menu at No. 246 Features Squid Ink Spaghetti and More

Tired of rotating through the same old lunchtime staples? No. 246 in Decatur is introducing a new lunch menu sure to rekindle the love affair with your midday meal. Available on weekdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the new menu features favorites like fried calamari and peppers, crispy cheese, garlic bread with pesto or the No. 246 meatball ($5-$11). Pasta dishes are rich with flavors: squid ink spaghetti with Georgia white shrimp and chilies, smoked bacon and crispy farm egg in strozzapreti carbonara, and shell-shaped lumache with fennel sausage, ancho pepper, garlic and rapini are three comforting pasta dishes ($10-$13). Seasonal plates include Enchanted Springs trout with sunchokes, Brussels sprouts and pancetta ($16) or Springer Mountain chicken accompanied by Mercier apples, celery root and sherry bacon agro dolce ($18). If pizza suits the mood, selections include mushrooms with almond-arugula pesto; pineapple, prosciutto, mozzarella and Calabrian chilis; fattoria with bacon, greens, tomato and ricotta and the classic Margherita ($10-$13). Sandwiches might get messy, stacked with porchetta, crispy Georgia white shrimp or the No. 246 meatball "burger." Chopped, flatbread and Caesar salads can be topped with chicken, shrimp or steak for extra protein ($9-$12+). Your brown bag? That yogurt and granola bar can stay in the office fridge until tomorrow.

Snuggle Up With Ormsby's New Cool Weather Menu

The mercury is dropping and we're piling on layers upon layers to stay warm. Our next trick? Snuggling up with a brand new menu Ormsby's menu featuring a plethora of dishes aimed at satiating cool weather appetite. Crack open the menu online for pages of food, cocktail, beer and wine tempters. A few teasers? Sure. For starters, there are Guinness-dipped pretzels with stout mustard, hand-cut fries with pot roast gravy or other sauces, flank steak salad and a hand-dipped corn dog with Sriracha mayo. Entrées run wild from grilled fish tacos to veal meatloaf, coffee-rubbed prime rib, hefty sandwiches served with house-cut fries or ale-battered onion rings or bangers and mash with house-made brats. Ormsby's has a treat for sweet lovers, too, with chocolate bread pudding, chai tea crème brûlée and baked apple dumplings. Thirsty for more? Devour the descriptions and origins for more than 60 offerings of bottled beer, 16 draft beers and the carefully compiled wine menu. Slip into the West Midtown hangout and ask the friendly staff for a copy of of the menu to experience firsthand. 

Marlow's Tavern Adds New Dishes and Flavors to the Menu

 

Want to add something new to your palate? Because we do. Check out the newest additions on the menu at  Marlow's Tavern locations. With the new season, it's only appropriate to give guests new flavors too. Grab some friends and dive into the Start/Snack/Share plates such as lump crab beignets, sizzlin' feta crostini, hoisin BBQ ribs, killer calamari or beet, quinoa and goat cheese. Of course, we can't forget the classic burger "Royale" of Wagyu beef with cheese on buttery brioche or a grilled chicken "BLT" panini. The talk of the tavern include the grilled salmon with pearl couscous and sautéed kale or grilled "center-cut" filet mignon. Don't forget to treat your sweet tooth with Tavern treats like the milk chocolate-soaked chocolate cake with pecan and "Jack" syrup and a jolt of vanilla ice cream. Rather drink down your dessert? Marlow's mixologists have been busy creating delicious concoctions for those 21 and up. Have a sip of The Fly Bye with Aviation gin, Fire on Ice or Kicked by the Mule. Have little ones? Marlow's has them covered too. They can choose from chicken fingers, pita pizza, "Big Kid Steak" and cheese quesadillas. Yum! 

New Lunch Service Launches July 29 at Aqua blue in Roswell

Aqua blue has been a staple for dinner, drinks and live entertainment in Roswell for more than a decade, and now they're adding a new way to enjoy the global cuisine and extensive beverage collection. Starting July 29, Aqua blue will be to spot to be for lunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Longtime chef de cuisine and operating partner Kien Sam leads Aqua blue's new lunch offering by making the most of seasonal ingredients. Plenty of lighter fare will help you stay bikini-ready for your own seaside adventures. Highlights include "AB" calamari with sweet chili sauce, tempura green beans and shrimp and veggie spring rolls ($4-9). Soups and crisp salads include hot and creamy New England clam chowder; cucumber salad with crab stick, carrots and citrus ponzu; and the Aqua blue house salad with crumbled feta and asparagus on field greens ($3-$8). Sandwiches include an eight-ounce Angus beef cheeseburger, chicken club, and grilled salmon BLT -- all served with a side ($7-$9). Chef selection entrées encompass pasta, seafood, chicken and beef dishes such as six-spice hanger steak and frites; teriyaki chicken or beef; and grilled chicken or shrimp fettuccini ($9-$14). Popular nigiri and sashimi specialties feature blue ribbon sushi duos, a shareable sashimi appetizer and the sushi combination plate, plus individual bagel maki, California roll, veggie tempura roll, spicy tuna crunch roll and more ($4-$12). And don't forget about Aqua blue's extensive beverage menu, which is fair game along with iced tea and other cool refreshers.

Marlow's Tavern Anticipates Warm Weather Appetites with New Menu

There are plenty of warm and downright hot spring and summer days ahead in Atlanta, and our forecast calls for refreshing new dishes to help us get through them. Luckily, Marlow's Tavern is on point with new menu items that will satiate even our appetites. Look for fresh lump crab and lobster dip with toasty pita points ($10.50); Peking duck sliders with hoisin BBQ duck, pickled julienne vegetables and fresh cilantro ($9); the Tavern salad with field greens, Granny Smith apple, toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds with sweet Gorgonzola dressing ($6); a "house-made" black bean veggie burger with house-pickled beets on a whole wheat bun ($8); pan-seared Carolina trout with quinoa fried rice, snow pea shoots, scallion, cabbage, carrot and soy glaze ($17); pineapple upside-down cake with warm maple and vanilla syrup, hand-scooped vanilla ice cream and crisp pineapple ($6) and more. Summery cocktails include the Hemingway Hand Shake, a chilled combination of strawberry-infused Denizen rum, fresh lime and Royal Rose Cardamom syrup; or the Gin Job crisply made with Hendrick's Gin, cucumber, basil syrup, fresh lemon and lime juice and a splash of tonic. Hot weather wonders from the wine and beer list include Fritz Zimmer Riesling, Chateau Laulerie Malbec, Concordia Rioja, Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, Ommegang Rare Vos and Anchor Liberty Ale.

Take Your Next Lunch Break to Try the New Menu at No. 246

By: Jaimie Goss

One of the perks of working in Decatur is the abundance of terrific lunch options at nearby restaurants. The new menu at No. 246 was designed for all the office workers out there who want to take a break from tacos or a footlong sub, enjoy a midday meal and still have time to make it back to their desk on time. 

Most of the new menu items are around $10, so no need to break out the company credit card. Get the meal started with fried calamari with lemon, garlic knots or some crispy cheese for the table ($5-$9). Sandwiches include the eggplant or chicken Parm, sausage and peppers (pictured above), porchetta and the No. 246 burger ($8-$11). And while you aren't running a race, you are climbing the corporate ladder, so fuel up with pasta selections like the spaghetti and shrimp, wood-baked ziti and meatballs, agnolotti, carbonara and manicotti ($9-$14). To show your co-workers you're a team player, order pizzas like the salami, mushroom, Margherita or fattoria-style to share ($10-$16). Chopped, flatbread or house salads can be made for meat lovers as well ($9-$12). Finally, don't forget to add side dishes, like ceci peas, roasted beets, fries, Brussels sprouts, braised greens, fried polenta and crispy onions. Happy lunching! 

No. 246 Crafts Autumnal Cocktails, Toasts, Pastas and Plates

Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee

Fall’s abundance is spread thick as leaves across the menu at No. 246 in Decatur. Look for toasts accompanied by house ricotta and arugula almond pesto or pork rillette, beet pickled farm eggs, whole grain mustard and local parsley. Harvest-fresh starters feature a salad of Mercier Orchard apples, radicchio, arugula, candied pears, cheddar and balsamic and a roasted local African squash soup with dried local apples. Meat and cheese plates are both local and global. Comforting full and appetizer-portion pastas include agnolotti with roasted pumpkin, mascarpone, brown butter and sage; Maine lobster and local spinach join tortellini; and chestnut tagliatelle comes with braised duck legs, red wine agro dolce and roasted chestnuts. Outdoorsy plates feature trout with local braised greens and toasted farro; chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts, local apples and sherry bacon agro dolce; and flatiron Wagyu steak with roasted local autumn root vegetables. Fall-ish beers range from draft Uinta Pumpkin Ale and Terrapin Easy Rider to bottled 21^st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA and Crown Valley Old School Pilsner ($5-$6). Tip a crafty cocktail such as Bewitched mixing pumpkin beer, house-made vanilla vodka, Strega, maple syrup and Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters or the Pimm’s Cup for Fall swirling Pimm’s No. 1, lemon juice, Cynar, house-made limoncello, Georgia apples and cinnamon ($8-$12). 

Out with the Old and In with Marlow's Tavern's New Menu and Facebook Page

With warmer temperatures in the forecast,  Marlow's Tavern is abandoning cold weather fare and welcoming the sunny seasons with exciting new menu tastes ($3.50-$19.50). 
Three new Start/Snack/Share items include burrata mozzarella and fried green tomato in a balsamic reduction on grilled ciabatta; big bowl long beans with applewood smoked bacon; crispy crimini mushrooms and a Szechwan sauce; and nutty Marlow's Cracker Jack. Packed with protein and veggies, chopped chicken salad piles on grilled chicken, hard-boiled egg, bacon, cheese, crunchy romaine, veggies, garbanzo beans, green olives and champagne vinaigrette. 
Big Bar additions are "The" Pita Club; open-faced tenderloin steak with garlic kale pesto and gorgonzola; a grilled chicken panini; and a burger lettuce wrap served with house-made tomato bacon jam. 
New Tavern Favorites include a grilled chicken stack with spinach, oven-dried tomato, fresh buffalo mozzarella, roasted cauliflower, tiny asparagus, onion confit and Parmesan farro; grilled center-cut filet with crispy wild mushroom potato cake, baby broccolini and garlic tomato fondue; and grilled Atlantic salmon with a succotash of Burbank potato, zucchini, yellow squash, bacon and scallion and tomato beurre blanc. Warm chocolate Tollhouse pie with chocolate, pretzels, Oreos, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream is a sure-fire sweet/salty dessert hit. 
The Soon-To-Be-Classic cocktails ($8.50-$9.50) and libations list heralds the coming of the Blueberry Buck, Spiced "Back-Porch" Punch, Cucumber Basil Cooler, Southern Peach Coupe and fresh fruit juices. 
Even more to "Like" is Marlow's Tavern's new Facebook page. The restaurant is streamlining its Facebook presence, combining all eight locations on one central Facebook page. 

New Season, New Reason to Visit Ray’s

Spring is so close we can practically taste it! The chefs at Ray's Restaurants are giving us a chance to enjoy spring flavors with their new three-course menus, by pulling from this season’s freshest market offerings. Guests can choose one selection for each course; wine selections, tax and gratuity are not included in the menu prices. These prix fixe menus are available every day and vary by restaurant:

• At Ray's at Killer Creek, Executive Chef Tracey Bloom's $30 menu boasts entrée choices of roasted chicken breast with bacon risotto and porcini mushroom sauce, Atlantic salmon with herb butter sauce and hand-cut pasta with grilled shrimp and garlic butter.
• A few miles south on the Chattahoochee, Ray's on the River Executive Chef Josh Warner's menu includes entrée choices of goat cheese- and fennel-stuffed airline chicken breast with celery root purée and watercress salad or Moroccan spiced hangar steak joined by Lyonnaise potatoes and Vidalia spring onion. Cost is $39.99 per person.
• Downtown, Executive Chef Ugo Okpareke at Ray's in the City offers entrée choices of mango grilled salmon with a mango BBQ glaze, sesame sautéed spinach and crispy Asian noodles or flat iron steak with blue cheese whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus and wild mushroom demi glaze. Cost is $35 per person.

To round out your dining experience, sommeliers are ready to help you choose complementing wines, and each restaurant has appetizer and dessert selections that are guaranteed to be as delicious as the entrées. 

Ray's at Killer Creek is also offering new Sunday lunch options. Customers can embark on their lunch journey by indulging in a $5 Bloody Mary from Sunday's available-all-day Bloody Mary list. Menu offerings include: 

• Classic French onion soup, crab bisque or soup du jour ($5-$7)
• Meal-worthy salads such as tuna niçoise salad and Chinese chicken salad ($15-$17)
• A soup and salad combo ($12)
• Soy flounder sandwich with spicy Sriracha aioli ($13)
• Jumbo lump crab cake with roasted corn salsa, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus ($17)
• Shrimp and grits prepared with bacon, mushrooms, red peppers and Gouda and Asiago cheeses ($15).

Guests who want to keep their lunch short and sweet can try Ray's $10 lunch menu. Selections include a cheddar burger, hickory burger, vegetarian pasta, chicken sandwich, Caesar salad with calamari or grilled chopped Black Angus beef steak. Iced tea, coffee or sodas are included in the set price.

Refuel at Truffles Grill This Weekend

You're already gearing up for Black Friday, but have you planned where you're going to refuel to keep the shopping momentum going? Luckily, Truffles Grill is right in the thick of all the retail action (think Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and all the fabulous Buckhead boutiques) and takes the guesswork out of grabbing a bite. The best part: the restaurant has just released new menu items like seared sesame tuna wonton, ham and brie on a croissant and chile relleno risotto. Or, if you're saving your super shopper skills for the weekend, try out Truffles' newly launched Sunday brunch menu, available from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Sunday morning treats ($5 - $16) include homemade sour cream coffee cake; French toast with applewood bacon and brown sugar pecan apples; egg sandwich with applewood bacon and cheese on a croissant served with shoestring fries; huevos rancheros that tops a black bean cake with poached eggs, tasso ham, sautéed spinach and fire-roasted tomato salsa; and a trio of Benedicts -- eggs Benedict, steak Benedict, and Low Country Benedict. Truffles Grill is located at 3345 Lenox Road; 404-364-9050.

Tis' The Season For New Menu Items At Marlow's

Cooler weather is trending, meaning sweaters and jackets on the outside and a hot and filling new menu from Marlow's Tavern to warm you on the inside. Baked lump crab bread, for starters, sounds extremely enticing with its creamy blend of lump crab, spinach, mozzarella, provolone, chives, citrus aioli and basil oil on toasty ciabatta. Two hands or a fork and knife are required for the "Everything AND the Kitchen Sink" burger. More succulent proteins include the grilled turkey meatloaf and pan-roasted root veggies; grilled center-cut filet; pecan-crusted trout with roasted spaghetti squash; grilled Atlantic salmon; pecan-crusted chicken salad with crumbled gorgonzola, applewood-smoked bacon and a tomato and honey pecan vinaigrette. New starters and mains range from $11 - $19.50. And, Marlow's desserts ($6) do sweetly sustain one. Choose from fried apple pie, classic crème brûlée with a seasonal twist and chocolate banana bread pudding. Packing more heat than an Irish coffee are Marlow's strong wintry mixes of Blue Berry Buck with Hanger One Blue Berry; River Boat Sour incorporating Leopold's Sour Apple Whiskey; Boulevardier with Wathen's Kentucky Bourbon Single Barrel, Aperol liquor and Cocchi Vermouth; and a Tupelo Honey martini that hints of Deep South sunsets. There are eight Marlow's Taverns to choose from; find the location near you online.

New Season, New Delights at Atkins Park in Virginia Highland

Spring's gorgeous days have us hankering for fresh new tastes to match the season.  Who can get enough tender asparagus this time of year? Always obliging, Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland pops up with new brunch, lunch and dinner menu items to satiate spring equinox-driven cravings.  Blooming on all menus are the chilled asparagus salad with house pancetta, shaved Parmesan, sherry vinaigrette and a soft-poached farm egg ($8) and a Southern classic cheese plate topped with Flat Creek cheddar, Sweet Grass Asher Blue, Sweet Grass Green Hill, local honey, house preserves and grilled bread ($12).  

A spring lunch fave is the chicken salad sandwich on toasted sourdough ($10).  More lunch and dinner offerings include a pan-fried crab cake with mashed potatoes, asparagus and tomato jam ($12 lunch/$18 dinner), lemon-rosemary roasted natural chicken with preserved lemon and roasted new potatoes ($11 lunch/$16 dinner), grilled hanger steak ($12 lunch/$18 dinner) and farm egg carbonara with spring peas ($10 lunch/$14 dinner). Dinner adds a grilled Painted Hills New York strip steak ($22) and lamb two ways -- grilled porterhouse and sausage ($20).   

A weekend stroll leads to new brunch offerings of Kentucky hot brown ($6); bruschetta of spring peas, ricotta, local radish and garden mint ($6); biscuits and gravy ($6); chorizo potato hash with asparagus, roasted peppers and poached eggs ($10); fried egg sandwich with house bacon, avocado and tomato jam ($10); flank steak Benedict ($12), fried green tomato Benedict ($9); and the Highland brunch of three eggs any style, applewood smoked bacon or house-made pork sausage ($8).  

And about that brunch, it's one of Open Table's Diners' Choice "Top 10"  places to go for brunch in Atlanta on the reservation-taking website.  Pop open your laptop to take a look-see and reserve your seat! 

Taste New Menu Items at Panera

It’s lunchtime and local Panera Bread locations are offering samples of their new menu items today. What better reason to hit up your local lunch spot?

sample day!

Caryn and I went and tested the new BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad and Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich. We gave them both two thumbs up. Other new items include the grilled Breakfast Power Sandwich with ham, eggs and cheese on whole grain bread; Fudge Brownies; and Macadamia Nut Blondies.

bbq chopped chicken salad samples

napa almond chicken salad sandwich samples

Also today, when customers purchase a loaf of bread or half dozen or more bagels at participating Panera Bread bakery-cafes, Panera will Share the Dough by donating a portion of the proceeds to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, its local Operation Dough-Nation organization.