Atlanta Restaurants Have Your Back for Super Bowl Action and Home Viewing Parties

Now that we know the teams competing in NFL Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, February 1, the next tackle involves the real "bowl" game -- as in what's going to be on the game-day table for the 6 p.m. showdown and Katy Perry/Lenny Kravitz halftime glitz. Atlanta restaurants are kicking off a slew of game-night carryout options, so delish your guests will go running back to the table for seconds. Those drawn to a big fan base will find a full roster of viewing screens, cold drinks, appetizers and hearty eats right here in the ATL.

Draft a Super Bowl platter to carry out from Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland. Key players include Atkins Park jumbo chicken wings, two dozen either smoked on the Big Green Egg or confit with your choice of sweet chili, spicy BBQ or Atkins Park wing sauce and backed by veggies and ranch and blue cheese dressings ($30); two full slabs of Big Green Egg pork spare ribs with tomato BBQ sauce ($35); one dozen bacon cheeseburger sliders ($12); house-made guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips ($25); and a veggie crudité platter with ranch dressing ($25). Call 404-876-7249 to place your order before Thursday, January 29.

Go big and go home. The Sunday Big Game Package, available at all four Bantam + Biddy locations and Chick-A-Biddy in Atlantic Station, feeds 10 people for $95. Package brings on Sunday night fried chicken (a mix of gluten-free white and dark meat), 50 buffalo wings with blue cheese and celery; mac n' cheese, a dozen pieces of gluten-free jalapeño-cheddar cornbread and a quart each of hummus and pimento cheese with oven-baked pita wedges. Place your order at wecater@bantamandbiddy.com before 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 31 and pick up at the location of your choice on Sunday, February 1 by 2:30 p.m. Jump on this -- limited availability. 

Super Bowl XLIX will run on all TV screens and the big projection screens at G's Midtown and 10th & Piedmont. Game-day highlights at the two Midtown gathering places involve $2 sliders, $2 shorty cans of beer and $10 pitchers of Miller draft. 

It's wings between the uprights at HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, i.e. wings are half-price all day for guests dining in the Midtown restaurant -- whether you're watching the game on their big screen or just want a wing-it Sunday. Team those wings up with $15 SweetWater pitchers and $2 shorties for an all-star experience. Home screening parties, HOBNOB's full menu also is up for grabs as to-go or catering options. For information, call 404-968-2288. 

Terminus City is offering chef Kevin Gillespie's award-winning Southern fare for game day grazing. The menu of traditional barbecue pork and chicken ($15 per pound), sandwiches ($8), Brunswick stew ($7) and sides ($5) will be available, as well as the restaurant's Lunch Boxes ($12 per box), which include choice of sandwich, one side and a sweet treat. All orders must be placed by Wednesday, January 28. For more information, please contact Gunshow at 404-380-1886 or email terminuscity@gunshowatl.com to place an order.

Catch the action from the ­50-yard line at your neighborhood Marlow's Tavern. Watch every pass (or fumble) on bar-area screens while filling up on game-day specials. Marlow's menu wins points for satisfying appetites, sweet petite to linebacker size, and for keeping a steady stream of cold brews and cocktails moving down the sidelines.

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown is in for the long haul, offering happy hour sushi and appetizer specials all day long to cover pre-game, kickoff and post-game conversations. Sushi platters to go score extra points for home teams and include salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and shrimp nigiri as well as a wide range of sushi rolls and vegetarian delights. Customized platters are available, and all platters are served with a full roster of wasabi, soy sauce, ginger and chopsticks. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours before pick up. For more information, call 404-267-0114.

Smokebelly in Buckhead fires up a Super Bowl to-go package that pits pulled pork lovers against smoked wing fans. Or maybe they'll compromise and share the two pounds of pulled pork (substitute turkey or brisket for an additional cost), 25 smoked wings (all flats or all drums add $3), three quarts of sides, 12 signature sandwich rolls and two pints of barbecue sauce ($99, serves seven to eight people). Call 404-848-9100 to place an order.

Pigskin action prep begins with a meaty lineup of Game Day and Family packages at The Pig & The Pearl in Atlantic Station. Game Day packages feed 10 fans and include two bags of pork skins with sauces. The Slider Pack ($65) features two quarts of pork, pulled smoked chicken or Sloppy Joe and 10 cookies. The Rib Pack ($90) lines up two full racks of St. Louis-style ribs, two quarts vinegar slaw and a half pan of mac and cheese. Smoked chicken pack ($75) has two and a half chickens, quartered, plus two quarts vinegar slaw and 12 deviled eggs. Wing Pack ($75) loads up 50 wings and two quarts each of vinegar slaw and Sea Island red pea "baked beans." Family packages are training table ready (24-hour notice, please) to feed four to six folks with four family style sides, cornbread and choice of meat. Choose whole smoked pork butt (5-7 lbs., $130), whole smoked brisket (11-13 lbs., $180) or whole smoked turkey breast (5 lbs., $140). Call 404-541-0930 to place your order.

Twin Smokers BBQ is providing double coverage for game-day get-togethers. The barbeque restaurant's call-ahead catering system is available for mouthwatering meats such as brisket, pulled pork or pork ribs, satisfying sides and delectable desserts. Guests who take advantage of call-ahead ordering (24-hour notice required) will receive $10 off every $100 spent - SCORE! Call 404-698-4707 to place an order.

Ray's at Killer Creek Hosts Woodford Reserve Wine Dinner

Small batch bourbon lovers, Ray's at Killer Creek has four blissful hours in store for you on Monday, January 26. Chris Morris, the seventh master distiller in Brown-Forman Corporation's 140-year history, will be in the Alpharetta restaurant's bar area from 5-9 p.m. If you've poured a glass of Woodford Reserve, you may have noticed his signature on the "Approved by" label. The Louisville native knows volumes about bourbon. Absorb his stories and pour out your own bourbon questions while enjoying Ray's complimentary hors d'oeuvre and sipping Woodford Reserve craft cocktails, available to purchase for $7 each. Please let Ray's know you're coming by calling 770-649-0064.

Gerry Klaskala is Celebrity Chef at Naples Winter Wine Festival

Photo Credit: Atlanta Headshots

Winter in Naples, Florida? Twist our sweater-encased arms and hand us a few glasses of fine wine at the Naples Winter Wine Festival spanning the weekend of January 23-25 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. You won't find grapes growing in Naples, but you will find one of the most successful charity wine auctions in the nation according to Wine Spectator. Since 2001, this mélange of many of the world's top vintners, chefs, wine collectors and philanthropists has raised more than $123 million to improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County through the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF). Aria executive chef and owner Gerry Klaskala is one of the 18 celebrity chefs sailing in from all corners of the U.S.A. to prepare signature dishes at festival vintner dinners in private homes and Naples venues on Friday, January 23. Direct ticket inquiries to Barrett Farmer, barrett@napleswinefestival.com.

The Shed at Glenwood's "Baby, It's Cold Outside Reds" Wine Class

Read any good labels lately? Be well "red" and well fed on Saturday, January 24 by attending "Baby, It's Cold Outside Reds," an informal wine class with food pairings at The Shed at Glenwood beginning at 3 p.m. Over the course of about two hours, sip your way through eight different big red wines from world-renowned growing regions and munch companion specialties from executive chef Todd Richards. $60 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Wines tasted in class will be available to purchase by the bottle at 3 Parks Wine Shop, just down the street from The Shed at Glenwood. Class size is limited. To reserve your glass, call 404-835-4363 or email toddmartin@theshedatglenwood.com.

Appetizing Aperture

Warm your innards with a mug of cider at G's Midtown and 10th & Piedmont. It's okay to play with the cinnamon stick swizzlers. Pick one or more through January 31. 

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Devote Pritchard is a culinary specialist, nutrition consultant and personal chef for Ludacris. His meals and music man make it onto Instagram at @devotefood (and snapchat de_vote). About raps that up. 

What's New on Pinterest

Trek along with us through global kitchens as we explore Flavors Abroad on Pinterest. Tour Europe via Slovak bread fondue, Irish sausage rolls, flan, pierogi, German meat pies, simple beet borscht and Russian doughnuts. Eat up Asia in Thai chicken lettuce wraps, Thai tom yum soup and banh mi with lemongrass pork. Those selfies showing you eating some exotic dish in front of a famous landmark? Well, that landmark will be your own stove.

Tin Lizzy's Cantina Names Tory Bartlett as Its First CEO

Hey amigos, Tin Lizzy's Cantina has its first chief executive officer. The Atlanta-based neighborhood taqueria and bar has promoted chief operating officer Tory Bartlett to CEO. Bartlett will spearhead strategic expansion throughout the Southeast including a 2015 opening in Greenville, South Carolina and three more Georgia locations in Duluth, Augusta and downtown Atlanta. Look for more FlexMex next year in Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. Bartlett knows his dishes. He began his restaurant career as a dishwasher and cook at Hooters of America, Inc. Twenty years and several career moves later, he became Tin Lizzy's COO and led Tin Lizzy's to record performance. Now he'll "taco" the reins as CEO. Best wishes for years of success!

Article 14 Digs Back to Pre-Prohibition Days for Presidential Seal Cocktail

Another tip-able testimony to the what's-old-is-new-again truism is the Presidential Seal, cocktail of the month at Article 14. A couple of good drinking stories here. Sometimes known as the Seelbach, the libation has glamorous beginnings, being concocted in pre-Prohibition days for high rollers at the Seelbach Hotel (now Seelbach Hilton) in Louisville, Kentucky. Jefferson's Very Small Batch Kentucky bourbon plays a very big part in Article 14's updated rendition. In the Presidential Seal, this bourbon, distilled in "ridiculously small batches," builds a highly drinkable dossier along with Pierre Ferrand dry curacao, Angostura and Peychaud's bitters and Champagne. Distillery founder Trey Zoeller and his dad Chet chose Thomas Jefferson to personify their small batches based on Jefferson's sense of curiosity. Perhaps if Article 14 had been around back in the day, President Jefferson would have imbibed of such and placed his seal of approval on this spirituous, new traditionalist cocktail.

Pre-Order Your Signed Copy of Kevin Gillespie's "Pure Pork Awesomeness" Cookbook

Photo Credit: Angie Mosier

Hogwash to winter. Gunshow's website hints spring is squealing round the bend. The clue? Not daffodils. The pre-order link is up for signed copies of chef Kevin Gillespie's new cookbook, "Pure Pork Awesomeness," releasing March 31. In his second cookbook, Gillespie shares his unbridled passion for pork in 100 worldly recipes -- and puts you in the know on selecting, preparing and enjoying the tattooed chef's favorite meat. A few bacon-baiting examples are banoffee trifle with candied bacon and bacon popcorn. Poke around on the Gunshow website and hit the General Store tab or tap this link to reach the pre-order page. Ordering your book ($30 each) from Gunshow guarantees you'll receive a first-edition book, signed by chef Gillespie himself and shipped out to you on the release date of March 31. So purely awesome, you'll want to order at least one to give and a keeper for yourself.

Happy Hour All Day at RA Sushi on January 19

There's no better place to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day than Atlanta, and on Monday, January 19, there's no better place to eat than RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown. We suggest honoring our hometown hero by coming together for a day of service in the community. Afterwards, stop by RA Sushi to enjoy your favorite happy hour specials including Viva Las Vegas rolls and "RA"kin' shrimp along with creative cocktails such as the Lotus Blossom and Tokyo Peach at special happy hour prices all day long from 11 a.m.-midnight. RA Sushi guests can obtain two hours of validated parking in the 1010 Midtown parking garage off Crescent Avenue.

Bowled Over by National Soup Month

Photo Credit: Stefan Zander Seems every January, there's a hotly contested battle as soup spoons and outdoor temperatures vie to see which will dip deeper and faster. Cool it, climate. Our bouillon's on spoons diving down into the depths of deep cups and bowls of soup at Atlanta-area restaurants. Let no drop be left behind. At Nikolai's Roof atop the Hilton Atlanta, Chef Stephanie Alderete's red beet and beef borscht consommé ($12) is simply unbeetable, paired with fennel pollen, crème fraîche and smoked duck. Spuds, bacon, scallions and cheddar cheese buddy up in Chef Todd Richard's loaded potato soup at The Shed at Glenwood. A gluten-free soul warmer at $8/cup. Lean, freshly ground bison is the key ingredient in Karen's "Flying-D" bison chili, a menu favorite at the 13 Ted's Montana Grill locations across metro Atlanta. Karen Averitt, Ted Turner's personal chef of 22 years, developed the recipe while home on the range at Turner's Flying D ranch in Montana. Savor her warm and filling tribute to the Great American West by the cup ($5) or bowl ($7). Let the equatorial sun shine into your January with a bowl of Caribbean lobster bisque at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead. Dive into lobster, blue crab, tomato and island spices in a cup ($4.95) or bowl ($6.95). 10th and Piedmont ladles up a "souperior" bowl of tomato bisque ($6). Buttermilk biscuit croutons, Parmesan and fried basil backstroke on top. Race your friends to a bowl.

G's Midtown Serves Ribs & Ryes Menu through January 20

Spin the bottle back in time on American culinary history, and it points to rib roasting and rye whiskey right there in the early days. G's Midtown spins the bottle forward for its Ribs & Ryes menu, available through January 20, pouring America's spirit into rye-witted cocktails and sauces for slow-cooked meats. Baby back ribs glazed in Georgia peach rye BBQ sauce rack in praises alongside smoked baked beans, coleslaw and Parmesan truffle "chips," and pork ribs in a plum and rye glaze target cold weather appetites with skillet mac and cheese and green beans (both priced at $16/full rack and $10/half rack). Bone-in beef short ribs ($14) are slow braised with red wine and rye whiskey while whipped garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, celery and onions catch saucy fall-off-the-bone morsels. More proof lies in the drinks. Catcher in the Rye is a classic sipper of Doc Holliday Double Barrel Rye whiskey, OJ and a splash of vermouth; Sazerac heightens Bulleit rye whiskey with Peychaud's bitters and absinthe; a honey rye old fashioned embellishes Doc Holliday Double Barrel Rye with honey maple simple syrup, Angostura bitters and a cherry; and the Diamondback bites with Doc Rittenhouse Straight Rye, AppleJack and Green Chartreuse. These featured rye-tails are $9 each; rye shorties are $4. Call your friends and call G's to reserve a table at 404-872-8012. If they're wry on rye, they can order off the regular menu.

Nashville's Humming Now that FLIP burger boutique is Opening January 21 f

FLIP burger boutique patties up restaurant number five this month, opening its first Nashville location on Wednesday, January 21. FLIP creative director and television personality Richard Blais is the man behind the plan, same as at the Atlanta and Birmingham locations. FLIP Nashville chef Chris Cunningham and general manager Jason DeSpain welcome guests to enjoy FLIP's high-quality burgers, unique combinations and excellent service at lunch and dinner daily, served inside or out on the patio (weather permitting). Ho, ho! Light-hearted FLIP repurposes space in a former Hostess bakery warehouse, emitting a bun-tiful high-energy new life amid mod red and white decor. Menu items rotate with seasonal produce accessibility and feature creative starters and sides ($3.50-$12), salads ($6-$10), about 20 burger varieties ($7.50-$14) and Blais' signature nitrogen-infused dessert-type milkshakes ($5) and liquor-laced milkshakes ($10, adults only). Fun yet sophisticated FLIP burgers include the Earth + Turf mushroom and beef blend patty; the Southern, a chicken-fried beef patty with pimento cheese, bread and butter pickles and Coca-Cola ketchup; a chickpea Fauxlafel with pickled beets and pickled red onion; chorizo-spiced pork with hash browns, manchego and a fried egg; or the Shrimp, a blackened shrimp patty with tempura-fried lemon and Cajun-aise. Add a side of sweet potato tots with burnt marshmallow foam or crispy duck confit nuggets with maple-oy to your RBQ Angus beef and pulled brisket burger -- or protein pack a salad by adding a burger patty or seared chicken. An edgy drink menu yields beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Nashville's new FLIP burger boutique, located at 4111 Charlotte Avenue in the Sylvan Park neighborhood, offers ample free parking.

Kids Eat Free on Wednesdays at Aqua blue

Children ages 12 and under dine free off the kids menu on Wednesdays at Aqua blue in Roswell. Choose a main: grilled chicken breast or salmon filet, chicken fingers, the All-American burger, mini corn dog nuggets, grilled cheese on Texas toast, three cheese ravioli, or fettucini with alfredo or marinara sauce. Add a side dish: tater tots, grits, whipped potatoes, sautéed garlic spinach or fresh strawberries. Limit one meal per child. What about grownups? Aqua blue woos them with globally inspired menus stocked to satisfy a wide range of lunch and dinner appetites and occasions, from social hours to sushi hours to full-fledged mouthwatering main meals. Stop on the way home from extracurriculars or plan a family night out for fresh, seasonal foods the whole family will devour.

What's New on Pinterest

Spoons up! Stew-pendous Soups are a hot topic this time of year. Soups speak to everyone, whether preferences simmer toward protein-rich meat, nutrient-packed veggies or global spices. Keep a pot on the back burner or fire up the slow cooker -- a steaming bowl of hearty soup or thick stew will chase any cold winter woes away. 

Appetizing Aperture

Twin Smokers BBQ mixologists are "Trouble" makers or un-makers, depending on your perspective. Ask them to blend up Bulleit bourbon and High Road vanilla ice cream into a tall Double Trouble adult milkshake ($12). A few sips of this strong-armer will send your troubles packing.  

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Julia Kramer is the associate restaurant editor at Bon Appetit magazine. As if she's not poking enough irons in the fire with that job, she stirs things up on Instagram @juliakramer and tweets during her spare time.

Vote Your Favorites into Jezebel Magazine's 2015 Best of Atlanta

Food, fashion, Fido, fitness, fun. The list goes on with lots more letters. Are there some new faves on your tally going into 2015? Are your stalwart go-tos still pulling rank? Share your thoughts in Jezebel magazine's 2015 Best of Atlanta, casting votes for as many or as few categories as your heart desires. 

Waist Not with Healthy Choices at Tin Drum Asiacafé

Lighten up on calories while keeping all of that modern Asian umami-rich flavor you love at Tin Drum Asiacafé locations. Through Sunday, February 1, all 12 Atlanta restaurants are featuring two signature dishes full of simple, fresh ingredients to help resolution-minded guests "lighten up" their new year. Pad thai noodle (sweet Thai citrus sauce, stir-fry noodles, scallions, bean sprouts, carrots, lime, crushed peanuts, egg and sautéed chicken) and mango stir-fry (sweet-chili sauce, fresh mango, basil, onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, crispy chicken and steamed white rice) are Asian comfort foods that help you stay light on your feet. As another healthy option, calorie-conscious guests can substitute sautéed chicken for crispy chicken or fresh spinach for rice in their selections through February 1. Trying to slow down and pause between bites? Tackling chopsticks works for us.

Register Now and Save $15 on White Oak Pastures' Hooves & Horns Ruff Run March 14

Time to hit the turf on that New Year's resolution and start training for the White Oak Pastures Hooves & Horns Ruff Run canvassing the Bluffton, Georgia farm on Saturday, March 14. Your first step to overcoming the obstacles strewn throughout the course is to register for either a competitive or more leisurely heat. After that, only 3.1 miles of terrain on Georgia's largest organic farm and 10-12 fun, albeit challenging, obstacles come between you and the finish line. Early birds who register and pay the $60 entry fee before January 16 will receive a White Oak Pastures' Ruff Run T-shirt, a free beer at the end of the race (one per entrant age 21 and over) and a special lunch at the farm's own Pavilion restaurant. After January 16, registration fee jumps to $75. All paid entries receive goodies, and everyone will enjoy the day's live entertainment. Register before the 5 p.m. Friday, February 27 deadline or you're out to pasture on this year's run. Kick up more details here or call 229-641-2081.

The Pig & The Pearl Debuts Third Thursday Beer Dinner with Orpheus Brewing

The Pig & The Pearl catapults third Thursdays into a monthly high point with the debut of its Third Thursday Beer Dinner series on January 15. The Atlantic Station restaurant known for succulent smoked meats and raw, smoked and steamed seafood is casting Atlanta's artisanal Orpheus Brewing in the opening brew mastery role. Orpheus' two year-round signature brews are first up, chased by two seasonal crafts. Atalanta, a tart plum saison 5.25%, teams with tuna tartare with ponzu gelée and shiso, smoked oyster toast with celery root slaw and trout tartare with crème fraiche and smoked trout roe. Next, Szechuan pork belly with charred broccoli stem and fried rice plays well with Lyric Ale 6.5%. Sykophantes, an earthy fig sour 7.5%, escorts smoked short beef ribs with white bean ragout, and Wandering Blues, a blueberry sour 6%, complements huckleberry pound cake with sea salt ice cream. $50 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Call 404-541-0930 to save a seat.

The Shed at Glenwood Hosts Winemaker Dinner January 14

Contemplate tectonics, climate and volcanic eruptions with every sip of Davis Bynum wines when The Shed at Glenwood hosts the Russian River Valley winery for a winemaker dinner on Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. Millions of years of geologic and meteorologic activity have built the soil nourishing the vines of Davis Bynum, which specializes in sustainably raised, handcrafted, single-vineyard wines. The 40-year-old winery recently joined the Rodney Strong family, and Rick Sayre, head winemaker for both wineries, will be at the dinner. Chef Todd Richards knows exactly what to serve to complement each varietal, beginning with reception fare of smoked clams, salmon tartare and crab and celery root spring roll with kung pao sauce teamed up with chardonnay RRV 2011. Next, a salad of grilled squid and Swiss chard with fried chicken croutons and pomegranate vinaigrette plus pine nut and Muenster cheese crepes join Jane's Vineyard RRV pinot noir 2012. Venison osso buco with fig relish, olive stew with sun-dried tomato, mint and white anchovy, and grilled Logan Turnpike grit cakes with whipped goat cheese accentuate Clone 667 RRV pinot noir 2012. The night ends with a flourless chocolate cake with red wine chocolate sauce and Auntie Florence's rice pudding with bacon brittle and caramelized apple paired with Clone 115 pinot noir 2012. $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited; call 404-835-4363 to book your seat.

Ray's on the River Hosts Rodney Strong Wine Dinner on January 13

Savor Sonoma County sunshine by the glass when Ray's on the River hosts a Rodney Strong wine dinner on Tuesday, January 13. Over the past 50 years, Rodney Strong Vineyards of Healdsburg, California has earned a reputation for standout releases and best-in-class Sonoma wines. This night promises a special menu complemented by fine wines and the insights of Rick Sayre, Rodney Strong head winemaker. On the Strong team since 1979, Sayre knows his grapevine scoop. A 6:30 p.m. reception opens the event with scallop mousse crostini and Charlotte's Home sauvignon blanc 2013. Dinner follows at 7 p.m., flowing through four courses: butternut squash fritters with Chalk Hill chardonnay 2013; smoked duck cassoulet with pinot noir reduction, arugula, sausage, mirepoix and white beans paired with Russian River pinot noir 2012; cocoa nib-crusted short rib and roasted root micro vegetables with Brother's Vineyard cabernet sauvignon 2011; and dessert of mascarpone spice cake with salted caramel, candied orange peel and micro mint complemented by Knotty Vines zinfandel 2012. $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required; call 770-955-1187.

Award-Winning Author Adrian Miller Attends Bantam + Biddy Anniversary Dinner on January 11

Bantam + Biddy Crescent Avenue has been sharing the love for Southern food with Midtown for a year now. Apropos that James Beard Foundation winner, award-winning author and Southern food lover Adrian Miller is the special guest at the restaurant's especially soulful first anniversary dinner on Sunday, January 11. The evening features dishes from "Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time," the 2014 James Beard Foundation Book Award for Reference and Scholarship winner, which Miller calls a "love letter to African-American cooks." Mingle and munch with Miller over passed bites of mac 'n' cheese, sweet potato greens spoon bread and Buffalo fish ribs at the 6 p.m. reception then dine on catfish curry, cornflake fried chicken with cheddar waffles and banana pudding. $60 per person with an autographed copy of the cookbook or $45 for dinner only. Alcohol is not included. Excludes tax and gratuity. Limited seating; call 404-835-6450 for reservations.

Appetizing Aperture

Southern kitchens have long turned to buttermilk to tenderize and add tang to family recipes. No surprise then that The Southern Gentleman charms diners with its own buttermilk-poached GrassRoots Farms chicken breast accompanied by root cellar tomatoes and okra and brown butter rutabaga purée ($23). Grandma would be proud, once she gets over the fact that this new Buckhead Atlanta restaurant doesn't quite do things the way she did back in the day. Change is good.  

Photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee

Restaurants to be Excited About in 2015

   

Our 2015 bucket list is filled with new dining destinations. We'll keep you in the know as openings draw near. Here's what we're thinking:

Atlas at the St. Regis Atlanta

Bellina-Alimentari at Ponce City Market

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill Roswell

The Blind Pig: Parlour Bar

FLIP burger boutique Nashville

Marlow's Tavern Woodstock

Ray's Rio Bravo Sandy Springs

Tin Drum Asiacafé Akers Mill

Tin Lizzy's Cantina Duluth and Augusta

Terminus City BBQ

Highly anticipated new spot from the partners of Umi

What's New on Pinterest: New Year Nibbles

Still searching for the perfect snack to serve at tonight's party? New Year Nibbles promise foolproof assembly and mess-free eating for your soiree -- and they complement any toasting glass. Good to consider, thus saving yourself from midnight selfie posts displaying the spinach between your teeth and saucy red lips for all the world to see. Bowl game viewing approved, for those looking to double-dip on recipe ideas. 

#Foodgram

Ella Woodward promotes health, happiness and inspiration through her Deliciously Ella Instagram album and blog. Both are therapeutic responses to Ella's diagnosis of postural tachycardia syndrome, showing that thorns give way to roses. In for the long and healthy haul, she advocates a whole food, plant-based diet in her new cookbook, recipe app and in classes she teaches. Start following to find inspiration for a healthier lifestyle in 2015! 

Resolve to Nourish and Flourish in the New Year

It's time to set goals for 2015. Is this the year to lose weight? Maybe eat less fast food and exercise more? Whatever your goals for 2015, Atlanta restaurants are here to help, offering a variety of healthy options for diners. And for DIY-ers, Whole Foods Market has ingredients for cooking up a wholesome lifestyle and prepared foods to nourish your fast-paced life.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill menu eases diners into a healthier new year with signature low-cal bowls such as the Mediterranean quinoa bowl studded with lettuce, cukes, feta, Kalamata olives and tomatoes, and a spunky Meyer lemon vinaigrette or the Asian quinoa couscous bowl, crunchy with macadamia nuts and toasted sesame seeds, fresh herbs and veggies (both $5.95). Crisp salads ($6.95-$14.95) include TBK Smoky Caesar with low-cal smoked tomato Caesar dressing and four gluten-free selections -- Green Goddess, Tropical, Greek and Citrus Seafood Cobb. Grilled ocean-fresh fish pack mega protein in a lean package ($14.95-$23.95). The Big Ketch designates gluten-free options to assist diners monitoring intake. 

Nutrient-dense mangos show up at Tin Drum AsiaCafé in Kang Yum mango salad that loads up on vitamin-rich spinach and ginger to clear your senses. Slurp up pad woon, a street noodle dish stirring up bean noodles, veggies, egg and chicken. Along with shrimp and all-natural chicken and beef, Tin Drum Asiacafé proteins up vegetarian versions of signature dishes with organic tofu. Get these dishes to go if you're on the run, and remember to hydrate with their healthy teas -- green, black, hot or iced.

At FLIP burger boutique, guests can opt in on a gluten-free bun or lettuce wrap for any burger on the menu. Veg-heads will be in heaven here, opting for the vedge beet, black bean and brown rice "burger" dressed with lettuce, tomato, jalapeño, caramelized onion and sautéed mushrooms ($10) and the chickpea Fauxlafel with arugula, cucumber, pickled beets, red onion and tzatziki yogurt spread ($8.25). The raw tuna tartare burger shares the plate with Asian pear, pine nuts, compressed veggies, a mango sphere and avocado purée ($14). FLIP's four salads pack in the greens: Caesar, wedge, beet and goat cheese on arugula or the deconstructed chicken salad on arugula and romaine ($6-$10).

Power foods perch on nests of mixed greens or spinach in Bantam + Biddy salads. West Georgia's own Capra Gia goat milk feta graces the big Greek salad ($8.50). The Power House salad wears a Jb Farm egg, roasted broccoli, sunflower sprouts, organic almonds and more ($8.50). The Southern Cobb piles on your choice of roast chicken or pork, Patak bacon, tomato, avocado, a Jb Farm egg, blue cheese and pecans ($12.50). The organic spinach salad covers fruits to nuts with sunflower seeds, quinoa, apples, goat cheese and sunflower sprouts ($8.50). Grab some greens by adding a side of kale salad or organic quinoa and spinach salad to your entrée.

Whole Foods Market inserts "healthy" before any of these words: lifestyle, eating, cooking, pantry, community. Set aside an hour or two to explore a nearby location or venture to Alpharetta for a healthy field trip to their new Avalon store. Vibrantly hued organic and conventional produce, responsibly raised meats, poultry and seafood, local cheeses and fresh-baked whole grain bakery goods inspire setting and maintaining good-for-you goals. Build a salad and fill a cup of soup for a fast lunch or choose prepared foods for an easy, nourishing supper. Those with special dietary needs will find plenty of options here. Tackle post-holiday cleaning with safe and effective products for the whole home and whole body. Fido and Fifi will appreciate your perusing the Whole Paws aisle for pets. Coffees and teas, beer and wine deliver cozy comfort and health benefits -- select your favorite beverage to take home and savor while garnering healthy pointers and new recipe ideas on the Whole Foods Market blog.

New Year's Eve Plans, Dining To-do List for 2015 and More in This Week's Dish!

Drop the ball on making New Year's Eve plans? We're here to help with our list of dining destinations that are celebrating the arrival of 2015 with special menus, parties and much more. Once you've recovered from the festivities, scope out our list of the hottest restaurants set to open in 2015. Trust us - it's going to be a great year! All that and more in this week's Dish!

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Our Boozy Bites board is a softy for the hard stuff, like whiskey, rum, stout and other libations. Appetizers, mains, desserts -- we've spiked them all. Buffalo chicken beer cheese is a fast party fix. Bacon bourbon BBQ burgers and Guinness-braised short ribs carry the theme to the next level. Dark chocolate and Guinness cookies, bourbon brown sugar ice cream and no-bake Bailey's bonbons are sweet nothings with something extra, and that honey chamomile hot toddy tea cake might just knock that winter cold into next year.