Ever Seen an Oyster Fly? Oyster Flight Night Takes Off at The Big Ketch Roswell April 14

Oyster Flight Night at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Roswell is the ticket to a fast seaside getaway. Luckily, one takes off at 7 p.m. this Thursday, April 14. Oyster Flight Night #2 pulls in eight oysters (four varieties) and four (four-ounce) pairings of local beer or wine as well as hushpuppies and boiled peanuts, all for a mere $35 per person (excluding tax or gratuity). There are no TSA lines to maneuver and oceans of elbow and leg room, but space is limited so reserve a seat by emailing Nicole at nicole@tbkroswell.com.

Hallelujah! Revival Georgia Beer Dinner Series Opens with Wild Heaven Craft Beers April 12

Well bless our hoppy hearts, Revival launches its 2016 Georgia Beer Dinner Series today, April 12, knitting together true Southern brew and chow. Turns out Kevin Gillespie had only to peer into the Decatur restaurant’s backyard to latch onto a brewery run by Georgia native, Wild Heaven Craft Beers in nearby Avondale Estates. Wild Heaven’s mantra, appropriately, is “Serve your neighbor!” That’s the plan as dinner guests enjoy four savory dishes and one dessert paired with six-ounce pours of five different Wild Heaven beers. Friendly fellowship ensues as everyone gathers around communal tables for dinner. Buy tickets on Xorbia, $95 per person (excluding gratuity). We pour out more details plus dates and breweries for June, August and October Georgia Beer Dinners on our blog.

What’s New on Pinterest

Hello, Georgia strawberry season! Our local season begins in late April, and while we dream about Strawberry Fields Forever, reality is Georgia pickings are ripe until just shy of July 4. U-pick-um, farmers market and grocery berry buyers will find a bevy of strawberry-laden recipes on our board. Greet morning with banana-oat muffins, super easy chia seed jam and coconut protein smoothies. For lunch or dinner, find strawberry spinach salad, balsamic chicken and cilantro-lime grilled chicken with strawberry salsa. Happy hour calls for pineapple mojitos, Moscow mules and lava flow piña coladas. Icebox cake, no-bake cheesecake bites, homemade frozen yogurt and easy ice cream are cool anytime. Lastly, stretch the season by oven drying berries or making fruit leather…if you can resist instant gratification.

#Foodgram

The Naughty Fork is one of those Instagram pages that wreaks havoc on your diet plans, as in “I’ll start my diet tomorrow,” knowing full well tomorrow never comes. Fill up on photos of Miami’s best eats but plow through a stellar workout first.

Appetizing Aperture

Although Cotton Calf Kitchen’s strawberry-stuffed French toast would be comfy on a dessert menu, this sweetheart woos Sunday brunch guests at the Braselton restaurant. Chef Javier Viera stuffs challah bread with sweet strawberries and creamy mascarpone cheese then adds a drift of powdered sugar, a smatter of maple syrup and colorful fresh fruit ($13). Cotton Calf Kitchen serves Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. See you there.

Stem Wine Bar Showers April with Australian Wine Tastings

Atlanta springtime, Australian autumn. Stem Wine Bar general manager/sommelier Chris McNeill shifts the focus down under to Aussie wine cellars for the Marietta wine bar’s April wine tasting series. Owner/chef Doug Turbush is on board, preparing six small bites to pair perfectly with McNeill’s Australian wine selections for the 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday night events. Expect unpretentious ambience and a lively flow of wines and conversation but no kangaroos. Still, better hop to buying tickets! A limited number of seats are available, and these events sell out quickly. Buy event tickets by clicking on your preferred wine tasting date below. $40 per person (not including gratuity or small online purchase service fee).

• April 6
• April 13
• April 20
• April 27

Send the Tax Return Up in Smoke – Ray’s at Killer Creek Lights Big Green Egg for Cooking Class April 16

Truth be told, chef Mike Fuller already has enough charcoal to fire up his Big Green Egg. Nonetheless, your personal balance sheet will get a positive boost from learning BGE skills and savoring the results at Ray’s at Killer Creek’s Big Green Egg cooking class on Saturday, April 16 – and that’s certainly something to look forward to after hitting the “send” button or mailing in the tax return. Chef Fuller’s mouthwatering tasting menu features wood-grilled and crab-stuffed artichokes, wood-grilled Silver Queen corn and watercress salad, slow-roasted pork shank “osso buco” and chilled strawberries with white chocolate whipped cream, along with iced tea, soda and coffee. The 11 a.m.-1 p.m. class and meal costs $35 per person/$60 per couple (not including tax or gratuity). Reservations are required; call 770-649-0064. Have a credit card handy to make reservations; card will be charged prior to the event.

Land Free App with Entrée at The Big Ketch Roswell during Roswell Azalea Festival – Dig this Deal Sunday-Wednesday beginning April 11

Spring festivals bloom outside the perimeter as well as inside, and the Roswell Azalea Festival is a biggie, sprouting activities and specials citywide throughout the entire month of April. The event calendar bursts with garden tours, art and photography exhibits, musical entertainment, nature hikes – and a delicious way to get to know one of Roswell’s most-welcoming restaurants, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill. Canton Street’s casual port of call for fresh seafood is offering a special complimentary appetizer with entrée purchase on Sundays through Wednesdays beginning April 11 and continuing through April 27. Entrée ideas? Signature entrée salads and quinoa bowls can be topped with seafood or chicken for an additional charge. Fresh fish, shrimp and scallop, and chicken entrées are available grilled, blackened or jerk style. Reel in Creole barbecued shrimp and grits, Coca-Cola BBQ salmon, island grouper and jumbo lump crab cakes as other entrée options. Come enjoy the Azalea Festival and The Big Ketch appetizer special, delights only available in Roswell.

Snap Up Spring’s Freshest Veggies at Westside Provisions District Farmers Market – Opening Day is April 10

Savvy Westside shoppers on the prowl for tender spring veggies will strike green at Westside Provisions District Farmers Market on opening day, Sunday, April 10. Artisan goods, locally prepared food, music, festivities and more complete the picture during market hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The farmers market at 1100 Howell Mill Road, NW is a stone’s throw from Ormsby’s, where doors are open from noon until midnight on Sundays. Ah ha, a plan unfolds. Gather farm-fresh goodies then slide into a seat at the classic tavern for brunch or lunch along with a classic cocktail or a cool craft beer from their extensive selection. Bloody marys count as vegetables, right?

Smokebelly BBQ Pulls and Chops for Backyard Barbecue & Brews at Atlanta Dogwood Festival

‘Tis the spring festival season and none is more colorful than the 80th annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival sprawling throughout Piedmont Park Friday, April 8-Sunday, April 10. Smart weekend fest-goers will plan ahead and buy tickets to the Backyard Barbecue & Brews VIP Experience going on Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10 from 1-5 p.m. Ticketholders can hang out in the cordoned “Backyard” area commanding excellent Main Stage views and a spacious tent with lots of picnic-style seating. “Backyard” perks frame an afternoon of beer and wine tastings as well as barbecue and picnic fare from Atlanta’s favorite restaurants – including mouthwatering ‘cue from Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead. More good stuff: activities such as cornhole and always appreciated convenient, private bathrooms. Additionally, Platinum VIP Experience ticketholders will receive four drink tickets for beer, wine or cocktails. Saturday VIP tickets are already sold out, and the others are sure to follow suit for the popular party and refreshment zone. Buy tickets here ASAP, $30-$50 each. Children 12 and under enter free of charge.

Go Beachin’ in Buckhead at The Big Ketch Patio Parties Every Thursday in April

April patio parties at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead carry high SPF ratings for Super Patio Fun. Slap a beach emoji on the smartphone calendar every Thursday night, noting that live music opens each party at 5:30 p.m. Deep Eddy cocktails priced at $5 each soothe the day’s crazies. Beer drinking beach-ers can chill with cold ones from Georgia’s own Athens-based Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Seafood? You bet your sand dollar! Start hankering for these features:

• Oyster Roast on April 7
• Crawfish Boil on April 14
• Fish Fry on April 21
• Low Country Boil on April 28

Double-dip in The Big Ketch “Oyster Hour” specials by ordering half-priced oysters on the half shell from 4-6:30 p.m.

Atkins Park Virginia-Highland Tees Off Complete Masters Tournament Coverage April 7-10

It’s 143 miles from the first tee at Augusta National to the patio at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland. You’d need one heck of a driver to master that shot. Or, use your putter and putt into Atkins Park for complete Masters Tournament coverage from the first tee off on Thursday, April 7, until the champion slips into the green jacket on Sunday, April 10. Golfers and spectators alike entertain chances to win raffles, putt for prizes, sip specialty cocktails such as the John Daly, Sand Wedge, Tiger Bomb and Green Jacket ($6-$7), quaff domestic or imported drafts ($3 and $5), collect commemorative cups and munch on Masters-centric food. Egg salad, pimento cheese, barbecue, chicken breast and turkey sandwiches ($5-$6) are just like on the course, except no pollen, no lines. And, you don’t have to carry your own chair. Atkins Park upgrades the concession chip option by offering fries and sweet potato fries ($3) and field greens salad ($3).

A little golf trivia: Which has been around longer, the Masters Tournament or Atkins Park? The first Masters Tournament teed off in 1934. Atkins Park opened its doors in 1922, establishing itself as Atlanta’s oldest continually licensed tavern. Bobby, you’re just a young ‘un.

What’s New on Pinterest

Head into National Garlic Month (April) smelling like a rose with so many ways to transform the pungent cloves into fragrant wonders of Garlic Goodness. Snack attacks call for buttery garlic ranch pretzels (a.k.a. crack pretzels) and garlic naan. Mellow out over roasted mushrooms with garlic and thyme or roasted garlic and spinach white pizza. Accessorize with “Better than Papa John’s” garlic dipping sauce, pickled garlic and other novelties. Garlic wins best supporting role in Cajun shrimp with garlic Parmesan cream sauce, garlic basil chicken with tomato butter sauce, sticky garlic chicken bites, garlic rosemary pork tenderloin and rosemary garlic butter steak. Share the clove love for this healthy powerhouse with your nearest and dearest.

#Foodgram

Hot dogs, pickles, onion and mustard signal take me out to the ballpark or hot dog pizza toppings for the masterminds behind The Food in my Beard. This Instagram source for comfort food twists and mash-ups guarantees there’s never a dull meal. Who can sleep when a maple-Sriracha sauce and sausage gravy cheeseburger with a fried egg on an English muffin awaits at the breakfast table?

Appetizing Aperture

The Tony Award-winning musical “Kinky Boots,” featuring a score by Cyndi Lauper, kicks into the Fabulous Fox Theatre Tuesday, March 29 through Sunday, April 3. Sublime Doughnuts in Midtown is partnering with Broadway in Atlanta to create a special Sublime Kinky Boots Red Hot Doughnut that will be available only over the Atlanta show dates. Pull on your best boots and saunter over to 10^th Street for a pre- or post-show treat.

Roll into Willy’s Mexicana Grill for “Willy Good” Burritos, Tacos, Salads and More

There are burritos. And then there are “Willy Good” burritos. The kind Willy’s Mexicana Grill rolls around choice ingredients like adobe and Sinaloa chicken, chipotle pork, cilantro-garlic steak, Sinaloa tofu, homemade guac and pico de gallo and fresh veggies galore. It’s all “Willy Good” – whether folded into the soft corn tortilla of a Charolita street-style taco, a quesadilla or heaped onto nachos, a burrito bowl or into a Southwest chicken salad, fajita steak or Willy’s salad. Can’t omit refreshing drinks, including homemade lemonade, iced tea, fountain and bottled drinks plus domestic and imported beers. Margaritas chill on the menu at Howell Mill, Midtown, Edgewood, Brookhaven and Peachtree City locations. Something else that’s “Willy Good”? Knowing that with locations all over Atlanta, Athens and Peachtree City, there’s a distinctly personable Willy’s near you.

Bachelors and Bachelorettes, Shimmy to Johnny’s Hideaway for the Final Fling before the Ring

An Atlanta tradition since 1979, Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead has long said “I do” to bachelor and bachelorette groups partying it up before the big plunge. That saying, Johnny’s is passing along some helpful tips for girls who just want to have fun and guys looking to “Shout!” at “Atlanta’s only nightclub for big kids.” 

• Come early in the evening to book a large table or space for the party group.
• Reservations are accepted until 8:30 p.m.; call 404-233-8026.
• Full bar offers everyone’s celebratory beverages -- beer, wine, cocktails and sodas.
• Party-pleasing new menu rings true with shareable starters, wings, sliders, hearty sandwiches and burgers, soups, salads, desserts and daily specials.
• Open late seven nights a week for toasting and dancing the night away.
• Wednesday is Ladies Night.
•  Live music starts at 8:30 p.m. Sundays, and a DJ spins dance tunes nightly.

Master Pasta and Risotto Making or Savor a Spring Dinner, Wines and Cheeses at Bellina Alimentari during April

Bellina Alimentari reminds us that spring is a season of new beginnings -- learning new skills, acquiring knowledge about cheeses and wines, and trying new recipes of tender, fresh ingredients prepared the authentically Italian way. The April class and event roster for the Italian restaurant, market and Culinary Club in Ponce City Market provides a fantastico place to accomplish this worthy goal. Unless otherwise noted, classes occur from 6-7:30 p.m. and cost $45 per person; sales tax will be added at checkout. Register and pay online through each class topic or call 404-330-9933.

• Fresh Pasta, the Italian way -- Mama mia, impress guests with fresh pasta the Italian way in this always popular basic, hands-on cooking class that follows a make/roll/cook/taste (and take home) format Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesdays, April 13 and 27.
• Filled Pasta Making – it’s so easy once you learn techniques in this hands-on class. Plus, students taste and take home their yummy creations. Offered Wednesday, April 6 and Tuesday, April 12. $48 per person.
• Saffron Risotto – discover the art of turning out perfect risotto, a classic Italian dish, on Tuesday, April 19.
• Many Fold Farm Cheeses and Orange Wines are on the night’s menu when multi-award winning cheesemaker Rebecca Williams from Many Fold Farm leads a class pairing her cheeses (some of the best in the U.S.A.) with unique orange wines from Italy on Wednesday, April 20 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; $28 per person.
• The Bellina Alimentari Spring Dinner celebrates the season’s goodness over a three-course meal featuring a starter, entrée and dessert paired with three delicious natural wines on Tuesday, April 26 from 7-9 p.m. $65 per person.
• Three Wine Three Cheese guided tasting explores some of Italy’s finest natural wines paired with local artisanal cheeses on Thursday, April 28 from 6-7 p.m., $28 per person.

Last Day to Register for Cornhole ATL Spring League. Atkins Park Virginia-Highland Games Begin Tuesday, April 5

Cornhole connoisseurs, today’s the day --- the last day for teams and solo “free agents” to register for the seven-week Cornhole ATL competitive and social spring league season. Citywide competition begins Monday April 4, tossing Tuesday night competitions to Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland from April 5 through May 24. Players, you know the drill: three to six players per team, Atkins Park sets cornhole boards and bags in the ready position on the patio and drink specials flow throughout the evening. One lucky registrant from all spring registrations will win a pair of VIP tickets to the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival on May 21. Visit www.cornholeatl.com for complete rules.

A Tisket, A Tasket, Doug Turbush has Smoked Brisket in His Basket at Smoke and Glory "Battle of the Beasts” Cook-Off April 3

There’s a boatload of brisket to smoke on the road to Smoke and Glory, and Seed Kitchen & Bar chef/owner Doug Turbush is going for the glory. Turbush joins other top Atlanta chefs in a head-to-head “Battle of the Beasts” cook-off on Sunday, April 3 from noon-4 p.m. at Steinbeck’s Ale House in Decatur. Each chef receives a raw beef brisket and must follow one rule: smoke the beef. Otherwise, anything goes! While the day starts early for chefs vying for tenderness, doors open to guests, bands start playing and brisket tasting begins at high noon. Judging enters the scene at 3:30 p.m., and the event closes out at 4 p.m. When briskets are polished off, smoke subsides and glory is deemed, two worthy charities will benefit – The Giving Kitchen and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Buy tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com; $60 for guests 21 and up, $20 for ages 12-20 years, $10 for kids 5-12 years, and free for the under-five set. Everyone enjoys the full afternoon of live music and food tastings, and guests over age 21 are privy to unlimited beer tastings from craft brewery sponsors. Good luck, Doug!

Sublime Doughnuts Fools Around with Flavors like Jalapeño Cheddar Fritter and More for April 1st Fooling

Watch out. On Friday, April 1 (a.k.a. April Fools’ Day), sweetly innocent glazed, frittered and filled darlings at Sublime Doughnuts will pack some heat. There’s nothing mild mannered about these altered egos:  

• jalapeño cheddar fritter
• Sriracha and white chocolate doughnut
• scotch bonnet and caramel doughnut
• Buffalo chicken mousse-filled doughnut with powdered ranch dressing.

Imagine the fun of setting these intensely delicious treats in the breakroom and watching faces light up in sweet surprise over unexpected flavor combinations. Priced at only $2 each, this low-dough prank is easily doable, but only doable on April 1. Come on. Be bold. Open 24 hours for your April Fooling pleasure.

Revival Heeds Grandma’s Advice to “Go Outside and Play,” Creates Communion Backyard Bar

Revival gives you a new reason to hang outside with its newest backyard extension, Communion. This soon-to-open outdoor bar allows guests to either unwind over a cool drink before dining at Revival, continue the conversation with post-dinner Old World-style wines or settle in with a European-style session beer and snacks on a laid-back weekend afternoon. Need a stretch? Try your hand at horseshoes or cornhole. No reservations needed to enjoy this outdoor bar. Keep an eye out on Revival’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds to see when this new hotspot opens. Cheers!  

LOL with Atlanta’s Best Comics at The Blind Pig Comedy Session March 31

Atlanta’s wittiest comics will definitely shift your focus from a pollen-coated day to a laughter-laden night when The Blind Pig Parlour Bar hosts the third installment of its Comedy Session on Thursday, March 31. This month’s hilarious headliner is Brian Moote, co-host of “The Bert Show,” with comic compadres Ismael Loutfi, Andrew Markle, Damon Sumner and show host Neal Reddy. In true speakeasy fashion, The Blind Pig is a small, intimate setting. Thus, it’s no joke that the January and February shows sold out. Nab a $12 ticket, available online, while you can and prepare to laugh your head off between sips of your favorite libations. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8:30 p.m. The Blind Pig is located behind Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead.

Atkins Park Mario Kart Tournament Drivers Roar toward DragonCon Tickets March 30

Yoshi, Luigi, Princess Peach and the rest of the pack, start your engines and let the drinkin’ and kartin’ begin at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland on Wednesday, March 30. The tavern shifts gears into Mario Kart Tournament mode beginning at 10 p.m. Entrants compete for a chance to win two four-day passes to DragonCon. Show up, sign up, start your virtual engine and get pumped for the fast track over nearby Avondale Estate’s own Wild Heaven craft brews. Atkins Park will fuel competitors with a Wild Heaven emergency drinking beer for each race. Call 404-876-7249 for more information.

What’s New on Pinterest

Easter Sunday comes early this year, rising up March 27. Poke around our Easter Brunch board for centerpieces, tablescapes and a basket full of recipes, and you’re ready to host in a flash. Welcome guests with sparkling strawberry limoncello and prosecco spritzers or a DIY mimosa bar. Easter hams, sides and fluffy pies and cakes please traditionalists. The eggy edge goes to pull-apart sausage, egg and cheese rolls; French onion and bacon or asparagus Gruyere tarts; goat cheese quiche with a sweet potato crust; gluten-free, crustless caprese quiche; and a roasted beet, baby kale and brie quiche. See bunnies galore in kid-pleasing deviled eggs, fruit platters, two-tone pancakes and more. Cinnamon roll cake pops, no-bake mini carrot cake cheesecakes, Easter egg Oreo truffles and mini Easter egg cakes top Peeps in the sweet and cute category.

#Foodgram

Just goes to show there’s a niche for every nosh. The BrunchBoys capture the brunch-loving lifestyle in photos, videos, brunch maps and blogs for NYC, the ATL and everywhere else. Second helping at thebrunchboys.com. 

Appetizing Aperture

Last call to jump into Bayou ‘n Bourbon at your neighborhood Marlow’s Tavern. After Monday, March 28, it’s “see you later alligator” as the annual NOLA and Cajun celebration slips back down to Louisiana until 2017. Collect your krewe and dig into Marlow’s Lump Crab Dip, a Bayou ‘n Bourbon favorite combining Creole-spiced lump crab meat, andouille sausage, spicy mustard, Asiago, Parmesan crust and a toasty French baguette ($9.50).

Pig Out on Porcine Proficiency at White Oak Pastures’ Own Pastured Pork Workshop April 23

Rather than hog the information trough, White Oak Pastures is reaching out with a workshop to encourage farmers and farmer wannabes to consider adding pastured pigs to their mix. Participants in the Pastured Pork Workshop on Saturday, April 23 will bring home the bacon, so to speak, rich with newly acquired knowledge about hog housing and fencing, feeds, herd health and maintenance, selection, breeding, farm/abattoir transportation and marketing of those mighty fine swine. After all, a healthy hog is a happy hog! The 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. agenda includes a tour of the Bluffton, Georgia farm, lunch in the Pavilion and the in-depth workshop. Class is limited to 20 participants. $60 per person includes farm tour, lunch and workshop, and attendees will see Iberian hogs imported from Spain. Register today through the White Oak Pastures online store (designate “pick up” during check out to avoid shipping charges) or call 229-641-2081. Looks like it’s going to be ‪#hogheaven.

Gunshow Loads Bell’s Brewery in First Slot of Shotgun Beer Dinner Series April 17

A beer dinner two days after “Tax Day” shows thoughtful planning by chef Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow. The nationally acclaimed Glenwood Park restaurant loads its popular Shotgun Beer Dinner series into 2016 mode, leading off with Bell’s Brewery on Sunday, April 17. The evening promises to be anything but taxing as guests savor pairings of five Bell’s beers and five courses created by Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward and his team. As is the restaurant’s signature custom, dishes are presented to dining room guests on rolling carts and trays. The brewery will pour five different beers to match throughout the dinner. Founders of the Kalamazoo, Michigan, brewery believe the health of our natural environment heavily influences the craft quality of beer. Bell’s remains steadfast in reducing the brewery’s environmental impact for a true farm-to-glass experience. Tickets are $125 per person (excluding gratuity); buy online through Xorbia. Seating will be at communal tables and is limited to 60 guests. Mark the calendar for three remaining Shotgun Beer Dinners: Allagash Brewing Company on July 17, Oskar Blues Brewery on August 14 and Dogfish Head Brewery on November 13.

Surrender to “A Crush on Wine” at Aqua blue Dine Around Dinner in Conjunction with High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction March 30

If you have “A Crush on Wine,” you’ll fall head over heels for the “Dine Around Dinner” Aqua blue is hosting as part of the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction – now in its 24th year – going on March 30-April 2. Aqua blue chefs Kien Sam and John Metz are creating an exquisite prix fixe menu that will be paired with fine wines from Cass Winery for this wow-worthy VIP dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30. The Roswell restaurant’s attentive staff will be joined by Cass Winery owners Ted and Lisa Plemons pouring their Rhone-inspired varietals from the central coast of California. This special evening is priced at $150 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 770-643-8886. A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit the High Museum of Art.

The Hunt is Over --- Fill Your Basket with These Eggs-traordinary Options for Easter Sunday, March 27

Perhaps you’ve been so wrapped up in March Madness hoopla that finalizing Easter dining plans has hopped right by you. Aah, but basketball brackets take a break over Easter Sunday, March 27. Time out. Bounce over to our Atlanta Dish blog to find out who’s dishing out the best brunches and dinners around Atlanta and all the info needed to nail down those dining reservations. If toasting the Easter Bunny on a sunny patio is more your style, you’ll find some good eggs on our blog as well. Better get crackin’!

No Question, Smokebelly BBQ Team Trivia Nights are the Answer to What’s Up on Wednesdays

Teams in the know can vie for first-, second- and third-place prizes of $30, $20 or $10 house cash during Wednesday Team Trivia Nights at Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead. The proud-to-be-puzzled will find happiness absorbing facts, pondering select ice cold $3 drafts (all day every day) and feeding brains and brawn Smokebelly’s smoked meats and barbecue, wings, sandwiches and salads. Eighteen televisions and a big screen should do the trick for sports fans intent on following courtside action and tracking stats. Contest begins at 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday night.

Join Wholesome Wave Georgia for an Evening with Nora Pouillon -- Chef, Author and Owner of First Certified Organic Restaurant in U.S. -- March 23

Austrian chef Nora Pouillon turned on the grow light for the organic food movement when her own Restaurant Nora became the first certified organic restaurant in the U.S. Certification requires that at least 95 percent of all ingredients come from certified organic farmers, growers, and suppliers. The Washington, D.C., restaurant’s certification in April 1999 catalyzed the USDA to further develop organic certification standards and guidelines used for restaurants. Pouillon continued down the organic path to become a founding member and current advisory board member of Wholesome Wave nationally. On Wednesday, March 23, join Wholesome Wave Georgia in celebrating Pouillon’s contributions, her memoir "My Organic Life: How a Pioneering Chef Helped Shape the Way We Eat Today" and "Cooking with Nora" cookbook. Naturally, there will be organic bites for noshing, and SweetWater Brewing Company will provide beverages. The party starts at 6 p.m. at Atlanta’s EcoManor. Buy tickets online for an Evening with Nora Pouillon, $30 individual/$50 couple (plus small service fee). Ticket sales directly benefit Wholesome Wave Georgia and its mission to strengthen local food communities by empowering networks of farmers to facilitate access to and awareness of healthy food choices and to bring these healthy, locally grown foods home to all Georgians.

Cast Votes for Johnny’s Hideaway Owner Chris Dauria in Best Self Atlanta Magazine’s “Over 40 & Fabulous!” Contest

Has all of that dancing at Johnny’s Hideaway kept owner Chris Dauria fit and fabulous over the years? Apparently so! Best Self Atlanta magazine has tapped the Buckhead nightspot’s Dauria as a candidate in this spring’s “Over 40 & Fabulous!” contest. Voting opened on March 15 and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 31. Swing your vote his way by gyrating over to Best Self’s Facebook page and clicking on the “Over 40 & Fabulous! 2016” tab or cast an email vote in submitting Dauria’s name to bestselfcontest@gmail.com. Voting is permitted once every 24 hours. The 10 nominees with the most votes will be featured in the magazine’s June issue and will receive prize packages valued at $500. Overall winner scores the magazine cover shot and wins a $1,000 Best Self prize package. Good luck, Chris. You have our vote! 

What’s New on Pinterest

Bag the baguette and spread some Banh Mi, Please throughout the day. The addicting Vietnamese staple chameleons in vegetarian and Crock-Pot bowls, burgers, sliders, pizza, street tacos, breakfast sandwiches, bulgogi and other can’t-get-enough mouthfuls like cheesy shrimp and grits banh mi in a waffle cone (two scoops, please). For diehards, we include recipes for homemade banh mi-building condiments, and beginners can latch onto a few banh mi basics.

#Foodgram

Fit Men Cook has it all -- food, fitness, faith…and Texas. Built in the kitchen, sculpted in the gym, photographed and uploaded onto Instagram to lend assurance that yes, #FitMen and #FitWomen can assemble or cook protein and veggie-packed meals in a flash. Learn some Spanish or dash to Kevin’s YouTube links while you’re at it.

Appetizing Aperture

Hit me with your best shot, or three “Sweet Shots,” when enjoying life at a Tin Lizzy’s Cantina location. The trio straddles the spirited dreamland between shooter and dessert: Mint Kiss embracing Rumple Minze and Baileys Irish Cream ($5); Drunken Pretzel blending Pinnacle Whipped vodka and hazelnut liqueur beneath a salt rim ($4); and Cinnamon Toast Crunch mingling Fireball Cinnamon whiskey and RumChata ($5).

Propel Marlow’s Grilled Chicken Panini and Umi’s Tuna with Crispy Rice into the Winner's Circle of Atlanta Eats’ March Madness Bracket, Elite Eats 2016

Vote the Grilled Chicken Panini at Marlow’s Tavern and the tuna with crispy rice at Umi into the winner’s circle ofAtlanta Eats’ March Madness Bracket, Elite Eats 2016. Both have been selected as two of the 64 most mouthwatering dishes covered by Atlanta Eats. Marlow’s Tavern will vie for the top spot against other dishes in the Slam Dunk Sandwiches division, and Umi will fish for first in the Globe Trotters division. Paralleling basketball bracketing, division champs progress to the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight and the Final Four until one dish claims the “Chompion” title. Voting begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 21, and the first round closes at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22. Cast your votes and follow the competition dates at atlantaeats.com/elite-eats. 

Hop into Atlanta Restaurants and Honor Easter over Dining Specials

Chocolate bunnies, colorful baskets and egg hunts abound announcing the Easter holiday is approaching faster than Peter Cottontail can bounce down the bunny trail. Atlanta restaurants are marking the Sunday, March 27 holiday with bountiful brunches, delicious dinners and “eggstra”-ordinary events. Reservations? Better hop to it!

Intown
Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland hosts Easter Sunday brunch along with dinner specials later in the evening. Call 404-876-7249 for reservations.

The Culinary Club at Bellina Alimentari in Ponce City Market hosts an Italian seafood dinner table -- think fish carpaccio and squid ink spaghetti with shrimp and shellfish -- on Wednesday, March 23 from 7-9 p.m. The three-course meal accompanied by three wines is $65 per person. Bellina's Market has Easter baskets with sea salt chocolate, orange and lemon chocolate-coated Dragées, apricots in syrup, honey and almond brittle and vanilla black tea for $32 each, as well as a decadent candy collection. Make reservations for the seafood dinner by calling 404-330-9933.

HOBNOB in Midtown features brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., including bottomless mimosas for $16.95. Dinnertime brings an Easter dinner special: ham, melted cheddar, grilled pineapple wheel and cabernet gravy all on brioche bread with HOBNOB fries for only $13.95. Reservations: 404-968-2288.

Downtown, join Ray's in the City for an Easter brunch buffet from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; $37.95 per adult and $18.95 for children 5-10. The regular dinner menu is served 5-8 p.m. Call 404-524-9224 for reservations.

Gather around the table at Revival for an all-day Southern buffet from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The feast -- $39 for adults, $12 for children -- features Easter favorites like lamb, ham and fried chicken in addition to seasonal trimmings and a dessert table. Call 470-225-6770.

The Southern Gentleman, located in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, hosts brunch from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The regular à la carte dinner menu is featured alongside Easter holiday chef specials from 4-7:30 p.m. Reservations: 404-939-9845.

Sublime Doughnuts one-ups hot cross buns with its own hot cross bun doughnut for $2.25. Grab the cinnamon currant glazed doughnut between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, March 27.

North Fulton
Roswell favorite Aqua blue hosts an Easter brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. featuring carving stations, made-to-order omelets, blue ribbon sushi, desserts and more for $34.95 for adults and $9.95 for children under 12. Bottomless mimosas and bloody marys are only $15. Call 770-643-8886 for reservations.

In historic Crabapple, Easter Sunday brunch blooms at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails. Executive chef Derek Dollar presents a luxurious three-course, prix-fixe brunch menu from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. featuring items such as sticky toffee pecan beignets, stout beer-braised lamb and fudgy brownie mason jar. Brunch is $32 for adults and $16 for children 12 and younger. A kids menu also is available. Make reservations by calling 770-817-0161.

Known for its award-winning Easter buffet, Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs (770-955-1187) satisfies holiday guests of all ages from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. $45.95 for adults and $22.95 for children 5-10. Ray’s at Killer Creek (770-649-0064) is providing a buffet for Alpharetta diners from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and is serving its à la carte dinner menu between 5-8 p.m. The buffet price for adults is $37.95, and children 5-10 dine for $18.95. Ray’s Rio Bravo (770-612-2829) serves its brunch buffet, priced at $22.95 for adults and $11.95 for children 5-10, between 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Order from the regular dinner menu from 5-8 p.m.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Roswell is hosting a celebratory Easter lunch with daily fresh fish, half-shell oysters and renowned grouper sandwiches. Call 770-993-5749.

East Cobb
Seed Kitchen & Bar in East Cobb loads its Sunday brunch menu with delectables like smoked salmon, crab eggs Benedict and smoked brisket hash, and chef Doug Turbush will offer items especially for Easter. Reservations: 678-214-6888.

HOBNOB Distills Focus to New Bourbon Menu, Signature Cocktails and Tavern Specialties

Spirits are soaring at the corner of Monroe and Piedmont in Midtown -- HOBNOB owner Sean Yeremyan and team have compiled one of the most comprehensive bourbon lists in Atlanta. It’s straight-up sensational with 35 brands of bourbon from our region and beyond, more than 60 bourbon drinks and plans to continually offer off-list surprises. Local craft brews and signature cocktails also enter into the mix, including the tavern’s new signature cocktail, the 1551 HOBNOB Old Fashioned featuring Woodford Reserve bourbon and Luxardo liqueur and providing a smoky flavor created by torching cinnamon and hickory root in the glass. The new Southern-inspired Charleston Brown Water Society Punch made with Buffalo Trace bourbon and dark rum is a patio-perfect sipper. Southern fare joins the menu of tavern favorites including a collards and beer cheese Dixie Dip; a sampler platter of chicken tenders, fish and chips, warm pretzels with beer cheese dip, fried green tomatoes, Southern spring rolls and homemade sauces; a Super Food Plate with Mother Nature salad, fried green tomatoes and sautéed seasonal veggies; and an eight-ounce flat iron steak served with cabernet gravy, onion ring, buttermilk mashed potatoes and collard greens. Tiramisu French toast and loaded breakfast sliders join the brunch menu, and bourbon pecan pie, tiramisu and Kahlúa chocolate tufty crunch sweeten dessert options. When stopping by for weekday lunch, nightly dinner or weekend brunch, be sure to notice the new bourbon-soaked farmhouse atmosphere and the tin roofing enhancements on the patio.

Heaven Sent: Revival Launches Georgia Beer Dinner Series with Wild Heaven Craft Beers April 12

Share the joy of a match made in heaven when Revival unites with Wild Heaven Craft Beers for its new Georgia Beer Dinner Series featuring local craft brewers. Kevin Gillespie and his Decatur restaurant team will host their Avondale Estates neighbor at the series opener on Tuesday, April 12. For this first dinner, Revival executive chef Andreas Müller aligns four savory dishes and one dessert with five different Wild Heaven beers. Run by Georgia natives using European brewing techniques with a Southern bent, Wild Heaven strives to raise the profile of beer in the South in the same way the red-bearded chef/restaurateur has raised the profile of Southern food. Tickets for the 6 p.m. dinner are $95 per person (excluding gratuity); purchase online through Xorbia. Communal table seating is limited to 60 guests. Save the dates for the remaining 2016 Tuesday night beer dinners: Three Taverns Craft Beers on June 14, Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on August 16 and Twain’s Brewery on October 18.

See Top-Notch Kitchens and Gunshow Chef Joey Ward at The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. Tour of Kitchens March 19-20

After tapping your inner BGE OTP, zip toward Atlanta and view hot trends in residential kitchens through The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc.’s 19th annual Tour of Kitchens. Tour takers have two days -- Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20 -- to peek at a slice of kitchen life in 14 fine homes. Scroll through the event program online and plan tour stops to coincide with culinary demonstrations by top Atlanta chefs. For instance, Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward will be on deck in the kitchen of 170 15th Street, NE at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Want in? Purchase tickets in advance online or at JLA headquarters; $35 per person covers both days. General admission tickets will be sold on tour days at each home and at JLA headquarters. $40 per person covers both days. 

Fling Open the BGE for Spring Entertaining after Ray’s at Killer Creek Big Green Egg Cooking Class March 19

Wow friends with your BGE prowess and repertoire of spring fling-ready recipes acquired at the Ray’s at Killer Creek Big Green Egg cooking class on Saturday, March 19 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Ray’s executive chef Mike Fuller fires up his BGE to demo smoked duck pastrami deviled eggs, grilled asparagus salad, slow-cooked and garlic-studded spring lamb leg with twice-baked Parmesan potatoes and lemon-blueberry crumb cobbler. Take in the class at the Alpharetta restaurant and taste Fuller’s fare accompanied by iced tea, soda or coffee for $35 per person or $60 per couple. Reservations required with credit card to hold spot; call 770-649-0064.

Buy Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Tickets at Early Bird Prices Beginning March 18

Ticket sales begin March 18 for the sixth annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, on tap to fill Midtown with all things delicious June 2-5. While we’ll dole out more information in days to come, here’s a heads up that chef Gerry Klaskala (Aria) and chef Kevin Gillespie (Gunshow, Revival) will be among the award-winning roster of restaurants, chefs, sommeliers, beverage innovators and culinary gurus gathering together to dish and pour more than 200 ways to sip, savor and sample the South. Take advantage of early bird pricing through April 15. Pick your social avenue to follow the food and fun: Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram (@ATLFoodandWine, #AFWFT).

Press Your Best Green Jeans, St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday, March 17

You look great in green. What luck, St. Patrick’s Day is this Thursday, and Atlanta restaurants have the perfect accessories: beer and cocktails in multiple shades of green as well as Irish lunch and dinner favorites. Plan your modus operandi by leapin’ like a leprechaun over to The Dish blog for a list of St. Patrick’s Day specials.  

New Foodee Offers Delivery from Popular Restaurants to Atlanta Boardrooms

Provide the room and Foodee will provide the board -- tailored menus from popular Atlanta restaurants that typically do not deliver. Launched March 14, the fresh, curated meal concierge service aims to please both foodie and corporate cultures. By bringing top restaurant cuisine to the workplace, Foodee stands in the gap between Atlanta’s leading chefs and unique restaurants and corporate, office and boardroom-bound clientele. Corporations can now call on Foodee for tailored menus, bowtie-clad delivery drivers, a cloud-based ordering platform and eco-friendly business practices that reduce the carbon “foodprint” around the corporate lunch. Restaurant partners already include Gypsy Kitchen, Smokebelly BBQ, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill and The Southern Gentleman. Looks like meeting attendance will be on the upswing for businesses feeding their foodies through Foodee.

Acquaint Yourself with Bespoke Collection Boutique Wines at The Southern Gentleman Wine Dinner March 16

Big wines from small, boutique wineries. That’s what the Bespoke Collection of curated, artisanal brands from Blackbird Vineyards, Arena Galleries and Recuerdo Wines bring to the dinner table at The Southern Gentleman on Wednesday, March 16. Guests arrive to a 6:30 p.m. welcome reception followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Executive chef Matthew Ridgway plans a four-course Bespoke Collection Wine Dinner menu featuring striped bass carpaccio paired with Ma(i)sonry 2012 “Stagecoach Vineyard” Marsanne; marinated veal salad with Blackbird Vineyards 2014 Arriviste rose; stuffed Australian rabbit leg with Blackbird Vineyards 2013 Paramour; and red wine whoopie pie with Recuerdo 2012 Aliado malbec. $95 per person (not including tax or gratuity). Limited seating available; contact Simone@sphospitality.com or call 404-964-9243 for reservations.

Paul Hobbs Brings His Argentinian Wines to Gypsy Kitchen Wine Dinner March 15

Slip into your favorite Patagonia pullover and think Southern Hemisphere when heading to Gypsy Kitchen for the Paul Hobbs Wine Dinner on Tuesday, March 15. Dinner host Paul Hobbs and his namesake Paul Hobbs Winery are known for crafting terroir-driven wines from small, sustainably farmed vineyards in California and the Mendoza region of Argentina. This intriguing dinner highlights the winery’s Argentinian Collection complemented by passed hors d’oeuvre and a four-course menu prepared by Gypsy Kitchen executive chef Matthew Ridgway. A reception opens the evening at 6:30 p.m. with stuffed profiteroles and Pulenta Estate pinot gris Alto Agrelo Mendoza 2015. Dinner pairings include marinated wild striped bass and Bramare chardonnay “Marchiori Vineyard” Perdriel Lujan de Cuyo 2014; Hudson Valley foie gras escabeche with Alto Limay pinot noir select Patagonia 2014; roasted Chalon duck breast aiguillette with a side-by-side Malbec terroir tasting of Viña Cobos Bramare Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza 2013 and Viña Cobos Bramare Uco Valley Mendoza 2013; and dessert of brut cocoa whoopie pie with cabernet franc Tardio made by Pulenta Estate. $95 per person (not including tax or gratuity). Reserve a seat by emailing Simone@sphospitality.com or calling 404-964-9243.

What’s New on Pinterest

Skip the “J” and hand over the “PB” or even just the “P!” March is National Peanut Month, and we exhibit signs of a strong case of Peanut Craze. Savor Asian peanut sauce, Thai chicken tacos, vegan/gluten-free peanut tofu Buddha bowl and an Asian peanut coconut salad dressing so tasty you’ll want to pour it over almost anything in a bowl. We’re sweet on the best no-bake peanut butter pie with no cream cheese and no Cool Whip, peanut butter brownie bombs, salted caramel peanut pie and classic “buckeye” peanut butter balls. Spread the love: no-bake, five-ingredient peanut butter energy bites for you and your friends and a batch of healthy homemade peanut butter dog treats for Fido. Easy, peasy, peanut.

#Foodgram

From the authors of “The Perfect Egg” cookbook, the food lovers @SpoonForkBacon show off photos of original recipes such as mini strawberry upside down cornmeal cobblers (that’s a mouthful), strawberry tiramisu, chilaquiles and, huh? A Trix donut?