Come Feast with the Falcons and Kevin Gillespie on December 15

This Thursday the Falcon’s face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 8:20 p.m. and Woodfire Grill's Kevin Gillespie is getting in on all the action!  He’ll be hosting the chef stand at 2View Restaurant during the game. To find him and see what he's got cooking, head to the Georgia Dome's east end zone on the executive concourse (near the suites). Don’t worry about missing the game; you can keep an eye on the field via large screens!

On the menu you'll find pork belly wings with ranch sauce and salt and vinegar chips, along with "currywurst," bockwurst with red cabbage-horseradish slaw, curry ketchup and German potato salad.

Put Down That Tie, White Oak Pastures Has What You Should Buy

We know the drill - you've waited until the last minute to do your holiday shopping and you're forced to settle for buying a boring tie or an ugly sweater that will surely be tossed to the back of the closet, or tossed altogether. Luckily White Oak Pastures is giving you a tasty alternative. The farm's online store is offering special discounts on grass-fed beef and lamb and free-range poultry when purchased and shipped through December 21. The store will gladly ship your purchases to the lucky recipients, turning your procrastination into simplification. Even if you're done with your holiday shopping, you can still become the family hero by showing up to mom and dad's house with meat that shows you care about what you eat because all animals on White Oak Pastures' multigenerational farm are raised in a humane fashion using sustainable, ecologically sound practices.

Never Fear, Double Zero Is Here To Save The Holidays

Are you still searching for the perfect gift for the holidays? You're in luck then, gift cards are now available online at Double Zero Napoletana and all Castellucci Hospitality Group's restaurant websites. When you buy a gift card online for $100, you will receive a free gift card for $20 to spend however you see fit. Gift cards can be used at any of their restaurants (Double Zero, Sugo, The Iberian Pig). In order to receive the free offer, the purchase must be made online.

To redeem this special offer simply type CHG FAMILY into the Personal Message field at checkout.

Double Zero: 5825 Roswell Rd, 30328; 404-991-3666

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week: Uncle Julio's Guacamole

Too much of a good thing is not possible when it comes to guacamole... and Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food has the good stuff! Check out their new pineapple bacon guacamole, roasted corn and lump crab guacamole and three pepper spicy guacamole.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @behindtheknife

New York Times best-selling author Lisa Rogak has carved a cutting-edge Twitter niche for herself, and tools, food and the secret lives of chefs are all fair game. Catch her sharp quips on Twitter (@behindtheknife) and learn a whole lot more from her "What's in my Toolbox" chef interviews on her Behind the Knife blog.

Decatur's No. 246 Adds New Brunch & Lunch Delights

Executive Chef Drew Belline of No. 246 adds weekend brunch to the list of tempting reasons to visit the intriguing shops in downtown Decatur. He's adding three new Italian-inspired brunch items to the restaurant's weekend lunch menu: wood-oven poached eggs with Georgia white shrimp, San Marzano tomato, toasted garlic, butterbeans, thyme and toast; breakfast pizza with fingerling potatoes, baked eggs, smoky bacon, Gruyere and farm herbs; and pan-fried brioche with cranberry maple syrup, toasted pecans and fresh cream. Weekend lunch/brunch "hour" extends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant also serves lunch Monday through Friday and dinner nightly.

Cut the Cost with Weekly Blue Plate Specials and Nightly Deals at Aqua blue in Roswell

It's time to put down your go-to 30 minute recipe and step away from the crockpot. Just because it's a weeknight doesn't mean you have to make a date with your kitchen! Instead,  take your friends and family to Aqua blue in Roswell for an affordable three course meal from the "Aqua blue plate menu." Appetizer, entrée and dessert are all included for only $25 per person. With a rotating menu, you'll get to try new specials each week along with nightly deals. Blue plate appetizer specials include AB calamari with sweet chili sauce; tempura green beans with sweet mustard dipping sauce; seared pork dumplings with scallion, leeks and sweet soy glaze; or a hand-made sushi roll. Entrée options include thyme-crusted grilled pork loin tostada with black bean and sweet corn relish, spinach, white cheddar and crispy tortilla; Asiago-crusted scallops with cheesy ravioli and Roma tomato basil cream; and red Thai curry stir fry with shaved beef tenderloin and soba noodles in a spicy red Thai curry sauce. For dessert, choose house-made crème brûlée-soaked ciabatta bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream, chocolate molten cake, house-made seasonal sorbets or something equally decadent.

Additional nightly values include half-priced bottles of wine on Sundays, seasonal cocktails at the bar on Mondays and half-priced sushi, $1 nigiri and sashimi plus $5 large sake and $3 Japanese beer on Tuesdays. Wednesdays fill up for the chef's featured dish. Thursday brings Girls Night Out with $5 cocktails all day, complimentary appetizers in the bar area from 5:30 - 7 p.m. and live music from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Live music also plays Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 -10:30 p.m.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Double Your Fun at Smashburger Today

Hot and juicy "better burgers" are the buzzwords in Kennesaw this week as Smashburger opens its fourth area location on Wednesday, December 7 at 440 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway. Heed our advice and grab a few napkins to catch the juice from your first bite into the signature Atlanta Smashburger loaded with peach BBQ sauce, Wicked® Pimena cheese, grilled jalapeños and Vidalia coleslaw on an egg bun. Smashburger "smashes" its fresh, never frozen 100 percent Certified Angus Beef burgers and Smashdogs on the grill to seal in those flavorful juices for your chomping pleasure. More flavor-rich fuel includes marinated chicken breasts served grilled or crispy on artisanal buns, handcrafted black bean burgers and salads plus sides such as Smashfries, chili cheese fries, sweet potato fries, haystack onions, fried pickles, flash-fried veggie frites and even steaming bowls of beefy chili with jalapeños and cheese. Kennesaw parents note, Smashburger makes the perfect place to meet friends for lunch or dinner because the fast casual eatery covers the spectrum from kids' meals, hand-spun shakes and IBC root beer floats to buckets of beer and wine by the glass. Open seven days a week, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Don't forget to chow at the Kennesaw store or any one of the other three Atlanta Smashburger locations on Wednesday, December, 7. Each Atlanta-area Smashburger will donate a percentage of sales to DreamWeavers of Georgia. The group creates extracurricular opportunities and produces resources that promote the educational, emotional and social well-being of foster children in Georgia. For Smashburger's complete menu and Atlanta-area locations, click here.

Santa Claus Is Coming To East Cobb

Santa Claus is coming... to Woodlawn Square Shopping Center where Chepe's Mexican Grill is located! Head to East Cobb this Saturday, December 10  from noon to 3 p.m. and let the big guy in red know what's tops on your Christmas wish list as your free photo is taken. 


Kids will love the face painting & craft activities, plus hot chocolate and cookies! And because Santa knows how to party, there will be a DJ with music, games and prizes to entertain the good little boys and girls. Did we mention that live reindeer will be there? Make sure you stay on the "nice" list by dropping by 1205 Johnson Ferry Road.

Swap Out Holiday Cookies for RA Sushi's Pomegranate Pairing

RA Sushi in Midtown is putting a healthier spin on this party-filled month with a dose of antioxidants and omega-3s by way of pomegranates. The restaurant's sashimi and cocktail pairing for December is available through the end of the month and includes tapas of seared albacore tuna and organic micro greens adorned with pomegranate seeds and a splash of yuzu soy vinaigrette, along with a Pomegranate Breeze cocktail mix of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, POM pomegranate juice, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, pink grapefruit juice and other citrus flavors. So refreshing compared to all the other heavy holiday treats!

And if you don't have plans for tonight, go try your hand at learning how to roll sushi and sip sake at RA Sushi's monthly Sake and Sushi Social at 6 p.m. For $35 a person or $60 per couple, this lesson also includes a four-course sampling from RA Sushi's menu paired with the perfect sake. Space is limited, so claim a spot by calling 404-267-0114. You can also catch this class again on Tuesday, January 10.

Moroccan Dinner at Woodfire Grill - Cookbook Included

Join Chef Kevin Gillespie as he welcomes Chef Mourad Lahlou of Aziza in San Francisco and the author of the brand new cookbook, Mourad: New Moroccan. Check out the menu below - it's awesome! Each person at the dinner gets a cookbook! Reserve today as this is just for a small group. I can't wait!

Amuse 1: Goat cheese/tomato jam/hazelnut/argan oil

Amuse 2: hirame/ /turnip/feijoa

Amuse 3: roe/cracker/urfa

Amuse 4: eggplant/burnt preserved lemon

Course 1: scallop/cauliflower/vadouvan

Taste course: hen yolk/charmoula/smoked potato/Tasmanian pepper

Course 2: duck basteeya/pistachio/plum jam/endive

Course 3: beef cheek/couscous/carrot jam/harissa emulsion

Dessert: star anise infused chocolate/cinnamon ice cream/dark chocolate cake/hazelnut tuile

The dinner is $125 per person ($175 with wine pairings) and includes a cookbook. Call 404-347-9055. www.woodfiregrillcom

So Long Sleigh! Come Cycle With Santa and Atkins Park Tavern on Wednesday, December 7

For the past five years, Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland has pedaled in the Christmas season with an annual 15- to 20-mile Santa Ride. This year's ride takes place on Wednesday, December 7, setting out from the tavern in Virginia Highland at 6 p.m. and braking several times en route for holiday cheer. 

 

This is the time for you to haul out that holiday cycling attire: Santa hats and antlers affixed to helmets, elf costumes and jingle bells for you; front, back and wrap lights plus more jingle bells for the bike. Since it will be dark, add a Rudolph nose for extra glow. This 2012 Georgia Chain Gang fundraiser benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Enter yourself or come wish the athletes a merry bike ride, enjoy dinner and drinks and welcome the yuletide riders home around 9 p.m.

 

Atkins Park Tavern - Virginia Highland:  794 North Highland; 404-876-7249.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @roycetakespics

"Badass" La Tavola Trattoria Barkeep Alli Royce is artsy in so many ways. Libation creations at the bar. Eat-it-up food and party photography. Serious documentary pix. Abstracts involving paint and canvas. 


Even though she's a "badass," this Atlanta native is an all-around nice gal, as anyone can see by her tweets (@roycetakespics). For those good-enough-to-lick photos, check out her website. 

Announcing Our Battle of the Beards Ticket Winners...

Thanks to everybody who entered our Battle of the Beards ticket contest! We loved all your answers! 

Our random generator has picked four lucky winners who will each get a pair of tickets to attend this Saturday’s showdown. If you are one of the below commenters, just email your full name to atlantadish@gmail.com by 3 p.m. today and we'll hook you up!

ATLMich

MC5

Randy

Olivia

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

December 5 is National Comfort Food Day, and it doesn't get much more comforting than macaroni and cheese! With smoked cheddar and leeks, we love the twist on the classic dish with this Chipotle Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese from Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Find out Whose Beard is Most Feared at the Battle of the Beards on Saturday

With the mustachioed month of Movember over, it’s time to show off Atlanta’s finest beards. Make sure to use your beard bars to look your bearded best, and head on over to the first ever Battle of the Beards! On Saturday, December 3, Woodfire Grill's Kevin Gillespie and his fiery red beard will be one of the celebrity judges plucking winners from the chin-coiffed pack. Open to ages 21 and older, the party at the Highland Inn Ballroom will have events the hirsute and not-so-hairy will enjoy including festival merchandise, local artist vendors, live music, stand-up comedy, food trucks and a full bar. Be on the lookout for "Best Beard," "Best Stache," "Best Partial Beard," "Most Creative," "Best Grooming" and "Overall Champion." For ladies who want to join in on the fun, we’ve got you covered. Get creative and enter the “BEST LADY BEARD" category! A portion of the proceeds from the 7 - 10 p.m. event will go to Mustaches for Kids' fundraising efforts for CURE Childhood Cancer. For tickets, visit battleofthebeards.net.

We’re also giving four lucky facial hair fans a chance to win their way into the Battle. Leave a comment below by 10 a.m. tomorrow and tell us your favorite celebrity beard for a chance to win a pair of tickets. Winners will be chosen at random and tickets will be available for pickup at the event. Good luck!

Take a Holiday Shopping Break at Truffles Grill This Week

Be sure to jump over to the Truffles Grill Facebook page today through December 6 to see their special offer! “Like” their page to receive a free appetizer with any entrée purchased through Tuesday, December 6. 


Shopper alert: Truffles is right there in the thick of all the retail action, near Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and all of those Buckhead boutiques. Guests taking a lunch or dinner break may want to try Truffle’s new seared sesame tuna wonton, ham and brie on a fresh croissant or the chile relleno risotto! 

You'll "Like" This Offer from Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig & Sugo

There's already a lot to "like" about the food, drinks and ambiance at Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig and Sugo, and now we have one more reason to love them! When new fans "like" the Facebook pages of Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig or Sugo, they will receive a $10 gift certificate to use toward their next bill at any one of these Castellucci Hospitality Group (CHG) restaurants. 

If you're already a CHG fan, hit the "Special Fan Offer" tab to claim your gift. Certificates expire on December 31 so go ahead and plan on connecting with friends for small plates and drinks or enjoying a post-holiday shopping dinner out.

Alma Cocina Turns Mexican Fare Up a Notch Next Tuesday

Next Tuesday, December 6, Fifth Group Restaurants' latest dining establishment will arrive at 191 Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. The long-awaited Alma Cocina ("alma" means soul in Spanish) came about after a lot of research, discussion and travels helmed by Fifth Group Restaurant Partners Robby Kukler, Steve Simon and Kris Reinhard. While contemporary Mexican cuisine is at the heart of Alma's menu, Latin American flavors infuse the restaurant's spirit. Alma's Executive Chef Chad Clevenger has created dishes such as guacamole with butternut squash, chipotle and queso fresco; smoked pork ribs with tamarind BBQ sauce; green chorizo tostadas; taquitos stuffed with crispy cod; red snapper mole Amarillo with Swiss chard (pictured above); braised goat huaraches; and Mexican Coca-Cola panna cotta. The restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner, and gluten-free and kids' menus are available upon request, so mark your calendars! Work in downtown Atlanta and need a new space for your company's holiday party? Alma has you covered in that department, too. In addition to the main dining room seating for 200 guests, the restaurant also provides two bar areas with booths and communal tables. Autumn Woods can help arrange group or private dining and can be reached at 678-302-3264. For more information, call Alma at 404-968-9662.

Giving is Receiving with Toys For Tots at Ray's

Give a gift and get a gift by participating in the Toys for Tots collection at all three Ray's Restaurants locations. Receive a free appetizer by bringing in a toy for the Toys for Tots collection going on from November 26 through December 17 at Ray's on the River, Ray's Killer Creek and Ray's in the City. We're predicting a Santa sighting inside Ray's Killer Creek in Alpharetta on Sunday, November 27 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Santa knows that Chef Tracey Bloom's Sunday supper will fill his belly with a choice of Southern favorites such as buttermilk fried chicken, house-cut pork chops or turkey with dressing, bottomless sides and oven-fresh cornbread or biscuits for $16 per person. (Okay, so maybe Santa eats for free -- Ray's wants to stay on his good side.) Visit Ray's online for location information and call 770-649-0064 to make your reservation with Santa at Ray's Killer Creek.