Big Hats, Big Drinks, Big Horses, Big Fun

You might say that the Kentucky Derby is practically a holiday in the South. We’re pretty sure that it’s the birth right of every natural born Southerner to don large, spectacular hats (or for the gents, a classy seer-sucker suit) with a refreshingly classic Mint Julep clasped tightly in hand. Oh, and yes, of course, the majestic horses with ridiculously fun names – we can’t forget about them!

If you can’t make it to Kentucky this year, select locations of Marlow’s Tavern are bringing the party to you. Venture to the Alpharetta, Duluth or Kennesaw locations to cheer on your favorite horse and jockey – they’ll have the race on all televisions so you can watch while enjoying some delicious food and drinks! Make the party extra fun by dressing up – you could win “Best Dressed” or “Best Hat” contests! They’ll have derby themed menu items like the aforementioned Mint Julep and Kentucky burgoo. Even if your horse loses, The Atlanta Community Foodbank Hungerjam will still be a winner – Marlow’s is donating 10 percent of the day’s proceeds!

It’s Follow Friday – meet our Tweep of The Week @GingerCM

Ginger Carter Miller, Ph.D. turns the gluten-filled world into a gluten-free one for those who need to cut the G-word from their diets. The three-year gluten-free twitterer/blogster is a professor of mass communications at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, a self-dubbed gluten-free social media fan, journalist, wife and mother, and a "War Damn Eagle." She's the author of the blog Gluten Free in Georgia. . . Finally and an avid #gf twitterer.  Follow her at http://twitter.com/GingerCM!

Friday Night Scotch & Cigars

If your week has been as long as mine has you definitely need some Friday night plans to start the weekend off right... How about scotch, cigars and dinner at Ray's Killer Creek?

Tomorrow night from 6 - 8 p.m. Ray's Killer Creek is hosting a Rocky Patel Scotch & Cigar event. Each $10 ticket purchase includes one cigar (Patel Brothers, Super Toro or Nicaraguan), one glass of House of Glenmorangie Scotch and one raffle ticket. Raffle prizes include goodies from The Cigar Merchant and gift cards to Ray's. The more you buy, the better your chances of winning!

Ain't no party til it's a patio party!

With spring in full swing, people are ready to get outside and enjoy all the warmth and sunshine that was missing this past winter. What better way to enjoy the sunshine than to sit out on a patio and enjoy food and drinks while basking in warm rays of the sun? Aqua blue will be christening the patio season by throwing their 2nd Annual Patio Kick-off Party on April 30 from 4 p.m. until close.

For those of you who are worried about the weather, don't fret because I've got an inside guy (The Weather Channel) that says it'll be 80 degrees and mostly sunny. Also, the Kristin Tinsley Band will be performing from 7 - 10 p.m. for those in the mood for good music and a little dancing. As if that isn't enough, there will be $6 wine features, $5 drink features, $3 Peroni and Bud Light Golden Wheat and a tapas menu for you to enjoy while you're partying it up.

So get your weekend started out right and put on your patio party pants and make your way to Aqua blue on Friday.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076 · Phone: 770.643.8886

Calling All Disastrous Cooks

It was Thanksgiving and my mom was visiting. She brought all the fixins' for a proper traditional meal to my little apartment in Buckhead. That morning we turned the oven to pre-heat and waited, and waited, and waited. Oops. It didn't work. And I had no idea how long it had been broken. A helpful neighbor with oven space to spare saved the day and my landlord quickly replaced my oven with a brand new one. Fast forward one year later to the next Thanksgiving. Same scene. Mom turns the oven to pre-heat and, after a few minutes, a weird smell fills the air. A quick inspection turned up the melting plastic-covered instruction manual inside. Yeah. Oops again.

I was reminded of this true story when we got an email from the Food Network about their new show for "hopeless home cooks" and those who are "totally incompetent in the kitchen." Details are below if you, or someone you know, want to apply. Please note that I will not see you in line although I qualify!

Food Network is looking for the most disastrous home cooks in
Atlanta to participate in a very different
culinary competition show!


This is the opportunity of a lifetime—to work with the best chefs in the country and learn to cook like a professional. Seeking people with a genuine inability to cook, but a need and desire to improve!

NOMINATE YOURSELF
Has your wife told you it was probably better if you ordered take out?
At the big potluck dinner, are you always asked to “just bring the napkins?”

NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW
Is someone you know constantly offering you food that you have to turn down?
If you know a dad/mom who can’t scramble an egg, a colleague who can’t convince anyone to try their culinary creations, or a guy friend who tries but can’t seem to get it together in the kitchen, this is your chance to get them the help you BOTH need!
OPEN CALL ATLANTA
W Atlanta
188 14th Street NE, Atlanta GA 30361
Saturday, May 1st
9am – 3pm
*Please bring a dish that represents your cooking

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY:
WE ARE CONDUCTING CASTING PHONE INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK, SO PLEASE APPLY ASAP!!!
Email us at worstcooksatlanta@gmail.com
Tell us why you (or the person you are nominating) is the most disastrous cook in the country
Include name, age, hometown, occupation, contact phone number, and a recent photo of the hopeless cook
Additional information & application available at worstcookscasting.com

It's Time to Treat Mom

Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away, so it’s time to start making plans to celebrate these special women. We’ve got a list of mouthwatering meals and great gift options that every mom is sure to love. Get ahead of the game and make mom’s day!

Aqua blue starts mom's day in Roswell with a special 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. brunch buffet for $29.95 per person. Children under the age of 14 are $9.95, and children under four eat free. A buffet peek shows carved strip steak and turkey, roasted pork tenderloin, made-to-order omelets, assorted pastries and desserts and many more tempters. Treat mom to bottomless mimosas for $15 per person. If dinner out is her preference, come from 5:30 - 9 p.m. for Aqua blue's regular à la carte menu and seasonal features. Reservations are required; call 770-643-8886. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road.)

Dine in Midtown at Ecco's Mother's Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and give mom a mini-Mediterranean holiday. Ecco's brunch menu includes a shareable selection of meats and cheeses and other taste and share items such as a chocolate croissant ($6), goat cheese and lemon croissant ($6) and fried goat cheese with black pepper ($7). Main dishes include a frittata with green garlic, escarole and pecorino ($12); house-made pork sausage with lentils and a poached egg ($12) and crepes with honeyed ricotta, strawberries and pistachios ($9). Crispy, woodfired pizzas ($13-$14) are another favorite. Round out the meal with sides of polenta, sautéed spinach, sautéed potatoes with chorizo ($5 each) and more. See the complete menu and make online reservations. (40 7th Street, NE; 404-347-9555)

Mother's Day "Supper" can only mean one thing -- JCT. Kitchen & Bar is putting on a fine Southern-inspired Sunday Supper for mom's big day from 5 - 9 p.m. Chef and Owner Ford Fry starts his Mother's Day $36 prix-fixe menu with a selection of warm biscuits, house-made jams, deviled eggs and Benton's country ham. After that comes a local "farm stand" salad and then on to the entrée decision . . . will it be slow-cooked rabbit with Vidalia onion, fontina-filled pasta and wilted local greens; pan-roasted dayboat fish; hickory-roasted Berkshire pork rack; cider-braised short rib "pot roast;" black skillet-fried chicken; or the vegetable plate piled with local vegetables, buttered potato dumplings and preserved tomatoes. A classic Georgia strawberry shortcake with local honey and lavender cream makes a sweet supper ending. (1198 Howell Mill Road; 404-355-2252)

Mama mia, La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia Highland loves moms! Their Mother's Day feast welcomes guests from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with refreshing salads, bruschetta and an antipasti platter of meat and cheese ($5.95-$13.95); and entrées such as house-made challah French toast, chicken sausage, ricotta and lemon ravioli and a smoked salmon crostini ($7.95-$14.95). See the complete menu and make reservations online. (992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430)

Present mom with luxurious chocolates and

truffles from LW Chocolatier chocolate boutique. Select a package filled with a variety of LW's incredible riches of chocolates and truffles or handselect her preferences for a custom-made gift box. Make sure to sign up for their monthly newsletter to find out the latest specials and events! (One Buckhead Plaza at 3060 Peachtree Road, NW, Suite 40; 404-467-8503)

Four of the Marlow's Tavern locations around town will be offering brunch for $14.99 per person and $15 bottomless mimosas for adults on Mother's Day. Savory brunch specialties at Marlow's Tavern include crabcakes Benedict and made-to-order omelets. (Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.)

Morton's The Steakhouse honors mothers with a special $59 menu. The prix-fixe menu includes a choice of Morton's salad or Caesar salad; single-cut filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, Filet Oskar, broiled salmon fillet with beurre blanc sauce, Colossal Shrimp Alexander with beurre blanc sauceor Chicken Christopher with garlic beurre blanc sauce; one vegetable or potato side dish; and crème brûlée or double chocolate mousse for dessert. Each mom dining at Morton's Buckhead on Mother's Day will receive a mini-spa package of a 30-minute massage, mini-facial, and a shampoo, blow out and style at the newly-opened William David Salon in the Terminus Building. Both locations are open from 3 - 9 p.m. on Mother's Day. (Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535. Morton's The Steakhouse - Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366)

Elegant Pacci Ristorante pays tribute to moms with an abundant brunch buffet laden with flavorful dishes by Executive Chef Keira Moritz, including deviled eggs, crab fondue, cheese grits, pesto squash casserole and an assortment of pastries. The Mother's Day brunch buffet is available from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and is priced at $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages six to 12 and no charge for children under six. (866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678-412-2402)

Let Mom choose brunch or dinner riverside, downtown or in the 'burbs at Ray's Restaurants on Mother's Day. From 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Ray's on the River is offering a Mother's Day brunch buffet priced at $35 for adults and $17 for children ages five to 10. From 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., both Ray's Killer Creek and Ray's in the City are offering a brunch priced at $29.95 for adults and $12.95 for children ages five to 10. Both locations also are offering the regular dinner menu from 5 - 8 p.m. (Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187. Ray's Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064. Ray's in the City: 240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224)

Shaun's, in historic Inman Park, is offering a Mother's Day brunch spread that will make mom swoon. Served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Executive Chef Shaun Doty's brunch menu boasts breakfast fare including cage-free organic eggs, applewood smoked bacon, homemade sausages, cheddar waffles with Steen's cane syrup, Anson Mill speckled grits, eggs Benedict and a selection of artisan breads and biscuits. Other items include Southern-style fried chicken, braised local collard greens, cedar-planked salmon, marinated pork loin, a selection of farmhouse cheeses and assorted desserts. Price is $40 per person; $10 for children 10 and under. Reservations can be made online. (1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358)

Treat your modern-day Southern belle to the regional flavor of Mother's Day brunch at South City Kitchen Midtown or South City Kitchen Vinings. Bask in Southern hospitality while dining on first flavors such as chocolate muffins, fried green tomatoes and sautéed chicken livers; brunch specialties like a country frittata, peach "French toast" pudding, Southern-style eggs Benedict and crab hash; and regular menu favorites including their famous buttermilk fried chicken and pan-fried mountain trout. See the South City Kitchen Midtown menu and make online reservations. 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358. View the South City Kitchen Vinings menu and make online reservations. 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

Mom has her own Mother's Day dish at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food! The Plato de Madre ($29.95) fills her plate with cold water lobster tail, chicken and beef fajitas, guacamole, pico de gallo, Mexican rice and frijoles a la charra. So delish, everyone else may want to order their own "plato." The special dish will only be available from May 3 - 16. (Buckhead: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. Sandy Springs: 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260).

For a meaningful Mother's Day celebration, take mom to Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery. The North Georgia winery offers a memorable meal with breathtaking views. Since both Mother's Day brunch seatings are already sold out, surprise mom early with a lovely lunch at the winery's Vineyard Café. The café is open Thursday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Advance reservations are required for all food service events and can be made by calling 706-867-9862. Wolf Mountain Vineyards is located at 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega, Georgia, 706-867-9862.

Lastly, if you want to get mom a gift she'll use for years, the Atlanta Cooks at Home cookbook is a great Mother's Day option. Whether your mom is an Atlanta native or an at-home cook who is eager to learn the culinary ways of the South, this book gives readers cool recipes and insight for different occasions as well as personal interviews from the city's top chefs.

Big Green Egg-cellence at Atkins Park

If you're like me, you can't get enough of patio dining now that the spring weather has finally arrived. Luckily, the folks at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia-Highland feel the same way and have begun offering a weekly Big Green Egg "Chill & Grill" patio cookout. Every Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant's Sous Chef Justin Carr will prepare seasonal à la carte appetizers and entrées on the Big Green Egg that will change each week. The “chill” comes from a weekly selection of wine and craft beer chosen as ideal mates for the night’s menu. You can start teasing your taste buds every Monday when Atkins Park posts the week’s Chill & Grill menu on their Facebook Fan Page.

Atkins Park Tavern: 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

Five Years of Awesomeness in Vinings

Ah, the older we get, the faster the years pass. And so it goes over at Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings as they clock in five years of serving great food and drinks to the neighborhood!

Celebrate with them this Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25.  Saturday brings a full day of festivities with live music on the patio all day, great food and drink specials and HELLO, birthday cake on the house! Not to mention your wallet will thank you for indulging in half-price appetizers from 4 to 7 p.m. Party-goers can enter to win free dinner each week for a YEAR ($30 gift card per week for one year)! You won’t want to miss that announcement at 10 p.m. on Saturday – you must be present to win.
Can’t make the fun on Saturday? Come on Sunday to enjoy their anniversary brunch starting at 11:30 a.m. followed by dinner specials and live music throughout the day again. Good times!

It’s Follow Friday – Meet our Tweep of the Week @RestaurantsATL

Atlanta has a glorious treasure trove of restaurants to explore. Whether you prefer the international stylings of Buford Highway or a ritzy night out dining in Buckhead, there’s something for everyone! That’s one reason we love @RestaurantsATL on Twitter and on the web – no stone remains unturned in the search for the latest restaurant news. Make sure to follow for great dining deals, upcoming events and positive energy – three things we love to read in our feed!

The Flavors of Friuli at La Tavola Trattoria

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at La Tavola Trattoria to taste the collaboration between the restaurant's Executive Chef Craig Richards and his good friend from Italy, famed Italian Chef Luca Plett. Craig spent time in Luca's kitchen at Ristorante Al Ponte in Friuli last fall and came back with a lot of great ideas to incorporate into the menu at La Tavola, so we knew we were in for some fantastic food. My favorite part of the meal was one of the specials, a nettle ravioli dish, that is pictured above and contained fresh nettles that Luca was able to bring over from Italy. We also really enjoyed the pennoni with rabbit, which is currently on
the restaurant's regular dinner menu (pictured right). If you haven't had a chance to check out any of the nightly specials inspired by Friuli yet, I highly suggest running to the phone and calling 404-873-5430 to make a reservation for tonight's "Friuli Finale" five-course dinner that is being offered at 6:30 p.m. for $65 per person. Check out the menu for tonight here - and be prepared to drool.

It's time for the Inman Park Festival!

You don't want to miss the train to this weekend's Inman Park Festival, so hop on the closest MARTA and make your way down. The festival will be taking place on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25, so go ahead and make your plans to enjoy all that Inman Park has to offer.

Drop into Shaun's for a bite and a brew or beverage before or after hitting the street party festivities. Shaun's knows you don't want to waste time getting to the festival's three stages of live music and entertainment, street market and wild parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, so they've created a quick and casual menu of fresh festival-friendly foods such as White Oak Pastures beef cheeseburgers, Niman Ranch hotdogs, roast beef sandwiches and more. Cool cocktail options include Mistral mimosas, Bloody Marys, margaritas and the house sangria. Absorbing all the music -- Americana, bluegrass, hip hop, New Orleans funk, pop/rock, jazz and more -- could cause folks to forget to eat until day's end. Sink into a seat at Shaun's and order a relaxing dinner from the regular menu after 5 p.m.

The Inman Park Festival opens at 11 a.m. both days and so does Shaun's, staying open until 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday.

Shaun's: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358.

Don’t Miss the 8th Annual Crawfish Boil at Atkins Park in Smyrna

On Saturday, April 24, Atkins Park - Smyrna is holding the 8th Annual Crawfish Boil in Smyrna's Market Village. The Atlanta eatery’s special event gives guests three-pound platters piled with crawfish and all kinds of bayou fixings. There’s a $5 cover charge to get in with event proceeds going to Mustard Seed Communities. There will be live music outside in Smyrna Market Village from Blair Crimmins & the Hookers, Travel By Train and Lost City, and by Davin McCoy & the Attractions inside Atkins Park. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.

Through caring, sharing and training, Christian-based Mustard Seed Communities fosters homes and communities, uplifting the most vulnerable members of society, especially handicapped and abandoned children, and marginalized communities to bring joy, hope and dignity into their lives.

Atkins Park Tavern: Smyrna Market Village, 2840 Atlanta Road; 770-435-1887.

Get Earthy

Got plans for Earth Day yet? Pacci Ristorante does! Pacci is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22 with a special three-course menu from Chef Keira Moritz for $35 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

Appetizers on the Earth Day menu include local greens with candied pecans, Sweet Grass Dairy goat cheese croutons, Georgia peach vinaigrette and port reduction; smoked Georgia shrimp crespelle with Lolla Rossa and tomato vinaigrette; and grilled plantation quail with corn pudding and arugula pesto.

Entrée options include peanut crusted mountain trout with warm potato gnocchi and escarole salad; porcini dusted pork tenderloin medallions with wild mushroom ragout; and Springer Mountain chicken breast with grilled scallion and roasted tomato risotto.

The dessert course features pecan praline bread pudding with peach zabaione and peanut butter mascarpone cheesecake with Savannah tupelo honey. If there was ever a reason to go to Pacci, I'm thinking these desserts are it!

The best part is that this menu is only one of many efforts to support sustainability at Pacci. The restaurant has also implemented the Kimpton Restaurant EarthCare program whereby all seafood served is solely sustainable in accordance with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, and 30% of Pacci’s wine lists feature eco-friendly selections. The restaurant is also giving guests the opportunity to recycle and receive wine discounts with its Cork to Fork promotion in partnership with ReCORK America. To help ReCORK America obtain more corks for reuse, Pacci is asking patrons to bring in real corks from wine bottles and to buy a bottle of wine with their dinner. The restaurant will deduct 2 percent off the total bill for every cork brought in up to a maximum of 20 percent off.

So grab your corks and head to Pacci for a delicious way to honor Earth Day.

Atlanta Food Bloggers Bake Sale Whips Up Treats For A Good Cause

Why not get your cupcake and cookie fix a little earlier this weekend? Join us for the Food Bloggers Bake Sale tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in lovely Cabbagetown at the Cabbagetown Market! There will be quite an assortment of tasty treats from your favorite Atlanta food bloggers!

Every dollar goes towards helping Share Our Strength. Atlanta Dish will be representin’ with some treats of our own – namely some tasty rosemary shortbread cookies that are a perfect partner for your morning coffee or tea. We’ve posted the recipe below and can’t wait for the event tomorrow!

Rosemary Shortbread Cookies (adapted from Gourmet)
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, ¾ tsp salt, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, 1.5 sticks (3/4 cup) softened unsalted butter, 2 tbsp mild local honey, ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Directions: Preheat oven to 300°F. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, & rosemary in a bowl. Mix together butter, honey, & conf. sugar with an electric mixer, then add flour mixture and mix until dough resembles coarse meal. Gather dough into 2 balls, wrap in saran wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 mins. Roll dough out on floured surface and cut out shapes. Transfer shapes to baking sheet and sprinkle with granulated sugar and finely chopped rosemary to garnish. Bake until golden brown, around 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.

It’s Follow Friday! Meet our Tweep of the Week – Atlanta Foursquare Day

In case you haven’t heard, TODAY is Atlanta Foursquare Day! Lots of great businesses around the city are celebrating by offering special discounts when you flash your Foursquare check-in.

Follow on Twitter to get the latest updates! There are so many fantastic offers – free beer at Ormsby’s, Atkins Park, and Thirsty Dog Tavern, free dessert at Shaun’s, free margarita at The Original El Taco, discounted bento box at Spice Market, free tent event at the new Pinkberry location this afternoon and lots more! Thanks to the organizers of this special one day event – check out their website for full details for each deal.

Saturday Brunch at Shaun's for Half the Price

As if we weren't already jonesing for Shaun's bistro fare for brunch on Saturdays, the Inman Park restaurant is offering brunch-goers 50 percent off their meal (excluding alcohol) on Saturday, April 17. Executive Chef/Owner Shaun Doty's brunch menu includes items like cheddar waffles, ricotta beignets with chocolate sauce, Maryland-style jumbo lump crab cakes and Sea Island red pea soup with Tabasco cream that will have you licking the bowl (which I had to restrain myself from doing last week). If you are a mimosa drinker, I highly recommend the Mistral Mimosa with lavender, honey, lemon and prosecco. It's a light and refreshing cocktail that is perfect for any time of day.

Weekend brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Shaun's: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE: 404-577-4358.

“SOME PIG” leads our Hog Haiku poet winner to “SOME PORK”

Thanks to everyone who pulled on their thinking caps for our Hog Haiku contest for a chance to win Cochon 555 Atlanta tickets! Now one lucky poet will have a chance to take off the thinking cap and put on the bib for the delectable event this Sunday. Drum roll please… our lucky winner is whodigsben with this “terrific” entry!

As a kid, I learned
that Wilbur was terrific.
But he's tasty too!

Get ready for the smorgasbord, whodigsben! Email us at atlantadish@gmail.com to claim your big prize!
We couldn’t let the runner-up slip past without a single oink, so we have to give props to AtlantaDude for this entry:

Tigger, Piglet, Pooh
Closest Friends Til Hunger Strikes
Piglet on the Spit

AtlantaDude, shoot us an email and we will mail you your very own Atlanta Dish t-shirt!

Taste the Flavors of Atlanta discount

Please raise your hand if you like good food. Now raise your other hand if you enjoy a discounted price to get that food. Of course, you and I like both of those things and it's okay if you didn't actually raise your hand; I know you at least thought about it.

Flavors of Atlanta is one week from today on Wednesday, April 21, so the time to get your tickets is dwindling. Tickets are $250 each for the 6 - 10 p.m. event and may be purchased online. As a special for Dish readers, you may purchase tickets for $225 by calling 404-633-9169 and mentioning The Dish. The discounted price cannot be applied to online ticket purchases. All proceeds go to the American Liver Foundation and its mission to promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.

Flavors of Atlanta will have what I like to call "chef roulette." There will be 25 chefs, with the likes of Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Todd Annis of Bold American Catering, Shaun Doty of Shaun's, Ian Winslade of Spice Market and Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill, to name a few. The catch is you won't know which chef will be paired with which table until that night. So don't miss out on a discounted opportunity for suspense and great food!

For more information, contact Katherine Cline, 404-633-9169.

Perfectly Poached Eggs and Practical Dating Advice

We learned alot this morning on the set of FOX5's Good Day Atlanta. First, Chef/Owner Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar talked about the restaurant's "Farm to Table and Back" guest chef dinners and demonstrated how to prepare a poached farm egg salad with black radishes and smoked bacon that had the entire station drooling and wishing for "smellevision," as Host Karen Graham so perfectly put it. Click here for a glimpse of Ford's cooking and call 404-355-2252 to make reservations for tomorrow night's guest chef dinner featuring Hugh Acheson of Five and Ten and The National in Athens. Hugh's menu (five courses paired with wine for $75) looks amazing and it will save you a drive up 316! Plus, all proceeds from the special menu benefit Georgia Organics.

As an added bonus, we got to hear Ford give great relationship advice along with Vincent McCant of Atlantahapps.com and John Gidding of HGTV's Curb Appeal for the male perspective on dating during Good Day Xtra's "The Male Bag." All the men out there who are hungry for a healthier relationship can get tips here.

Lucky Atlanta Dish Winner Could Pig Out With The Best at Cochon 555 Atlanta

There are some things that are innate to being a Southerner. Drinking sweet tea, calling every soda a “Coke”, complaining about pollen and of course, our passion for our tasty friend, Mr. Pig.

Come celebrate your love at Cochon 555 Atlanta this Sunday as a talented group of chefs will prepare 140 pounds of heritage breed hog for guests and professional judges to savor and pronounce the best dishes based on presentation, utilization and best flavor! Five winemakers will also be selected to showcase their wines at the event.

Drooling yet? Grab some paper and get your brain churning, because Atlanta Dish has a PAIR of tickets to give away! Leave us your best Hog Haiku in the comments below and we will select a lucky winner to live on the high hog this Sunday.  Winners will be selected on Wednesday, so better hurry and start channeling your inner Haiku Master!

(If you skipped that day in school, refresh your brain on haikus here!)