Appetizing Aperture

Lobster. Butter. Cream. Whole baked lobster, a specialty at Cotton Calf Kitchen, epitomizes luxury on a plate. Claw your way out of the city to the peaceful streets of Braselton for this market-priced catch. 

Kevin Gillespie Rousts Sleepyheads Out of Bed on CBS This Morning: Saturday on February 20

Rise and shine to chef Kevin Gillespie on CBS This Morning: Saturday on February 20. The feisty Southern chef/owner of Gunshow in Glenwood Park and Revival in Decatur pays tribute to the loves of his life -- Southern cuisine and awesome pork -- on the 9 a.m. show. Stars of his segment include Coca-Cola glazed pork shoulder, cabbage dumplings with country sausage, overnight grits with tomato-braised greens, glazed root vegetables, banoffee trifle with candied bacon and a boozy peach party liquor beverage. Put a fork under the pillow and get ready. They’ll be no sleeping through all these yums!  

Ormsby’s Weekend Brunch -- Less Taxing, More Relaxing

Only two days in a weekend. Which will define it, crochet, croquet or croquette? No brainer. Ormsby’s salmon croquette Benedict with poached eggs, wilted spinach, hollandaise, English muffin and chipotle cheddar grits ($14) is the obvious choice. Find it on the Westside restaurant’s finely honed weekend brunch menu, available from noon-3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Rather than overwhelm valuable weekend time wading through a voluminous menu, Ormsby’s whittles the list down to well-mastered favorites: a cheddar jalapeño biscuit hugging fried chicken, scrambled eggs, more cheddar and honey alongside grits, bacon or potato hash ($10); chicken and waffles uniting Southern-fried chicken strips and Belgian or red velvet waffles with chipotle syrup, whipped butter and two eggs ($10); raisin challah French toast ($10); classic corned beef and hash with piping-hot braised corned beef, steamed cabbage, potato hash and a sunny side up egg ($12); and shrimp and grits sporting roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and cream sherry, for smaller or larger appetites ($12/$16). Similarly, spend less time poring over a lengthy cocktail list and get to the point of enjoying one of the four high-powered selections -- Ormsby’s yellow bloody mary ($10), the Monkey Mosa ($8), blackberry ginger bourbon iced tea ($9) or the classic Champagne cocktail ($9). Less time making taxing decisions opens up more time for relaxing before tackling whatever else the weekend holds.

Award-Winning Mississippi Chef Vishwesh Bhatt Zeroes in on Gunshow “Hired Guns” March 13 and 14

Gunshow’s popular “Hired Guns” series is already one chef into its third year and continuing along a tantalizing trajectory with the guest appearance of chef Vishwesh Bhatt of City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, Mississippi on Sunday, March 13 and Monday, March 14. The Gujarat, India native, known for connecting Southern, French bistro and South Asian foodways, serves as corporate chef of City Grocery Restaurant Group (City Grocery, Snackbar, Big Bad Breakfast, Main Event Catering and Lamar Lounge). A quick glance through Bhatt’s viewfinder reveals his path from a humble start as City Grocery Restaurant Group line cook in 1997 to hitting marks as catering chef, opening Snackbar in 2009 and earning a People’s Best New Chef nomination from Food & Wine in 2011 and a James Beard Awards finalist slot for Best Chef: South in 2014 and 2015. Gunshow’s kitchen is always abuzz with energy, and the high-caliber combination of Bhatt, chef Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward and the rest of the “kitchen dudes” will only ratchet up the action -- to the delight of diners experiencing the restaurant’s unique service style. To lock onto one of the limited number of tickets available for the evening, visit Xorbia. The cost is $95 per person (not including drinks, tax and gratuity). Looking forward, the remaining 2016 “Hired Guns” lineup includes Brian Baxter from HUSK in Nashville, Tennessee, over May 22-23; Kenny Gilbert of Gilbert's Underground Kitchen in Fernandina Beach, Florida, over June 12-13; Brooke Williamson of Hudson House in Redondo Beach, California, over September 11-12; and Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer in Kinston, North Carolina, over October 16-17. For more information about Gunshow in Glenwood Park, visit the website or call 404-380-1886.

Slide Over, TED. Nosh Talks Sets Table for Atlanta Dining Industry Networking on March 7

Fresh. Meet. The thousands who make up Atlanta’s restaurant industry family hunger for fresh networking options to celebrate successes and swap scoop on trends. Food and beverage industry veteran Karen Pagano is cognizant of their conversational cravings -- that’s why she’s launching a new by-the-industry and for-the-industry networking organization dubbed Nosh Talks. “Booze Schmooze” pops the top on Nosh Talk’s series of regularly scheduled socials and taps Monday Night Brewing (670 Trabert Ave. NW in Atlanta) to host the 2-5 p.m. event on Monday, March 7. Light bites and sips from Monday Night Brewing’s signature suds lineup whet appetites for a beverage-centric panel discussion about the creative craft cocktail and burgeoning local beverage industry. Moderated by local liquor licensing attorney Dan Plevak, the panel features Aria’s Andrés Loaiza, The Painted Pin’s Trip Sandifer, Monday Night Brewing’s Jonathan Baker and Charlie Thompson from American Spirit Whiskey. Buy tickets online through Eventbrite: $10 for students, $20 for industry members and $40 for non-industry guests. Nosh Talks strives to be a mechanism for mentoring and giving back to Atlanta’s restaurant community. As Pagano says, “Our city is focused on giving, not receiving, and that sets us apart.” For more information and to discover ways to get involved, go to noshtalks.com or follow Nosh Talks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bayou ‘n Bourbon Parades Big Easy Eats, Sips, a Trip and Prizes through Marlow’s Tavern February 16-March 29

Mardi Gras blew through NOLA last week and is settling down in Marlow’s Tavern for a Bayou ‘n Bourbon blowout going on February 16-March 29. Did we say settling down? Faux pas. Partying up is more like it -- and “parish” the thought of missing out on a lunch or dinner feast on Marlow’s fine mess of New Orleans dishes and “Mo’ Betta Drinks.” Joining the krewe of old friends like Roasted Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo, Daily Flatbread from the Bayou, Deconstructed Jambalaya and the highly popular Honey-Bourbon Bread Pudding are

• Bayou Lump Crab Dip - Creole-spiced lump crab, andouille, spicy mustard, Asiago, Parmesan crust and toasty French baguette ($9)         

• N’awlins-Style Po’boy - fiery spiced red fish, apple-cabbage slaw, shredded lettuce, Roma tomato and Creole rémoulade on toasted baguette ($15)                                           

• “The Big Easy” Muffaletta  - imported mortadella, Genoa salami, spicy capicola, GG’s secret recipe olive salad, melting provolone on pressed ciabatta bread ($12.50)                                       

• Sweet Bourbon St. Rib-eye - blackened Jack Daniel’s Honey-blazed rib-eye seasoned with locally made GG’s Fine Food creole seasoning, jumbo asparagus and a creamy crawfish pie ($26)

Marlow’s “Mo’ Betta Drinks” and ice-cold NOLA beers hit the spot, even if “Where y’at?” is ATL instead of Bourbon Street.
 

• “Pat’s” Marlow’s Hurricane – a New Orleans tradition jazzes Pat O’Brien’s secret recipe with Bacardi light rum, fresh orange juice and a floater of Bacardi. ($9)

• Bourbon Rum Punch – Old Forester, Meyer’s Dark Rum, vanilla, cream and nutmeg ($8.50)

• Bourbon Street Lemonade – house-made New Orleans original, Southern Comfort, lemonade, kiss of mint, fresh lemon and lime and a dash of simple syrup ($9.50)

• Sokol Blosser Evolution, Oregon 16th Edition – unique blend of nine different white grapes, produced and bottled in Oregon with hand-selected Oregon, Washington and California fruit, bright straw, exotic tropical citrus, hints of spicy apple with a lush, crisp, bright finish ($11/$44)

• ABITA Turbodog-Draught – Turbodog dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate malts and Willamette hops, rich flavors. ABV: 5.6 ($6.50)

• ABITA Wrought Iron IPA-Bottle - Abita Wrought Iron IPA is forged with intensity of Apollo, Equinox and Mosaic hops, perfect for a night on the bayou. ABV: 6.9 ($6)

At the end of Bayou ‘n Bourbon, one lucky country music fan and a guest will be Baton Rouge-bound for the Bayou Country Superfest thanks to Marlow’s partnership with radio station94.9 FM The Bull. Enter to win this bit of lagniappe on the station’s website. Fais do-do over to the restaurant'sFacebook page between February 19 and March 17 and enter contact information for a chance to win a drawing for a dinner for two ($50 value) or dinner for four ($100 value). And, even if you missed out on beads or finding the king cake baby during Mardi Gras, you might taste sweet victory by Instagramming your Bayou ‘n Bourbon experience with the tag @marlowstavern. Regrammed entries win a complimentary Honey-Bourbon Bread Pudding!

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Does the sparkle in her glass match the sparkle in her eyes? Follow some advice from tree-huggers, skip the paper card and save a tree by swizzling Sweet Sips to Love. Embrace libations bearing romantic names such as Sweetie martinis, Love Potion, Cupid’s Pink Arrow, Hugs & Kisses, Hearts Afire and Passion. For the littlest princess, a pink cupid float with soda, ice cream and a red licorice straw is a royal Valentine’s treat.

#Foodgram

Chocolate purists, this bar’s for you. Cacao Atlanta shows off the uncompromising standards of excellence in its bean-to-bar evolved craft chocolates. Don’t hold back. 

Appetizing Aperture

One can never go overboard on chocolate, especially during Valentine’s week. Nor can one single out the most seductive ingredient in Cherry Coke Seduction ($8) at Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar in Midtown. Chocolate brownie, drunken cherries, chocolate mousse, seasonal berries, chocolate drizzle...did we mention chocolate?

Dance to Cold Draft Beer and Other Bands Sunday Nights at Johnny's Hideaway

On Valentine’s Day night, February 14, hearts beat and feet follow when Band X pulls dance floor darlings and swinging solos out on the dance floor at Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead. Cold Draft Beer -- the band, not the beverage -- fills the stage and the dance floor on Sunday, February 21. The Stephen Lee Band closes out the month with rock and pop on February 28. Live music begins at 8:30 p.m. Sundays, and cover is only $5. Additionally, Sunday nights are “Hospitality Nights,” so those in the industry enjoy food and drink specials. Reservations accepted until 8:30 p.m.; call 404-233-8026.

Tin Lizzy's Surrounds National Margarita Day with Week of Super-Sized Drink Deals February 18-25

Total immersion. That’s how Tin Lizzy’s Cantina is celebrating National Margarita Day (Monday, February 22). All Tin Lizzy’s locations are immersing the “hola” day amid a whole week of super-sized specialty sippers well worth their salt and lime. From Thursday, February 18 through Thursday, February 25, the cantinas will offer commemorative 22-ounce cups filled with Big House margaritas (1800 tequila, Agavero and sour mix) for $10 each and Grandma’s House margaritas (1800 tequila, Agavero, sour mix and a hefty floater of Grand Marnier) for $12 each. Keep the cup to remember the occasion. Available at all 10 Georgia locations and at the newest restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina, while commemorative cup supplies last. While making Tin Lizzy’s your margarita headquarters, be sure to check out their fun, mouthwatering FlexMex cuisine including more than 25 types of soft tacos, quesadillas and specialty skillets. 

Doug Turbush Assembles Top-Shelf Team for Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar

When stocking soon-to-open Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar with talent, chef/restaurateur Doug Turbush had only to look around the family tree. Longtime team members Brendan Keenan, Jason Raymond and Jose Pereiro all previously contributed to the success of Turbush’s other Marietta restaurants, Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar. Keenan has served as chef de cuisine, Raymond as general manager and sommelier and Pereiro as mixologist at the popular East Cobb restaurants. Although the three gents bring different hospitality backgrounds to the table, all three share Turbush’s passion for providing impeccable service and extending exciting new culinary experiences to guests. As executive chef, Keenan carries a well-honed knack for creating seasonal and spirited seafood dishes to the helm of Drift. A Culinary Institute of America - New York graduate, Keenan garnered years of experience out West in top kitchens of San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Crested Butte, Colorado before heading east to Atlanta’s The Sound Table, Woodfire Grill and Bluepointe -- where he met Turbush. Raymond, raised in a restaurant family and holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in hotel management, will pour his years of dining, wine and beverage management experience into his role as director of operations and sommelier. Complementing Raymond’s passion for wine is beverage manager Jose Pereiro’s fervor for the art of mixology. This cocktail-crafting whiz and 2012, 2014 and 2015 winner of major cocktail competitions will shake up the East Cobb cocktail scene from behind the Drift bar. You won’t have to wait long to enjoy fresh, sustainable seafood at lively and casual Drift. The restaurant will open later this month in The Avenue East Cobb. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter for updates.s.

Find Heart-y Valentine's Day Eats and Sweets on The Dish Blog

Go ahead and whisper sweet nothings, but nothing says “you fill me up” like lavishing loved ones with a delectable Valentine’s meal at one of Atlanta’s beloved restaurants. When the conversation hearts turn to where to dine, follow Cupid’s lead and zing the heartstrings over to our blog for suggestions on where to dote on your darling as well as where to go if you’re solo and loving it.

Williams-Sonoma and Bellina Alimentari Pair Up for Valentine’s Dinner Demo February 9

She’s your little butternut. He’s the apple of your eye. Meet at the new Ponce City Market Williams-Sonoma store where Bellina Alimentari executive chef David Berry will show you how to whip up an amorous Valentine’s dinner for two that honors these admirable attributes. At this special pre-Valentine’s Day demo on Tuesday, February 9 from 6 to 8 p.m., Berry will prepare ravioli di zucca (butternut squash ravioli) and tortino di mele (apple tart with mascarpone and saba). Come learn and leave ready to fix it all from scratch -- pasta dough, butternut squash with ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese ravioli filling, a walnut and sage sauce, shortbread tart crust and filling. Could be part one of a two-part romantic Valentine’s date or an inroad to impressing your Valentine over a dinner personally cheffed by the award-winning...YOU.

Cacao Atlanta Chocolate Workshop at Bellina Alimentari February 9

Honestly, there’s a time and place to impulsively eat supermarket checkout line chocolate, but not this week. Instead, look for a deeper relationship with chocolate, appreciating each lovely characteristic. Your matchmakers and counselors? The Cacao Atlanta chocolate crafters will lead chocolate lovers through a guided tasting during a Chocolate Workshop at Bellina Alimentari on Tuesday, February 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. Sniffing, tasting and reflecting on each nuance...the engagement process is similar to that of a wine tasting but without the spit buckets. While you’re licking your fingers, Cacao Atlanta chocolatiers will share a little bit about ethical sourcing and the processes that go into creating their artisanal chocolates. After class, receive 10 percent off purchases in The Market at Bellina Alimentari -- and the market is chock full of chocolates. Valentine's gift hint here. Added bonus: Flashy supermarket displays will be less distracting because you’ve unwrapped the real thing. That’s love. Sign up online at Mercato di Bellina or call 404-330-9933.

Get Your Gumbo On for Mardi Gras Menus and Fat Tuesday Specials February 9

Carnival season is well underway in New Orleans where our Southern sister city parades and parties hard from January through Fat Tuesday on February 9. No wallflowers we. Atlanta eateries are living out loud and reveling in Mardi Gras weekend specials and Fat Tuesday merriment.

Beads, beers, gumbo, king cake, po’boys and jambalaya.Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland pours everything into one big Fat Tuesday celebration on February 9. NOLA’s own Abita Restoration pale ale is the righteous ale du jour. 10th & Piedmont is always primed to “laissez les bons temps rouler.” Mardi Gras favorites get rowdy on the dinner menu, including delicious gumbo -- which revelers can order by the cup or bowl ($5/$7). 10^th & Piedmont’s mixologists can give those Bourbon Street bartenders a run for their money! 

Ever wonder why purple, green and yellow rule the Mardi Gras color spectrum? Tradition has it that purple is for justice, green for faith, and yellow represents power.Sublime Doughnuts splashes all three bold hues over the vanilla icing on their justly, faithfully and powerfully delectable Mardi Gras king cake doughnuts available only on February 9. Plain beignets pale in comparison to these cinnamon-spiced yeast-raised sweeties. Pick up a box, and you’ll be an instant hit with the home or office krewe. 

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Touching down on the subject of game table strategies,Game Day Goodness goes out to all the DIY-ers out there. Score big with game day-inspired dishes like beer-candied bacon, game-day pep-corn, football pizza pockets, macho nachos and crescent jalapeño poppers. Dip into hot Buffalo chicken dip, creamy gluten-free baked double-cheese and onion dip and of course, the ultimate guac-salsa-queso football field surrounded by adoring tortilla chip fans. Game on!

Atlanta Restaurants Tackle Game Day Appetites at Your Stadium or Theirs

Super Bowl 50 kicks off in Santa Clara, California, at 3:25 p.m. PST this Sunday, February 7. That’s 6:25 p.m. and prime eating time back here on the East Coast. Atlanta restaurants command the field, regardless of what plays the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers throw down. Party fare to go and champion catering are best bets for home-viewing hosts expecting a “passing” game where guests pass the game table swooping first, second and third downs. Others may opt for a “run” strategy -- running to venues pumping multiple screens and food and drink specials. Ultimately, our blog is your end zone for a win-win game, no matter which team (or commercial) you’re rooting for that evening. 

Set Sail to Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar, Now Open in The Avenue East Cobb

Diners seeking upscale seafood in a casual setting can prepare to drop anchor at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar, the third dining destination from chef/restaurateur Doug Turbush. A port-side view reveals a chef-driven showcase of sustainable seafood and the high level of service guests have come to expect from Turbush and his other popular Marietta establishments Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar. Drift executive chef Brendan Keenan and Turbush collaborated on menu offerings, netting an appealing mix of shareable plates, raw bar favorites, enticing entrées and traditional seafood staples. Oyster platters, oven-roasted clams, wood-grilled whole fish and rib-eyes and seaside delights such as seafood po'boys and lobster rolls will appeal to everyone at the table. Drift director of operations Jason Raymond and bar manager Jose Pereiro have respectively developed a wine list to complement the seafood menu and a program of craft cocktails built around top-notch spirits. A beach theme prevails from the "Oar Room" where approximately 100 oars dangle from the ceiling to the handsome bar area, the oyster bar backing up to a wood-burning oven, and an ample, partially covered outdoor patio. Custom-built furniture and sculptures from local artisans are complemented by a collection of antique oyster cans. Drift serves dinner nightly with lunch and brunch service to follow at a later date. Find Drift in The Avenue East Cobb, 4475 Roswell Road in Marietta. Call 770-635-7641 for reservations. 

Love Flows at Ray’s on the River Wedding Receptions, Dinners and Parties

Perhaps “ringing in the New Year” involved an engagement ring, or maybe someone’s hinting about something round and sparkly mixed in with the chocolates and bubbly on Valentine’s Day. Wedding bells are coming and towing a joyful boatload of details along for the ride. Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs is one of the most picturesque venues around for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions and anniversary parties, too. Atlanta’s premier riverfront restaurant offers private room options accommodating up to 120 guests. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Picturesque Chattahoochee River views, fresh seafood, fine meat and an acclaimed wine list create a memorable experience. Ray’s team of award-winning chefs, highly trained service staff and a dedicated events manager provide invaluable assistance to couples trying to stay afloat amid all the wedding planning details. The best place for a wedding party is in your own riverside backyard, whether you’re marrying the girl next door or the boy from a couple states over. For more information, call 770-955-1187 or visit the website, and take a moment to look at event photos here.