Appetite Stimulators Help You Squeeze the Most From Your Economic Stimulus Check

It was very nice of the government to throw a little extra dough our way. Now that we have it, what will we do with it? Fear not! The ladies of the Atlanta Dish have a wonderful idea: feast on fabulous food at some of Atlanta's hottest restaurants! Check out the great deals going on right now:

Cash in on three courses for $22 on Sundays and Mondays at Aqua Blue, where a special prix fixe menu balances fine dining and perfect portions for summer. Start with your choice of the Aqua Blue house salad with sweet herb vinaigrette or classic Caesar with shaved Parmesan. Move on to braised beef tenderloin with Madeira peppercorn sauce, served over root vegetables and Yukon Gold potatoes; roasted chicken cappellini served with a sun-dried tomato sauce; pecan-crusted trout served over sweet potato hash, sun corn, thin green beans with peach beurre blanc; or Atlantic salmon or yellowfin tuna served grilled, cast-iron blackened or bamboo-steamed with a choice of side dishes. Total it out with warm Mississippi mud pie topped with vanilla bean ice cream or classic crème brûlée. Tax and gratuity not included. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Five restaurants. Three course menus. One price: $26.95. Through July 19, Fifth Group Restaurants'® "Summer of Love" specials cater to the penny-wise who love to dine out. Each restaurant has its own personality and three-course, prix-fixe menu. Try one every week night, and you'll still have money for the weekend.

Ecco was recently ranked for its wine list and as one of the best new restaurants in the world by the International Restaurant and Hotel Awards (IRHA). 40 7th Street, NE in Midtown; 404-347-9555.
Food Studio® is open for dining through July 19; then the King Plow Arts Center landmark joins the world of special event functions only! 887 W. Marietta Street in the King Plow Arts Center; 404-815-6677.
La Tavola® is your authentic Italian trattoria, complete with outside seating, and it's right around the corner in Virginia Highland: 992 Virginia Avenue; 404-873-5430.
South City Kitchen® serves up New South classics with smiles in two locations. In Midtown: 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358. In Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

Check out Jazz n Juice at the GLOBE on Friday and Saturday evenings. Guests will enjoy half price bottles of wine while taking in some sweet summer sounds of live jazz. Stretch your dollar further with Midtown Mondays, where mojitos, margaritas and martinis go for $5 each. 75 Fifth Street, NW; 404-541-1487.

Walk, drive or MARTA it to Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead for Power Hour at Bar 1221. Here, all Bar Bites are $5 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Power up for REAL appetizers: three miniature crab cakes served with mustard mayonnaise; iceberg wedge bites served with tomato, egg, bacon and blue cheese; chicken goujonettes served fried with mustard mayonnaise; three prime cheeseburgers served on silver dollar rolls with lettuce, tomato and purple onions; jumbo lump crab, spinach and artichoke dip served with toasted French bread croutons; four petite filet mignon sandwiches served with mustard mayonnaise; and blue cheese French fries topped with melted blue cheese, red pepper flakes and chives. Served at the Buckhead location only: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535.

$99 for two buys the steak and seafood combo at Morton's The Steakhouse Downtown and Buckhead locations. Enjoy high-roller surf and turf at low-ball pricing: Each person enjoys a single-cut filet; choice of seafood options including Morton's jumbo lump crab cake, Shrimp Alexander or broiled sea scallops wrapped in bacon with apricot chutney; choice of Caesar or Morton's salad; a signature Morton's potato and vegetable to share; and a choice of Morton's legendary hot chocolate cake or Key lime pie for dessert. Reservations required. Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building at 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816- 6535. Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building at 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

VITA wakes up quiet Tuesday nights with lively Tuesday Tastings from 6 to 8 p.m. $15 per person includes a tasting of 5-6 wines and complimentary appetizers. Mama mia! Such a deal! 2110 Peachtree Road and Bennett Street; 404-367-8482.

Pack a shopping bag and cruise the aisles on a Whole Foods Market "Way to Shop Value Tour!" A Whole Foods Market "Value Guru" guide will show you how to find the real deals in every department, proving it is possible to stretch your food budget without giving up organic and natural foods! Tours are offered weekly and registration is required as tours are limited to 12 "tourists" each; check out your local store's schedule at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

Seven locations: Buckhead: 77 West Paces Ferry Road, NW; 404-324-4100Briarcliff: 2111 Briarcliff Road; 404-634-7800Duluth-Johns Creek: 5945 State Bridge Road; 678-514-2400Sandy Springs: 5930 Roswell Road; 404-236-0810Ponce: 650 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE; 404-853-1681Harry's Farmers Market in Alpharetta: 1180 Upper Hembree Road; 770-664-6300Harry's Farmers Market in Marietta: 70 Powers Ferry Road, SE; 770-578-4400

The glass is NOT half empty simply because the dream California wine country trek is out of the budget this summer. Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery has a full glass -- and even bottles -- waiting just a couple of gallons of gas away from Atlanta in Dahlonega's hill country. Head north on Sunday, July 13 for "A Tribute to California Cuisine and Jazz," featuring recipes from Napa Valley's renowned restaurants paired with Wolf Mountain's family of estate wines and live jazz. The event is $30 per person (excluding wine, tax and gratuity), and seating times are 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. All Wolf Mountain wines are priced separately and will be available by the glass or bottle. Advance reservations are a must; call 706-867-9862. 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega, Georgia.