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

Lauren Davidson has a knack for uncovering bargains, deals and money-saving tips, and she freely passes them on via tweets and on her AJC blog, Atlanta Bargain Hunter.  Bank what you save or spend wisely on more deals. The sharing goes both ways -- send her your tips at ldavidson@ajc.com!

Good Times, Great Ales Are Brewing at SweetWater Brewery on March 5

If you love great beer and intense creativity, you won’t want to miss "Brew Your Cask Off" on Saturday, March 5 at SweetWater Brewery from 6 - 10 p.m!  Managing Partner Kyle Taylor of Atkins Park Tavern - Virginia Highland is one of 80 guest brewmasters crafting their own secret ale. Taylor will brew an American Pale Ale.

Who knows what's up the sleeves of his competitors from other restaurants, media outlets, retailers, charities and home brewers?  Your $35 online/$40 day-of-event ticket entitles you to unlimited cask samples. SweetWater brews will be on tap, and brewery tours will flow all day.  The benefits are big -- tasting, bragging rights and raising funds for event charity winner, the Atlanta Humane Society.  The top four winning brews and the people's choice will be recreated and served at SweetWater 420 Fest in April. See you there!

Pinkberry Coming To Buckhead!

Hey Buckhead! Hold on to those spoons for two more weeks! Pinkberry, the number-one tart frozen yogurt brand, will open its Buckhead store at 3637 Peachtree Road, NE on Friday, March 4. This store will be Pinkberry's third Georgia location, joining the original Akers Mill store and the recently opened Marietta store. In case you haven't been to one yet, here's what's in store: six distinctive flavors of tangy yet sweet premium frozen yogurt made with real nonfat yogurt and nonfat milk that is rBST hormone free and fresh ingredients. Joining the signature Original flavor on the menu are pomegranate, coconut, chocolate, mango and a surprise feature flavor. Get it to lick then or to go (back to your office or home). We'll pass on the scoop about free yogurt day soon. For up-to-the-minute news and discounts, become a Pinkberry Groupie or check in on Facebook and Twitter. The store will be open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Pinkberry Buckhead: 3637 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-949-0459.

Test Your Knowledge at Davio’s Italian Wine Education and Dinner Series

It’s time for school—except this session, you’ll be learning about wine and dinner. Come to Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse for their newest Italian wine dinner series on Thursday, February 24. Your wine knowledge will expand with Prestige Wine Imports Regional Director David Harmon and Davio’s Sommelier Robert Evans as they guide you through Executive Chef Bennett Hollberg’s five-course menu and Italian wine pairings.

The dinner series menu includes: a selection of canapés including smoked salmon, prosciutto toast and shrimp with citron aioli paired with Rotari, Brut Rose Riserva, 2003; seared scallop with parsnip puree and apricot glaze paired with Fuedo Arancio Chardonnay, Sicily 2008; Maple Leaf Farms duck breast with polenta, roasted pears and currant raspberry compote paired with Querceto, Chianti Classico Riserva, Toscana 2005; roasted lamb loin with celery root-apple puree, golden raisins, olive-sundried tomato bread and lamb jus paired with Luigi Rhigetti, Amarone della Valpolicella, 2006. As a treat for your success through class, you will get the buttermilk panna cotta with caramelized blood oranges paired with Mezzacorona Moscato di Asti, 2009.

Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuition is $65 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Make sure you call 404-844-4810 to reserve your spot today! Davio’s will bring more of their Italian wine dinner series in March and April in case you can’t make this one. Leave your books at home; this school trip is going to be fun!

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse:  Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810. 

An Evening In Kerala

India has always been high on my list of places to visit, and, this Friday night, two Atlanta supper clubs, Spice Route Super Club and Dinner Party Atlanta, are coming together to bring a taste of India to us Atlantans. Specifically, An Evening in Kerala focuses on a traditional 21-dish vegetarian feast traditional in this part of the world. Comfortable clothes and easy-off shoes are a must for this evening of traditional music, dance, cuisine and unique cocktails.

Cocktail hour starts at 8 p.m. followed by dinner at 9 p.m. at the Grand Atrium at 200 Peachtree Street. Tickets are $100 each, and only a few seats are left so don't wait to buy your tickets. The event supports Raksha, a Georgia-based nonprofit organization that addresses social and protection issues within the metropolitan area's South Asian community.

The People's Best New Chef: Cast Your Vote!

In case you missed the news yesterday, we the people can vote for Woodfire Grill Executive Chef/Co-owner and "Top Chef" contestant Kevin Gillespie during Food & Wine's "The People's Best New Chef" competition!  The newly established contest is an offshoot of Food & Wine's "Best New Chef" title, an honor given annually to the country's most promising up-and-coming chefs who have run their own kitchens for five years or less.   

On February 15, the magazine announced the 100 nominees for the "People's" version of this honor on eatocracy.com/foodandwine.  The contest divides the nation into 10 regions with 10 nominees per region.  Anyone can vote, and voters may cast one vote per region.  The chef receiving the most votes in a region will be that region's finalist; the chef receiving the most votes overall will win the title of "The People's Best New Chef 2011," and their bio will be featured in the July issue of Food & Wine.   

Voting ends on March 1; Food & Wine will announce the winner of "The People's Best New Chef" award on March 2 and "The 10 Best New Chefs" in early April. Look for the announcement on the Food & Wine website, Facebook as well as via Twitter. 

Add a Little Spice in Your Life at Marlow’s Tavern

“Bayou ‘n Bourbon” is back at Marlow’s Tavern and spicier than ever! Beginning Tuesday, February 15 through Monday, March 28, choose from a variety of flavors from the Deep South on this limited-time menu. You can munch on the traditional Roast Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo ($6) or the “jazzed up” Bayou Burger ($10) paired with a Louisiana-style drink such as Pat’s Marlow’s Hurricane ($8) or the Cajun Cosmo ($8).

Don’t miss this celebration! Marlow’s Tavern will offer this six-week long promotion daily at all seven locations. For more information about Marlow’s Tavern and their locations, visit www.marlowstavern.com. Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)

Pinot Noir Wine Dinner at Aria with Brian Loring on Feb. 23

If you have an obsession with Pinot Noir, then Brian Loring of Loring Wine Company could perhaps be your new favorite companion. Loring has been making wine for 11 years in California and Oregon vineyards and is most known for his fascination with Pinot Noir. Therefore, On February 23, Aria is hosting a Loring Winemaker Dinner, which will focus on 2009 vintage Pinot Noirs from Santa Lucia Highlands and the Russian River Valley. The wine dinner opens with a 6:30 p.m. reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The reception is accompanied by Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Chateau Guiraud, Bordeaux 09. An amuse of ginger prawn with madras curry aioli clears the palate for the four-course dinner featuring warm smoked breast of duck with chicories, toasted walnuts and Pecorino Toscano served with Russian River Valley 09 and Santa Lucia Highlands 09; slow braised shoulder of veal with cipollini, sweet red peppers and parsnips paired with Durell Vineyard, Sonoma Coast 09 and Graham Family Vineyard, Green Valley of Russian River Valley 09; Cervena venison chop with black trumpet, hedgehog and oyster mushrooms and yellow finn and sweet potato gratin served with Rosella's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands 09 and Keefer Ranch Vineyard, Green Valley of Russian River 09; and dessert of Arborio rice pudding with caramelized mango and coconut ice cream.

$130 per person, including tax and gratuity. Reserve your seats by calling Chris Soluri of Fine Wine Connection at 770-984-9663.

Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead; 404-233-7673.

Ray’s at Killer Creek Gives You A Break on Brunch and Lunch on Sundays

From Sunday, February 20 through Sunday, April 10, Ray’s at Killer Creek is offering its brunch and lunch menu items at half-price on Sundays. Take your pick of Chef Tracey Bloom’s delicious menu items like the house made corned beef hash with poached eggs; ham, egg and cheese sandwich made with Spanish pulled pork, fried egg and Vermont cheddar; mascarpone-stuffed French toast topped with fresh berries; shrimp and grits; jumbo lump crab cakes; and salmon BLT. Ray’s at Killer Creek serves brunch and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. The restaurant is located at 1700 Mansell Road in Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.