It's Follow Friday; Meet our Tweep of the Week @BEERgeekATL

Eric, the BEERgeekATL, has credentials: Brewers Association "Beer 101," Cicerone "Certified Beer Server," Anheuser-Busch Beer School "Beer Master," and he loves beer and all of its relatives. Most afternoons, he's at Tower Beer Wine & Spirits on Piedmont. Share his passion via Twitter (@BEERgeekATL), and it's not too geeky to like him on Facebook either.

Chicken and the Egg Almost Ready in Marietta

Marc Taft, formerly the general manager at Pacci Ristorante in Atlanta, has a new roost. He's opening a new restaurant called Chicken and the Egg on August 1 in the Burnt Hickory Village Shopping Plaza in Marietta.   

   

With its modern farmhouse feel, the place is as down to earth as your favorite jeans, with a touch of sophistication. Here, guests can count on American farmstead fare prepared with ingredients from local farms and purveyors. Family friendly Chicken and the Egg will offer weekday lunch (starting August 8) with "meat and three" plates ($7-$12), dinner Monday through Sunday with entrées ranging from $10-$24, a children's menu and weekend brunch. Taft points out that the name Chicken and the Egg represents the cycle of life and the importance of sustainability, as well as the impact humans leave on this planet. Something to think about while noticing the restaurant's reclaimed wood, eco-conscious products and materials -- and relishing your meal.

New Neighborhood Tavern is Coming to Cumming!

Less than a week from today Marlow's Tavern located in The Avenue Forsyth will open its doors on Tuesday, July 26! This will be Sterling Hospitality’s eighth and newest Marlow’s Tavern. The restaurant menu boasts categories such as "Start, Snack, Share," "Crisp, Cool Salads," "Tavern Favorites," "Classic Tavern Burgers," "Big Bar Sandwiches," "Kids' Fun Foods" and "Sweet Stuff." Plus there's a tremendous variety of wines, brews and cocktails. With its bar, booths and big communal table, Marlow's is set to become the meeting place for those shopping 'til they drop, meeting for after-the-commute cheer and for Forsyth neighbors wanting a nearby night out. Super friendly Marlow's Tavern is a perfect fit for the open-air shopping destination loaded with premier national retailers, select local merchants and specialty restaurants. Come try it out! The new Marlow's Tavern in The Avenue Forsyth is located at 410 Peachtree Parkway, just east of Georgia 400 at Peachtree Parkway/Highway 141 in Cumming.

In other Marlow's news, this is the last week to get your fill of the limited-time "Red, White & Brew" selection. On July 25, Marlow's Tavern will put away their patriotic menu and grilling contest until 2012. Hurry in for "Red, White & Brew" menu items like firecracker deviled eggs ($3/$5), the Red, White and Bleu Burger ($11), backyard blackened swordfish ($14) and honey-glazed grilled chicken with chili-slathered corn on the cob ($17). While you're there, submit your favorite recipe in the Second Annual Marlow's Tavern Grilling Recipe Contest for a chance to win a Big Green Egg and other prizes. Winners will be announced in August.

Marlow's Tavern: Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; 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; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033; East Cobb at 1311 Johnson Ferry Road (across from the movie theatre and next to Kohl's department store), 770-977-7747; and Cumming at 410 Peachtree Parkway, 770-886-3666.

Get a Lesson from Woodfire Grill’s E.J. Hodgkinson at The Grant Park Farmers Market

Make your way to The Grant Park Farmers Market (GPFM) this Sunday! In addition to an incredible selection of local foods and art, the community market hosts chef demos at 11:30 a.m. each week on the Community Green. This week’s guest chef is Woodfire Grill Chef de Cuisine E.J. Hodgkinson. The fan of local, organic food and sustainable agriculture began working with Woodfire Grill Executive Chef/Partner Kevin Gillespie in 2008. The two chefs work together to create the daily menu promoting locally sourced, ingredient-driven cuisine. GPFM hours are 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The GPFM is located in the area surrounding the Milledge Fountain at the corner of Cherokee and Milledge avenues.

Santa's Sleigh Arrives Early at Atkins Park Tavern

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way to Atkins Park Tavern on Monday, July 25! Both locations of Atkins Park Tavern are getting into the holiday spirit a little early with the restaurants’ annual “Christmas in July” celebration sponsored by Jägermeister. Santa and his naughty Jäger elves will be at both locations all day to pass out fun giveaways. At the Virginia-Highland location, Atlantans can get away from the scorching heat with refreshing Jäger snow cones. The Smyrna location’s “Christmas in July” celebration will begin with live music from DJ Seven. The party starts at 9 p.m. at both locations and includes Peppermint Mojitos and delicious Christmas cookies as a cool holiday treat.

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

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

Kerala on Our Minds: Spice Route Supper Club Dinner on July 23

We're dreaming of traveling to India this Saturday...with Asha Gomez of Spice Route Supper Club. The supper club chef is hosting one of her tantalizing dinners at 8 p.m. on July 23, and you'll definitely want to hop on board for the five-course culinary passage.

The dinner tours the flavors of Kerala, which is in southwetern India's spice route. You'll begin with a Keralan trio of vegetables: green beans and carrots thoren (stir-fry with freshly grated coconut), beetroot pachadi (a creamy yogurt-based dish) and sweet potato verrakku (traditional sauté with mustard seeds and curry leaves). Delicate fish cakes follow, seasoned with ginger and green chile and served with green papaya pickle. Third course is a savory duck roast with pan-roasted potatoes served with Gomez's fresh mango chutney. Kerala beef curry, redolent with ginger, cinnamon and curry leaf served with coconut rice, comes next. Finally, when you think you've covered all the spices, out comes vattayapam, a steamed cake, light in texture like angel food cake, with a custard-like pudding of ripe plantains, coconut milk and cardamom. Speaking of cardamom, Gomez is opening a restaurant called Cardamom Hill on Northside Drive this fall so think of this supper as a sneak peek! Seats at the Spice Route Supper Club table are $85 per person, which includes unique wine and beer pairings. There are only 20 spots, so email spiceroutesupperclub@gmail.com for reservations. The supper club location is in northwest Atlanta off I-285; guests will receive directions two days prior to the dinner.

Could It Be You? MLA Seeks Fall Interns

Heads up!  Melissa Libby & Associates is currently seeking two interns for Fall 2011.  Our interns join the team for the semester to work directly with both media communications and social media, as well as opportunities to help with events, client services and video production. Your passion for PR and fanaticism for food/wine culture are appreciated, as are creativity, positive energy and great writing skills.   

The ideal candidate will receive school credit for their experience with MLA.  Our internships are unpaid and 15 hours per week.  We strive to make it a hands-on experience that our interns can definitely benefit from in the future.  To find out more about Melissa Libby & Associates, please visit our website and our Facebook page.  If you are interested, please send your resume and availability to atlantadish@gmail.com.  Good luck!

To Live and Dine

If you missed yesterday's Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival, don't be too hard on yourself. You did miss an amazing array of creative chefs and mixologist but tomorrow is another day and another fabulous event!
Tomorrow from 6:30 - 9 p.m., luxury magazines JEZEBEL and The Atlantan will host "To Live & Dine in Atlanta" at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. Spice Market, located in the W Atlanta-Midtown, will be there with tastings of the restaurant's globally inspired cuisine along with many of the city's best restaurants. On the drink side, look for cocktails by Remy Cointreau and Stella Artois as well as a Smartwater lounge. Factor in the live music and your tickets($25 online and $35 at the door) are a steal! Remember to bring non-perishable food items for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.