Appetizing Aperture of the Week: Cantaloupe Gazpacho with Lump Crabmeat from Alma Cocina

If the photo is as fresh and delish as this, can you imagine how exquisite the real deal tastes? You can just about taste this cantaloupe gazpacho with lump crabmeat that won first place for Alma Cocina at the recent Taste of the Highlands food fest in Virginia Highland. No pictures for second-place winner Ecco or dessert winner Alon's Bakery and Market. Better head over and snap a photo or two before you chew.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep Of The Week @thesouthernc #ff

What's hot in the South besides the asphalt? All modern-paved and Old South dirt roads lead to The SouthernC (@the southernc), where a community of friends share a similar interest -- the South. If you live below the Mason-Dixon Line, say "yes" and nod as you read along. Displaced up north or pining to move south, visit The Southern Coterie blog and let the South come to you. Plenty to pin here.

Warm Weather means Mouthwatering Pairing at RA Sushi

Summer flavors unite between the watermelon and kiwi cocktail and entrée pairing at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown. Explore these flavors with the Watermelon Kiwi Shrimp and the Melon-Kiwi-Tini cocktail. Watermelon, kiwi, orange slices, lychee and shrimp come together for the light and healthy Watermelon Kiwi Shrimp entrée. Pair this dish with the Melon-Kiwi-Tini, featuring muddled flavors of Monin Watermelon, Svedka Citron and shochu with soda fizz and watermelon and kiwi garnish, and you've got a colorfully refreshing meal for just $18. Enjoy the summer pairing between June 1-30 at RA sushi, which is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with a late-night menu available until midnight (the bar is open even later).

Celebrate National Doughnut Day with Krispy Kreme

This Friday, June 1st, let Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Columbus, Ga. treat you to a free doughnut of your choice. Whether it's Original Glazed®, sprinkled with sugar or iced, enjoy this well-rounded treat in honor of National Doughnut Day. The Salvation Army initiated the annual occasion in 1948 to raise funds for those in need during the Great Depression, and it remains something to look forward to on the first Friday of each June. Share your doughy delight via Twitter (@KrispyKreme #DoughnutDay), but make sure to lick your fingers clean first. The Columbus Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop is located at 6761 Veterans Parkway, 706-320-2124. 

Chefs Shop, Chop, Vie For Iron Chef Title At Friday Night Peachtree Road Farmers Market

Atlanta’s largest producer-only market will be open this Friday night from 4-8 p.m. for a special Iron Chef competition. The fresh-from-the-field action will be going down between Chefs Justin Balmes and Patric Bell, along with four other popular Atlanta chefs. The chefs will each be given $45 to buy ingredients. Before the clock strikes 6 p.m. they must turn those ingredients into farm-fresh plates for 100 lucky ticket holders. The ticket holders will be the judges by sampling the plates and choosing a winner. Tickets are $5 and go on sale at 4 p.m.

Not only will there be hot competition among some of the hottest chef’s in Atlanta, the usual 70-plus vendors selling fruits, veggies and handmade goodies will be there, plus live bluegrass by The Farmland Trio and dinner options from a fleet of food trucks.

If you show up Saturday morning you’ll miss out on all the fun! Plus the vender’s will be sleeping in after a big Friday night in the city. Repeat, no market on Saturday. So come spend your Friday happy hour at the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market and you too can sleep in on Saturday morning.

Summer Fun Begins Early At Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland with Pong Wars & Summerfest

Short work weeks are something to celebrate, so make plans to do just that at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland this week with a spirited paddle battle! The restaurant is setting Pong Wars in motion starting on Wednesday, May 30 with single elimination rounds starting up at 10:30 p.m. Sam Adams sponsors the fast-paced event that leads to a Sam Adams tailgate grill and awesome cooler (each valued at $150) for first- and second-place winners. Be there early to get a seat and get in the lineup!

Also coming up in the neighborhood and celebrating 29 years of art, food and fun, Virginia Highland Summerfest 2012 will be taking over on June 2-3.  Visitors can shop for original art at the artist market, enjoy great food, run the 5K and listen to live music presented by 92.9 dave-fm. There’s also a KidsFest area in John Howell Park to keep the little ones entertained. Look for the Atkins Park Tavern food tent while you’re there. At this year’s festival, we remember our friend Warren Bruno, owner of Atkins Park and Ormsby’s, who passed away earlier this month. Warren was one of the original organizers of this popular summertime festival.

Wake Up and Taste the Samples: Jittery Joe's Demos at Alon's

Perk up your midweek morning with a few jolts of Jittery Joe's java at a Wednesday morning coffee tasting on May 30, courtesy of Alon's Bakery and Market in Virginia Highland. Jittery Joe's will start roasting and pouring it on strong at 10 a.m. Sip several types and pick out a few to fit your a.m. and p.m. coffee moods then purchase some small cans to take with you. According to research, coffee is the number-one source of antioxidants in the American diet. Put that in your cup and drink it. You know what they say, the mo' Joe the merrier!

Pour the best brew with Alon's Bakery And Market and Jittery Joe's - And More - In This Week's Dish

A long Memorial Day weekend comes to a close here in Atlanta -- it's time to pour a strong cup of coffee and catch up on the latest culinary news from around town in The Dish! If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

Memorial Day at Atkins Park

It's too hot to cook. Head to Atkins Park in the Highlands on Memorial Day where they will be firing up the Big Green Egg. Enjoy Slow Smoked BBQ Brisket served with creamy slaw and Vidalia onion rings ($15), or have some yummy St. Louis Spare Ribs topped with fresh GA peach BBQ sauce served with fries and corn on the cob (half rack $15/full rack $21). And you gotta wet your whistle, right? Pair both these Memorial Day smokers with New Belgium Somersault Ale: Citrus aroma, soft apricot fruitiness and a hint of ginger (pint $5.50). What a delicious way to end the 3-day weekend!