Ob-la-di, ob-la-da. Eats & Beats Covers the Beatles, Fab Food, Drinks and Chef Bands on April 22

  

Baby, you can drive my car to the fabulous Buckhead Theatre for Eats & Beats, an unforgettable evening of unlimited food, open bars, Beatles covers by Yacht Rock Revue, chef bands and a silent auction crammed with exotic goodies. Mark the date -- Monday, April 22 from 6:30-9 p.m. Be there at the start for the chef band openers, including one led by Ford Fry! JCT Kitchen & Bar, No. 246 and Chicken and the Egg are among the host of premiere restaurants serving up specialties that night. Open bars slake sing-a-long thirst with mixed drinks, wine and craft beers. Don't miss this benefit for Children of Conservation and The Giving Kitchen. Purchase tickets online. General admission ($70) includes it all; VIP ($150) adds 6 p.m. entry and private access to VIP suites with exclusive entertainment, wine tastings, premium bar, additional restaurants with food and wine pairings and a private balcony stage view. 

Party It Up on the Patio Tomorrow at The Optimist

Make plans to visit The Optimist on Saturday for a patio party filled with delicious food, lots of drink options and live music. For $17, you can skip the utensils and fill up on an authentic, Louisiana-style crawfish boil prepared by Executive Chef Adam Evans. 

Obviously you'll need some cold beverages to go with all that crawfish, and the restaurant has plenty to keep you from getting thirsty. Drink specials include New Orleans-style punches for $8 and $5 pints of the specially brewed cask of “Hoptimist” from Red Hare Brewing Company. This is also the perfect opportunity to try the spring cocktail menu with newly added drinks like the Scurvy Scoundrel made with Deep Eddy Vodka, lime and house-made grapefruit cordial and the Mermaid’s Crossing with pisco, passion fruit, lime, sugar, paprika and egg whites. Cocktails range in price from $8-$10.

So sleep in and come by at 3 p.m. when the event kicks off with live music from singer/songwriter Justin Borgman and stay for Stefan Cashwell at 7 p.m.! 

SweetWater 420 Fest Taps Bands, Brews and Seminars April 19-21 in Candler Park

Going to SweetWater 420 Fest this weekend? You won't want to miss Arianne Fielder, head mixtress at Seven Lamps, guest speaking and doing a beer cocktail seminar on Saturday, April 20 at the Fest in Candler Park. Fielder whips out some mean craft cocktails involving craft beers, so you could call her the "proof-fessor" of the beer cocktail seminar. Pop open the schedule at the SweetWater 420 Fest website to scope out the many bands, comedy acts, talks and kids activities, plus more details. See ya there!

Gunshow Opens May 8th -- Make Reservations Now

Just a few weeks until Gunshow opens to the public -- May 8 to be exact! Kevin Gillespie spills the word on Facebook that the dinner reservation line is open, 404-380-1886. Reservations are mandatory during week one (no walk-in seating available); Gunshow will accept both reservations and walk-ins to dine beginning May 14. Guests can book "Kevin's Table" as well. Carpe diem to dine and be on the cutting edge of cutting edge dining when the excitement begins at the Glenwood Park restaurant. Come hungry!

Still Need a Hotel for the T. Swift Concerts? Be Swift and Head to The Glenn

Taylor Swift appeals to all ages. So does the Glenn Hotel, a boutique hotel just steps away from Phillips Arena that is completing the big night out with a $199 "Be Swifty" package. Some of Taylor's favorite things, such as chocolate chip cookies and Diet Coke, will greet "Be Swifty" guests arriving for the concert on Thursday, April 18 or Friday, April 19. Enjoy early check in (based on availability), late check out until 1 p.m., breakfast for two at Glenn's Kitchen (buckwheat crepes with ham and parmesan topped with a fried egg) and more. Did we mention that it's a short, swift trip on foot from the Glenn Hotel to Phillips Arena and back? Way to be special and avoid to and fro traffic tensions. Book rooms by calling 404-521-2250.

Bhojanic Khush Time Specials Beat Rush Hour at Shops Around Lenox

Photo by Ian Rawn

 

For many of us, the 5:30-7:30 p.m. time slot is spent inching through traffic on our commute home. Not your idea of a good time? Bhojanic Buckhead in the Shops Around Lenox has the answer on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with Khush Time! Live music and food specials are ready to join your favorite cocktail, beer or wine selections at the popular Indian restaurant and meeting spot. Central location and plenty of free parking.

Eat It and Tweep: This Rebecca Lang Tweets Around a Southern Table

 

There are multiple Rebecca Langs on Twitter, but only one is Athens' own Rebecca Lang, mom of two as well as contributing editor for @southern_living, author of Around the Southern Table, food writer, cooking instructor and heir of cast iron skillets. Rebecca is also this year's Vidalia Onion spokesperson and you won't want to miss her! Follow her tweets at @rebeccalangcook. Full reads athttp://rebeccalangcooks.blogspot.com/.

The Well-Seasoned Chef Series registration begins tomorrow, April 17

The Atlanta Botanical Garden has an awesome series of cooking classes each year and you'll want to check it out!  The Well-Seasoned Chef Series usually sells out so nab your seat when registration opens up tomorrow, April 17.  Phone registration only at 404.876.5859 ext. 2559. While the chef line-up is amazing, we're partial to Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow, Drew Belline from No. 246 and Adam Evans from The Optimist!

What's New on Pinterest: Sweet Vidalia Onion Inspiration

 

Sweet Vidalia Onion season is finally here, and we’re ready to put our 10-lb. bag of these beautiful Georgia jewels to good use. We’ll be feasting on Vidalias in salads, tarts, sandwiches and more. Peel back the posts on our Pinterest board to see how we'll be feasting, then get your own bag and follow suit.

Appetizing Aperture: Sweet Vidalia Onions Now in Season

Sweet blooming onion! Vidalia onion season is now upon us, as yesterday marked the official start. "Souper," exclaims Marc Taft, chef/owner at Chicken and the Egg in Marietta and executive chef/general manager of The Mill Kitchen & Bar in Roswell. Get your chef on and  celebrate this beloved vegetable by making his creamy Vidalia onion soup. Don't forget to check out all the other delicious Vidalia recipes on the Vidalia Onion Committee website. Pure spring bliss.

Creamy Vidalia Onion Soup:

6 tablespoons butter

5 pounds Vidalia onions, sliced

2 thyme sprigs

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons sugar

2 celery ribs, finely diced

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 cup sherry

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 quarts chicken stock or vegetable stock

1-2 cups of white country bread, crumbled

Kosher salt & fresh cracked black pepper

Method: 

1. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a heavy pot.

2. Add the onions, thyme and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until onions are softened.

3. Add sugar, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized.

4. Remove onion to a bowl and set aside.

5. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in pot and add celery, garlic and bay leaf and cook for 2-3 minutes. Increase heat and add sherry. Reduce by half.

6. Add back onion and add chicken stock. Cook for about 30 minutes.

7. Add heavy cream and simmer for 5 minutes.

8. Add bread to soup and stir until incorporated.

9. Puree the soup in a food processor or blender.

10. Season with salt and pepper. 

Photo by Hope Philbrick. 

The Word's Out -- BurgerFi® Is Open in Emory Point

 

Hey ATL, your better burger go-to is here! BurgerFi® is now open in Emory Point and pleasing guests with mouthwatering grass-fed Angus beef burgers and customizable burger options, the VegeFi® quinoa burger, natural hot dogs fixed NY-, Chicago- or Texas-style, and Wagyu Kobe beef or chicken-apple dogs. Great go-withs include hand-cut fries, crispy onion rings, freshly prepared frozen custards, Coca-Cola and Boylan cane sugar sodas, wine and craft beer. All-American BurgerFi® beef is sustainably and humanely raised on a vegetarian diet without additives and added hormones. Craving a burger yet? That's what we thought...see you tonight! 

Will Harris of White Oak Pastures Is Nominated for Real Food Award

 

Our Bluffton, Georgia hero of sustainable farming and humanely raised cattle is on the "Producer" award nominating block for the Real Food Awards. Nominees are farmers or food producers demonstrating exceptional commitment to their community, consumers and the earth through campus and community relationships and selling high-quality real food to institutions. Bingo, that's Will Harris of White Oak Pastures exactly. Read his bio and vote here! 

Go Green with Atlanta Restaurants for Earth Day Plus Much More in this Week's Dish

Kevin Gillespie's new restaurant Gunshow is set to open on May 8, and now YOU can officially reserve a table. In the meantime, hit up Bhojanic Buckhead on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights for " Khush Time," with plenty of food and drink specials and live music. You don't want to miss out on all the fun, plus much more in this week's Dish!