Eggs-cellence on our Pinterest Page

Making plans for brunch tomorrow? Got eggs on your mind? Check out our Egg-cellent Recipes on our most recent Pinterest board. Crack open one fifteen cent, 70-calorie egg and unleash a powerhouse of high-quality protein, choline for your muscles and brain, lutein for healthy eyes and at least a dozen more nutrients. Let me know what time to come over!

Atkins Park Virginia-Highland Hosts Whiskey and Beer Tasting on January 23

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland is gearing up for their Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. whiskey and beer tasting event on Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m. Try four tastings -- Kentucky Bourbon ale, a classic Manhattan featuring Town Branch bourbon, Pearse Lyons Reserve single malt whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel stout -- along with Chef Andrew Smith's complementing small bites. Leave whiskey-wiser after the tasting with knowledge imparted by the Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. representative. Bottoms up!

#Foodgram of the Week: @StCeciliaATL

We stalk Instagram for pictures from restaurant openings the way grandparents hunt for pictures of new grandchildren. Right now, we're loving the shots from St. Cecilia, Ford Fry's latest opening in Buckhead. Open up the album and have a look-see @stceciliaatl.

Make a "Pit" Stop at Gunshow and Support the Fatback Collective's Rodney in Exile BBQ Tour on Jan. 20

 

There are quite a few stereotypes about the South, like how we all love Nascar and have a borderline obsession with sweet tea. Despite some of the truly awful accents that Hollywood has inflicted on us, I can still say I'm proud to be a Southerner. Overall, we really are a friendly, generous group. A perfect example of this is the friends and communities coming together to help Rodney Scott, the famed pitmaster of  (Scott's Bar-B-Que). Two days before Thanksgiving, Scott's pit house in Hemingway, SC went up in flames. Members of The Fatback Collective, a group of restaurateurs, entrepreneurs and creative folk focused on a progressive Southern future, immediately rallied behind him to support his fundraising efforts. Gunshow's Kevin Gillespie and Fatback member Angie Mosier are hosting Scott as he travels throughout the South on the Rodney in Exile BBQ Tour from January 20-February 4. On Monday, January 20, Gunshow marks the second "pit" stop on the tour, as everyone donates their time and services to prepare a Southern, four-course dinner that night. Gunshow staff will prepare the first two courses for the 7 p.m. meal. Scott's open-pit barbecue and Gunshow's Southern sides come together for course number three, and Mosier is baking her classic Southern layer cake for dessert. $100 per person, plus tax. Any gratuity will be donated. Limited to 50 seats; reservations required (with credit card; call 404-380-1886). No shows will be considered a donation. For those who can't make it to dinner, Scott is also serving up his barbecue sandwich for $5 and a $10 boxed lunch that includes a sandwich, sides and drink. Dine-in and take-out options available; first come, first served from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. As the tour progresses, any fund overage will be allocated to help others in need.

G's Midtown Celebrates American Classics with Ribs & Ryes Menu Through January 21

Two American legacies - rye whiskey and succulent ribs - come together for Ribs & Ryes at G's Midtown, January 8-21. Baby back ribs glazed in Georgia peach rye barbecue sauce come with sides of smoked baked beans, coleslaw and Parmesan truffle "chips." Bone-in beef short ribs are slow braised with red wine and whiskey and joined by roasted carrots, celery and onions over creamy whipped garlic mashed potatoes. Hearty pork ribs in a plum and rye glaze are accompanied by skillet mac and cheese and green beans. Rib dishes are priced from $10-$16. Menu loyalists, the regular menu is still in play. From the "Ryes" menu, tip back a Catcher in the Rye or honey rye old fashioned incorporating Doc Holiday Double Barrel rye, Diamondback with Doc Rittenhouse rye or try Bulleit rye whiskey in the Sazerac. All cocktails are priced at $9 or at $4 for rye shorties. Do the rye thing and reserve a table: 404-872-8012.

King + Duke and Umi Named as Atlanta Must-Visits by The Huffington Post

King + Duke Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee

In John Mariani's January 2 "What's New in Atlanta" article, the Esquire food and travel columnist and The Huffington Post contributor names a pair of Buckhead neighbors on his list.

At King + Duke, executive chef Joe Schafer centers cuisine preparation around an open kitchen and wood-fire cooking on a 24-foot hearth. Mariani notes that, "If you want to find Atlantans of every stripe having a grand old time, check out King + Duke any night of the week from five o'clock till midnight."

Only a short walk from King + Duke is Umi, where guests are greeted by Tokyo-born chef Fuyuhiko Ito as he turns ocean-fresh catches into delectable sushi. For those wondering what to order on their next visit, Mariani's recommendations include the "irresistible scallops seared on the grill" and "the piece de resistance, Kobe-beef toban-yaki in a dashi broth that ameliorated the decadent richness of the beef, which at $28 an ounce is sheer indulgence."

New Lunch Menu at No. 246 Features Squid Ink Spaghetti and More

Tired of rotating through the same old lunchtime staples? No. 246 in Decatur is introducing a new lunch menu sure to rekindle the love affair with your midday meal. Available on weekdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the new menu features favorites like fried calamari and peppers, crispy cheese, garlic bread with pesto or the No. 246 meatball ($5-$11). Pasta dishes are rich with flavors: squid ink spaghetti with Georgia white shrimp and chilies, smoked bacon and crispy farm egg in strozzapreti carbonara, and shell-shaped lumache with fennel sausage, ancho pepper, garlic and rapini are three comforting pasta dishes ($10-$13). Seasonal plates include Enchanted Springs trout with sunchokes, Brussels sprouts and pancetta ($16) or Springer Mountain chicken accompanied by Mercier apples, celery root and sherry bacon agro dolce ($18). If pizza suits the mood, selections include mushrooms with almond-arugula pesto; pineapple, prosciutto, mozzarella and Calabrian chilis; fattoria with bacon, greens, tomato and ricotta and the classic Margherita ($10-$13). Sandwiches might get messy, stacked with porchetta, crispy Georgia white shrimp or the No. 246 meatball "burger." Chopped, flatbread and Caesar salads can be topped with chicken, shrimp or steak for extra protein ($9-$12+). Your brown bag? That yogurt and granola bar can stay in the office fridge until tomorrow.

Explore the Great Indoors at Whole Foods Markets Plus Much More in this Week's Dish

                                         

What are you eating for lunch today? No. 246 in Decatur is bringing lunch-goers delicious new must-try menu items. Maybe planning ahead to next week for lunch or dinner plans? Gunshow gives you something to look forward to on Monday, January 20 as the Fatback Collective's Rodney in Exile BBQ Tour rolls in with lunch and dinner options. Check out all that Atlanta's restaurant scene has to offer, plus much more in this week's Dish! 

Cancer Takes Chef Ryan Hidinger but Can't Defeat His Heart for Others

Ryan Hidinger never quit. The big-hearted young chef juggled big plans with wife Jennifer -- cheffing at Muss & Turner's, hosting weekend supper club dinners for paying guests at their home, developing Staplehouse restaurant and spearheading The Giving Kitchen initiative to assist restaurant workers with medical expenses -- all while undergoing aggressive treatment for a contentious cancer. On January 9, cancer stole his life but not his plans and dreams.

Backtrack a year to December 2012 when the 35-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 gallbladder cancer. Rather than give in to despair, Ryan and Jennifer continued to forge ahead with determination. In addition to chemo, days and nights were consumed by blogging, lecturing, cooking, fundraising as Team Hidi, and working with Ryan Turner of Muss & Turner's to turn the Staplehouse idea into a reality that would channel profits to helping hospitality industry workers facing catastrophic illnesses. In addition to inspiring so many, Hidinger leaves a legacy in Staplehouse, which has been funded by a large consortium of Atlanta restaurant groups. Ryan, we will miss you, and we thank you for giving your all. Read more about this inspiring chef and join us in our commitment to remembering Ryan by supporting The Giving Kitchen.

A Whole Lot of Reasons to Shop Whole Foods

There's a whole lot to love about living in the Atlanta area, including realizing there are a whole lot of Whole Foods Market stores scattered around the metro area. Eight, to be exact, all ready to top your winter "explore the great indoors" activity list. As pointed out in the article "Seven Fascinating Things You May Not Know about WholeFoods," savvy shoppers find shopping at Whole Foods Market can lead to a healthier table without devouring their grocery budget. For starters, their website offers a bulk bin of information covering healthy living, menu ideas and recipes, plus money-saving coupons, tips and specials in The Whole Deal guide. Check it out, especially the core values page. And you'll find savings add up when you buy the Whole Foods Market 365 Everyday Value products. These folks are animal friendly, there's no place for added hormones, antibiotics or growth enhancers in their meats and seafood. Hormone-free bears repeating, all around the store. "Artificial" anythings (colors, flavors, etc.) are no-nos across the aisles as well, from meats and dairy products to shelf goods. Whole Foods Market's non-GMO labeling project was a first for retailers, putting "non-GMO" right out there on labels to enlighten consumers' choice making. The labeling project now covers more than 3,300 non-GMO verified products in Whole Foods stores. The money you spend at Whole Foods Market comes back to the community in donations and support for local causes. Where does Whole Foods Market fit in our lifestyle game plan? Whole, in one.