Appetizing Aperture

Southern kitchens have long turned to buttermilk to tenderize and add tang to family recipes. No surprise then that The Southern Gentleman charms diners with its own buttermilk-poached GrassRoots Farms chicken breast accompanied by root cellar tomatoes and okra and brown butter rutabaga purée ($23). Grandma would be proud, once she gets over the fact that this new Buckhead Atlanta restaurant doesn't quite do things the way she did back in the day. Change is good.  

Photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee

Restaurants to be Excited About in 2015

   

Our 2015 bucket list is filled with new dining destinations. We'll keep you in the know as openings draw near. Here's what we're thinking:

Atlas at the St. Regis Atlanta

Bellina-Alimentari at Ponce City Market

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill Roswell

The Blind Pig: Parlour Bar

FLIP burger boutique Nashville

Marlow's Tavern Woodstock

Ray's Rio Bravo Sandy Springs

Tin Drum Asiacafé Akers Mill

Tin Lizzy's Cantina Duluth and Augusta

Terminus City BBQ

Highly anticipated new spot from the partners of Umi

What's New on Pinterest: New Year Nibbles

Still searching for the perfect snack to serve at tonight's party? New Year Nibbles promise foolproof assembly and mess-free eating for your soiree -- and they complement any toasting glass. Good to consider, thus saving yourself from midnight selfie posts displaying the spinach between your teeth and saucy red lips for all the world to see. Bowl game viewing approved, for those looking to double-dip on recipe ideas. 

#Foodgram

Ella Woodward promotes health, happiness and inspiration through her Deliciously Ella Instagram album and blog. Both are therapeutic responses to Ella's diagnosis of postural tachycardia syndrome, showing that thorns give way to roses. In for the long and healthy haul, she advocates a whole food, plant-based diet in her new cookbook, recipe app and in classes she teaches. Start following to find inspiration for a healthier lifestyle in 2015! 

Resolve to Nourish and Flourish in the New Year

It's time to set goals for 2015. Is this the year to lose weight? Maybe eat less fast food and exercise more? Whatever your goals for 2015, Atlanta restaurants are here to help, offering a variety of healthy options for diners. And for DIY-ers, Whole Foods Market has ingredients for cooking up a wholesome lifestyle and prepared foods to nourish your fast-paced life.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill menu eases diners into a healthier new year with signature low-cal bowls such as the Mediterranean quinoa bowl studded with lettuce, cukes, feta, Kalamata olives and tomatoes, and a spunky Meyer lemon vinaigrette or the Asian quinoa couscous bowl, crunchy with macadamia nuts and toasted sesame seeds, fresh herbs and veggies (both $5.95). Crisp salads ($6.95-$14.95) include TBK Smoky Caesar with low-cal smoked tomato Caesar dressing and four gluten-free selections -- Green Goddess, Tropical, Greek and Citrus Seafood Cobb. Grilled ocean-fresh fish pack mega protein in a lean package ($14.95-$23.95). The Big Ketch designates gluten-free options to assist diners monitoring intake. 

Nutrient-dense mangos show up at Tin Drum AsiaCafé in Kang Yum mango salad that loads up on vitamin-rich spinach and ginger to clear your senses. Slurp up pad woon, a street noodle dish stirring up bean noodles, veggies, egg and chicken. Along with shrimp and all-natural chicken and beef, Tin Drum Asiacafé proteins up vegetarian versions of signature dishes with organic tofu. Get these dishes to go if you're on the run, and remember to hydrate with their healthy teas -- green, black, hot or iced.

At FLIP burger boutique, guests can opt in on a gluten-free bun or lettuce wrap for any burger on the menu. Veg-heads will be in heaven here, opting for the vedge beet, black bean and brown rice "burger" dressed with lettuce, tomato, jalapeño, caramelized onion and sautéed mushrooms ($10) and the chickpea Fauxlafel with arugula, cucumber, pickled beets, red onion and tzatziki yogurt spread ($8.25). The raw tuna tartare burger shares the plate with Asian pear, pine nuts, compressed veggies, a mango sphere and avocado purée ($14). FLIP's four salads pack in the greens: Caesar, wedge, beet and goat cheese on arugula or the deconstructed chicken salad on arugula and romaine ($6-$10).

Power foods perch on nests of mixed greens or spinach in Bantam + Biddy salads. West Georgia's own Capra Gia goat milk feta graces the big Greek salad ($8.50). The Power House salad wears a Jb Farm egg, roasted broccoli, sunflower sprouts, organic almonds and more ($8.50). The Southern Cobb piles on your choice of roast chicken or pork, Patak bacon, tomato, avocado, a Jb Farm egg, blue cheese and pecans ($12.50). The organic spinach salad covers fruits to nuts with sunflower seeds, quinoa, apples, goat cheese and sunflower sprouts ($8.50). Grab some greens by adding a side of kale salad or organic quinoa and spinach salad to your entrée.

Whole Foods Market inserts "healthy" before any of these words: lifestyle, eating, cooking, pantry, community. Set aside an hour or two to explore a nearby location or venture to Alpharetta for a healthy field trip to their new Avalon store. Vibrantly hued organic and conventional produce, responsibly raised meats, poultry and seafood, local cheeses and fresh-baked whole grain bakery goods inspire setting and maintaining good-for-you goals. Build a salad and fill a cup of soup for a fast lunch or choose prepared foods for an easy, nourishing supper. Those with special dietary needs will find plenty of options here. Tackle post-holiday cleaning with safe and effective products for the whole home and whole body. Fido and Fifi will appreciate your perusing the Whole Paws aisle for pets. Coffees and teas, beer and wine deliver cozy comfort and health benefits -- select your favorite beverage to take home and savor while garnering healthy pointers and new recipe ideas on the Whole Foods Market blog.

New Year's Eve Plans, Dining To-do List for 2015 and More in This Week's Dish!

Drop the ball on making New Year's Eve plans? We're here to help with our list of dining destinations that are celebrating the arrival of 2015 with special menus, parties and much more. Once you've recovered from the festivities, scope out our list of the hottest restaurants set to open in 2015. Trust us - it's going to be a great year! All that and more in this week's Dish!

What's New on Pinterest

Our Boozy Bites board is a softy for the hard stuff, like whiskey, rum, stout and other libations. Appetizers, mains, desserts -- we've spiked them all. Buffalo chicken beer cheese is a fast party fix. Bacon bourbon BBQ burgers and Guinness-braised short ribs carry the theme to the next level. Dark chocolate and Guinness cookies, bourbon brown sugar ice cream and no-bake Bailey's bonbons are sweet nothings with something extra, and that honey chamomile hot toddy tea cake might just knock that winter cold into next year.