Appetizing Aperture

A little sour, a little sweet, a little perfect. Revival’s Bourbon Sour (bourbon, lemon, egg white and local honey, $11) is the cure for what ails you. Drop by for happy hour Tuesday – Friday from 5-6 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday from 3-6 p.m., including a selection of $5 small bites.

Smoked Prime Rib Special Stokes Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Monday and Tuesday Nights

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails opens the week with a prime reason to dine out: a $25 prime rib dinner special on Monday and Tuesday nights. Now through Tuesday, April 19, enjoy Cajun-smoked prime rib with au jus, pinto and garlic mashed potatoes, horseradish hollandaise and buttermilk-herb fried tiny green beans priced at, we repeat, only $25 per person (tax, gratuity, drinks extra). This well-done deal sure beats standing in the express checkout on the way home! 

Where to Go When You’re Wearing St. Pat’s Green on March 17

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is one step ahead of the weekend this year, falling on a Thursday. So what are Atlanta leprechauns to do? Start the weekend early and take advantage of charming chow specials, lucky green drinks and a charming cache of handcrafted ice creams chosen to get your “Ire” (-land) up!

St. Paddy’s Day churns up the Irish in all of us, as does the Lick O’ The Irish premium ice cream collection from High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet. The frosty jackpot features two pints each of golden Caramel Pecan, green Fresh Mint Chip, boozy Bourbon Burnt Sugar, and Vanilla Fleur de Sel – to top off a pint of Guinness. Order through High Road’s online store for $139, including shipping. O’cheers, y’all!

If that’s not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, Sublime Doughnuts’ thin mint doughnut should do the trick: Chocolate yeast-raised doughnut topped with peppermint icing, crushed thin mint cookies and chocolate ganache ($2).

Stop looking for four-leaf clovers and head to HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern where St. Pat’s Day doors open at 11:30 a.m. to charm Midtowners with $5 SweetWater 420-gone-green beers, $16 corned beef and cabbage and rollicking live music. What luck! HOBNOB’s usual Thursday night barbecue specials will still be available to keep diehard Irish-Southerners happy and full.

Grownup lads and lassies struggling to master Irish jig steps may find success after a couple of complimentary Irish shooters at Johnny’s Hideaway. The foot-loosening libations and corned beef and cabbage are on the house St. Pat’s night from 6-7 p.m.

Still can’t wait for St. Pat’s Day pot of golden goodies at the end of the rainbow? ShamRock the Station barrels through Atlantic Station with a whole day of bands, food, drinks and fun for the whole family on Saturday, March 12. Info above.

Smokebelly BBQ Wings and Beer Specials Add Hoopla to March Madness Beginning March 16

Bracketing teams may be a March Madness toss-up, but Smokebelly BBQ commands the courts throughout all the hoopla with wing and beer specials. Catch primo NCAA Tournament game viewing and share 25 wings plus a bucket of beer with your teammates – for only $30 – while you watch. Following the ball up and down the court generates a thirst, easily quelled by $3 draft beer selections. Grab your brackets and make a fast break to Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead because these specials bounce out when one team nets the championship title.

James Beard Award Semifinalist Vishwesh Bhatt Guest Chefs at Gunshow “Hired Guns” Dinners March 13-14

A couple of weeks ago, City Grocery Restaurant Group chef Vishwesh Bhatt was named as a semifinalist for the James Beard 2015 Restaurant and Chef Awards - “Best Chef: South.” This week, Atlanta diners can put his mettle to the test when Bhatt leads the kitchen crew as guest chef for Gunshow‘s “Hired Guns” dinners on Sunday, March 13 and Monday, March 14 – evenings when the Glenwood Park restaurant is normally closed. Target these dates and taste why everyone’s talking about this Oxford, Mississippi chef. His featured dishes include Kasturi lamb neck, makki ki roti and quick-pickled red onions and fried catfish, pollichattu masala and lemon rice grits. Purchase tickets online, $95 per person (not including drinks, tax and gratuity).

Greet a Green Morning at Kegs & Eggs Bar Crawl and Atkins Park Virginia-Highland March 12

The 5th Annual Kegs & Eggs Bar Crawl in Virginia-Highland jump starts Saturday morning, March 12, by loading more greens into the day’s diet – i.e., green-themed breakfast foods, cocktails and beer. “Crawlers” pay $14.99 to don St. Paddy’s beads and partake of complimentary St. Patrick’s-themed adult beverage and breakfast items at each of six Virginia-Highland neighborhood bars. Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar rouses spirited morning risers with a strong shamrock shot and emerald green fruit cup. Will these mean green goodies pack more antioxidants than paler versions? While that’s hard to say, they’re sure to be powerful. Buy tickets online. Must be 21 or older and show valid ID. First stop, Neighbor’s Pub between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to register and pick up a map and more program details.

ShamRock the Station with Meehan’s Public House-Atlantic Station and Guinness March 12

Midtown is where it’s at for pre-St. Pat’s festivities and fare on Saturday, March 12. The 134th Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade courses along Peachtree from 15th to 5th Street at noon. Not to be out-shamrocked, ShamRock the Stationunleashes six bands, beer, dancing and other festivities in Central Park at Atlantic Station – only this shindig jigs on from noon-11 p.m. Come at noon or leap over after the parade. Meehan’s Public House – Atlantic Station, Guinness and Radio 105.7 link up with Atlantic Station to charm lads, lassies and even wee little leprechauns at Atlanta’s “biggest family friendly St. Patrick’s Festival.” Those over 21 can pay $5 for a catchy wristband allowing the purchase and imbibing of libations at the outdoor festival – such as the drafts Meehan’s and Guinness will be pulling all day and into the night. Aye, when Irish food cravings tease, Meehan’s menu will set eyes a smiling with fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Irish bangers and mash, a full-on traditional Irish breakfast plus gourmet pub fare. Shamrocking the social media? Use tag line #ShamrockTheStation. Uncover more information on the Atlantic Station website.

Jig to the “Luck of Colony Square” and Taste a Bit of Soon-to-Open 5Church after St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 12

Extend the excitement of Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade through Midtown at the “Luck of Colony Square” festival filling the plaza at Colony Square from 1-4 p.m. on March 12. See performances by parade bagpipers, drummers and Irish dancers then dance a jig to live music by Carter Rude. Equally active, chef Jamie Lynch of 5Church isn’t twiddling his thumbs while awaiting the restaurant’s April opening in Colony Square. He’s throwing his heart for community involvement and his Szechuan pork belly with spicy cabbage specialty into the event benefiting St. Baldrick’s Foundation and its mission to conquer childhood cancers. Trade $1 donation tickets for restaurant food samples from Colony Square restaurants and the City of Refuge “People’s Food Truck” and activities like face painting and balloon arts. The Atlanta 5Church at 14th and Peachtree streets will complete a trio of 5Church restaurants including the flagship location in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Charleston, South Carolina, venue that opened this past fall.  

Atkins Park Virginia-Highland is 94 and Still Happy to Pour at Anniversary Party March 9

Proving one is never too old to party, ageless and spry Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland is pouring it on for their 94th anniversary party on Wednesday, March 9. Arrive at 6 p.m. for the open bar and tasting station, swag-snag a coveted T-shirt (while supplies last) and ooh and aah over a signature Jägermeister deer head ice luge. These party specials exit at 7 p.m., but unless that’s your bedtime, there’s no need to head home. Atkins Park serves food until 2:30 a.m. Atlanta’s oldest continuously licensed tavern opened its doors as a deli in 1922 and has been serving enthusiastic customers ever since. What comes next for this neighborhood comfort zone? Why, sakes alive, anniversary 95! 

What’s New on Pinterest

Colorful Easter eggs are to “dye” for, but don’t stop there. These Eggcellent Dishes are all they’re cracked up to be and then some. Recipes for protein-packed brunches, low-carb lunches, Easter and Mom’s Day segue gracefully into cookout and tailgate seasons. Family and friends will scramble for baked eggs and asparagus with Parmesan, roasted red pepper and baked egg galettes (puff pastry easy), bacon and egg breakfast muffins, Buffalo ranch deviled eggs, a chickpea, avocado, tomato and egg wrap – and a whole lotta frittatas. Survivalists, we’ve even uncovered instructions for dehydrating eggs so they’ll be handy eggs-actly when you need them.

#Foodgram

Instagram snaps, crackles and pops thanks to Mister Krisp, where everything tastes like Rice Krispies Treats, be it sushi and avocados or monumental tributes to Mt. Rushmore and the State of California. Psst. The original krisp creator is actually a “Ms.” named Jessica Siskin. Let her conquer your krispie cravings at www.misterkrisp.com

Appetizing Aperture

What’s the rush? Gold! Diamonds! Pearls! Sublime Doughnuts in Midtown unveils its gem-dandy, “#1 Stunner” crème brûlée doughnut ($7) at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Like precious jewels, limited quantities of chef Kamal Grant’s inventive treat are available. The thin-sliced doughnut is filled with crème brûlée, topped with gold and white chocolate and glitzed with white chocolate pearls and sugar diamonds. Sweet bling, just the thing for late-night munching! Besides, you’re an adult now. Mom won’t know if you sneak one in for dinner.