Appetizing Aperture

Some may waffle, but we flip over pancakes! At The Southern Gentleman, the Sunday brunch bunch goes gaga over ricotta and cornmeal pancakes ($13). These fluffy cakes soak up nectar from the stewed heirloom apple, dried plum, cinnamon and sugar topper so not one precious drop goes to waste. Southern comfort, redefined. And if you won’t waver on waffles, find them right below the pancakes on the brunch menu, served Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at this gastropub in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.

Lick Wanderlust via High Road Craft Ice Cream Global Flavors

Pack lightly. You’ll only need a spoon to travel the world with High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet. The local premium ice cream crafter is churning out the Wanderlust Collection of global flavors inspired by worldly travel experiences. In less time than it takes to purchase an airline ticket, order this collection of cool creations for delivery to your front door:
 

• Thai Street Coffee addresses serious java fiends through super-dark coffee ice cream spiked with sweetened condensed milk.
• Aztec Chocolate churns cinnamon, sugar-roasted chilies, toasted almonds and chocolate into a creamy offering worthy of the Aztec gods.
• Vanilla Fleur de Sel enhances Madagascar Bourbon vanilla with delicate flakes of French sea salt.
• Cherry Almond Chip unites sweet, dark cherries from Washington State, roasted almonds grown in California and High Road’s “liquid chip” made in Marietta, Georgia, from couverture chocolate for an all-American winner.

 

Embark on a tongue trip today. Find High Road Craft Ice Cream at Whole Foods Markets, other fine natural retailers and restaurants. Made in Atlanta. Enjoyed everywhere. Even on your couch.

New Restaurants Blossom this Spring

Atlanta is abloom with azaleas, dogwoods – and new restaurants. Lift up the sunglasses and glimpse what’s growing and opening on Atlanta’s dining horizon and in nearby Greenville, South Carolina and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this spring.

 

101 Steak, an innovative, chef-driven steakhouse from the team behind 101 Concepts (Food 101, Meehan's Public House, Cibo e Beve, Smoke Ring, Restaurant Paradis), will beef up Vinings’ dining scene with high-quality steaks, seafood, a raw bar and more than 100 wines by the glass when it opens in mid-June at 3621 Vinings Slope, SE. Chef Joe Ahn’s locally sourced, seasonal menu hints of Asian, Southern and Italian influences and features locally sourced à la carte meat and seafood specialties to pair with a variety of creative side dishes. Follow 101 Steak on Facebook.

 

5Church opens at the intersection of 14^th and Peachtree streets in May, completing a Southern triangle with points in Charlotte, Charleston and Atlanta. Guests can expect casual-yet-refined menus from executive chef Jamie Lynch including 5Church favorites such as the “60 second” NY strip steak and 5Church hamburger with red onion marmalade and Gorgonzola fondue. Look for Atlanta-specific locally sourced dishes, a 200-bottle wine list, specialty cocktails, craft beer, rooftop bar, sidewalk patio and artwork created by local artists. Follow 5Church Atlanta on Facebook.

 

In May, Marlow’s Tavern, Atlanta’s favorite neighborhood tavern, will welcome its newest location in Marietta's Sandy Plains Centre at 2960 Shallowford Road. Guests can enjoy classic tavern favorites or new menu selections such as the Chopped Chicken Salad with grilled Prestige Farms chicken or “AB” Firecracker Shrimp with tempura fried shrimp, red bell peppers, pepperoncini, sweet chili and cracklin’ spicy sauce. Keep up with Marlow’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

The Katharine Brasserie & Bar opens late April on the ground floor of the renovated R.J. Reynolds building at Fourth and Main in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Executive chef Ed Witt builds a traditional brasserie menu upon a foundation of seasonal ingredients, French techniques, classic Southern cooking and modern polish. Downtowners and The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel guests can sit down to breakfast, lunch, dinner or selections from the bar’s extensive wine list as well as craft beers and cocktails. “The Katharine” borrows its name from Katharine Smith Reynolds. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Greenville, South Carolina, is the newest city to go loco with Tin Lizzy’s Cantina’s second outpost in the Palmetto state. Opening later this month, the Atlanta-based taqueria brings its lively atmosphere, chilled margaritas and FlexMex cuisine to Magnolia Park Town Center at 1025 Woodruff Road. Now that’s something to taco-bout! Catch Tin Lizzy’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Sublime Doughnuts rises up in a second Atlanta location this month to roust those in the Druid Hills area with more than 30 varieties of yeast-risen doughnuts, Octane Sublime blend coffee, teas, homemade ice cream and specialty bakery items. Eyes will glaze at the sight of founder/creative director/chef Kamal Grant’s beauties including A-Town Cream, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Fresh Strawberry & Cream and Orange Dream Star. Pretty sure the new Sublime at 2566 Briarcliff Road, NE will be your new happy place. Lick your fingers and roll with Sublime (and their fan club president, Baby Blue) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – and drool.  

 

Chef Kevin Gillespie will soon open Communion, a German beer garden-inspired outdoor space, to welcome guests to his popular Revival restaurant in Decatur. The backyard social scape invites guests to have fun playing games -- like cornhole and horseshoes -- and whet appetites at a food truck offering executive chef Andreas Müller's inspired takes on German beer garden snacks. Guests will purchase $5 tokens from the Communion cashier to spend on drinks and food truck noshes. Plan to play in Revival’s backyard on Thursdays and Fridays beginning at 4 p.m., 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, weather permitting. Keep up with Communion and Revival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Wave Hello to Weekday Lunch at The Big Ketch Roswell Beginning April 18

Those in need of a midday seafood fix can sail away to The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Roswell any day of the week. Doors open for lunch daily beginning April 18. What was a Roswell weekend treat is now a daily can-do for a workday quick bite, casual lunch meeting or a leisurely lunch with friends. Cast your eyes over the whole menu here, knowing The Big Ketch Roswell uses the highest quality seafood available and locally sourced ingredients when possible. Set sights on refreshing selections such as fresh tropical salad; “sweet & spicy” or Buffalo shrimp po’boy; citrus seafood Cobb salad with chilled shrimp, blue crab and Meyer lemon vinaigrette; Creole shrimp and grits; sandwiches like ahi tuna banh mi and TBK “greuben;” and fresh fish grilled, blackened or prepared jerk style. Landlubbers will delight in marinated and grilled, blackened or jerk chicken, steak burger Royale or signature salads and low-cal Mediterranean quinoa or Asian cous cous bowls. For more information, call 770-993-5749.

Hold on Tight! HOBNOB Piles on the Beef and Bacon for $5 during Atlanta Burger Week April 17-23

There’s a 50-50 chance of chomping into juicy beef or crisp bacon and a 100 percent chance of sinking teeth into both -- in one jaw-stretching bite -- when burger lovers clutch the Atlanta Burger Week $5 special at HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern. HOBNOB in Midtown is serving its hefty 50/50 Steak House burger (50 percent beef and 50 percent bacon) for only $5 from Sunday, April 17 through Saturday, April 23. The eight-ounce Angus beef burger supports bacon strips, bacon tomato ketchup, onion ring, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato, all resting easy on a brioche bun and joined by a choice of house-cut French fries or seasonal veggies. (Gluten-free buns available). The 50/50 is hard to pass up at its regular price of $13 and totally irresistible at $5 during Atlanta Burger Week. Go ahead. Squeeze the burger, not the wallet.

Pig Out on ‘Cue, Sample Beer and Wine at Cork ‘n Pork Festival in Dunwoody April 17

Make the most of Sunday afternoon by combining strolling and sampling at Cork ‘n Pork, an indoor/outdoor, walk-around tasting extravaganza at Vino Venue in Dunwoody on April 17. The spring wine, beer and barbecue festival follows in the footsteps of Discover South America and Discover Spain previously hosted by Vino Venue, home of the Atlanta Wine School. A unique aspect of these festivals is the option to buy favorites by the bottle, six pack or case to take home, surely a tough decision considering that Vino Venue executive chef Daniel Rivers is selecting upward of 50 barbecue-friendly beers and wines for tasting. Cogitate on the decision while migrating back and forth, sampling beverages inside Vino Venue and barbecue outside in the parking lot, where Smoke Ring chef Jordan Wakefield and Smoke Ring’s rigs stay stoked. Wakefield will dole out a boatload of barbecue including smoked whole hog, smoked chicken, baby back ribs, pulled barbecue as well as pickled shrimp, sauces and fixings, and Rivers adds more sides including a build-your-own tater tot station. Buy tickets in advance for either the 2-4 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. tasting sessions. General admission prices are $59 per person/$89 per couple and include unlimited sampling of wine, beer, barbecue and fixings, plus handy plates with wine-stem holders to keep it all together. Add on $20 for a T-shirt to commemorate the occasion. The guest count is limited to ensure an uncrowded afternoon for all, and previous “Discover” events have sold out. Hint, hint.

Jump on Prix Fixe Deals at Aria and The Big Ketch during Buckhead Restaurant Week April 16-24

Between Easter and Mother’s Day comes another can’t-pass-this-up dining-out event -- Buckhead Restaurant Week -- spanning Saturday, April 16 through Sunday, April 24. Nine days of $15, $25 and $35 prix fixe menus provide a gourmet goldmine for bargain seekers gung ho on dining at more than two dozen of the city’s most-talked-about restaurants. Forks up, Aria and The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead are at the top of the list. Salivating already? Plan your dining strategy and make reservations early. In the case of Buckhead Restaurant Week, there are few plates for those who wait. Follow Buckhead Restaurant Week on Facebook for more details. 

Ever Seen an Oyster Fly? Oyster Flight Night Takes Off at The Big Ketch Roswell April 14

Oyster Flight Night at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Roswell is the ticket to a fast seaside getaway. Luckily, one takes off at 7 p.m. this Thursday, April 14. Oyster Flight Night #2 pulls in eight oysters (four varieties) and four (four-ounce) pairings of local beer or wine as well as hushpuppies and boiled peanuts, all for a mere $35 per person (excluding tax or gratuity). There are no TSA lines to maneuver and oceans of elbow and leg room, but space is limited so reserve a seat by emailing Nicole at nicole@tbkroswell.com.

Hallelujah! Revival Georgia Beer Dinner Series Opens with Wild Heaven Craft Beers April 12

Well bless our hoppy hearts, Revival launches its 2016 Georgia Beer Dinner Series today, April 12, knitting together true Southern brew and chow. Turns out Kevin Gillespie had only to peer into the Decatur restaurant’s backyard to latch onto a brewery run by Georgia native, Wild Heaven Craft Beers in nearby Avondale Estates. Wild Heaven’s mantra, appropriately, is “Serve your neighbor!” That’s the plan as dinner guests enjoy four savory dishes and one dessert paired with six-ounce pours of five different Wild Heaven beers. Friendly fellowship ensues as everyone gathers around communal tables for dinner. Buy tickets on Xorbia, $95 per person (excluding gratuity). We pour out more details plus dates and breweries for June, August and October Georgia Beer Dinners on our blog.

What’s New on Pinterest

Hello, Georgia strawberry season! Our local season begins in late April, and while we dream about Strawberry Fields Forever, reality is Georgia pickings are ripe until just shy of July 4. U-pick-um, farmers market and grocery berry buyers will find a bevy of strawberry-laden recipes on our board. Greet morning with banana-oat muffins, super easy chia seed jam and coconut protein smoothies. For lunch or dinner, find strawberry spinach salad, balsamic chicken and cilantro-lime grilled chicken with strawberry salsa. Happy hour calls for pineapple mojitos, Moscow mules and lava flow piña coladas. Icebox cake, no-bake cheesecake bites, homemade frozen yogurt and easy ice cream are cool anytime. Lastly, stretch the season by oven drying berries or making fruit leather…if you can resist instant gratification.

#Foodgram

The Naughty Fork is one of those Instagram pages that wreaks havoc on your diet plans, as in “I’ll start my diet tomorrow,” knowing full well tomorrow never comes. Fill up on photos of Miami’s best eats but plow through a stellar workout first.