Explore Roswell, Naturally

The great outdoors is as close as the north shore of the Chattahoochee River where Roswell maps out multiple day trips for nature enthusiasts. Hike those fingers over the keyboard to ExploreRoswell.com for dynamic destinations such as the Chattahoochee Nature Center with its riverside boardwalks, educational programs and flora, fauna and fun for all ages. Get those steps in hiking the Vickery Creek Park trail network, Roswell’s new Riverwalk Trail trekking along the Chattahoochee River wetlands or looking over the Roswell Mill spillway waterfall -- steps from Roswell’s shopping and restaurant scene. Walk up an appetite? Sit a spell on Moxie Burger’s porch overlooking the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and enjoy that juicy burger. You’ve earned it.

Give a Little to Save Through Aug. 31 with Dinner & A Cause Card

Trim 20 percent off your tab at participating restaurants through Aug. 31 by whipping out your Dinner & A Cause Card. One $60 card slices the price at Atlanta’s most popular eateries including Chicken and the Egg, Gypsy Kitchen, Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Smokebelly BBQ, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill and all Tin Lizzy’s Cantina Atlanta locations. Savings apply to the entire check (excluding alcohol, state law) and is good for unlimited visits to participating eateries. Buy cards online then let the dining around town commence. Eat away, happily knowing your proceeds support both global and local causes: Children of Conservation, which provides otherwise unavailable education to the children of wildlife sanctuary workers in Africa, and The Giving Kitchen, which provides crisis funds for members of our Atlanta restaurant community who are facing unanticipated hardships.

Drift Wins Access Atlanta’s Best Seafood Restaurant Designation

Drift Fish House and Oyster Bar nets Access Atlanta’s “Best Seafood Restaurant” recognition, well-anchored in drinks, food and service. The word’s out that dining room, bar and patio are drawing seafood lovers like fish to school. Brunch, lunch, dinner, raw bar, drinks? When will you drop anchor at The Avenue in East Cobb and see what the buzz is about? 

HBF Becomes First Airport Concessionaire to Earn IMAGE Certification to Reduce Unlawful Employment and Promote Public Safety

Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF) is the first airport concessionaire in the country to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s IMAGE certification process. IMAGE is designed to reduce unauthorized employment and minimize the use of fraudulent identity documents to abate potential homeland security and public safety risks. HBF’s participation and feedback will help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shape future worksite enforcement policy. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) created the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers program (IMAGE) in 2006 to minimize unlawful employment and help employers develop a more secure, stable workforce. The program enhances education and training pertaining to hiring procedures, fraudulent document detection, use of E-Verify employment eligibility and avoiding discrimination. Atlanta-based HBF operates more than 75 restaurants and bars with 40+ widely known national, regional and local brands in the U.S. 

Raise a Glass to Freedom at The Federal and Make It Belgian Chimay, On Tap in July

One month, two countries, three ales. Common threads? Toasting freedom with Chimay ales during July at The Federal. In honor of our nation’s Independence Day and Belgian National Day (July 21), the Midtown bistro is serving draft selections of red, white and blue brews from Chimay Brewery. The authentic Trappist ales from Belgium are brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monastic community. On tap throughout July: Première Red ($10), the oldest of the Chimays, a coppery, fruity dark ale (7% ABV); Cinq Cents White ($13), a golden ale balancing mellow and bitter qualities (8% ABV); and Grand Réserve Blue ($15), a limited-release dark ale with a powerful aroma and complex flavor (10.5% ABV). Enjoy a Chimay and keep the Chimay glass as part of The Federal’s “Enjoy a glass, keep a glass” promotion (one glass per guest with purchase, while supplies last). Come celebrate during lunch, Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. or dinner, served Tuesday-Sunday beginning at 5 p.m.

Cheers to $5 and $8 Drinks, $20 Bottles of Wine during Food 101 Weekday Happy Hour

Atlanta weekdays, 4-6 p.m. Say no more. Break from the brake lights and fill this time slot at the Food 101 happy hour, Monday-Friday afternoons. Commute from bar to table, enjoying wine selections priced at $5 a glass or $20 a bottle or sip any of the day’s rotating menu of $5 vodka drinks. Feeling playful? Mess around with $8 mix n’ match margaritas, choosing straight-up strawberry, blood orange, melon, blackberry, mango or kiwi flavors, mix flavors or ask for a jolt of Ancho Reyes Ancho Chile Liqueur to kick up the spiciness. Shareable triple-grind beef sliders ($12), charcuterie butcher blocks and cheese boards ($15-$28) and heartier fare like the Red Dragon burger ($17), smoked pulled pork enchiladas ($19), Georgia peach and fennel halibut ($36) and blackberry balsamic short ribs ($32) look really tempting. Give in and stay on for dinner.

ATLien Brunch Sighting at 5Church Atlanta July 8

ATLiens are landing at 5Church Atlanta in Midtown, and they’re staying for Saturday brunch. No need to feel like an outcast, join them for crunk, craft cocktails and a brunch menu served up from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Singer Wednesday returns, performing Outkast “ATLiens” hits. Share a carafe of mimosas or sangria with your crew or steer everyone toward the build-your-own bloody mary bar before navigating the well-curated brunch menu. Morning glories will devour chicken and waffles with maple syrup ($17); tender crabcakes and poached eggs with toasted bread, spinach and jalapeño beurre blanc ($17); or “Preacher’s Breakfast” of three eggs, stone-ground grits, bacon and braised greens ($13). Post-morning fare favorers may prefer holding onto the savory signature 5Church lamb burger ($14); or the full-on bistro steak “a la brasa” with two eggs any style, chimichurri and french fries ($23). Omelets and sandwiches please everyone, ATLiens included.

Drumstick, Please! Bite into National Fried Chicken Day July 6

Can’t help but crow about the crispiest, most golden holiday of the year: National Fried Chicken Day, Thursday, July 6. Leave your backyard chickens at home and fly the coop so those birds won’t know you’re out sinking your teeth into some of the South’s best fried chicken. Can’t wait for that dinner bell! Places to roost:

• For added “Ole!” of Spanish-style fried chicken, visit Gypsy Kitchen for tapas plates of Gypsy fried chicken ($10). Adobo marinade seasons boneless thighs before they’re fried to crispy perfection and partnered with romesco and tamarind yogurt sauces for dipping
• If you can’t wait for Thursday’s dinner bell, be an early bird and hit Korean Fried Chicken Night, every Wednesday at Midtown Takorea & Ssam Bar. Crow over chef Tomas Lee’s whole fried chicken (all-natural chicken, twice fried to a golden brown in a gluten-free rice flour batter) served with fried rice, tempura-citrus Brussels sprouts and an assortment of house-made kimchi and pickled veggies, enough for four friends, all for $60. Reservations for KFC Night (via OpenTable or by calling 404-532-1944) are strongly encouraged. KFC Takos are available every night, featuring Korean fried chicken, chipotle aioli and jack cheese served in a flour or corn tortilla with tako salad tossed in a soy sesame vinaigrette ($4.25 each).
• Southern fried chicken breast perches atop “Feed” entrées on the dinner menu at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails. Classic Southern sides of buttermilk mashed potatoes, tiny green beans and andouille red-eye gravy fill the plate ($18). Executive chef Derek Dollar locally sources ingredients, some coming from right out back on Milton’s Acre, the backyard garden at his historic Crabapple restaurant.
• At The Southern Gentleman gastropub in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, there’ll be plenty of finger licking and lip smacking going on as guests rip into fried Springer Mountain half chicken (yes, half a bird) served with melt-in-your-mouth baked mac-n-cheese and braised collards.
• Succulent meat inside surrounded by crackling crunch on the outside, fried chicken is a signature dish at Revival, chef Kevin Gillespie’s Decatur cottage restaurant. This prized bird may be enjoyed family style, served in the style reminiscent of meals around the table of Gillespie’s grandparents. Bring the flock and let Revival fill the table with hors d’oeuvre, relishes, trimmings and Gillespie family iron skillet cornbread plus dessert, tea and coffee.
• Buckhead flies into Smokebelly BBQ for the barbecue joint’s Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. These fired-up guys fry buttermilk-spice brined boneless chicken breast until golden brown then toss aforementioned breast in Nashville hot or damn hot sauce ($10) and serve with Alabama white sauce and pickles. Mild-mannered folk can order a chicken sandwich with simply fried chicken ($9.50).

What’s New on Pinterest: Pleasingly Patriotic

Go beyond whipped topping dolloped on red and blue Jello squares for July Fourth celebrations (not that there’s anything wrong with that if it’s your family tradition). Pleasingly Patriotic unfurls a field of all-American options from decorating ideas to sweets treats such as Paula Deen’s peach cobbler, patriotic no-bake cake batter truffles, watermelon ice cream floats, S’mores Oreo icebox cake and strawberry shortcake grilled doughnuts. Take a stab at skewer recipes and blast off with red, white and boozy drinks. Cheers to the good old U.S.A.!

#Foodgram: Sobeautifullyreal

Travel down under to Melbourne, Australia for cheesecake so wondrously rich you would swear, if you were the swearing type, that it’s “real.” Sobeautifullyreal presents custom made vegan cheesecakes in flavors like white chocolate raspberry, Snickers and Ferrero Rocher hazelnut, all as indulgently decadent as their dairy-laden cousins. More? Order Sam’s cookbook Beautifully Real Food: Guilt-free, Meat-free Recipes to Indulge In.