Appetizing Aperture: Willy's Poptail

Poptail. Say what? Turn to Willy’s Mexicana Grill on Howell Mill Road and the King of Pops to douse summer’s hottest days and nights with Poptails. The frozen pop multitasks, keeping that ‘rita ice cold and intense with flavor all the way to last lip-smacking buzz of a drop.

Ray’s Restaurants Features Special Pricing on Wines from Napa’s Chateau Montelena during August

A picture of Chateau Montelena Winery leads vintner voyeurs to swear they’re looking at a gothic English estate instead of the tasting room for one of Napa’s historic wineries, founded in 1882. Chateau Montelena’s handcrafted wines originate as a smaller crop of sustainably raised grapes grown in rocky soils before being fermented, aged and blended into concentrated, complex wines. Ray’s Restaurants -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek -- is featuring two Chateau Montelena wines at special prices during the month of August. Enjoy Chateau Montelena chardonnay, not usually available at Ray’s, priced at $18/eight-ounce glass or $55/bottle and Chateau Montelena cabernet sauvignon priced at $25/eight-ounce glass or $75/bottle, usually $105/bottle. Pair wines with fresh seafood and fine meats from Ray’s menus and you’re well on your way to blissful sipping and supping. 

Dine with Gratitude and Help The Giving Kitchen Aid Hospitality Workers in Need, Aug. 20-23

Dine out and show your support for The Giving Kitchen and the hospitality workers who provide the amazing meals, drinks and food services we enjoy in Atlanta. All you have to do is dine at participating restaurants over the Dining with Gratitude dates of Aug. 20-23. Each restaurant will donate 10 percent of sales to The Giving Kitchen to further the nonprofit’s ability to aid Atlanta-area restaurant and hospitality workers facing crisis situations. Can’t decide where to eat out? Fine options include Marlow’s Tavern locations in Vinings, Midtown, Emory, Northlake, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven and Dunwoody; The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead and on Canton Street; Gypsy Kitchen; Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails; Smokebelly BBQ; The Southern Gentleman and Tin Lizzy’s Cantina. Eat and give thanks for the hands that prepare, serve and clean up our abundance of ATL dining options.

Fly By the Southern Wing Showdown for Wings, Spirits and More at The Foundry at Puritan Mill Aug. 20

The Southern Wing Showdown alights at The Foundry at Puritan Mill for a second spicy year on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 20. Taste of Atlanta backs this gathering of 25 high-end eateries, which span the flight pattern from Nashville to Charleston. Chefs crack open Big Green Eggs to turn out winged wonders using Springer Mountain Farms antibiotic- and hormone-free chicken and savory sides. Spirits soar thanks to plentiful Southern libations and music from local band Battlefield Collective. General admission($30 advance, $40 at door if available) includes 2 p.m. entry, wing tastes, live entertainment, chef greet and eat and cash bar. VIP First Taster tickets, over-21 set only ($55 advance, $65 at door if available), gain early entrance at 1 p.m. plus entry into the Southern Spirits Lounge with café seating and an open bar for spirit and craft beer tastings. Online purchase service fees apply. Last year’s history shows tickets flying off the shelf so best pluck yours right away for the rain-or-shine event. Southern Wing Showdown benefits Open Hand and Second Helpings Atlanta. Wing tip, if you haven’t already done so, this is a good time to purchase Taste of Atlanta tickets for October’s gigantic gastro-fest.

Taco Crawl Munches through Midtown, Stops at Tin Lizzy’s, Taco Mac and Willy’s Mexicana Grill for Tacos and Drink Specials

We’re betting Midtown’s First Annual Taco Crawl won’t be the last! The inaugural tour steps out on Saturday, Aug. 19 beginning at noon and folds at 6 p.m. Search out the best tacos in the heart of Midtown while checking out new bars, enjoying drink specials and meeting like-minded, taco-toting new friends. Tour price includes four taco tickets to use at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, Taco Mac and Willy’s Mexicana Grill or any of the other participating bars and eateries on the Atlanta Bar Crawl signature crawl map, additional taco specials and exclusive drink specials on beer, margaritas, shots and more. Taco tourists will receive a voting card at their last stop to pass judgment on the “Best Tasting” and “Most Unique” tacos. Buy tickets, $25 per person, at Eventbrite.

Pork & Barrel Saturdays --Terminus City BBQ Lunch Stand Pops Up at American Spirit Whiskey Distillery on Saturdays this Fall

On Saturday, Aug. 12, chef Kevin Gillespie and his Terminus City BBQ crew rolled their lunch stand of scintillating smoked pork barbecue and all the accoutrements to the doors of American Spirit Whiskey’s Armour Drive distillery. The porky pop-up continues every Saturday throughout the fall, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Chow on a chopped whole hog BBQ sandwich with shaker slaw on a buttered toasted bun ($8) or pick up chopped whole hog barbecue to go ($19/lb.) and sides by the pint ($9). Walk on up and buy some ‘cue, no reservations needed, during distillery tour hours. Once a month, American Spirit will host a ticketed event, featuring a new release that will add even more spirit to afternoons filled with food, whiskey, cocktails, lawn games and college football viewings (once the season starts).

Chef Mike’s Big Green Egg-Cellent Adventure of a Grilling Demo Thrills Taste Buds Aug. 19

Are you intimidated by a Big Green Egg? Turn awe into awesome by conquering that Big Green Egg or just further your BGE prowess during an afternoon heady with sips, sizzles and grilling demonstrations at Ray’s at Killer Creek on Saturday, Aug. 19.  Executive chef Mike Fuller turns out a tantalizing tasting menu of four BGE-grilled courses of glazed pork belly salad; smoked shrimp steamed buns with jalapeño-pickled relish and sweet chili and herb slaw; low-and-slow cooked wagyu brisket with cast-iron mac and cheese and salsa verde; and grilled banana bread with caramel and sea salt ice cream. Demo, tasting menu, beverage of iced tea, soda or coffee and a choice of bloody mary, mimosa or 16-ounce draft beer are included in the $39 price (excludes tax and gratuity). Reservations required for the 1-3 p.m. event; call 770-649-0064. If you’re already booked, save Sept. 9 on your calendar, the date for the Alpharetta restaurant’s next BGE demo and tasting.

Elvis, Has it Been 40 Years? You’re Always on My Mind – and Available -- at the Elvis Room at Johnny’s Hideaway

Our “Burning Love” for all things Elvis leaves us “All Shook Up” this time each year when we remember Presley’s passing on Aug. 16, 1977. Do we “Viva Las Vegas” it or head for Graceland to honor the American icon? Heck, no need. The legacy of the “King of Rock and Roll” swivels on in the memorabilia-filled “Elvis Room” at Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead. Rock on over to the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling memorial that’s open and ready for your blue suede shoes to enter whenever Johnny’s Hideaway is open. Makes a nice pause, little darlin’, between bites of cheeseburgers, cocktail sippers and rushing like a dancing fool to the “Promised Land” – Johnny’s dance floor. 

What’s New on Pinterest: Hungry & Healthy

Hungry & Healthy paves an off-ramp from summer’s habits of grabbing ice cream here (triple scoops because you couldn’t decide on one flavor), ballpark food there (bring on the loaded dogs) and fast food on the road to vacation destinations. Play around with roasted veggies, turn sweet potatoes into waffle breakfast sandwiches or a one-skillet meal with cheese, chicken and kale. One-pan Italian sausage and veggies yield clean eating (and one pan to clean). Pizza has its place: a cauliflower pizza crust base, portobello mushroom pizza or fruity watermelon pizza. Paleo pleasers include spicy tuna rolls, chicken lime lettuce wraps or a spaghetti squash casserole that’s protein packed with ground turkey. Go for a whirl and whip up smoothies to soothe after-school hungries in a flash.

Reserve Serves Three “Rs” at Aria: Reservations, Requests and Reminders

The new Reserve reservation system at award-winning Aria makes locking in a time and table for dinner a cinch. Select your preferred dining time and enter the number of guests on the easy-to-read screen. Instantly, you’re almost done by adding name, email and mobile number. There’s even a place to include special requests…say, that proposal-perfect special table in the corner or one by the door so your dear aunt can enter and exit with ease. For those prone to forgetfulness (or who need an excuse to bow out and head to dinner), Reserve texts a reminder to your mobile phone. Think of Reserve as a prelude to Aria’s impeccable service and chef/owner Gerry Klaskala’s incredible cuisine. Still prefer person-to-person? Simply call Aria at 404-233-7673. Stay in the know by signing up for Aria news and events.

#Foodgram: Hosting Brunch

So you volunteered to host brunch and now butterflies are soaring in your tummy? HostingBrunch is your saving grace, a picturesque go-to for what to cook, how to decorate and how to host brunch. After your fabulous fête (be it grand or humble), tag your success #HostingBrunch and perhaps you’ll make their spread.