This one’s a game changer! Kevin Gillespie’s slow-roasted pork shoulder “French Dip” is a Gamechanger exclusive. Gillespie’s passion for pork is well known. This pigged-out version of the classic beef French dip sandwich trots out roasted, shaved pork shoulder bathed in a jus of roasted Vidalia onions sided by spicy horseradish cream. ($14).
Southern Fried Hospitality is showing gratitude to those first on the scene to protect and save lives by offering “cent-illating” savings of 50 percent off the tab for first responders and military in uniform or showing badge/identification. Police, fire and EMS workers and military personnel, you constantly put others’ lives first. Marc Taft invites you to take advantage of this open-ended offer at all three of his Southern Fried Hospitality restaurants: Chicken and the Egg in Marietta, Brine Seafood Shack at Avalon in Alpharetta and FEED - Fried Chicken and Such in The Battery Atlanta at SunTrust Park. Sink teeth into seasonal Southern farmstead fare at Chicken and the Egg. Imagine a casual East or West coast beach vacation while feasting on a Cape Cod-meets-Santa Monica menu featuring sustainable seafood at Brine. Chomp into Southern fried chicken as you like it (no heat, Atlanta hot/mild/medium or “Cluck’n Inferno” very hot) along with “Bird on Bread” sandwiches and cool crisp salads, cold drinks, ice cream, milkshakes and more at FEED. Offer excludes alcoholic beverages and gratuity. First responders save, in multiple ways.
Hospitality industry night owls, unite and fly to HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Town Brookhaven for 20 percent savings off your entire check each night from 11 p.m. until close. Not one night, EVERY night. HOBNOB realizes hospitality workers may sign off late from their “day” jobs of joyfully serving others and need a place to unwind. Some places have early bed times but not HOBNOB Brookhaven. The congenial gathering spot stays open past dinner hours allowing plenty of time to stop by and sip some of the 70 craft beers (lots of locals), wines, craft cocktails, boozy milkshakes or any of the 300 bourbons, whiskeys and ryes. A late-night bar bites menu shines in handling the munchies with items such as short rib tacos, pretzels and beer cheese dip, BLT salad, pepperoni pizza and pimento cheese. Guests must show pay stub and ID to claim hospitality discount. Free parking.
Who can resist fresh-from-the-oven goodness? The Sept. 23 opening of a Carlo’s Bakery kiosk at Cumberland Mall in Cobb County ices the cake for Atlantans who can’t get enough of the famous bakery’s signature desserts. Fans have been flocking to the area’s first location in Perimeter Mall since its April 2017 opening. For those counting cannoli and cupcakes, Carlo’s Bakery at Cumberland Mall is the 20th location for the brand most known as the setting of the hit TLC series “Cake Boss.” The 300-square-foot mini bakery concept treats the sweet tooth right with high-quality favorites (think cannoli, cupcakes, amazing cakes, lobster tail and more) baked fresh daily on-site. Wake up and smell the cupcakes; “Cake Boss” stars Mauro Castano and Mary Sciarrone will cut the traditional grand opening ribbon for Carlo’s Bakery Cumberland Mall at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday (postponed from Sept. 16 due to Irma).
Tucker, get pumped to tuck away those beloved hand-rolled, California-style burritos now that Willy’s Mexicana Grill is open in Tucker near Northlake Mall (4076 Lavista Road). Willy’s newest location opened Sept. 18 ready to please with its full menu of signature stuffed burritos, fully loaded nachos, tantalizing tacos and crisp salads all custom-made before your eyes using only the freshest, never-frozen ingredients. Come for lunch through dinner and beyond; the store’s open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week. Willy’s team is happy to customize your order with more than 20 toppings. That Willy’s happily jumps into community involvement and supporting neighborhood causes only makes their scrumptious specialties even more delicious.
Harvey and Irma are history, but the duo has left calling cards imprinting destruction to property and lives. Harness the power of a Moscow Mule cocktail at Southern Proper Hospitality restaurants to raise funds for American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts. For each Moscow Mule cocktail sold at a Southern Proper Hospitality restaurant -- Beni’s Cubano, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar, Gypsy Kitchen, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Smokebelly BBQ and The Southern Gentleman -- Southern Proper will donate $1 to the American Red Cross to aid those affected by the two recent hurricanes. The donation drive plows through until Oct. 15. Hop on and help out.
Harvey and Irma have moved on, leaving a tide of destruction in their wake. Toast their departures with Grand Patrón margaritas at all Tin Lizzy’s Cantina locations and raise money to help those devastated by these two destructive Cat 3-4-5 houseguests. For every Grand Patrón margarita sold now through Oct. 8, Tin Lizzy’s will donate $1 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief. Tin Lizzy’s Grand Patrón margarita ($11.50) packs top-shelf power using Patrón Silver, Grand Marnier and a splash of sour mix. Harvey and Irma, you were strong, but our spirits and desire to help are stronger.
Les Grand Chais de France, the number-one privately owned winemaker in France, provides wines for an exciting Bordeaux Wine Dinner experience at Stem Wine Bar on Tuesday, Oct. 3 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Guest Maxime Lillet will introduce the night’s wine selections chosen by Stem general manager/sommelier Chris McNeill to complement a five-course menu created by chef/owner Doug Turbush and chef John Flagello. Menu highlights and pairings include warm CalyRoad aged goat cheese, prosciutto di Georgia, orange marmalade, toasted walnuts and baguette served with Helfrich dry Riesling, Alsace; absinthe-cured king salmon with pink grapefruit, crème fraiche, torn sourdough crouton and tarragon paired with Chateau Fonfroide white, Bordeaux; duck leg confit with red wine-braised red cabbage and grain mustard joined by Chateau Laroque 2012, St. Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux; grilled spinalis with Yukon potato confit, autumn mushrooms and sauce bordelaise paired with Chateau Laroque 2010 and 1996, St. Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux; and dessert of maple pots de crème with almond praline served with Helfrich gewürtztraminer, Alsace (menu subject to change based on availability). Limited space, buy tickets in advance, $119 per person (includes tax and gratuity).
Urban farmhands, swap shovels for forks and cocktail glasses for the fifth annual “Back on the Farm” fall social at the Smith Family Farm on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center on Friday, Sept. 22. Event executive chef and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and chef Virginia Willis steers a herd of top chefs, farmers and bartenders preparing for a night of cocktails, lite bites and supper in the Grand Overlook. Gunshow “curator of all things cocktail and cocktail cart conductor” Mercedes O’Brien and 5Church Atlanta lead bartender Keyatta Mincey will be on hand harvesting their own special libations while White Oak Pastures’ Jenni Harris takes her place with the participating farmers. The 6 p.m. event supports the Smith Family Farm, its educational programming for Georgia school children and the newly established 4-H program run in conjunction with UGA Extension at the History Center. Buy tickets online, $225/individual through various sponsorship levels.
Atlanta connections run deeper than a golf course pond for the PGA TOUR Championship and Henri’s Bakery & Café. The two institutions will share a delicious bond showcasing the legacy of golfer Bobby Jones when the PGA TOUR’s season-ending competition draws the world’s best golfers and throngs of viewers to historic East Lake Golf Club Sept. 21-24. Jones was a founding member of East Lake Golf Club and is considered by many to be the game’s greatest amateur golfer. Born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1902, the Atlanta native kept a shamrock charm on his pocket watch…lucky inspiration for the shamrock shortbread cookies Henri’s will prepare exclusively for tournament week. Henri’s, which opened its doors in Atlanta in 1929, has two locations (the newly relocated Buckhead store in Andrews Square and the Sandy Springs store) delighting Atlantans with bakery delicacies and premium deli favorites. The renowned Atlanta bakery will serve some of its famous sandwiches -- the turkey po-boy, the roast beef po-boy, turkey on white and ham and cheese on white -- at the Tour Championship. “It’s worth noting that within a year of Henri’s Bakery first opening its doors, Bobby Jones became the only golfer to ever win the Grand Slam in the same calendar year,” points out Anthony DiNardo, president of Henri’s Bakery & Café. Tasty trivia to chew on while watching the pros vie for the FedExCup and a replica of Jones’ Grand Slam-winning Calamity Jane putter.
Pepper your day with some really hot topics by skimming headlines on our Just Jalapeños board. Jalapeños add zip to appetizers like hummus, cheese fondue, “insanely delicious” dip and pigs in a blanket as well as hearty hotties of jalapeño cheddar burgers, empanadas, grain-free shrimp veggie bake and creamy popper pasta. And while we’re on the subject of those popular poppers, try varieties involving pineapple, sausage, mac ‘n cheese, spaghetti squash, chicken casserole and bacon-grilling. So fired up, we are.
Breakfast Criminals follows a mantra well worth chewing, “…how you start your day is how you live your life.” So why open the day by opening a cardboard box when you can fix raspberry lemon nice cream, a gut-friendly açaì-cashew kefir bowl or a beety magenta-hued, hormone-pleasing schmear of almond cheese on toast. And remember to breathe and set a daily intention…before caffeine-ing for the day. Peace, bro.
