Appetizing Aperture

Looking for something pig-turesque to chow down on during National Pork Month? Trot into Bulla Gastrobar in Midtown for pintxos, a cumin-marinated pork loin skewer appetizer served with mojo verde and Greek yogurt ($9). Share a couple at lunch or dinner to start a pintxos-perfect meal.

Star Grazing

Christina Hendricks took a break to grab dinner at popular Midtown hotspot 5Church Atlanta. “Mad Men” star Hendricks, in town filming NBC’s “Good Girls,” relaxed at the bar for a couple of hours, enjoying executive chef Scotley Innis’ beef carpaccio with white truffle aioli and crispy Yukons and PEI mussels with toasted garlic, tomato, lime and grilled bread.

Run the Field to Football Nights at The Southern Gentleman

Fall in the South means football viewing, chewing and brewing. Catch the works at The Southern Gentleman Football Nights on Sunday and Monday evenings. During football games, order a silver bucket of Miller High Life beer for $18, enjoy Reformation IPA for $7 and explore a rotating Orpheus draft special. Game table fare touches down with shareables like fresh-cut TSG frites ($9), the TSG chip/TSG nachos/meat and potatoes combo of house-fried kettle-style potato chips, caramelized onions, seasoned lamb-beef-pork sausage and smoked Gouda queso ($9); warm beer cheese and pretzels ($8); and Vidalia onion seafood crab dip with crab, shrimp and kettle-fried chips ($9). The Southern Gentleman’s bacon Swiss burger satisfies linebacker appetites with its signature steak blend, Swiss cheese, Applewood-smoked bacon, bibb lettuce and tomato on a toasted brioche bun ($15). Fifty-yard-line viewing, better than club level food, all on the top floor of The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.

Get Pumped for Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream at Sweet Charlie’s

Pumpkins are rolling across North Georgia mountains, around South Georgia farms, passing through Atlanta pumpkin patches…and rushing through the doors of Sweet Charlie’s to treat Atlantans to seasonal pumpkin spice ice cream. Fall’s harbinger of Halloween fun and serious pumpkin pie-eyeing is on the move at Buckhead’s haven for hand-rolled ice cream. Sweet Charlie’s talented team deftly blends organic pumpkin puree, graham crust, ground spice and their dreamy ice cream base together then spreads the heavenly mixture out on a frozen surface. Faster than you can say “Frost is on the pumpkin,” these fro-pros are rolling up spirals of the pumpkin-y confection and sliding luscious ice cream logs into a cup. What a treat! Spoon into your pumpkin spice served straight up in a cup ($7, includes unlimited toppings) or as a Tall Charlie® on Sweet Charlie’s signature oven-baked glazed doughnut. Watch this video clip to see how pumpkins roll Sweet Charlie’s style -- then hurry in before this limited-time-only flavor blend rolls away.

Time Flies When You’re Pleasing Guests -- American Cut Buckhead Marks First Anniversary

American Cut Buckhead has enjoyed a highly successful first year in Atlanta, pleasing much-valued guests with top-flight service and serving the highest level of food through nurturing strong relationships with local food purveyors. The destination steakhouse in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta so appreciates the supportive community, the team is taking guest raves and requests to heart, putting an emphasis on favorite seasonal ingredients, wet-aged and USDA Prime steaks, a bold wine program and cocktail menu and all of the other elements that have turned visitors into loyal guests.

A new array of wet-aged meat selections, including a 40-ounce wet-aged porterhouse and a 14-ounce New York strip, join the dry-aged options. All meats are USDA Prime cuts and sourced from local partner Revere. Seafood lovers catch a rotating selection of four fish entrées, including Scottish salmon with sun-dried tomato Champagne cream and halibut en croute. Seasonal side favorites are back, like the restaurant’s signature Brussels sprouts, along with sweet potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and the steakhouse’s addictive Buffalo cauliflower -- a nutritious veggie with the zing of Buffalo chicken wings. Adding to the celebratory air, all food on the popular bar menu is now half-price Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m., and the after-work crowd also can enjoy $1 oysters and a nightly drink special. Pastry chef Satoko Kakinohana is whisking up new, irresistible desserts including an “all-chocolate” crunchy hazelnut bar with Bailey’s ice cream and cappuccino foam; an apple pie cobbler with oatmeal crumble and buttermilk ice cream; a sweet potato cheesecake with malted milk ice cream; and an addicting sticky date cake with butterscotch and burnt orange ice cream. Top off dinner with a venture upstairs to the rooftop Regent Cocktail Club for an after-dinner libation of imaginative handcrafted cocktails, wine from the curated list and local microbrews. American Cut serves dinner nightly. For more information, call 770-415-9766.

Fall for Burritos and Autumnal Cocktails at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina -- Limited Time Only

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina already sets the stage for good times through a star-studded menu of FlexMex gourmet soft tacos, skillets and quesadillas supported by a host of margaritas, brews and cocktails. Through December, the Southeastern sensation is adding a first -- burritos -- to its fresh FlexMex mix, as well as autumn-themed cocktails. As expected, the limited-time-only burritos wrap up the same authentic ingredients and bold flavors as Tin Lizzy’s other craveables. For instance, the Ranchero burrito comes stuffed with a choice of pork, chicken, shrimp or steak, Monterey Jack cheese and pico de gallo, is smothered with queso and red chile ranchero sauce, topped with shredded lettuce and crunchy tortilla strips and served with rice and black beans ($11.49-$12.99). Crispy chicken flautas are another newcomer, topped with melted queso, salsa verde, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream ($11.99). Add an El Jefe XX amber to a burrito order for $5 or swizzle one of Tin Lizzy’s new fall cocktails such as In the Pama Your Hand with Milagro Silver, fresh sour mix and cranberry juice topped with PAMA pomegranate liqueur and rimmed with a cranberry orange gourmet salt ($8.50); Spiced Apple with Angry Orchard cider topped with Sailor Jerry spiced rum ($9); or Cool Citrus of Milagro Silver, Agavero Orange liqueur, freshly muddled citrus fruit and agave nectar rimmed with Solerno Orange gourmet salt ($8). Guests also can refresh with an Angry Orchard pint ($4.25), Angry Orchard El Jefe ($7) and Sailor Jerry ($6.50). There’s a Tin Lizzy’s location near you -- catch these new menu items while you can.

Melissa Libby & Associates is Searching for Spring 2018 Interns!

Are you a student who is passionate about good food and drinks, restaurant culture and public relations? We want to meet you! Melissa Libby & Associates is currently seeking interns for the spring 2018 semester. Interns who join the MLA team will work with and learn directly from all agency functions, including media communications, social media, special events and client services. Creativity, positive energy, great writing skills and a strong work ethic are important traits for this internship.

Internships require 15-22 office hours per week from January to May. Schedules are fairly flexible, although Monday mornings from 10:30-11:30 a.m. are required for our weekly team meeting. Local candidates only please! The ideal candidate will also receive school credit for his or her experience with MLA. Interns will be paid a $500 stipend at the completion of the program.

To find out more about Melissa Libby & Associates, please visit our website and our Facebook page. If you are interested, please email your resume, cover letter, writing samples and availability to brandon@melissalibbypr.com. We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Rise Up to a Falcons Tailgate and Game Viewing at Atkins Park Va-Hi Oct. 22

Swoop into Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland for backyard tailgating during the Atlanta Falcons game on Oct. 22. Watch the Dirty Birds take on the New England Patriots on Atkins Park’s outdoor projector while devouring a fan-friendly low country boil. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m., early birds welcome. Sit back in lawn chairs or keep throwing arms warm playing cornhole and Ping-Pong and hoisting the beers and cocktails that will be available for purchase. Plus, one lucky raffle winner gets two tickets to see the Falcons take on the Dallas Cowboys in November. $22 per person for low country boil.

Join Milton’s at the Corner of Harvest & Vine for Duckhorn Wine Dinner Oct. 26

Come together around communal tables at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails for Harvest & Vine, a six-course wine dinner featuring the fine wines of Duckhorn Vineyards on Thursday, Oct. 26. Founded in 1976 and one of Napa Valley’s first 40 wineries, Duckhorn Vineyards is now one of North America’s premier producers of Napa Valley wine. Milton’s executive chef Derek Dollar is creating a multi-course dinner with wine pairings for guests to enjoy on the banquet porch and in the main dining room at the 6:30-8:30 p.m. dinner. Tickets are $90 per person (plus service fee, sales tax; includes gratuity) and may be purchased online.

Celebrate Sweet 16 for Taste of Atlanta at New BeltLine-Close Location Oct. 20-22

Eat. Drink. Do. Walk. Talk. And do it all at one highly palatable place -- Taste of Atlanta Presented by Capital One -- Oct. 20-22. The city’s premier bites and bevs fest celebrates its Sweet 16 anniversary with a brand-new home near the Atlanta BeltLine in Historic Fourth Ward Park. The 16^th annual Taste of Atlanta foodie extravaganza begins with a “Sweet 16” soiree hosted by Jonathan and Justin Fox of Fox Bros. BBQ from 7:30-11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, parties on through Sunday evening, Oct. 22, and encompasses more than 200 kinds of nibbles, noms, sips and samples from a roster of the hottest restaurants to cool neighborhood favorites. Fest-goers can upgrade to the Grand Tasting Experience to access exclusive tastes and tipplers. The Grand Tasting Experience sells out quickly so hop on tickets pronto. Chef demos, barcraft competition, interactive panel conversations, music, a marketplace and more round out the abundant food-ertainment schedule during festival hours on Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and Sunday from 12-6 p.m. Enjoy tastes from 5Church Atlanta, American Cut, Bulla Gastropub, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, Midtown Takorea and Ssam Bar, Seed Kitchen & Bar and many, many more buzzworthy eateries. Buy tickets online now ($25-$75 per person per day, plus service fee) and come track Atlanta’s restaurant trends at this affordable, chef-driven food fest tradition.

Live it Up over Taco Mac Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Beer Specials Oct. 18-Nov. 1

Want to say “pay homage to your homies” but thinking that’s too much slang? Pay homage to friends and loved ones who have passed by raising a bottle or draft of celebratory Mexican beer at Taco Mac. Traditionally, Mexican cultures offer food and thirst-quenching drink at the altar for their loved ones’ spiritual journeys on Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Taco Mac leads the way, unearthing two weeks of Mexican beer specials beginning Wednesday, Oct. 18 and culminating on Wednesday, Nov. 1 -- Dia de los Muertos. Circle around buckets corralling four 12-ounce bottles of Mexican beers for $12.95 per pail. Mix and match your choice of Corona, Corona Light, Modelo, Modelo Negra and Pacifico. The spirit is moving Taco Mac locations to feature two draft beers -- Modelo and Modelo Negra -- over the same dates. Keep the party going by digging into Taco Mac’s famed wings or grilled chicken nachos with fresh guac.

Gunshow Plans Totally Tubular 90s Throwback Week Oct. 17-21

Children of the 90s that they are, Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward and the kitchen dudes have achy-breaky hearts to revive the 90s…not for a decade, but definitely for dinner the week of Tuesday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 21. Kevin Gillespie’s nationally acclaimed Glenwood Park restaurant flashes back to 90s pop culture for menu and cocktail themes, tunes and fashions of the era. Cocktail cart conductor Mercedes O’Brien is exploring intoxicating options involving 90s nips like Zima and Capri Sun. Fun! Come along for the ride by donning your best parachute pants, high-top sneakers, scrunchies and over-sized T-shirts and receive a special dressed-to-the-90s perk. The 90s saw the rise of online reservation services so go retro and reserve seats online now or throw way back and use the phone, 404-380-1886.

Ray’s Restaurants’ Orin Swift Wine Promo Punts Hunger

Football’s tough. Hunger’s tougher. Join forces with Ray's Restaurants and the NFL to tackle hunger. Here’s the kicker: you can help by drinking wine. This fall, raising a glass or pouring a bottle of California’s Orin Swift wine at Ray’s Restaurants locations scores meals for those in need of food here in the Atlanta area. Huddle up for the game plan. The NFL will donate 30 meals to a local food bank for every case of Orin Swift wines sold at Ray’s through the fall season. All three Ray’s Restaurants -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek -- are featuring several Orin Swift wines at special prices throughout the NFL promotion.

Full-bodied Mannequin chardonnay bursts with aromatics of honeydew, honeysuckle and ripe peach complemented by glimpses of jasmine, pineapple and cream ($60 bottle; $20 glass at Ray’s in the City/Ray’s on the River; $16 per six-ounce glass, $22 per nine-ounce glass at Ray’s at Killer Creek). Smooth, soft and satiating, Palermo cabernet sauvignon lures through aromas of raspberry and ripe cherry and hints of star anise, five spice and black tea ($75 bottle; $25 glass at Ray’s in the City/Ray’s on the River; $20 per six-ounce glass, $28 per nine-ounce glass at Ray’s at Killer Creek). Bold yet delicate Papillon Bordeaux blend, a new release, opens to cassis, boysenberry and chaparral and pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, a Ray’s specialty. ($95 bottle, all Ray’s locations). Orin Swift wines complement Ray’s signature entrées, succulent prime meats and sustainable, fresh-caught seafood -- as well as helping sustain neighbors in need. 

Churn, Baby, Churn! Gunshow’s Joey Ward is Finalist in Vitamix Challenge

Feel the pulse. Across the nation, chefs are revving engines, churning their way to the eighth annual Vitamix Challenge in Brooklyn. They’re coming from Austin, Chicago, Denver, Cleveland and Atlanta. Atlanta’s Glenwood Park neighborhood, to be exact, because Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward is one of five Vitamix Challenge finalists at StarChefs’ 12th annual International Chefs Congress on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Smooth moves pave the way as each chef will submit an original recipe tied to the Congress theme, “Cook Your Culture.” All the swirling leads to a grand prize package including a Vita-Prep 3, Vitamix XL, The Quiet One from Vitamix and a $500 American Express gift certificate; the runner-up turns on a Vita-Prep 3 and keeps a $250 American Express gift certificate. Good luck, Joey. Turn on the power!

The Monday Muster – Gather ‘Round for Margarita Monday and $2 Beer at Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila in Brookhaven

Don’t hit snooze on the Monday morning alarm clock. Get up, get out and get going to tackle the inbox so there will be time to join friends at Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila for Margarita Monday and $2 beer. The Brookhaven cantina pours $5 house margaritas, churns $6 frozen margaritas and pops $2 Tecate beer all day on Mondays. Jefe’s opens at 11:30 a.m. Mondays and partying continues until 1 a.m. Tuesday. Order up a mess of tacos with names like Trailer on Fire, Cajun shrimp po’boy, Redneck, Mamacita and Bravacado ($3.50-$4). Order crispy smoked wings ($7), “Nacho Daddy” ($9) or smoked chicken taquitos ($6-$9) for the table or fork into a refreshing Southwestern Cobb salad. Suddenly, Mondays are looking pretty good.

#Foodgram

Scan A Healthy Life For Me for mouthwatering pictures of organic, gluten-free and paleo dishes and desserts then bop over to Amy Stafford’s website for the recipes. Paleo chocolate pumpkin brownies and watermelon vodka cooler do sound healthy.