Basque Sundays at Gypsy Kitchen Pours Half-Off Bottled Wine, $6 Rosé, Menu Features

Experience Spain in the heart of Buckhead at Gypsy Kitchen Basque Sundays. Sit back and enjoy live flamenco guitar music while sipping $6 glasses of rosé and half-priced bottles of wine. Savor menu items such as seared tuna tataki with Moroccan spices and warm gigante beans, queso frito with Basque cider apple purée and arugula, or charred vegetable paella “fried rice” with spring onions, zucchini, eggplant, red peppers and sofrito. The journey to Spain begins with drink specials at 5 p.m. and continues with flamenco music from 6:30-9:30 p.m. every Sunday.

Atlanta Eateries Score College Football Playoff National Championship Views, Brews and Chews

The 2017-18 college football season culminates Monday, Jan. 8 when the College Football Playoff National Championship parks a whole lot of spirit at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Atlanta restaurants are right up there on the spirit-meter for fans looking for viewing spots.

Fans arriving over the weekend will be able to experience dinner at Aria, chef Gerry Klaskala’s Buckhead gem. Typically closed on Sunday nights, the restaurant will be open and serving dinner on Jan. 7, closing Monday night, Jan. 8 instead (staff wants to watch the game). Make reservations here.
  Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland plans a winning evening for football fans, offering game-time grub, a large beer selection and of course, plenty of TVs for the ultimate viewing experience.

For those lucky enough to score tickets to the big game, Kevin Gillespie’s Gamechanger is located in the 200 concourse Western end zone of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  Football fans can order from a lineup of tasty bites like the “Closed on Sunday” chicken sandwich, as well as other indulgent creations like pork shoulder “French dip,” smoked cheddar cheese steaks, fries and adult slushies.
  Henri’s Bakery & Café puts football-shaped and team-themed cookies into play. Pick up some at the new Henri’s Bakery Westside location or the Buckhead or Sandy Springs shops for tailgates or game-watching parties.
  HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern locations in Midtown and Town Brookhaven have a full lineup of game-day faves on the menu plus shots, creative cocktails and a ready roster of cool craft brews. This fall, the Brookhaven restaurant installed an additional large-screen TV, making it even easier to catch all the action. Call 404-464-8971 (Town Brookhaven) or 404-968-2288 (Midtown).
  Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown is the perfect spot to grab a drink and watch the big game. Atlanta’s favorite tavern has several flat screen plasma TVs, booze and classic dishes to keep you going and rooting for your team.

For a drink and entertainment, pop over to Ormsby’s. This Westside neighborhood tavern offers an extensive craft beer selection, fresh pub menu and a wide range of traditional games. Open until 3 a.m. for after-game gatherings.

For those who prefer night-before or pre-game fine dining, Ray’s in the City is just a mile from the stadium. Enjoy hand-cut steaks, made-to-order sushi and seafood flown in daily from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Reservations: 404-524-9224.

Suds and sauce are game-face ready at Smokebelly BBQ. Pull for your players on Monday night over $3 Bud Light drafts, $10 pitchers of Bud Light, $15 buckets of Bud/Bud Light, $5 Tito’s cocktails and 50 cent wings. Rip into ribs, wings and barbecued beef, pork and chicken while catching all the action on 16 big screens.

Hone in on great game views, those renowned wings and beers from a seemingly gridiron-long list of beers at all Taco Mac locations. No matter which team you root for, you can still be on the Brewniversity team -- a champion choice for beer aficionados.

Address Eat-Healthy New Year’s Resolutions with gusto!

 

 

New Year’s resolutions overwhelmingly revolve around physical well-being, yet while 40 percent of Americans make resolutions, only 8 percent actually follow through. Having a healthy/tasty/timely and cost-conscious buddy like gusto! helps make these goals reachable. Nate Hybl, gusto! founder and a former athlete, encourages Atlantans to venture beyond regional menu boundaries and awaken their senses with the fresh, global flavors of the fresh bowls and wraps served at the eatery’s two locations (Ponce and Peachtree). Sticking to the healthy eating plan is easy since gusto! serves a simple menu of bowls and wraps topped with chicken, shrimp or portabella mushroom -- combined with thoughtfully crafted blends of ingredients that add distinct flavor profiles and textures to each entrée. International and American flavor profiles promoting fresh flavors, not fat, are known as “gustos” and can be hot, bright, earthy or sweet, like tahini cucumber feta or sweet soy Sriracha. Guests may choose to add avocado to any order, and each entrée comes with house-made sweet potato chips. Entrée foundations -- flatbread wraps, mixed greens and brown rice -- thrill vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free followers. Beneficial ingredients, such as turmeric, snow peas, mangoes and chickpeas along with all-natural antibiotic-free chicken and wild-caught shrimp, steer everyone in a healthier direction. The fast-casual restaurant uses local, organic ingredients whenever possible and still keeps all entrées in the $8.95-$10.95 price zone. Fast, friendly and affordable gusto! keeps your resolve intact as you achieve those 2018 goals. 

What’s New on Pinterest: Light Delights

Your body yearns for lighter snacks, meals and desserts after a month of holiday indulgences. Still, no one wants to go cold turkey on naked carrot and celery sticks. These Light Delights stand in as satisfying imposters that taste more decadent than they are. Avocado chicken salad, some crudité along with Tricia Yearwood’s spicy edamame dip, wraps and pesto pasta salad brighten indoor lunchtime. Be the quinoa queen (or king), repping the “q” in apple cinnamon quinoa, hearty chicken stew with butternut squash, sesame chicken, curried chicken salad or easy and delicious roasted vegetable quinoa. You might eat the whole batch of caramelized onion and cauliflower. Shelly’s chocolate crunch protein ice cream, tropical yogurt parfaits and no-bake coconut brownie bites obliterate dessert deprivation.

Now Boarding -- Taco Mac East Coast/West Coast Flights, Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Wouldn’t call them “flight fights,” but breweries from the East and West coasts are girding their IPAs to face off during the Taco Mac West Coast versus East Coast flight lineup, Jan. 1-Mar. 31. Are tastes well balanced on both coasts? Taste and see. Representing the West Coast force, the powerful roster promises 10 Bourbon Barrel Apocalypse, Terrapin Hi-5, Uinta West Coast IPA and Ballast Point Sculpin. East Coast locks in with Brooklyn East IPA, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Southern Tier 2XIPA and Jekyll Southern Juice. Grab a seat and take off on a first-class East Coast or West Coast beer lover’s taste treat of four six-ounce beers. Travel light, no baggage required, just bring friends for this East/West balance of brews. Be sure to take advantage of this sudsy showdown to earn Brewniversity credits.

What’s New on Pinterest: Holiday Happy Hour

Throw together a Holiday Happy Hour with these tidbits that are easy to prepare -- and hold and eat, beverage in one hand. Roasted cranberry brie crostini, cranberry brie bites and an onion-cranberry-pecan cheeseball highlight the seasonal tart red berry. Mini pecan pies and eggnog cheesecakes with gingerbread cookie crusts satisfy that I-just-want-one-sweet-bite craving. Same size but savory finds include sundried tomato pesto bites, filet mignon bites with creamy horseradish, mini baked potatoes and Cajun shrimp guacamole bites. In your other hand? A holiday pomegranate mimosa, coconut eggnog, cinnamon apple cider martini, cider and champagne cocktail, a glass of jingle juice holiday punch or any of the other spirited bevvies.

#Foodgram: Pinch of Yum

Pinch of Yum Instagrammer Lindsay Ostrom doles out way more than a pinch of yummy comfort foods, including plenty of hearty eats for vegetarians. She’s recipe surfed and found winners such as Skinnytaste’s Crock-Pot beef ragu with pappardelle. No one will miss the meat in hearty vegetarian shepherd’s pie. Lunch preppers can fix a week’s worth of spicy chicken and rice. She’s okay with showing a sweet side, as well, swearing her “modern scotcheroos” made with five ingredients and minimal refined sugars are the first to go off the holiday dessert tray. Pinch us so we’ll know this album’s not just a delicious dream.