#Foodgram

What’s new in Bilbao, Spain? Gorgeous photographs, life stories and do-able recipes from Laura Arias @BecauseGB. The IT engineer humors her creative side addressing food, life and travels through photography, food styling and developing recipes. Want more? Read her award-winning blog in English or Spanish.

“Steak” Claim on All-Day Eats, Happy Hour Specials at The Cut Bar

Rejoice! There’s even more to love at The Cut Bar, the top-notch bar and lounge on the ground level of American Cut in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. An expanded menu, extended hours and new happy hour specials enhance day-long dining pleasure, whether for a snack session or a full-fledged meal. Starting at 11:30 a.m. and continuing until closing time, guests can savor a juicy burger as well as chicken, salmon and steak sandwiches and entrée plates. Weekdays from 4-7 p.m., The Cut Bar’s happy hour features half-priced appetizers from the all-day menu with the addition of $1 chef’s choice oysters. Handcrafted cocktails, beer and sparkling, white and red wines by the glass are available all day, as well as a daily specialty cocktail. And, while bubbles tickle the nose, live piano music will tickle the ivories come late winter. Reservations welcomed but not required.

Catch a Lift to The Nook for Apres Ski Sunday Specials, Live Music and S’mores

After plowing through a week of uphill climbs, bumpy downhills and working hard to stay on course with the moguls, come unwind Sunday evenings at The Nook on Piedmont Park. Every Sunday from 5 p.m.-12 a.m., the heated, covered patio transforms into “Nookenridge Ski Lodge” for Apres Ski drink specials and socializing. Live music drifts in from 6-9 p.m. Thick blankets are available to keep everyone toasty if there’s a chill in the fresh air -- just like at the ski resorts. Makes no difference if you’re a bunny slope bumper, black diamond expert or a ski lodge lounger. Apres Ski at The Nook is all about the mindset as one settles in for $2 Hamm’s tallboys, $5 Fugu vodka mules, $5 Caribbean spiced mules, $5 hard cider and $10 Nook Shot Ski (4). For the full post-ski effect, build your own s’mores for $15. Just saying, you don’t have to have a red-suited man with reindeer to have a jolly good time…The Nook spreads a warm-hearted wintry mix of Sunday fun unlike any other place in Atlanta. Park your skis and come on in.

Appetizing Aperture: Mojo Pollo at Beni's Cubano

A January trip to Old Havana would be perfect right now. Next best idea: dining island-style at Beni’s Cubano in Marietta or on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Lift the mojo pollo sandwich to your lips and mull Caribbean blue skies over pressed Cuban bread hugging mojo-grilled chicken, mixed greens, fresh cilantro and avocado spread. Comes with choice of side and sauce ($10). Bliss, Beni’s style.

Nab a Napa-Bound Seat for Ray’s at Killer Creek Caymus Vineyards Wine Dinner Jan. 25

Break out of the winter rut for exquisite cuisine, Napa wines and conversation at Ray’s at Killer Creek’s Caymus Vineyards Wine Dinner. Chef Mike Fuller pairs six courses with Caymus Vineyards’ fine wines, including Special Select wines, on Thursday, Jan. 25. The evening begins with a glass of Conundrum Sparkling and an amuse bouche of warm blue crab with avocado aioli and homemade soda crackers and tuna tartare with cucumber kimchee and wonton crisps. Courses progress through butternut squash purée with shaved apple, crispy beets and chestnut crema paired with 2014 Mer Soleil Reserve chardonnay; butter-poached lobster profiteroles with radish crema and UGA caviar paired with 2015 Emmolo merlot; venison carpaccio with shaved fennel, grilled butter brioche and Boursin alongside 2015 Caymus Napa cabernet sauvignon; and prime dry-aged Manhattan steak with sunchoke chips, creamed potato and red wine syrup joined by 2014 Caymus Special Select cabernet sauvignon. The delectable evening concludes with chocolate-cherry tarte with spiced cream and almond praline paired with Conundrum Red. Event begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. $110 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Reservations required; call 770-649-0064.

Atlanta Restaurants: Weather Status

Check out these Atlanta-area restaurants if you are looking for a cozy place to stay and a warm meal today. We'll keep updating this list as things change. #OpenInATL #ATLOpen #SnowDay

#OpenInATL for regular business hours:

• Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar - VA Highland
• Livingston

• Babalu Tapas & Tacos

• Ray's in the City

• Ray's at Killer Creek

• Ray's on the River
• The Federal
• Bantam + Biddy Ansley, closing at 6 p.m. Opens at 10 a.m. on 1/18
• Bantam + Biddy Avalon, closing at 3 p.m. Opens at 10 a.m. on 1/18
• Chick-a-Biddy, closing at 6 p.m. 
• HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern (Brookhaven and Midtown)
• Henri's Bakery & Cafe (Buckhead and Westside opening at 10 a.m. on 1/18)
• Ormsby's
• The Nook is open for lunch but will close at 5 p.m.
• The Southern Gentleman
• Gypsy Kitchen
• Smokebelly
• The Big Ketch - Canton Street and Buckhead
• Beni's Cubano - East Cobb and Downtown
• American Cut
• 5Church Atlanta
• Tin Lizzy's Cantina - all locations
• Johnny's Hideaway, opening at 7 p.m.
• Marlow's Tavern (Except Buford and Emory Point)
• Please call your local tavern first to confirm hours of operation

#ClosedInATL:

• Henri's Bakery & Cafe - Sandy Springs
• Perks Coffee
• Johnny's Hideaway
• Gunshow
• Revival
• Seed Kitchen & Bar
• Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar
• Stem Wine Bar
• Marlow's Tavern - Buford and Emory Point
• The Regent Cocktail Club
• Chicken and the Egg
• Brine Seafood Shack
• FEED Fried Chicken + Such
• Aria
• Umi
• gusto! - Buckhead and Ponce
• Storico Fresco Alimentari
• Edgar's Proof & Provision
• Willy's Mexicana Grill (all locations)
• ATL Taco

Marlow’s Tavern Duluth is Turning Nine, Partying Fine on Jan. 17

Join Marlow’s Tavern Duluth in celebrating nine fun-filled years of pleasing friends and neighbors at an anniversary party on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 5-11 p.m. The congenial gathering spot for American favorites -- food and libations -- is shaking up handcrafted cocktails and chef-inspired dinner specials for the evening. Live music by the Troy Cono Duo sets the party tempo from 6-9 p.m. While there, be sure to enter a special anniversary party drawing to win dinner for a year and other great prizes.

What’s New on Pinterest: Better Be Baked

Welcome National Baking Month by preheating the oven to 350 degrees, pouring a cuppa Joe or spot of tea and scrolling through Better Be Baked for a bevy of baked goods to warm frigid winter days. Instead of ice cream, make a strawberry crunch cake based on the classic ice cream bar. Dive into the fudgy depths of deep-dish chocolate chip cookie skillet brownie, easy chocolate lava cakes or “Brookies” chocolate chip brownie swirl cookies. Peach cobbler, caramel apple cheesecake bars and 30-minute cinnamon sugar knots chisel away the chills. Girl Scouts, look out, cinnamon roll cookies, raspberry almond shortbread thumbprints and Reese’s stuffed peanut butter cookies are hot-out-of-the-oven competitors for your cookie customers.

#Foodgram: Grandbaby Cakes

How many of you credit grandma with your first cooking and baking sessions…sifting, stirring, rolling? Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes is one such grandma-inspired cook turned author/TV expert/food and travel blogger. The “TODAY” show tastemaker has been seen on “The Rachael Ray Show,” Food Network and Cooking Channel. Adams doles out tidbits of advice, too, just like grandma.