#Foodgram: Amaury Guichon

Amaury Guichon takes the cake -- and tarts, tortes, pralines and pastries -- to extraordinaire. Like what you see? Feed your face with more delicacies and instructional video clips from this Las Vegas-based international pastry consultant/instructor on Facebook.

The Alden and Chef Jared Hucks Set to Fulfill Diner Desires, Opens in Chamblee this Spring

The Alden, a sleek, yet casual restaurant coming soon to Parkview on Peachtree in Chamblee, is set to satisfy a lengthy wish list: farm-to-table; open-kitchen concept; local, organic and sustainably sourced ingredients; healthy menu selections; and artful and delicious “American” cuisine with modern global inspirations. The restaurant’s mission statement checks those boxes and more, striving to serve exceptional food and drink in a convivial atmosphere of gastronomic gratitude with respect and appreciation for the Earth’s bounty and the art of service. Chef Jared Hucks returns to his hometown after building a 20-year career as a chef working in Michelin-starred restaurants across five continents -- and, he’s done his homework on what Atlantans desire when dining out. The Alden is set to open this spring at 5070 Peachtree Boulevard, Suite B-140 in Chamblee, initially serving dinner Tuesday through Sunday and adding Friday and Saturday lunch service at a later date.

Jameson Cocktails at Proof & Provision’s Hoppy Hours March 29 and Livingston’s April 18

Hippity-sippity-hop to the historic Georgian Terrace Hotel and burrow down into Edgar’s Proof & Provision, Midtown’s coolest basement bar, for high-spirited Hoppy Hours on Thursday, March 29. Partnering with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Edgar’s carries out its well-earned reputation for creating craft cocktails and inventing innovative libations centered on the distiller’s Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition. Enjoy two specials from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Gangs of New York -- Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition, cacao, Amaro Averna and bitters ($12); and The Classic Duo -- Scofflaw POG Basement IPA plus a shot of Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition ($12). Chef Mark Breault plays his hand showing snacks in step with the season. Hop back to Livingston Restaurant + Bar, upstairs in The Georgian Hotel, to enjoy a repeat of Hoppy Hours on April 18.

Ray’s at Killer Creek Hosts PlumpJack Wine Dinner April 4

PlumpJack Winery bears the name of one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters, Sir John “PlumpJack” Falstaff. The fun-loving, down-to-earth guy with a convivial spirit was known to tip “more than a few” goblets with Prince Henry V. Intrigued? Share some goblets of PlumpJack yourself at Ray’s at Killer Creek’s PlumpJack Wine Dinner on Wednesday, April 4. Guest speaker Scot Gaffney of PlumpJack, CADE and Odette wineries will be on hand to chat with guests as they enjoy executive chef Mike Fuller’s multi-course menu with wine pairings. The 6:30 p.m. evening cruises through lobster biscuits and ripe pear with cave-aged bleu cheese, shaved ham and lavender butter served with Perrier-Jouet grand brut; lemongrass-seared bay scallops with 2016 CADE sauvignon blanc; grilled Alaskan king crab with 2016 PlumpJack chardonnay; spring lamb kibbeh and 2015 CADE Estate cabernet sauvignon; prime, dry-aged strip with vanilla bean demi paired with 2015 PlumpJack Estate cabernet sauvignon, Oakville; foie gras tarte with blueberry compote joined by 2015 Odette Estate cabernet sauvignon, Stag’s Leap District; and an end note of raspberry, peach and pepper crème brûlée with caramelized bacon paired with 2015 PlumpJack syrah. Cost is $150 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Space is limited and credit card-held reservations are required. Call 770-649-0064.

Dig This: Georgia Organics Gardening Workshop -- Irrigated with Beer, March 27

Because “the ultimate local food is the food you grow yourself,” Georgia Organics is planting an organic gardening workshop smack dab center in a well-irrigated urban setting, 5 Season’s Brewing on Atlanta’s Westside. On Tuesday, March 27, rub elbows over beer, enjoy local farm tastes then glean seeds of knowledge -- seven steps to creating your own organic garden, what to plant and when, controlling bugs and diseases organically and more -- from Mike and Judy Cunningham of Country Gardens Family Farm in Newnan. The 6-8 p.m. event is free for Georgia Organics members and $25 per person for everyone else. Plant your registration here. See you at the watering hole! Bib overalls and gardening gloves not required.

Free Paella Samples and $5 for Bulla Gastrobar Guests on National Paella Day- March 27

Paella, the savory, rice-based staple of Spanish cuisine, is a dish to celebrate over and share with friends, and Bulla Gastrobar presents the perfect place on National Spanish Paella Day. On Tuesday, March 27, gather on the Midtown restaurant’s patio for a Paella Day Celebration and watch Bulla chefs prepare a huge pan of paella over an open flame and dole out complimentary samples during happy hour from 5-7 p.m. One lucky guest will win a $50 Bulla gift card. Bulla bartenders will serve $5 red sangrias all day long keeping that fiesta-like feeling flowing. Salivating for more? Large plates of paella made for sharing are available on the dinner menu, made with Valencia-style rice, calamari, prawns, clams, shrimp, red sofrito and saffron ($39). Plentiful validated parking is available at 12^th and Midtown.

Atkins Park Loads Bases for Braves Home Opener Bus Trip March 29

Run home to Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland -- they’re loading the bus for the annual Atlanta Braves season home opener game. Catch the action Thursday, March 29 when the Braves take on the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park. Your $55 ticket covers game ticket, pre-game eats, alcohol and bus transportation to and from the game. These seats will fly out of the ballpark faster than you can shout, “Batter up!” so field tickets now at Atkins Park. First come, first served.

Shave $1 Off Beverages after 1 p.m. at Perks Coffee

Perks Coffee has an antidote for afternoon drowsies: a perk-me-up of $1 off any beverage after 1 p.m. any day of the week. Sneak out and grab a cuppa real, fresh ground and brewed coffee (not the break room insta-blend) for the office, plop down with your laptop (free Wi-Fi) and plow through the workload without office distractions or latch onto a cup to nurse on the long ride home. Perks uses locally roasted beans from Rev Coffee for a rich cup of joe that’s spot on with locally made bakeries and pastries. The Windy Hill - Marietta coffee shop serves a whole “latt-a” coffees, lattes, macchiatos, Cuban coffee, cold brews, hot and iced teas, hot chocolate and smoothies. Stop by and “chai” one on.

Let’s Party! The Nook’s MARVELous 9th Anniversary Celebration

A 9th anniversary for The Nook? How MARVELous! Join fellow Nooksters March 23-25 for The Nook’s MARVELous 9th Anniversary weekend filled with celebratory events and specials. The fun-filled weekend will feature surprise giveaways, a variety of food and drink specials including $5 Nookster’s drafts, $3 Smirnoff Vodka cocktails, $20 mystery buckets of beer and select $1 Nook shots.

The fun begins with Fishbowl Friday!  Friday, March 23 is The Nook's Annual Fishbowl Contest.  A new Nook Fishbowl will be added to the menu, and it could be yours.  Submit your entry to info@thenookatlanta.com by Wednesday, March 21.  Your Nook Fishbowl recipe must include unflavored, orange, pineapple, apple or peach-flavored vodka. Nook's team of judges will pick the winner on March 23 at 8 p.m.  The winner will get his or her fishbowl and name on the menu and will walk away with a $50 Nook gift card.

Saturday, March 24 brings Totcho Saturday and the  MARVELous Anniversary Costume Party. 

Do you have what it takes to be The Macho Totcho?  Email info@thenookatlanta.com by March 22 to have a shot to compete in the Macho Totcho Contest, the first six entries will be selected. Contest starts Saturday at 5 pm.  Winner gets a $50 Nook gift card, T-shirt, a photo on the Macho Totcho Wall of Fame and the title of The Macho Totcho!
All day Saturday you can enjoy The Nook's Special Totcho menu featuring favorites from the past!  Plus, The Nook is also adding a new Totcho to the menu. Submit your recipe by March 22 to info@thenookatlanta.com. The winner gets his or her name and Totcho on the Nook menu plus a $50 Nook gift card.

Saturday night is party time with drink and food specials, giveaways and a DJ spinning tunes starting at 7 p.m.   All day long, come dressed as a favorite MARVEL Comics hero or villain and get 10 percent off your meal.  Awards for best costumes! 

Sunday March 25th the Nook launches it's Sunday night feature - The Parkside Playlist.  Come sing-a-long with live music from Joe Baia.  The Parkside Playlist Anniversary Edition begins at 5 p.m. Enjoy drink specials, $5 small plates, and more giveaways!  

It’s a true party with a purpose: The Nook is donating a portion of the weekend’s proceeds to its neighbor The Piedmont Park Conservancy.

Hop to It for Easter Specials at Atlanta Restaurants on April 1

Easter Sunday brings a promise of all things new, along with the tradition of donning new outfits, taking Easter finery photos, finding baskets filled with sweet treats, and making reservations to dine out on delicious specials, brunches and dinners at Atlanta restaurants. Spaces are limited and Sunday, April 1 is almost here. Better jump right onto making reservations. Prices do not include tax or gratuity unless otherwise noted. 
 
In Midtown, 5Church Atlanta is serving up a special Easter brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Price is $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.
 
Guests at Buckhead’s American Cut can enjoy a three-course, prix fixe Easter brunch menu from 12:30-6 p.m. featuring selections such as spicy crab toast with avocado, smoked salmon crostini and Nutella-stuffed French toast; entrées of lobster cake Benedict, steak and eggs and steak huevos rancheros; and strawberry shortcake, brownie à la mode or fruit parfait. Price is $65 per person. The restaurant will offer family-friendly options and its regular à la carte menu, along with bloody marys, mimosas and specialty brunch drinks. Upstairs, The Regent Cocktail Club, American Cut’s rooftop bar, is open from 12:30-6 p.m., serving bloody marys, mimosas and its regular menu of bar snacks.
 
Ferry the family to Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland for a brunch menu of pesto breakfast strata ($10) with French bread, prosciutto, Parmesan cheese, fresh basil and tomato topped with two eggs sunny-side up; croissant French toast ($11) featuring a fresh raspberry compote and white chocolate sauce, with a choice of bacon or pesto chicken sausage; and an asparagus and Gruyère frittata ($11) served with a house salad. Little ones will delight in Easter eggs filled with fun prizes. 
 
Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in Marietta is opening its doors early for a special pop-up Easter brunch menu available from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Choose from a lobster omelette with chèvre and fines herbs, brioche French toast with caramelized banana and mascarpone, or an Asiago bagel with house-cured lox.
 
Food 101 in Sandy Springs is serving an egg-cellent Easter menu from 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring a selection of holiday-inspired dishes and regular brunch favorites.
 
At both locations (Midtown and Town Brookhaven) of HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, guests can enjoy an Easter dish of green eggs and ham frittata --  an open-face “omelette” with oven-roasted ham, red onions, basil pesto and smoked Gouda cheese, garnished with baby arugula tossed in a maple bacon vinaigrette ($14). The regular brunch menu also is available, including bottomless mimosas and live music.
 
Livingston Restaurant + Bar in The Georgian Terrace Hotel is serving a brunch buffet from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring such items as Applewood-smoked bacon, smoked pork loin with whole-grain molasses barbecue sauce, house-fried chicken and mashed sweet potatoes in addition to salads, pastries, dessert, carving stations and children’s options including chicken fingers, potato wedges and mac and cheese. $38 for adults, $15 for children 6-12. Capture photos with the Easter Bunny, too! The bar is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; both restaurant and bar are closed for dinner.
 
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple will offer an Easter brunch menu from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. with starters including crab bisque, Milton’s Caesar salad, wedge of iceberg salad, sticky toffee pecan beignets and strawberry yogurt; entrées including croissant French toast, buckboard bacon eggs Benedict, a farmhouse scramble, shrimp and grits, Southern-fried chicken breast, blackened salmon and smoky molasses-braised lamb; and for dessert, warm carrot cake, chef Michelle’s banana bread or chocolate brownie trifle. $35 per adult; $17.50 for children. Order from the regular dinner menu from 4-9 p.m.
 
All three Ray’s Restaurants are offering sumptuous holiday buffets. At Ray’s at Killer Creek, guests can enjoy such mouthwatering options as cheddar stone-ground grits, house-smoked salmon, blackened grouper and BBQ-smoked brisket from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ($47.95 for adults, $23.95 for children 5-10). Ray’s on the River has two buffets (morning/early afternoon and afternoon/evening) with options including shrimp scampi, seafood gumbo, tomato bisque and Georgia trout with spinach and mustard butter. ($47.95 for adults, $23.95 for children 5-10). At Ray’s in the City, choose from such dishes as broiled grouper, ham and eggs Benedict, seafood Alfredo, lamb shepherd’s pie, sweet potato soufflé and roasted chicken from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ($45.95 for adults, $22.95 for children 5-10). For full menus, visit raysrestaurants.com.
 
Seed Kitchen & Bar offers a pair of brunch specials -- steak and eggs Benedict with creamed kale and béarnaise and a lobster frittata with baby Vidalia onions, spring peas and pancetta -- from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., alongside such brunch favorites as house-smoked brisket hash, smoked salmon and potato pancakes, Gulf shrimp and grits and strawberry mascarpone French toast. Seed is also open for dinner from 3-10 p.m.
 
The Southern Gentleman in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta is offering an Easter buffet on the patio from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The spread will include a host of items like panzanella salad, citrus smoked salmon, brioche bourbon French toast, ricotta lemon pancakes, vegetable frittata and carved Cajun prime rib with horseradish aioli. ($42.50 for adults, $18 for children 12 and under).
 
Snap up Easter treats at Storico Fresco Alimentari e Ristorante. The retail section of this Buckhead staple is offering giant, beautifully wrapped Easter eggs in dark and milk chocolate along with the traditional Italian Easter cake, Colomba di Pasqua. Don't forget savory breakfast favorites like the new fiore di spinaci, which features spinach, Swiss chard and ricotta wrapped in house-made phyllo dough to look like a beautiful flower; or take home a family-sized torta salata, the perfect Italian quiche with local eggs, ricotta, Grana Padano, and either prosciutto and mozzarella or spinach and artichoke.  
 
Satisfy a sweet tooth at Henri’s Bakery & Café with an assortment of pastries, cakes, pies, cookies and other treats. Closed on Sunday, so be sure to pick up by close of business on Saturday, March 31 (4 p.m. at the Upper Westside location; 6 p.m. in Buckhead and Sandy Springs). Bakery orders require a minimum 48-hour notice.
 
In addition, the following restaurants make Sunday brunch a special occasion no matter what the holiday: 
 
ATL Taco, the new Lenox Square taqueria from chefs Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere, serves a brunch menu (10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.) that includes huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, churro chicken and waffles, breakfast tacos and the ATL skillet (a cheesy brisket hash topped with pepper jack cheese, sour cream and three eggs cooked your way).
 
Babalu Tapas & Tacos features such $10 specialties as avocado toast, chicken & Chihuahua and scallion waffles, crabcake Benedict and Baba-tine, the restaurant’s unique take on classic poutine with house-cut thin fries, Chihuahua cheese, Fresno peppers, green onions, braised beef short rib, jus and a sunny-side-up egg from 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Bottomless bloody marys and mimosas are $15.
 
Chama Gaúcha is open regular hours (1-3:30 p.m. and 4-9 p.m.) with colorfully attired gauchos serving a rotating selection of Brazilian steakhouse favorites tableside. $34.50 for brunch and $44.50 for dinner.
 
The Federal will serve brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring such favorites as chopped chicken liver, beignets with café au lait sauce and chicken and waffles with bourbon barrel vanilla butter and Steen’s cane syrup. Dinner service starts at 5 p.m.
 
All locations of Marlow’s Tavern are open for brunch as usual on Easter Sunday. A brunch buffet or other special features are available at select locations; call for more information.
 
Brunch at Kevin Gillespie’s Revival in Decatur showcases mouthwatering options of sweet cream-stuffed crêpes with almonds and macerated blackberries, a French-style omelette with soft herb cheese and roasted mushroom jus, homemade ham hock hash with crispy potatoes, local eggs and breakfast potatoes and more. Brunch runs 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

“World's Largest” Key Lime Pie at Lenox Square this Saturday

What’s eight feet in diameter, sweet, edible and coming to Lenox Square? The #FLKeysPie! Join Key West chef Bobby Stoky and his team as they construct the “world's largest Key lime pie” according to the World Record Association. The larger than life, eight-foot version of the region’s signature dessert will use the juice of 5,760 Key limes, 200 pounds of graham crackers and 55 gallons of sweetened condensed milk. Stop by the Macy’s court for a record-breaking, sweet afternoon treat at noon on Saturday, March 24 courtesy of The Key West Key Lime Pie Company.

Dabble in Fine Wines and Foods for Art’s Sake,at High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction March 21-24

The High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction is the largest charity wine auction in the U.S. benefiting the arts. This year’s theme embraces “The Art of Collecting the Very Best of Wine, Art and Food.” Participate in dinners, auction-related events and the phenomenal auction itself and consider yourself an integral part of this masters-full, multi-day event. We’re excited that a host of our favorite restaurants are involved, including 5Church Atlanta, Aria,American Cut, Brine Seafood Shack, Chicken and the Egg,Livingston Restaurant + Bar, Marlow’s Tavern, Storico Fresco Alimentari, Twelve Eighty and Umi.

Decant the entire event list and buy tickets here.

Spring Comes Early to Marlow’s Tavern Lunch, Dinner and Cocktail Menus

Spring is so close you can taste it. The new Spring Celebration tasting menu at Marlow’s Tavern moves guests into early springtime mode through food and cocktail specials highlighting the flavors and themes of this eagerly anticipated season. Thoughts of nature and rebirth bloom as spring approaches, and Marlow’s new menu showcases locally sourced, garden-fresh ingredients. Lunchtime guests can savor the new Grilled Lamb Wrap made with Colorado lamb, Applewood-smoked bacon, spinach, dates, pickled red onion, tomato and tahini dressing. Return for dinner and dine on Chicken Milanese with panko-crusted Prestige Farms chicken, blistered tomato, arugula, parsley, Parmesan, lemonette and seasoned, whipped ricotta. Turn spring drizzles into smiles with the swizzle of creative cocktails such as Strawberry Spring Crush -- Cutwater Fugu vodka, hand-crushed strawberry and basil, a splash of lemon Cocchi Americano and ginger beer. Hopping for more? Visit Tavern Tell-All for Insider tips and tricks and a behind-the-scenes peek at Marlow’s menu.

#Foodgram: Cloudy Kitchen

Cloudy Kitchen beams bright with sweets, treats and food interests…with a side interest in cat fostering. ‘Grammer Erin Clarkson was a finalist for the Saveur Best Baking and Sweets Award in 2017. We’ll gladly lick that spoon before the foster cats have at it.