Downtown Eateries Put the Icing on Ice Skating Fun at Centennial Olympic Park

Ice skating at Centennial Olympic Park's Ice Rink in downtown's Luckie Marietta District is already a beloved holiday tradition, but the adventure just isn't complete for us without a way to refuel all those calories we will burn gliding around the ice. Luckily, some of the city's best restaurants or nearby and ready to be pre- and post-skating destinations. For hearty German fare and beers, slide into Der Biergarten. Just getting warmed up? Keep the momentum going with games, beverages and American fast-casual fare at Game-X. Hot pizzas warm cold hands and fill hungry tummies at Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria while sporty STATS satisfies with classic American favorites and thirst-quenching brews. Date night deserves a visit to the Glenn Hotel where Glenn's Kitchen exudes sophisticated ambiance and drinks flow at SkyLounge, its rooftop hangout. Add south of the border Latin and Mexican flavors to your polar experience with a visit to Alma Cocina for roasted chicken mole Oaxaca, pork pibil tamale, beef brisket enchiladas and many other savory dishes, including bowls of hot tortilla soup. Or, go coastal at Ray's in the City where a wide variety of seafood selections dock alongside a classic cheddar cheeseburger, hand-cut steaks and other landlubber temptations. Can't fit them all in? These restaurants will welcome you even after the ice rink closes for the season on January 20.

Buy Your Tickets Today for Taste of Atlanta October 25-27

No need to list your credentials, Taste of Atlanta. We know all about the legendary festival featuring over 90 restaurants and four live cooking stages. We dream about the VIP food-wine-cocktail experience all year long, so we're eagerly awaiting the culinary sprawl to take over Tech Square Friday, October 25 through Sunday, October 27. We're looking forward to the barcraft competition, the Big Green Egg Grilling Experience, the Family Food Zone, workshops, cookbook signings, silent auction and so much more. We'll be on the lookout for some of our favorite chefs and mixologists from participating restaurants such as Alma Cocina, Article 14, Der Biergarten, Glenn's Kitchen, Gunshow, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, King + Duke, Lure, Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails, No. 246, The Optimist and Seven Lamps. A variety of ticket options are available online priced from $30 each on up. Buy now. Chances are there won't be leftovers.

Two Nights of Top-Shelf Tequila Experiences at Alma Cocina on October 10 and 11

Leave those well drinks at the bottom of the shelf where they belong. Next week, Alma Cocina is going top shelf with two separate tequila appreciation events. On Thursday, October 10, "A Night of Tequila" will fill the atrium of 191 Peachtree Tower from 7-10 p.m. Herradura and other tequila favorites will be used to create "Latin-," "American-,: and "Alternative-" themed cocktails which will accompany the delectable food pairings from executive chef Chad Clevenger and team. Butternut squash and mushroom sopes, charred octopus al pastor, pork cheek mondongo tostadas and more are all making much appreciated appearances. $50 per person and you must purchase tickets in advance online. But wait, the tequila love doesn't stop there! On Friday, October 11 from 7-10 p.m., it's a "Dinner of the Seven Barrels" -- a four-course dinner and tequila tasting commemorating the seven custom barrels of Herradura tequila that were personally tasted, approved and brought back to Atlanta by Fifth Group Restaurants solely for Alma Cocina, and using a few bottles reserved especially for this one-of-a-kind event. Herradura's global brand ambassador, Ruben Aceves, will be there to talk tequila with guests during the tasting. Clevenger's  menu reveals a Latin and Mexican culinary heritage, right down to the decadent tres leches and pumpkin churros dessert. $65 per person and advance purchase online is a must.

"Sea" What's on Menus During National Seafood Month Plus More in this Week's Dish

Get your taste buds ready for two top-shelf tequila events. Alma Cocina hosts “A Night of Tequila” on Thursday, October 10 and “Dinner of the Seven Barrels” on Friday, October 11, both events from 7-10 p.m. Led by executive chef Chad Clevenger and team, cocktails are paired with delectable eats consumed of Latin and Mexican flavors. Cocktail cravings continue at RA Sushi with the Blushing Geisha drink special, made with SKYY Infusions raspberry vodka and other liquid treats. See why we cheers to October and more in this week’s of the Dish. 

Fifth Group Restaurants: Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame Member of the Year Finalist

Fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and red pepper coulis at South City Kitchen Midtown has spoken to Southern heritage and big city sophistication since the restaurant first welcomed guests in 1993. Just visualizing it can make your mouth water. In 1996, Bold American Events opened on the other side of downtown Atlanta in a 100-year-old renovated Westside factory…before trendy became a Westside adjective. Over the years, Fifth Group Restaurants has added more in-town dining destinations: La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, South City Kitchen Vinings, The Original El Taco, Alma Cocina and Lure. The different cuisines offer something appealing to every type of Atlantan. With such draw, no wonder that the restaurant group is an Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame Member of the Year finalist. The 15^th annual Hospitality Hall of Fame celebration will take place on November 12 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. In addition to honoring Atlanta’s hospitality industry greats, this year’s event will mark the year end celebration of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) 100^th anniversary! Join in a night of celebration and remembrance. The ACVB, Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Georgia World Congress Center trio back this prestigious event. Fill a table with 10 guests for $1,250 or purchase individual tickets for $125 each by emailing Ellie Westman Chin at ewestmanchin@atlanta.net. 

Party in the Kitchen with Open Hand on September 19

Come together for amazing food and a great cause September 19. Join Open Hand for Party in the Kitchen at the Event Gallery in the King Plow Arts Center, where chefs and guests hobnob in the kitchen to raise funds for Open Hand. Be on the lookout for Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina, Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, Joe Schafer of King + Duke and David Bradley of Lure. Tantalizing food, wine and silent auction tempters are all part of the plan. A VIP reception with Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow begins at 6:30 p.m., and the main event opens up at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets or donate online. Over the past 25 years, nonprofit Open Hand has become the nation's largest provider of home-delivered, medically appropriate meals and nutrition education. The organization prepares, packs and delivers more than two million meals annually across metro Atlanta and 17 Georgia counties.

Ferris Wheel Riding Makes You Hungry

 

Photo Credit: The Partnership/SkyView Atlanta

Wheeeee! The big wheel is turning in the Luckie Marietta District and you're gonna work up an appetite after the ride. While you're up there, scan the horizon for some spots to grab a bite. Might we suggest Der Biergarten for an authentic German dining experience, Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria with its coal-fired pizzas and Italian specialties, STATS for sports viewing and Game-X for an eat-and-play combo? If you're up for a short walk, head to nearby Fifth Group Restaurant Alma Cocina, or for hand-cut steaks, seafood and sushi, Ray's in the City serves it all in a casual, yet elegant setting. Or stay the weekend at the Glenn Hotel and go to them all. Be sure to check out their American comfort-food restaurant Glenn's Kitchen and more sky views at SkyLounge upstairs. Clearly you're going to need to come ride that Ferris wheel more than once!

Take Advantage of Delicious Savings During Downtown Restaurant Week

Atlanta is the prime spot to eat, stay and play this week - a big emphasis on the stay. Downtown Restaurant Week is from Saturday, July 27 to Sunday, August 4, and with deals this amazing there's no better place to be. Top restaurants like Alma Cocina, Ray's in the City and Der Biergarten have created special three-course, prix fixe menus ranging from $15 to $35. Game-X is throwing in a $20 play card with their deal, and Glenn Hotel and Glenn's Kitchen are inviting everyone to dine and dream with their "All Access Package". Don't miss the chance to take advantage of the delicious savings and fabulous fare, it won't be here for long! 

Downtown Restaurant Week Serves Up Delicious Deals in the "A"

Put away the big bucks, build up an appetite and experience how delicious ATL can be on a budget. Downtown Restaurant Week is Saturday, July 27 - Sunday, August 4, and this year's participants are some of Atlanta's best. Alma Cocina, Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria and Ray's in the City are just three of the many delicious restaurants that are serving $15, $25 and/or $35 three-course, prix fixe menus all week. Eat away and enjoy the nightlife that the week brings, like Game-X's $15 menu that includes a $20 play card. Don't fret, with all that's going on it won't be hard to stay in the loop with the city's happenings, like sports action and concerts, with the stay-and-play link. There's even more to check out this week, be sure to get all the details in our Downtown Restaurant Week Atlanta Dish post! 

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Hits the Streets of Midtown

Get ready for all things Southern as the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival takes over Midtown from Thursday, May 30 through Sunday, June 2. Spend the day sampling sweet and savory snacks from acclaimed chefs while sipping on craft beers and cocktails from top mixologists. Some of our favorite Atlanta restaurants, like Alma Cocina and The Optimist, will be making tasty appearances of their own.  

ATL Mixologist Movers and Shakers Vie for ACVB Centennial Cocktail Contest - The Votes Are Up to You

There's no better time than summer for sipping a cocktail on the patio of your favorite Atlanta restaurant. But which mixed drink outshines the rest? You be the judge! Whether your favorite is tequila, vodka or whiskey, ATL-inspired cocktails are taking over the city as mixologists strive to win your vote and have their drink crowned as Atlanta’s “Centennial Cocktail”. We've got a list of must-try cocktails, including some of our favorites like Ecco's Destination South and Ray's in the City's newest concoction, the Atlantamaker. Don’t forget to give your winner the recognition it deserves!

Appetizing Aperture: @DiscoverAtlanta’s 100 Signature Dishes

Happy 100 Years of Hospitality, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau! The organization marked this landmark occasion by building a list of the city's top Atlanta-only signature dishes. The "100 Signature Dishes" list includes hits from lots of our favorite dining spots – we had a hard time picking just one dish to picture here! Now we’re hungry for fried avocado taquito at Alma Cocina, Aria's butter-braised lobster, fried goat cheese with honey and black pepper at Ecco, spaghetti with tomatoes, basil and veal meatballs at La Tavola Trattoria, infamous fish tacos at Marlow's Tavern, fried chicken taco at The Original El Taco, buttermilk fried chicken and fried green tomatoes at South City Kitchen - Midtown, and glazed pork belly with local apples and turnips at Woodfire Grill. Eenie, meenie, and many mo', this week we're picturing....

South meets Southwest in the fried chicken taco at The Original El Taco. The cantina's consistently top-selling taco throws Mexico City grilled corn in chili-lime mayo and crumbled Mexican cheese into the mix and wraps it all up in a warm flour tortilla. 

See how many of these amazing dishes you can fit into your culinary rotation this year – sounds like the right kind of resolution to us!

Who's Thirsty? "Eater Atlanta Cocktail Week" Is Here

Tarocco Spice at Ammazza

Put down the fork and pick up the glass... Eater Atlanta started filling up virtual glasses with cocktail posts this week! Twist open your internet device and see which restaurants are shaking up special cocktails for the week. We're tapping into several ourselves. Ormsby's on Atlanta's Westside, The Pinewood in Decatur, Ammazza on Edgewood, Lure in Midtown and Alma Cocina in downtown's 191 Tower all have some potent mixers in mind. 

The First Dinner Series for Alma Cocina: “Secrets of a Mexican Pantry” Showcases the Edible Fungus Huitlacoche

 

Baby steps. First pronounce it, then eat it: huitlacoche sounds like wheat-la-co-chay. What is it? It's actually an edible truffle-like fungus that grows on corn. Subtly sweet and smoky in taste, this delicacy is one of those mysterious ingredients that makes Mexican food so intriguing. Join Chef Chad Clevenger for part one of Alma Cocina's "Secrets of a Mexican Pantry" dinner series that begins on November 10 at 7 p.m. He has created a five-course menu showcasing huitlacoche in traditional Mexican dishes.

Dinner starts off with roasted cauliflower and red pepper salad, incorporating huitlacoche kernels, sauce and paper, avocado and fried epazote. Next, try huitlacoche tamale followed by huitlacoche masa "fettuccine" with roasted butternut squash, mushrooms, huitlacoche cream sauce, cotija, cilantro and boiled Marcona almonds; and confit pork cheeks with arroz con crema, huitlacoche brown butter and grilled sweet potato greens. Sweet corn atole with huitlacoche cream, dried corn and sweet potato churro ends the evening on a "huit" note. If you’re interested, get in fast because seating is limited to 40 guests at $40 each (plus tax and gratuity). To make reservations, call 404-968-9662.

White is the Right Attire for a Party in the Kitchen Benefitting Open Hand

Wearing white after Labor Day is encouraged, even expected for this week's Party in the Kitchen on Thursday, September 6. Blend in with the white coats and toques of Aria's Gerry Klaskala, Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina, Shaun Doty of Bantam & Biddy, Adam Evans of The Optimist and Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill. These chefs and more will be cooking up some fun and raising funds for Open Hand at The Event Gallery at King Plow Arts Center. Event starts at 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, $175 each, click here. 

Prime Time for Dining Downtown at Alma Cocina and Ray's in the City

Downtown Restaurant Week starts tomorrow, and it's a great way to try out three courses at some of Atlanta's best restaurants like Alma Cocina and Ray's in the City. Each participating restaurant is offering a three-course prix fixe meal for $25 or $35 per person, plus gratuity and tax. If you're in the mood for modern Mexican fare, we recommend Alma Cocina (pictured at right) in the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower. The steak and seafood lovers will be lured by Ray's in the City. But as you can imagine, tables go fast during this event, so make reservations for July 21 through July 29 online or phone your desired restaurant directly.

Atlanta’s Rising Stars Shine At StarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue

This Wednesday, June 13, you can acquaint yourself with Atlanta’s culinary up-and-comers by attending the 38thStarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue. The tasting gala and awards ceremony will be from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at The Goat Farm Arts Center. Chef Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina will be one of the event host chefs. For the tasting you will be able to enjoy wood-fired Virginia clams with crispy pork belly and croutons prepared by Rising star recipient Adam Evans of JCT Kitchen & Bar and now of The Optimist. Two other culinary up-and-comers, Woodfire Grill Pastry Chef Chrysta Poulus and Taria Camerino, owner of Sugar-Coated Radical and Pastry Chef at The Optimist, will be honored as Rising Stars. In addition to the tasting and awards, guests will be able to enjoy the work of acclaimed local artist David Baerwalde. Tickets are $85 each but when you purchase your tickets online and use the discount code RSATL12 at checkout, you will shave $10 off that ticket price. StarChefs.com is “the magazine for industry insiders” covering chefs, recipes, jobs and more.

Appetizing Aperture of the Week: Cantaloupe Gazpacho with Lump Crabmeat from Alma Cocina

If the photo is as fresh and delish as this, can you imagine how exquisite the real deal tastes? You can just about taste this cantaloupe gazpacho with lump crabmeat that won first place for Alma Cocina at the recent Taste of the Highlands food fest in Virginia Highland. No pictures for second-place winner Ecco or dessert winner Alon's Bakery and Market. Better head over and snap a photo or two before you chew.

The Results are In: Zagat Announces Atlanta Award Winners

Aria by George Sanchez

The latest update of the little red restaurant bible of Atlanta restaurants, based on the 2012/13 Zagat Survey, is now available. Aria fans will not be surprised. The longtime favorite and chic dining spot came in third in food rankings, third for décor and ninth most popular -- meaning most-often mentioned. Top newcomers included No. 246 in Decatur (number 4) and Chicken and the Egg in Marietta (number 3). Alma Cocina gets a nod as a key newcomer, and Woodfire Grill is mentioned among the top rated. FYI, the Zagat Atlanta Restaurants guide comes in print and e-reader versions, although it might be rude to read at the dinner table.