Get ‘em hot, get ‘em cold. Lobster rolls, that is, enfolding tender morsels of the succulent deep-sea delicacy at Brine Modern Seafood Shack in Alpharetta’s Avalon. Order a small ($17.95) or large ($26.95) depending on the size of your craving; both come with a choice of side.
Spend more time making merry at exciting Atlanta holiday activities and devote less time hovering around the oven during upcoming days. Executive chef Derek Dollar and his staff at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails are already planning to prepare 12- to 14-pound Applewood-smoked turkeys and spiral hams with bourbon-orange glaze. Let them throw one or two on for your crowd. They’ll gladly pack up some irresistible Southern sides as well. Each ham or turkey comfortably feeds six to eight guests for $85. Each turkey comes with a quart of Madeira gravy and another side of your choice; each ham comes with a quart of bourbon-orange glaze and a choice of side. You’ll want to add more sides when you see the list: mashed potatoes, green beans, asparagus, cheddar grits and smoked Gouda mac and cheese. Order online by Dec. 18 and pick up Dec. 22 or 23 between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the historic Crabapple restaurant.
Have it all over back-to-back weekends -- from a lively Southern spread to a vine-and-dine garden dinner at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple. Executive chef Derek Dollar stocks a hefty spread of low country boil, oysters and gracious plenty fried chicken and sides for this month’s Farmyard Chowdown feast from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. Live music and lawn games entertain the whole family, from wee ones to strong farmhands. Buy tickets online, $40 per person and $20 for kids 12 and under (plus small service fee; tax, alcohol not included).
Dig dining in the garden? So does Dollar, and he’s eyeing Milton’s Acre, the restaurant’s one-acre garden, for another harvest-to-plate Garden Dinner Series dining experience on Sunday, Sept. 24. Relishing the harvest begins upon arrival over hors d’oeuvre and libations at the 6 p.m. reception. Go ahead and tour the garden, drink in hand, before a memorable four-course meal of inspired comfort foods and wines served family style accompanied by ambient starry skies and the soothing sounds of a cellist. Menu items may include delicate squash blossoms stuffed with prosciutto and cream cheese or pimento cheese and crawfish; or roast duckling with fingerling sweet potatoes, oyster mushrooms, heirloom snap beans and candied pecan apple butter. Purchase tickets online, $125 per person, per dinner. Price includes wine, tax and gratuity.
For either dinner series, tickets cannot be refunded within 48 hours of the event. Tickets are not transferrable for other dates. Please call 770-817-0161 for more information. If this month’s calendar is full, look ahead. Milton’s hosts its last Farmyard Chowdown of the 2017 season on Oct. 8 and Garden Dinners on Oct. 1 and Oct. 15.
Fall provides prime outdoor viewing opportunities...such as Big Green Egg watching. Ray’s at Killer Creek executive chef Mike Fuller lines up a BGE tasting menu for the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 9, and his dishes will inspire home entertaining ideas. Delve into smoked North Georgia trout dip with pickled summer vegetables and crusty French baguette. Savor (rein in the desire to gobble) smoked turkey Brunswick stew with crumbled cornbread as well as dry-rub Berkshire spare ribs with whiskey sauce, kale-quinoa slaw and warm German potato salad. BGE does dessert as well, evidenced by preserved strawberry and cast-iron shortbread with whipped sweet cream. Tickets for the 1-3 p.m. event are $39 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and include cooking demo, tasting menu, beverage of iced tea, soda or coffee and a choice of bloody mary, mimosa or 16-ounce draught beer. Reservations required with credit card payment prior to event; call 770-649-0064.
Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar netted “Best Seafood in Atlanta” in the AJC’s June 2017 “Best of” poll. Taste and discover why when restaurateur and acclaimed chef Doug Turbush captains Dinner with Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at Salud! Cooking School in Alpharetta on Saturday, Sept. 9. During Turbush’s 6:30-8:30 p.m. demonstration and dinner, savor Oysters 2 Ways (East Coast on the half shell with classic sauce mignonette and oysters Rockefeller with Herbsaint); crab salad with cucumber and avocado; heirloom tomato gazpacho; pan-seared salmon with creamed leeks, beurre rouge and roasted mushrooms; and Key lime pie with whipped cream and raspberries. Register online; $49 per person for this sea-tacular evening at Salud! in Whole Foods Market Avalon.
Are you intimidated by a Big Green Egg? Turn awe into awesome by conquering that Big Green Egg or just further your BGE prowess during an afternoon heady with sips, sizzles and grilling demonstrations at Ray’s at Killer Creek on Saturday, Aug. 19. Executive chef Mike Fuller turns out a tantalizing tasting menu of four BGE-grilled courses of glazed pork belly salad; smoked shrimp steamed buns with jalapeño-pickled relish and sweet chili and herb slaw; low-and-slow cooked wagyu brisket with cast-iron mac and cheese and salsa verde; and grilled banana bread with caramel and sea salt ice cream. Demo, tasting menu, beverage of iced tea, soda or coffee and a choice of bloody mary, mimosa or 16-ounce draft beer are included in the $39 price (excludes tax and gratuity). Reservations required for the 1-3 p.m. event; call 770-649-0064. If you’re already booked, save Sept. 9 on your calendar, the date for the Alpharetta restaurant’s next BGE demo and tasting.
A Napa Valley gourmet getaway warms up a winter Wednesday evening when Ray’s at Killer Creek hosts a Duckhorn Wine Dinner on Jan. 18. The exclusive event begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. to ensure a leisurely evening of dining as well as an informative talk by Duckhorn Vineyards district manager Scott Miller. You’ll want to savor every morsel and sip on executive chef Mike Fuller‘s exquisite five-course menu with wine pairings. Courses progress through Nantucket Bay scallops, candied pork belly, satsuma orange red quinoa paired with Duckhorn sauvignon blanc 2015; sea salt foie gras torchon, paper-thin walnut raisin toast with Goldeneye Anderson Valley pinot noir; salad of chicory, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, orange peel and Clemson blue cheese fritters with Duckhorn “Three Palms” merlot; slow-roasted Wagyu short rib, navy bean and ‘nduja cassoulet and shaved fennel salad with Duckhorn “The Discussion” 2012; and an ending of warm chocolate bread pudding, homemade Luxardo cherry ice cream, praline dust and burnt sugar syrup served with Paraduxx Proprietary Red 2013. Reservations are required for the $95 per-person dinner (price excludes tax and gratuity); call 770-649-0064.
Avalon, your ship is about to come in. Brine Seafood Shack sails into the super-hot Alpharetta retail complex this spring bearing boatloads of the finest fresh seafood for its 150-seat dining room. Brine is the latest from executive chef and restaurateur Marc Taft’s Southern Fried Hospitality, which planted the eggs-traordinarily successful farm-to-table restaurant Chicken and the Egg in Marietta in 2011. Brine bridges Santa Monica beach vibe and Cape Cod classic comforts through a menu swimming in healthy Southern California-style seafood. On the menu: think really good lobster rolls, fish stew, clam fritters, tuna poke, fresh oysters and fish tacos, all overseen by Taft and Brine chef de cuisine David Connolly, previously of Two Urban Licks and Tap in Atlanta and Michelin-starred Spiaggia in Chicago. Monterey Bay Seafood Watch sustainable practices will guide Brine’s seafood offerings, and sources will be geo-tagged so Brine chefs will know origins down to the fisherman’s name and boat. This seafood shack is like no other in the area, drawing the craft cocktail set up to a rooftop Tiki bar complete with seasonal fans and fire pits and pleasing pedestrians with a New England-y walk-up window for takeout, soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes and even cocktails, wine and beer to enjoy while strolling through Avalon.
Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar executive chef Boyd A. Rose and Crafted Brands managing partner Bayard Crawley invite you to join them for the Alpharetta restaurant’s first wine dinner of the season on Thursday, Nov. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Rose showcases the autumn harvest and flavors in his five-course menu. The pairing is a natural for Crafted Brands, which likens itself to farm-to-table restaurants in espousing local, small farms for ingredients and producer partners. Feast eyes on how the meal will unfold, opening with smoked apple-brined Springer Mountain Farms chicken, roasted apple-stuffed chive crepe and brie Mornay paired with 2015 Hayes Valley Monterey County chardonnay. Courses progress through Johnny Hoe black-eyed pea grit cake with duck confit and dried blueberry port wine duck demi with 2014 Rudy Santa Rita Hills pinot noir; seared espresso-braised lamb belly, smoked blue cheese, Carnaroli rice and black currant lamb jus paired with 2013 Rudy Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon; black pepper-crusted N.Y. strip with buttercup potato bacon gratin, red Swiss chard, dried cranberries and red wine jus paired with 2014 Square, Plumb & Level Dry Creek red wine; and salted caramel crème brûlée with a Hammer & Tongs cocktail featuring Breckenridge bourbon. $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required: 770-752-0922.
What if you dove into coastal shrimp and grits at Secreto Kitchen & Bar in Alpharetta and emerged to find yourself on Southern shores, blissfully watching the gentle roll of waves at sunset? Could happen when savoring Secreto’s dreamy dish of plump succulent shrimp, creamy Logan Turnpike havarti cheese grits, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions and yes, there’s smoked bacon to make it truly Southern ($22 dinner entrée). Rush hour? What’s rush hour?
A love for Indian and Latin American cuisines threatened to cause tabletop tug of war for restaurateur Ricky Walia. That is until he decided to unite the two cultures in a spicy East meets West marriage at his new restaurant and tapas lounge Affairs. Now open at 4120 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta (former Urban Spice location), the joint venture from the Walia Hospitality Group and the Thakkar Group promises a blessedly bold union of culinary experiences. Walia is behind the successful Masti – Fun Indian Street Eats in Toco Hills as well as the recently opened Bombay Brasserie in Roswell. A traditional tandoor oven and the small, open-flame sigri stove yield Indian staples such as aromatic biryanis (mixed rice dishes) and rich, thick dal stews in addition to a wide array of dishes and styles from across Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Rice dishes, breads, barbecue platters, salads and appetizers round out the menus. Turn to Affairs for a spicy romance with lunch and dinner seven days a week. More info: 678-566-0169.
Oenophiles, take heed and pick up the phone. Ray’s at Killer Creek is planning an exquisite Silver Oak Cellars Vintage Release dinner featuring five courses and wine pairings on Wednesday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. Jeff Flood, southeast regional manager for Silver Oak Cellars, will be on hand to chat with guests throughout the special evening. The dinner menu, created by Ray’s at Killer Creek executive chef Mike Fuller, starts with compressed Georgia peach and Georges Bank scallop crudo with basil foam paired with Twomey sauvignon blanc, 2015 followed by wood oven-roasted pork belly, cauliflower-goat cheese gratin and pickled onion served Twomey Russian River pinot noir, 2014. Guests will then be treated to magret duck prepared two ways: smoked breast with pickled summer white cherries and blood orange syrup joined by Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon, 2007 and five-spice confit with stir-fried cabbage, barrel-aged soy and toasted black sesame paired with Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon, 2012. Next up, dry-aged, Painted Hills beef served with caramelized foie gras and grilled, local chanterelles joined by Sonoma Valley cabernet sauvignon, 2011. Sweet Grass Dairy aged cow’s milk cheese, macerated strawberries and benne biscuit close out the night paired with Twomey Soda Canyon Ranch merlot, 2012. $135 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Space is limited and reservations secured by a credit card are required; call 770-649-0064.
Ray’s at Killer Creek pulls out the stopper to unleash a Whole Hog Whiskey Dinner, a.k.a. WhistlePig Whiskey Feast Head-to-Tail Dinner, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 20. WhistlePig master distiller Dave Pickerell and executive chef Mike Fuller have knocked noggins to curate a divinely swine-filled menu paired with the Vermont distillery’s small batch whiskies. Squeal over the night’s lineup: crispy ears with fried green heirloom tomatoes served with WhistlePig Straight Rye; chicharrón with creamed rice grits and pepper jam joined by WhistlePig Straight Rye 15 Year; “Bacon and Eggs” with Benton’s smoked pork belly lardons, grilled brioche, poached farm egg, red-eye reduction and house-made hot sauce with WhistlePig Old World Madeira Finish; Big Green Egg slow-roasted leg with hand-pressed corn maize, Silver Queen corn, avocado mousse and hot and sweet maple syrup served with Hillrock Solera aged bourbon; and baked apple and Georgia pecan cracklin’ with butter-caramel gelato paired with Hillrock Port Cask Finish. Cost is $85 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Reservations are required; call 770-649-0064 and have a credit card ready to buy tickets to this high-proof event.
Fried green tomato fiends, Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta should be on your radar. Ray’s crispy fried green heirloom tomatoes emerge from the kitchen with creamy homemade fresh mozzarella and pickled Vidalia spring onions ($11). Spring and summer love.
A year has flown by since Bantam + Biddy first served its fried chicken, cheddar waffles and Southern comfort foods to those hankering for breakfast, lunch or dinner while strolling the streets of Avalon in Alpharetta. The egg-static staff can’t wait until the actual October 30 anniversary date, and they’re already letting specials soar out from under their wings. On Tuesday, October 20, flip a coin after your meal to see if you’ll receive 50 percent off your food tab (excludes alcohol). A free order of pimento cheese nests with your entrée purchase on Wednesday, October 21. From open until close on Thursday, October 22, kids 12 and under can enjoy one free Little Clucker’s meal when their accompanying adult buys an entrée (one freebie per entrée). The restaurant will feature $8 steak and baked potato plates from 5 p.m. until close on Vegas steak night, Friday, October 23 (while supplies last). Toast the occasion with a craft brew or handcrafted cocktail -- you’re free to finish it as you cap the evening with an after-dinner walk around the block.
Those waves shimmering on the horizon would be
oh, so chillin’ if they weren’t heat waves rising above the asphalt. Ride that
thought to Bantam
+ Biddy Avalon where $2 Harpoon Summer beer does its part to keep summer
sanity afloat. Cooling thoughts prevail: the $2 price tag stands all summer for
this German Kölsch-style ale brewed at Harpoon’s Boston and Vermont breweries,
destinations 10 or 20 degrees cooler than Georgia about now. All the more
reason to come in this summer for a Harpoon Summer beer and something light
like a pimento cheese snack, Jb Farm deviled eggs or a substantial rotisserie
chicken dinner. Bantam + Biddy Avalon in Alpharetta is open daily for
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How will you spend $12 for lunch today?
Conversing with a menu mic, swapping $12 at the window for a lucrative lunch to
savor in your (hot) car or office (interruptions)? Opting for the weekday $12 Value Lunch at Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta sets a more pleasing
picture: you, friends, sitting in a chair, at a table, decompressing amid
air-conditioned comfort while scanning the special menu and sipping a soft drink, coffee or iced
tea from a real glass or cup (included with meal; tax and gratuity not
included). Achievable, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition to
a daily blue plate special, selections spotted on the menu include an Angus
beef cheddar burger on toasted brioche with choice of house-cut fries, chips or
side salad; slow-roasted chicken baguette with roma tomatoes, melted havarti
cheese, champagne vinaigrette, arugula, pesto aioli and fries, chips or side
salad; Ray’s chopped chicken salad; salmon Caesar salad; chopped steak of
fresh-ground Angus beef with Yukon gold whipped potatoes, wood-roasted
mushrooms and crispy onions; and soup and salad. Ray’s welcoming and efficient
staff is always glad to see you -- and you’ll leave refreshed and ready to seize
the afternoon.
Ray’s Restaurants is doubling up on reward card points for Dining Club members who dine at Ray’s in the City or Ray’s at Killer Creek restaurants during weekends. Every Saturday and Sunday, Ray’s will dole out two loyalty card points for every dollar spent at these two locations. Convene at Ray’s in the City for drinks, dinner or dessert when enjoying downtown events and attractions, celebrating a special occasion or looking for a place to listen to live music on Saturday evenings. Casual with a natural coastal feel and woodsy view, Ray’s at Killer Creek is Alpharetta’s go-to for Saturday and Sunday night drinks and dinner, Sunday brunch and or a stopover either side of showtime at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. Purchase a Ray’s Dining Club reward card for $10 at any Ray’s Restaurant or online and start racking up points. Reward card points translate to Ray’s dollars, birthday bonuses, VIP event invitations, special promotional offers and more.
The garden-fresh flavors at Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails aren't the only perk of seed-to-fork dining; the vivid colors and rich textures also make for some absolutely stunning food photos all year long. One glance at their hefty Portobello mushroom caps stuffed with
spinach and garlic and we're hauling out the knives and forks.
