Gifts for Dads, Grads and YOU at Fleming's

The graduation announcements are starting to fill up the mailbox and it can be so hard to decide what to give! Most of the graduates in my life prefer cash to, say, a monogrammed beach towel or coffee table book of life wisdom. But I want to give them something more memorable than a Georgia Power payment or a tank of gas. Thanks to the folks at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar I can give a gift card for a fabulous dinner and get myself a little treat too! The Dunwoody restaurant is throwing in a $20 promotional bonus card with each $100 gift card purchased between April 1 and June 7. This will make a great Father's Day gift too! Gift cards can be used in the restaurant, bar or for a special event at any Fleming's location; bonus cards are for dining room use only. And since there are Fleming's in other cities, you can buy these for out of town grads and dads. Here's the link!

Our Picks for Easter Eats and Sweets

With Easter less than two weeks away, we've got some great ideas for celebrating with family and friends over brunch and ways to fill up that special someone's Easter basket. You can get the full scoop in Atlanta Dish, but here are a few ideas to nibble on:

Make any Easter basket a happier one with treats from Alon's (located in Dunwoody and Virginia-Highland), including chocolate bunnies, PB&J filled chocolate eggs (my personal favorite!) and more.

For Italian fare and the most extensive bakery you've ever seen, Alpine Bakery & Trattoria in Alpharetta will begin serving a special Easter menu along with the regular menu at noon (although you can peruse the bakery beginning at 10 a.m.).

Aqua blue in Roswell will have an Easter buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including a carving station and made-to-order omelets. Pricing is $29.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids ages 4-12 and free for children under 4.

In Dunwoody, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is serving an elegant three-course Easter menu from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost is $34.95 per adult, and there is a children's version for $16.95 (tax and gratuity not included). Be sure to try the new Blood Orange Fizz cocktail($6.95) while you are there!

At Ray's on the River, brunch is served all day long from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., complete with a riverside view. Cost is $39.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids ages 5-10 and free for children 4 and under.

Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta is serving Easter brunch from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost is $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids ages 5-10 and free for children 4 and under. Guests also may order off the regular dinner menu from 5 - 9 p.m.

Cooking at home? Grass-fed lamb from White Oak Pastures is the perfect entree for a traditional dinner. You can order online or by calling 229-641-2081, but don't forget that orders must be placed by Monday, April 2 for delivery before Easter.

For Your Sipping Pleasure: Fleming’s Reveals Crafty New Cocktails

Some lucky people had to research, create and verify the deliciousness of the new cocktails spilling off the bar menu at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Pity it wasn't us. Still, we can all indulge in the fruits of their labor. The new menu is divided into three categories:  Retro Chic, which puts a contemporary spin on the classics; Modern Martinis with their exotic takes on the American martini; and Couture Cocktails that use seasonal ingredients and signature spirits. You may turn your back on the traditional margarita after trying the new Mad Milagro margarita with Milagro Silver Tequila, fresh lime juice and muddled fresh cucumber, topped with a perky touch of cilantro and a spicy jalapeño. Fleming's Limoncello martini tastes of pure luxury, made with Hangar One citron "Buddha's Hand" Vodka, smooth Luxardo Limoncello and house-made lemon-thyme simple syrup. For those living lightly, Skinnier Cocktails are still on the menu to fill your glass with less than 99 calories of hardcore flavor. 

It’s National Soup Month – Start Slurping!

The MLA team just finished a two-day juice detox and after 48 hours of drinking nothing but cold, tart fruit juice, all I am craving is a hot bowl of soup. Luckily, it happens to be National Soup Month AND, despite the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having, the weather reports for the rest of this week finally point to colder temperatures. I can’t think of a better time to sample our city’s selection of body-warming bowls of goodness. Check out a list of our favorites around town in the latest edition of The Dish. My must-haves are Aria’s creamless celery root and black truffle soup (you will not believe this soup doesn’t have cream in it!) and Spice Market’s spicy chicken and coconut soup (pictured above). Both of these feel totally luxurious and are super satisfying on a cold day.

All Aboard the Health Train: 2012 Healthy Eating Roundup Makes Keeping Resolutions Easy

"Diet" can be a heavy word, and no one wants to hear such a downer in a city with so many fabulous eateries. Healthy eating is more about considering the effects of what you're ingesting -- how your lunch will benefit your body and all of its systems -- including those all-important taste buds. Really, if it's not tasty, why bother anyway?

Guilt-free "Skinnier Cocktails" at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar weigh in at 99 calories per glass and $9.95 each.  They're always on the bar menu to give you more options than diet sodas for a sassy but not sissy low-cal drink. Fresh fruits and juices knock sugary mixers out of the glass. Tickled Pink mixes Belvedere Vodka, Mionetto Prosecco, orange juice and raspberry. Bikinitini is a Florida beach trip in a glass with Grey Goose L'Orange Vodka, lemon juice, orange juice, Monin sugar-free syrup and soda water. The Stoli Bombshell fruits up Stoli Vanil Vodka with fresh raspberries, raspberry preserves and freshly squeezed lime juice. The Russian Prom Queen mixes fresh lime juice, cucumbers and blueberries with Stoli Blueberi Vodka. The Farmer's Daughter starts with Ketel One Vodka and adds strawberries, fresh basil leaves, lemon juice and cranberry juice. And finally, the Stiletto spikes fresh blackberries, lime and ginger with Hendrick's Gin.

Atlanta Smashburger locations dispel the myth that fast-casual dining paves a highway to the hips. Atlantans so love their veggie burgers that black bean veggie burger sales at area Smashburger restaurants nearly double the national Smashburger average!  Smashburger salads fill you up with fresh, crisp greens and toppings, and grilled chicken can be added to up the protein ante. The harvest salad features balsamic tomatoes, raisins, dried cranberries, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and blue cheese topped with balsamic vinaigrette. Create your own healthy grilled chicken sandwich by selecting a multigrain bun and choosing free toppings such as lettuce, tomato, red onion, kosher pickles and jalapeños along with a variety of sauces and mustards. Sweet potato smashfries and veggie frites add even more veggies to your plate.

Executive Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten fills bento boxes with vegetarian selections for Monday night diners at Spice Market, located inside the W Atlanta-Midtown. Even carnivores will find the multi-layered boxes plenty to please at $24 per person. See the vibrant veggie bento box on our blogarchive.

Book a vegetarian-focused table at Woodfire Grill, and the chefs will prepare a five-course chef's tasting vegetarian menu that the entire table will relish. The vegetarian dinner costs $70 per person, and everyone at the table must participate. A tasting included a first course of cucumber and cantaloupe noodles with grapefruit and mint emulsion; a second course of roasted hen of the woods and morel mushrooms, baby radish and turnips with brown butter, lemon zest and herbs; a third tasting course of chilled new potato and wild garlic leek soup; a fourth course of roasted local root vegetables, smoked squash puree and pickled cabbage salad; a main course of creamed escarole and rutabaga, spicy smoked apples, asparagus and Anson Mills farro; and dessert of strawberry shortcake with sour cream pound cake, rhubarb jam and strawberry whip.

Say "hola" to heart-healthy menu items at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food. Three scrumptious selections have been certified as heart healthy by Medical City Heart. A generous Ensalada Especial heaps plates with mixed field greens, grape tomatoes, jicama, cucumbers, red onions and red cabbage and is served with citrus vinaigrette dressing. Go heartier by adding portobello mushroom or salmon. Increasing your intake of salmon for those healthy omega-3 fatty acids is easy when ordering flavorful mesquite-grilled salmon filet served with sautéed vegetables and fresh pineapple pico de gallo. Vegetable purists will find the grilled vegetable platter fills their wish dish with mesquite-grilled zucchini, yellow squash, portobello mushroom, red potatoes, and red and yellow onions served with roasted red and poblano peppers and a side of fresh pineapple pico de gallo.

At RA Sushi in Midtown, cradle a Skinny Cocktail in your hands and roll each potent sip across your tongue with pleasure. There are only 200 calories in a Lychee-teenie, Skinny Ninja or Thin Ginger ($8 each). 

Goodbye Christmas Elves, Hello Baby New Year

Partiers, if you want to whoop it up with live entertainment, champagne toasts and kisses at midnight, we have options. Those of you who envision a peaceful fine dining experience, Atlanta restaurants can fulfill your wish. And, if you are working New Year's Eve or want to celebrate after you do that resolution run or polar bear jump, you, too, are covered. Happy New Year!

After achieving Elvis' "Blue Christmas" music overload, it's time to move on to a totally different tune in Aqua blue's Blue Year's Eve. The Roswell restaurant is planning a prix-fixe, three-course menu plus an à la carte menu available at three seatings -- 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $49 per person; $69 with chef's wine pairing. Stay on for the DJ and party favors, and raise a champagne toast at midnight. For reservations, call 770-643-8886.

The tables are set for an elegant four-course dinner at Aria, one of Buckhead's finest restaurants. Executive Chef/Owner Gerry Klaskala has a first course in mind then lets you choose from several options for the remaining courses. At $85 per person, tax and gratuity not included, seats will go quickly. Reservations are strongly suggested; call 404-233-7673.

Holiday merry making continues on New Year's Eve at Atkins Park - Smyrna with a champagne toast at midnight and music from The Good People. Starting at 5 p.m., guests can sit down to a chef-prepared, four-course meal for $48.50 per person, tax and gratuity not included. Reservations: 770-435-1887.

Across town at Atkins Park - Virginia Highland, guests can sip Absolut Vodka drink specials while listening to music from Rare Form DJs. Complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Special menus will be available at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve and at 11 a.m. on New Year's Day. Reservations: 404-876-7249.

No need to break any New Year's diet resolutions when guests indulge in the rich pre-resolution menu Briza is offering on New Year's Eve. On the last night of 2011, pamper your palate with dishes such as vanilla butter-poached lobster and Kurobuta pork belly "carbonara" and leave no morsel behind! $75 per person. Reservations: 678-412-2402.

Marietta favorite, Chicken and the Egg, is celebrating New Year's Eve with a three-course menu. After a lagniappe of Georgia shrimp and grit cake, choose tempting items like crispy pork belly, lobster and praline bread pudding to complete your meal. The cost is $35 per person, and sparkling wine will be available to purchase by the glass or bottle. For reservations, call 678-388-8813.

Usher in 2012 with three courses of southern Italian dishes on the prix-fixe menu at Double Zero Napoletana in Sandy Springs. Dinner will be served from 5 - 8 p.m. and costs $55 per person. Each guest receives a gift bag containing a split of Prosecco, champagne flutes and a special gift from the Castellucci Hospitality Group. Reservations: 404-991-3666.

Talk about being pumped up for 2012! Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Dunwoody is giving guests three opportunities to celebrate New Year's Nights at Fleming's: Thursday, December 29 from 5 - 10 p.m., Friday, December 30 from 5 - 11 p.m. and Saturday, December 31 from 4 - 11 p.m. Moët and Chandon Impérial champagne will be served from magnum bottles all night, each night. A special New Year's celebration menu with three exceptional steak and seafood entrées, each priced at $69.95, will be available in addition to the regular menu. Reservations: 770-698-8112.

For an early taste of 2012, enjoy a "taste" and three courses of Chef Ford Fry's Southern favorites at JCT. Kitchen & Bar. The $65 four-course menu includes samples of hickory-roasted Berkshire pork tenderloin and "chicken stand" fried Georgia quail. Dinner will be served from 5 - 11 p.m. Reservations: 404-355-2252.

In Decatur, the New Year's Eve menu at No. 246 offers a great example of how to step out beyond the expected in 2012. Try something unexpected such as squid ink spaghetti with Dungeness crab and braised Brasstown beef cheeks -- two of the items on their special $55 per person New Year's Eve menu. Dinner is from 5 - 11 p.m. Reservations: 678-399-8246.

Rockin' RA Sushi looks out for those who work on New Year's Eve by throwing a New Year's Eve Remix party -- on New Year's Day! From 8 p.m. to close on Sunday, January 1, guests at the Midtown restaurant and bar can nosh on Sunday Night's Flying Fish Lounge specials with select sushi, appetizers and tapas priced from $2-$7 and drink specials starting at $3. For more information or to RSVP, visit Facebook.

Pick your party at Ray's Restaurants. Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta is offering a special appetizer menu and three different prix-fixe menus from 5 - 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Reservations: 770-649-0064. Downtown, city dwellers can head to Ray's in the City's to celebrate over one of three prix-fixe menus. Reservations: call 404-524-9224. Ray's on the River is hosting a classic night of dinner and dancing at the restaurant's riverside pavilion. Ring in the new year enjoying the special menu, five-piece band, champagne toast, party favors and a balloon drop. Festivities start at 8 p.m. with dinner service at 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $95 per person, or purchase a table for 10 guests for $850. Tax and gratuity are not included in pricing. More information and reservations: 770-955-1187.

Toast first! At Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown, the bar and lounge bubbles with specials on champagne from 4 - 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The restaurant itself will serve a New Year's Eve five-course menu for $68 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Reservations: 404-724-2550.

Everyone knows that the pre-party is just as important as the main event on New Year's Eve. That's why Truffles Grill in Buckhead is getting the night off to a tasty start from 6 - 9 p.m. with complimentary heavy hors d'oeuvres. Need a drink to practice your midnight toast? Try one of the restaurant's $5 Absolut specialty martinis. Reservations: 404-364-9050.

Carnivores, vegetarians and pescatarians will all find dinners to please among Woodfire Grill's three special five-course menus on New Year's Eve. The regular and pescatarian menus are priced at $115 per person, and the vegetarian menu is priced at $105. Wine pairings also are available for $6 per course for a half glass or $12 for a full glass. Reservations are required: 404-347-9055.

Of course, we didn't forget about Christmas. Read here for all the fun festivities going on this weekend!

Book Your Favorite Rockin' Room For A Private Party

It happens every year. The grateful calm of Thanksgiving gives way to Black Friday retail frenzy. Then low and behold, the holiday party and gifting season is here. Whether or not you are an advance planner, Atlanta restaurants are ready to help out with warm and friendly seasonal settings, large and small spreads, private dining options and generous gift card promotions.

In Virginia Highland, lively Atkins Park Tavern has historical charm -- and a room upstairs ready to host 30 guests for a sit-down dinner or 50 guests for cocktails. To reserve, call 404-876-7249.

Fabulous global cuisine, personalized menus and lots of space are yours in Roswell at Aqua blue. A semi-private back room accommodates 60 guests, and up to 200 guests can party in the main bar. Available for bookings seven days a week for lunch and dinner; call 770-643-8886.

Marietta’s Chicken and the Egg serves up modern farmstead fare and can throw a Southern dinner party with ease. Host an intimate chef’s table for up to 28 guests in a separate corner of the restaurant -- guests will love the chef’s table menu of Chicken and the Egg specialties. Contact Elizabeth Taft at 678-388-8813.

Across Midtown and into Vinings, Fifth Group Restaurants gives a wide variety of options for private and group dining. At 7th and Cypress streets in the heart of Midtown, Ecco offers seasonal, European-inspired dining seven nights a week. For an evening of contemporary Southern fare, book South City Kitchen Vinings. More Fifth Group possibilities include South City Kitchen Midtown, La Tavola Trattoria and The Original El Taco. Bold American and Studio 887 offer off- and on-premise upscale catering for other event options. For group party planning assistance, call 678-302-3264. For more information, visit the company’s private dining page.

In Dunwoody, special occasions call for Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Book your party by Thursday, December 1 and receive a $50 gift card for every $500 you spend. Thrifty gifters, receive a $20 bonus card for every $100 gift card purchased from now until December 31 (bonus card valid on food and beverage only, January 1 through February 10). Call 770-698-8112.

The Westside party “junction” is JCT. Kitchen & Bar at Howell Mill and Huff roads in Atlanta’s Westside Urban Market. Up to 200 guests can celebrate on its 2,000-square-foot skyline terrace that looks out over the historic neighborhood; up to 165 people can dine downstairs in the main dining room. Discuss private event options with Valerie Mosley, 678-536-6506.

Don’t overlook your lunch spot when looking for a dinner party venue. Market Street Café in Buckhead can seat up to 125 people for dinner inside and 75 guests on the patio. Need more? Rent the whole place after 4 p.m. weekdays and anytime on weekends. For private event information, contact Sabrina Rosenberg or Lauren Hradek at 770-643-5990.

Reindeer games in West Midtown’s White Provision complex? Not quite, but Ormsby’s lounge space with its comfy couches, cocktail tables and game room access is ideal for up to 40 grownups. Better snatch it up by calling Leslie Battle at 404-968-2033.

Wildly fun RA Sushi in Midtown can seat up to 10 guests in its semi-private dining space and host up to 100 guests in its upstairs area. Call 404-267-0114.

From downtown to the Chattahoochee to Alpharetta, Ray’s Restaurants provides three unique party settings and a variety of menu options. Ray’s on the River (770-955-1187) can accommodate parties of up to 200 guests. Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta (770-649-0064) has several different room options and accommodates parties of up to 300 people. For intimate gatherings in town, look into private and semi-private spaces for up to 45 people at Ray’s in the City (404-524-9224).

The Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel epitomizes Atlanta with its modern design and Southern hospitality. Host guest lists from 30 to 400 in the hotel’s three ballrooms. Up to 300 guests can sip cocktails and admire the skyline view at Rooftop 866, the chic rooftop bar adjacent to the hotel. Briza, the hotel’s signature restaurant, also can be reserved for private events seating up to 110 guests or 200 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvre. Call 678-412-2400.

Here’s a smashing gift idea! At Smashburger, receive $5 Smashbucks for every $25 gift card purchased through December 31. Smashbucks expire on January 31. There are three metro-Atlanta locations with a fourth opening in Kennesaw on November 30.

Go for a glamorous midday or evening event at the W Atlanta-Midtown Hotel’s Spice Market restaurant. Spice Market’s Pond Room, Trellis Room and main dining room are three options, and the entire restaurant space accommodates up to 200 for a seated dinner and 350 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvre. For private event information, contact Cristina Perry at 404-724-2550.

Atlanta’s trend-setting farm-to-table restaurant, Woodfire Grill, houses multiple private dining spaces from "The Mezzanine," seating 50 or divisible into three private rooms; “The Loft," a cozy upstairs hideaway for up to 16 people; and a covered patio where up to 75 guests can gather for cocktails or 30 can sit down for dinner. Call Rick Blumberg at 404-347-9055 for more information.

Diamonds Are Forever But Il Borro's Toscano Is Only For A Limited Time

If the name sounds familiar, it is. Salvatore Ferragamo, Il Borro Winery proprietor, is the grandson of the famed footwear designer Ferragamo. Lineage aside, this Ferragamo is all about the wines of Tuscany's Il Borro Winery and creating the newest private-label wine -- Forty-Six Diamonds Toscana 2009 -- for Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Il Borro premium wines have graced Fleming's reserve wine list for many years.

This year's limited-edition private-label wine represents a delicious collaboration between Ferragamo, Il Borro Winemaker Nicolò D'Afflitto and Fleming's Wine Director Maeve Pesquera. The Sangiovese for the blend comes from Politi Vineyard, which provides the ideal elevation, Pliocene lake soil and southwestern exposure to turn out Tuscany's famed grape. Taste the artistry and note the artwork of internationally renowned artist and wine aficionado Thomas Arvid on the wine labels and on Fleming's walls.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: 4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112

Sip a Skinny Stiletto for a Good Cause

We girls just love our stilettos. Well, we do for five minutes until our feet start hurting! But The Stiletto at Fleming's will make you want to linger. Not only is this a 99-calorie cocktail priced at $6 before 7 p.m. but one hundred percent of the proceeds from this drink goes to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Be sure to stop by and have one in October. After that, you might want to try the recipe below at home!

Fleming's is also recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month by partnering with Cline Cellars to raise funds for Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC). Cline Cashmere will be featured by the glass on Fleming's 5-6-7 menu thorough Monday, October 31. Silky smooth Cashmere tickles with big cherry, raspberry and chocolate notes with hints of cracked black pepper and plum. Always a charmer, pink ribbon wine charms from Cline will dress up Cashmere purchases while supplies last. Cline has contributed more than $200,000 to breast cancer foundations over the years; this year, they'll make a $25,000 donation to LBBC. Learn more on the winery's website.

The Stiletto

Prepared By Maeve Pesquera, Director of Wine

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1.25 oz. Hendrick's Gin

5 fresh blackberries

1 oz. Monin Sugar Free

0.5 oz. lime juice

As needed, top with diet ginger ale.

Directions:

Muddle blackberries with Monin Sugar Free. Add Hendrick's Gin. Shake. Strain and pour into martini glass. Top with diet ginger ale. Garnish with two blackberries on a black bar pick.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: 4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112.

Dionysian Delights Every Wednesday in September at Fleming's

What better way to make it past hump day and on to the weekend than by indulging in some savory sips of wine at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar! On every "Winesday" (translation Wednesday) in September, guests can delight in 25 percent off any bottle from the new Fleming's 100 and/or complimentary corkage of their own wine. The gift that keeps on giving, guests who take advantage of either of these offers will receive a special Fleming’s card good for 25 percent off any of the Fleming’s 100 bottles or for complimentary corkage on a future visit before December 30.

What's Cooking This Labor Day Weekend?

Do it. Face the weekend before it swallows you.  

Maybe you have big plans (that don't involve cooking), house guests (not the kind of catering you had in mind) or you'll be pulling back into town after holiday travel (please no more drive thru, and I can't deal with the groceries). 

Keep this open-on-Labor Day list of restaurants handy.  Tackling meal and party decisions suddenly became much less laborious!

·  Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna and Virginia Highland:  Late night note -- Atkins Park Virginia Highland stays open later, until 2:30 a.m., on Sunday due to the Monday holiday.

·  Briza: Farm-to-table Southern fare in a stylish setting for breakfast, lunch or dinner in the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel.

·  Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant:  Aye, Buckhead's favorite Irish pub always has sports on the screens, cold drinks and hearty fare.

·  Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: The Fleming's 100 wine list is on!

·  Marlow's Tavern:  Ideal meeting place for friends.  All eight locations will be open.

·  Ormsby's:  Come in on Sunday for Brews, chews and games until 2:30 a.m.

·  RA Sushi:  Cool off with $8 Summer Sips specialty drinks, sushi and Japanese fusion dishes. 

·  Smashburger:  Smashing time to try either the Buckhead or Johns Creek locations.

·  Spice Market:  In the W Atlanta-Midtown for exotic eats near at hand.

·  Truffles Grill:  Lunch, dinner and drinks located right across from Lenox Square.

Fleming's Uncorks a Month of Specials for Wine Enthusiasts

To celebrate the debut of this year’s Fleming’s 100 wine list, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering a variety of wine specials for the month of September. Come every week and you’ll work your way through the collection by September’s end! On Friday “Opening Nights” -- September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 -- Flemings will feature 20 different wines from the Fleming’s 100 list from 5:30 - 7 p.m. $25 per person covers wine samples and an exclusive preview of Fleming’s new Small Plates menu. Space is limited; call early to reserve your place.

On every “Winesday" (translation Wednesday) in September, guests can savor 25 percent off any bottle from the new Fleming’s 100 and/or complimentary corkage of their own wine. And guests who take advantage of either of these offers will receive a special Fleming’s card good for 25 percent off any Fleming’s 100 bottle or for complimentary corkage on a future visit before December 30.

Midway through the month, on Saturday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m., Fleming’s will host a five-course Silver Oak Wine Dinner with pairings for $125 per person (excludes tax and gratuity). Five wines from the “twin sister” wineries of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars will be poured, including a side-by-side vertical tasting of 2006 and 2007 vintages of the Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley. Here’s how the menu flows: passed hors d’oeuvre of roasted red pepper and arugula flatbread with goat cheese served with Twomey Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2010; tuna carpaccio with crispy capers, red onion, baby greens and Dijon vinaigrette paired with Twomey Merlot, Napa Valley, 2006; petite lamb chops with polenta fries, mint pistachio pesto and Fleming’s proprietary F-17 sauce served with Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2006; Newport Club ribeye with thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, sautéed mushrooms and bacon-shallot butter accompanied by a Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley vertical tasting of the 2006 and 2007 vintages. A truffle trio caps the evening in flavors of white chocolate-Meyer lemon, Valencia orange and dark chocolate-cabernet. Don’t let this remarkable evening escape -- make reservations today.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: 4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112.

It's Prime Time For Sunday Dinners

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is reviving the tradition of family and friends sitting down to Sunday dinner by offering its three-course prime rib dinner at a special lower price of $29.95 per guest every Sunday in July and August (price excludes tax and gratuity). The Sunday prime rib dinner includes 12 ounces of succulent prime rib served with a trio of sauces; a choice of The Wedge, Fleming's or Caesar salads; choice of one side dish; and a choice of dessert. Since Fleming's is doing all the work, there's no planning/cooking/cleaning to eat into those precious Sunday afternoon hours. Now that's a succulent thought!

Also, don't forget that Fleming's "Summer of Giving" continues tomorrow, July 15. Fleming's will donate 20 percent of the night's proceeds to Kate's Club. The "Summer of Giving" features wine and hors d'oeuvre pairings in the restaurant's private dining room and is from 6 - 8 p.m. at $25 per person. Fleming's also is giving a $25 gift card to "Summer of Giving" attendees to use at their next visit.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: 4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112.

Start Your Weekend with "Summer of Giving" at Fleming's

Charity budgets have taken a bite over the past few years with demand up and donations down.  Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is eager to help out and is hosting a series of fundraisers during their "Summer of Giving" series benefiting local charitable organizations.  Each event will feature wine and hors d'oeuvre pairings in the restaurant's private dining room.  Fleming's will donate 20 percent of each night's proceeds to the particular charity being recognized.  

The "Summer of Giving" begins this Friday, July 8, when the restaurant welcomes The Learning Tea, followed by Kate's Club (July 15), Atlanta Children's Shelter (July 22) and Camp Twin Lakes (August 5).  All events are from 6 - 8 p.m. and are $25 per person.  Call Fleming's at 770-698-8112 to purchase tickets. Fleming's also is giving a $25 gift card to "Summer of Giving" attendees to use at their next visit.

I Can't Wait To Be A Father Just To Have A Day!

Who wants to button that top collar, let alone knot up a tie on June's hot days? Better to treat dad to a memorable meal that brings the family together, gives him an opportunity to chef or surprises with top-grade grill fixings. Now that's how you tie one on Dad for Father's Day!

Dad can sink his teeth into the three-course Father's Day brunch menu offered at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar on June 19 from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The special menu is priced at $32.95 for adults (plus tax and gratuity) and a children's menu will also be available. Dads who mark the day at Fleming's will receive a $25 gift card! Reservations are strongly recommended. (4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112)

La Tavola Trattoria is celebrating Father's Day with an à la carte brunch menu filled with classic Italian offerings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The regular dinner menu will be served from 5 - 10 p.m. Call 404-873-5430 for reservations. (992 Virginia Avenue, NE)

Patriarchs of the grill will drool over steaks and grilling go-withs from New York Butcher Shoppe. Grill Master packages gather meats, sides -- and even woodchips and lump hardwood charcoal for an extra few bucks. The Americana packs up four burgers, hot dogs or NYBS bratwursts, buns and a choice of two sides for $19.99. BBQ-ers pine for the Pork Butt package that includes an eight-pound bone-in pork butt, one John Henry Rub and BBQ sauce of your choice ($29.99) or the Beef Brisket package with NYBS house brisket seasoning and BBQ sauce of your choice ($44.99). NYBS stocks family sides, wines and desserts to complete the feast. (Three locations in Alpharetta, Buckhead and Dunwoody.)

Ray's Restaurants invites you to take Dad to the river, creek or city for fabulous Father's Day brunch buffets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ray's on the River is offering a Father's Day brunch buffet priced at $34.95 for adults and $17.95 for children ages 5 to 10. (6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187) The Ray's at Killer Creek brunch buffet is priced at $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 5 to 10. (1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064) And downtown, Ray's in the City is offering a brunch buffet priced at $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 5 to 10. (240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224)

Both locations of South City Kitchen are celebrating Father's Day with a brunch menu full of Southern favorites. South City Kitchen Midtown is offering an à la carte brunch menu from 1 - 3 p.m., and South City Kitchen Vinings is offering a three-course prix-fixe brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. priced at $21 for adults and $10.50 for children under the age of 12 (plus tax and gratuity). In addition, South City Kitchen Vinings has a great gift for fathers and husbands: a grilling class on Saturday, June 25 at 11 a.m. with Chef de Cuisine Blake Wagner. Dads will learn how to master the grill with step-by-step, hands-on instructions. Attendees also will enjoy lunch and beer pairings throughout the lesson. Seats are limited, and tickets are available online for $45 plus service fee. (South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700. South City Kitchen Midtown: 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358.)

Dad's dream of becoming a chef can come true, even if for just one day, at Spice Market. Book a customizable "chef for a day" excursion for $150 plus an additional $48/person for dinner with a four-person maximum (excluding tax and gratuity). He'll spend five hours working different kitchen stations before preparing dinner for family or friends. Price includes a five-course meal paired with wine. Advance notice of 72 hours is required; not valid with other discounts, promotions or specials. (In the W Atlanta-Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550)

Get down to the grass roots of Father's Day by supplying Dad with grass-fed beef and other sustainably raised meats from White Oak Pastures. You can even buy jars of beef jerky and meat at the online store! Over 220 Publix stores now sell White Oak Pastures beef as do all metro-Atlanta Whole Foods Markets.

For dads who enjoy showing off their culinary skills in their own kitchens, the Atlanta Cooks at Home cookbook makes a perfect Father's Day gift. Top Atlanta chefs share their recipes and menus for home entertaining for every occasion. From Micah Willix's rack of lamb to Gerry Klaskala's lobster minestrone, dad will enjoy this cookbook from cover to cover for years to come. Atlanta Cooks at Home is available for purchase online for $34.95.

A Sch'Wheat Way to Kick Off Your Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend doesn't have to mean spending a fortune on filling up your gas tank to head down to the beach. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar welcomes the weekend with a culinary adventure that won't break the bank. The Perimeter restaurant is hosting a special SweetWater beer dinner on Friday, May 27 at 6 p.m. outdoors on its newly renovated patio. A SweetWater Brewing Company brewmaster will be there to share info on the night's beer pairings, starting with a round of SweetWater Sch'Wheat. The three-course dinner includes sweet chili calamari paired with SweetWater Blue; entrée choice of Fleming's Prime Burger or marinated chicken burger teamed up with SweetWater 420 and SweetWater IPA; and walnut turtle brownies alongside SweetWater Georgia Brown. Dinner also includes cucumber and tomato salad, coleslaw, potato salad and sweet corn on the cob served family style. Cost is $50 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Reserve your spot now by calling 770-698-8112.

Celiac Awareness Month

This month (May, already?!) is National Celiac Awareness Month and we are using it as the perfect excuse to try out some of the amazing restaurants offering gluten free options for those going gluten free as a result of celiac disease (CD), gluten sensitivities or testing the waters to see what gluten-free eating is all about.

Some of the options on our list to try include the wide array of choices at Fifth Group Restaurants and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.

Read more about these dining options here and check out some of our favorite bloggers posting articles on going gluten free and menu choices in Atlanta: Betsy at Gluten Freedom Atlanta; Jennifer, the writer for Gluten Free in Atlanta on examiner.com; Lauren at Gluten Free and Southern; Dr. Ginger Carter Miller at Gluten Free in Georgia . . . Finally and Tiffany at Delight Gluten Free Magazine.

Happy May!

Spring Brings New Things at Fleming’s

The season is already off to a great start at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Dunwoody. Last week, the restaurant opened its completely revamped patio giving guests more room for al fresco drinks and dining. The patio includes a new cover that shields guests from showers or too much sun, two televisions, new lighting and comfy furniture. Fleming's patio tastes as good as it looks: "5 for 6 'til 7" bar specials are available indoors and out from 5 - 7 p.m. each night. Each menu item is $6 until 7 p.m., including five cocktails, five wines by the glass and five full-portion appetizers such as tenderloin carpaccio, seared ahi tuna, sweet chili calamari, roasted mushroom ravioli and Fleming's prime burger. New "5 for 6 'til 7" drink specials include the 99-calorie Tickled Pink cocktail, Mionetto Prosecco and two bottles of Guinness Draught.

When you come to Fleming's to try out the new patio, be sure to ask about their new chef's prix fixe menu, available starting today. The three-course, $39.95 menu will change weekly.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: 4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112.

Get your calendars and phones ready, it’s Prom time!

You’ve got everything—the dress picked out, hair appointments scheduled, and your date, so what’s next? Dinner at one of these perfect Prom eateries! All meals include tax, gratuity, and tea or fountain drinks.

Ray’s on the River starts with a choice of mixed field green or classic Caesar salad and offers five entrees accompanied by whipped potatoes and seasonal veggies at three price points: Gulf shrimp scampi ($35), grilled chicken breast ($35), garlic and herb roasted prime rib ($45), broiled or fried cold water lobster tail ($45) or charbroiled filet mignon ($50). Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta has the same menu, except fried shrimp and French fries instead of the shrimp scampi. Desserts can be ordered for an additional charge. Make sure you call the restaurant to make reservations. (Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187. Ray's at Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.)

In Buckhead, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is the place to be on prom night. The three-course prom menu ($45 per person) begins with a choice of field greens salad or Davio’s classic Caesar salad; the pan-seared organic salmon, free-range Statler chicken breast or slow-braised beef short rib for the entrée; and Davio’s classic tiramisu or warm chocolate cake for dessert. For prom party reservations, contact Davio’s Sales Manager Kellie Douzuk at 678-500-1054. (Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810)

If you’ve got a prom party of eight or more, come to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar to take advantage of the three-course menu for $99 per couple. The menu includes Fleming’s salad for the first course; filet mignon, barbecue Scottish salmon filet or double chicken breast with thyme sauce for the second course; and crème brûlée for dessert. Parmesan peppercorn mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus are served on the side with the meals. To make a reservation, contact Fleming’s Private Dining Director Jenny Whyte at 770-698-8112. (4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112)

You Can Find Me On The Patio... It's Almost Spring!

Spring is finally here after a cold and wet winter.  Kiss cabin fever goodbye and take to these fabulous patios at our fair city's restaurants.  Use our GPS -- Great Patio Sensor -- to find your way!   

Upstairs or downstairs, Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food in Sandy Springs has a double dose of fresh air with upper- and lower-level patios overlooking Peachtree Dunwoody Road.  

The huge patio fronting Uncle Julio's in Buckhead sweeps a vista of Atlanta's longest landmark, Peachtree Road.  Add margaritas, chips and guac and paradise is found. 

See what's new in patios when Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Perimeter Place Village opens their newly revamped patio this Sunday, March 20.  Fleming's is easy to get to, just off Ashford Dunwoody Road and across from the Dillard's end of Perimeter Mall.   

Aqua blue's patio is crisply set with white tablecloths and dashes of blue glassware.  A metal roof covers the expanse so guests can dine or drink outside even during spring showers.  What an ideal spot to dig into Aqua blue's Crabfest this spring!   

Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna is another restaurant that's recently performed patio spring cleaning and renovations.  Settle in for a drink and some chow and be inspired to tackle your own spring tasks.  Ultra-efficient types, kick back and toast your innate efficiency.   

RA Sushi's spacious patio throws a curve, curling around the building's exterior and giving so many sidewalk views! Actually, the patio is on the sidewalk -- distinguished by a low railing, heaters, subdued lighting, umbrella-topped tables and RA Sushi's wild and crazy drinks and delectable sushi and sashimi rolls.   

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse has patio expansion plans in the works.  Located in Buckhead's fashionable Phipps Plaza, this one's a must for people watching, shopping breaks and popping over after work.