Who Let the Tomatoes Out of Their Cages?

When Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival takes command of Westside Provision District on Sunday, July 19, “JCT” in JCT. Kitchen & Bar could become an acronym for “Just Consume Tomatoes.” Dozens of Atlanta chefs and mixologists woo guests with an arsenal of tomato-ey bites and shooters while live bands jam. Restaurateur Ford Fry oversees the seventh annual fundraiser for Georgia Organics and The Giving Kitchen. Squeeze out juicy details on our blog and pluck tickets from the vine here. 

Willy’s Mexicana Grill is Hot on the Heels of Salsa, Salsa for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta July 15

Salsa, Salsa for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) peppers Piedmont Park’s Magnolia Hall with salsa eats and beats for fun and fitness from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. Young chefs representing various BGCMA will offer their healthy salsa creations for sampling and judging. Some recipes use ingredients raised in Boys & Girls Club gardens. While judges deliberate, professional salsa dancers show how it’s done then call everyone out onto the dance floor for some fancy footwork lessons. Event sponsor Willy’s Mexicana Grill provides burritos and chow to refuel bodies in motion, and Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders toss their own blend of pep into the celebration. Before leaving, guests will know who dominates the dance floor and which BGCMA salsa creation wins a spot on a Willy’s salsa bar for a day. Attendance is limited; click here to RSVP. 

Fun Indian Street Food and a Mumbai Mule Await at Masti

Ricky Walia, chef/owner of new Masti in Toco Hills Promenade, ate his way through the streets of Mumbai, New Delhi, Punjab and Nepal, all in the name of research, of course. The result is Masti, Hindi for “fun.” The casual spot for South Indian street food and favorites like butter chicken tacos, Nepalese momo steamed dumplings, paneer bhurji in toasted hot dog buns, a.k.a. “Paneer Dogs,” fish wraps in roti, spiced keema burgers of beef and veal with Masti sauce and fries, and Masti masala pasta topped with rogan josh, tikka masala or Alfredo korma sauce ($8.99-$12.99). Order a traditional, family style thali to taste a variety of Indian dishes, available for lunch ($9.99) and dinner ($14.99). Eliciting grins: cocktails such as the Masti Girl, Mumbai Mule and Ghandi Gimlet as well as craft beer and wines; and sharing Masti Queen, spiced chai and other hookah flavors with friends in the patio hookah bar ($19). Lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Keen korma karma, found. Information: 470-236-2784.

Wine, Food & Fun at Fundraising Event to Benefit Michael Bryan

We often take our legs and feet for granted...until a prosthesis-clad Peachtree Road Race runner bounds past, giving us at least 5K to mull over how much they've endured and persevered. Since being diagnosed with stage 3 pleomorphic sarcoma cancer in 2012, Michael Bryan has persevered through chemo, radiation, surgery, months of rehabilitation, the removal of his left leg at the hip, the addition of a prosthetic leg in its stead plus more rehab and therapy. Medical expenses have piled up beyond insurance allowances for Michael and wife Lelia, who had opened Vino Venue three weeks before the diagnosis. Vino Venue/The Atlanta Wine School, Flavors magazine and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine are collaborating to help out by hosting a Friends of Michael Bryan FUNdraising benefit, and The Giving Kitchen is providing a matching grant. Block out the hours of 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, February 8 to hang out at Vino Venue in the Georgetown Shopping Center located off I-285 at Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. Top chefs collaborate in the wine school's kitchen, and guests will savor a contrast of sushi and Brazilian "low 'n slow" charcoal-grilled meats along with fine wines and craft beers. A silent auction, raffle and bottle pull play out over the course of the afternoon. Buy tickets online, $75 per person.

This Little Piggie is Going to Open Streets DeKalb and Ink & Elm for a Pig Roast, Craft Beers and Cocktails on September 21

                                      Credit: Chris Watkins

For a few hours on Sunday, September 21, you'll be able to reclaim the busy streets and embrace your inner pedestrian. At Open Streets DeKalb, experience street performers, music and of course, fun in Emory Village from 3 - 7 p.m. All this walking will surely make you hungry, Ink & Elm will be roasting a whole pig to satisfy your taste buds! Wash the pork down with ice-cold craft beers and bourbon cocktails. If all that walking has worn you out, pull up a seat in the main dining room.