These Men Are Hot: Camp Kudzu’s The IRONing Man Competition Features Food from The Federal

The IRONing Man Competition rivals the Olympics for sports viewing this month. The fifth-annual fundraiser for Camp Kudzu involves male volunteers who press on through the day, offering to iron clothing and table linens from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, to provide scholarships for Georgia’s Type 1 diabetic children to attend overnight or day camp. There’s no charge for ironing your items; however, donations are encouraged and gratefully accepted for getting the wrinkles out of your life. While it’s full steam ahead for this year’s competition at 1010 Midtown Condominiums, 60 11^th St. Residences and Windsor Midtown, Camp Kudzu supporters also can help out by dining at The Federal on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10. For $80 per person (excludes tax, tip, alcohol), guests can enjoy a special four-course IRONing Man menu featuring an amuse of Swedish gravlax and black bread; soup du jour or salad vinaigrette; entrée choice of eight-ounce Iowa premium filet with mustard greens and foie gras sauce or cedar-planked salmon with violet mustard, garlic, bacon, scallion and soft polenta; and a dessert choice of sticky toffee pudding or Key lime tart with coconut espuma (coconut foam). The Federal will donate 10 percent of IRONing Man menu proceeds to Camp Kudzu. Look sharp, eat well and send kids to Camp Kudzu at this pressing engagement.

Dabble in Arts and Eats with The Federal and Bantam + Biddy at Art Crush Auction Feb. 3

 

Brush up on art appreciation and acquisitions at Art Crush, Atlanta’s most irreverent art auction. The galleries of ADAC frame this fun-filled event that begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. Bid on artwork by emerging and established artists from Atlanta and around the South as well as an exciting array of unique, artist-driven experiences. Bring your smartphone for mobile bidding -- which eats less time than hovering over bid sheets -- freeing more time to socialize, view masterpieces and conversation pieces, and indulge in artful bites provided by host committee participants The Federal and Bantam + Biddy. Buy tickets online; general admission is $50 per person or choose one of the VIP table host opportunities. BURNAWAY’s Art Crush Auction supports the Atlanta-based nonprofit organization’s mission to provide arts coverage and foster new voices for the arts in Atlanta and the South, including the online art publication Atlanta Art Guide, the Art Writers Mentorship program, and its Teen Art Writing program. Who knows? You might go home with art from an up-and-coming Picasso!

Appetizing Aperture

The Federal’s oxtail French onion soup ($10) is back! Chef Shaun Doty’s soul-nurturing soup was so popular last year it’s coming around again to warm up cooler days and nights. Spoon into the luscious, melted cave-aged Gruyere cheese and savor the rich broth reward below.

The Federal Locks into Atlanta Magazine “Best New Restaurant” List

Atlanta magazine’s 2017 list of “Best New Restaurants” is out, and The Federal lands smack dab in the center of the short list. Midtown’s European brasserie offers a respite from the concrete and chrome corporate jungle to a place where antique mirrors and tufted leather banquettes encourage lingering and savoring the morning-to-night menu and hand-cut steaks cooked in cast iron. Chef/owners Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere are longtime friends and collaborators who both hail from Stillwater, Oklahoma. Pork schnitzel, pounded thin and fried, is joined by marinated onions, peanuts and Italian parsley and is a “must-order” at this “all-around excellent expression of a bistro in a part of town that needs it.”

Support Your Local Pastured Birds and Restaurants during Pastured Poultry Week July 24-30

Pastured Poultry Week, July 24-30, roosts at the top of the pecking order as far as chicken chowing (and chowing down on chicken) goes. Who wants to be cooped up when there’s a world to explore and taste? You certainly don’t and neither do these happy birds. These slower-growing breeds have continuous daytime access to outdoor pastures for at least half their lifetimes (extreme weather exception), shelters for safety and pre-slaughter stunning. During Pastured Poultry Week, savor their superior flavor in special dishes featuring pastured poultry at Aria, The Federal, Gunshow, Revival and Seed Kitchen & Bar.

The Federal Tops “The Atlantan’s” List of Exciting New Restaurants

The Federal, chef Shaun Doty’s French-inspired bistro, sits in the shadow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and perches in the top spot of “The Atlantan” magazine’s list of the “10 Most Exciting Openings in Atlanta.” The magazine snippet and digital synopsis tease appetites, mentioning The Federal’s antipasto made with Iowa prosciutto, mozzarella, Ligurian olives, deviled egg, duck, ham and fresh ricottas as well as the classic 14-ounce dry-aged Kansas City strip cooked in cast iron and topped with your choice of sauce, loup de mar served with farinata (chickpea pancake), and steak frites. Exercise the freedom to choose what time of day you want to visit The Federal. The Midtown bistro serves weekday breakfast and lunch, dinner Tuesday-Sunday and weekend brunch.

Raise a Glass to Freedom at The Federal and Make It Belgian Chimay, On Tap in July

One month, two countries, three ales. Common threads? Toasting freedom with Chimay ales during July at The Federal. In honor of our nation’s Independence Day and Belgian National Day (July 21), the Midtown bistro is serving draft selections of red, white and blue brews from Chimay Brewery. The authentic Trappist ales from Belgium are brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monastic community. On tap throughout July: Première Red ($10), the oldest of the Chimays, a coppery, fruity dark ale (7% ABV); Cinq Cents White ($13), a golden ale balancing mellow and bitter qualities (8% ABV); and Grand Réserve Blue ($15), a limited-release dark ale with a powerful aroma and complex flavor (10.5% ABV). Enjoy a Chimay and keep the Chimay glass as part of The Federal’s “Enjoy a glass, keep a glass” promotion (one glass per guest with purchase, while supplies last). Come celebrate during lunch, Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. or dinner, served Tuesday-Sunday beginning at 5 p.m.

A.C., ice cream and even that frosty artisanal beer pale in comparison to dear old (or young) Dad, the ultimate king of cool. Cool Dads Rock will recognize dads making an impact in different industries and communities at the third annual Cool Dads Rock Awards Gala & Fundraiser on Sunday, June 25 at the Georgia State University Ballroom. Chef and restaurateur Shaun Doty (The Federal, Bantam + Biddy and Chick-A-Biddy) is one of this year’s honorees. The pre-ball VIP Award Gathering is by invitation only. Cool Dads Rock invites you to join them for the big night that follows, packed with a silent auction, dining, awards and a ball with live entertainment by Quinn and Jukebox. Buy tickets for this black-tie event individually ($78) or purchase a table ($500).

Chillax with a Jolt, $3 Shaken Cold-Brew Coffees at The Federal

Want to give summer heat the jitters? Chefs Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere are on it. The Federal, their Midtown Atlanta bistro, conquers hot Atlanta days with ice-cold caffeinated blasts to subdue summer’s sizzle. Cool down and rev up with $3 shaken cold-brew coffees during breakfast and lunch service (8 a.m.-2 p.m.) throughout the month of June. Icy, shaken specialties feature Batdorf & Bronson’s Dancing Goats blend and include iced coffee (cold brew over ice); Café Sua Da (cold brew with sweetened condensed milk); The Wilson (cold brew with coconut milk, palm sugar and lime); and Café Cielo (cold brew with sorghum cinnamon and vanilla).   

Grab Early Dibs on Rare Treat, 50-Day Dry-Aged Manhattan Strip at The Federal

Acclaimed Atlanta chefs Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere at The Federal in Midtown share a soft spot for their carnivore customers. The two gents are working with Buckhead Beef to dry age their 16-ounce certified Black Angus steaks for an unheard-of 50 days. Now, The Federal is able to offer dinner guests an opportunity to taste 50-day, dry-aged Manhattan strip steak ($68), a premium lean cut known for its marbling, tenderness and flavor. Quantities are extremely limited. “Most restaurants dry age their beef for an average of 28 days. Our 50-day dry-aged steaks are going to have even more intense flavor and offer a rare treat for steak connoisseurs,” says Doty. To slice into this exquisite, butter knife-tender steak, make reservations via OpenTable. Two-hour validated parking is available next to the restaurant in the 1010 Midtown Parking deck, and additional paid parking is on Crescent Avenue. Valet parking is offered at the corner of 11^th and Crescent Avenue Thursday through Saturday. For additional information, call 404-343-3857.

The Federal, Aria, Kevin Gillespie are James Beard Foundation 2017 Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists

News flash! The James Beard Foundation (JBF) has announced the 2017 semifinalists for its prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards. Yes, we have to brag on several from our own town: 

Best New Restaurant -- The FederalOutstanding Service -- AriaBest Chef: Southeast -- Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow
What’s next? JBF will announce the final Restaurant and Chef Award nominees on Wednesday, Mar. 15 and post the names in real time on Facebook Live and Twitter. The 2017 James Beard Awards Gala will take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 1.

Lean In to Lent with Seafood and Vegetarian Specialties

When Mardi Gras’ excess and fast times roll out, Lenten simplicity and fasting wash in. Atlanta restaurants have their ways with seafood and vegetarian dishes to help Lenten diners stay dedicated all the way to Easter dinner (but that’s another story).
 In Town5Church Atlanta pleases with Midtown lunch and dinner options such as appetizers of ahi tuna poke, charred octopus or butternut squash agnolotti. Lenten lunchers can bite into a crispy beet burger while the dinner crowd can savor a hearth-roasted whole fish. For dessert, save room for the Triple Scoop. Those forgoing meat for Lent can indulge on an elegant dinner of butter-braised lobster with truffle potatoes and broccoli mousseline presented with impeccable service at Aria in Buckhead. At Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, catch cornbread-crusted Georgia trout, mashed potatoes, green beans and bourbon brown butter apples on the lunch and dinner menus. Weekend brunch throws in fried green tomato Benedict and a vegetarian skillet. Bank on The Federal in Midtown for a satiating lunch or dinner appetizer of chopped chicken liver, toast and cornichons. Midday, make the main thing a veggie grilled sandwich. Come dinnertime, latch onto whole loup de mer with chickpea pancake, fennel, olives, saffron yogurt and bee pollen. Mom would be proud of the HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern Super Food Plate, assembling a very veggie family of Mother Nature salad, fried green tomatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables for a Midtown dinner. Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila heats up lots of Lenten “Ole!” in Brookhaven with seafood tacos filled with crispy calamari or “Baja fish” with slaw, pico de gallo, guac and serrano tartar sauce; Margarita shrimp tacos with green chili grits, cotija and picante and more. Order a couple of the same or go crazy and order a basket of several varieties.
On Atlanta’s Westside, harvest a veggie bowl at Ormsby's for the garden goodness of butternut squash risotto, asparagus, roasted red peppers and beurre blanc. Lenten diners can stay the course at Revival in Decatur where they’ll find dinner dishes such as local kale salad with apples, charred onion, artisan cheese and boiled dressing and savory Sunday brunch specialties such as cornmeal fried catfish served with smoked cheddar grits, milk gravy and hot sauce or a French-style omelette with soft herb cheese and roasted mushroom jus. OTPIn East Cobb, a stop at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at the Avenue East Cobb nets oysters from North American waters and at the Raw Bar, wood-roasted octopus as a starter and those luscious lobster rolls. Stop in for lunch or dinner or a relaxing Sunday brunch. At Seed Kitchen & Bar, white corn grit fritters with jalapeño pepper jelly and Thomasville tome spice up Lenten lunches and dinners. Bay of Fundy salmon with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, melted leeks and truffle vinaigrette fills the bill come dinnertime. At neighboring Stem Wine Bar, choose non-meat small plates like Gulf shrimp al ajillo with garlic, chili, parsley, lemon and extra virgin olive oil and Spanish octopus braised in red wine with fava beans, Fresno chili and spring onion vinaigrette. Multiple LocationsMarlow’s Tavern offers seafood selections to please any appetite including “AB Style” Firecracker Shrimp with Tempura Fried Shrimp, Red Bell Peppers, Pepperoncini, Sweet Chili and Cracklin’ Spicy Sauce and Crispy Pan Roasted Rainbow Trout, with Sauteed Farro, Tiny Green Beans, Parsnip, Buerre Blanc and Apple Shallot Gastrique. Items available at all locations.
Willy’s Mexicana Grill wraps up burritos to please, and tofu steps in perfectly when meat is off your list for Lent. Or, ask for Willy’s salad topped with black beans, pico de gallo, black olives, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and jack cheese. All locations. While fish fries are popular on Fridays during Lent, Taco Mac locations turn out beer-battered fish tacos daily that are plump with SweetWater 420 beer-battered North Atlantic cod, ancho chili aioli, house-made slaw and mango pico de gallo. Is that much fun allowed in a meal?

Songs for Kids Foundation Food + Music Festival Chefs and Musicians Feed, Engage, Inspire and Entertain on Feb. 25

Spend the afternoon, evening or both at the Songs for Kids Foundation Food + Music Festival on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Park Tavern, adjacent to Piedmont Park. Singing and supping prevail from 1-5 p.m. when guests can sing praises over food and drink tastings from more than 25 top Atlanta chefs including Shaun Doty of The Federal, Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward and Revival executive sous chef Rémi Granger. Entertainment flows as well through live celebrations of hits from artists like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen, performances by SFK artists and kids from hospital programs, special kids activity zones, and silent and live auctions offering everything from private chef dining experiences to vacations, concerts, spa packages and sports memorabilia. Rock on into the night when Shaky Knees Festival presents an evening concert lineup featuring David Shaw plus Matt Myers of Houndmouth and Friends & Family. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. Park Tavern concert. Pick the Xorbia ticket option that works for you: daytime food festival ($45 adults/$10 ages 16 and under), evening concert (all ages, $25 per person in advance/$30 at door) or combo ($65 adults/$35 ages 16 and under).
 Songs For Kids Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2007 with a mission to enrich the lives of children suffering from illness and hardship. SFK integrates musicians, year round, into the lives of kids inside and outside of children’s hospitals and special needs camps through live interactive concerts, hospital bedside performances and the Songs For Kids Records songwriting and recording program

Appetizing Aperture

Valentine’s Day addresses the “dears” of our lives. The Federal in Midtown handles the deer. Succulent West Texas venison is masterful in its own right, joined by cheese pierogi, red cabbage, sour cherries and leek ash butter ($38). It’s magnificent.

Appetizing Aperture: The Federal's Oxtail French Onion Soup

Spoon dive into a bowl of piping hot oxtail French onion soup($10) at The Federal, Shaun Doty’s newest Midtown restaurant. Your reward? Bone-thawing, soul nourishing rich broth and luscious, melted cave-aged Gruyere cheese. Chills don’t have a chance.

The Federal Now Serves Weekday Breakfast, Lunch and Weekend Brunch

Add The Federal, Shaun Doty’s new Midtown restaurant, to your stomping grounds for weekday breakfast, offered from 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30-2 p.m. Rev up morning meetings over bowls of steel cut oats; organic yogurt with walnuts, dried fruits and chia seed sour cherry jam; protein scramble with a choice of cheddar or goat cheese, roast chicken and fresh fruit; chicken and waffles with bourbon-barrel vanilla butter and Steen’s cane syrup; and avocado toast with smoked trout, soft-boiled egg and sunflower sprouts. Powerfully hungry? Go for the three-egg brisket skillet or a big ol’ Texas breakfast of steak, three eggs and thick sliced toast. Lunchers can build a meal of starters such as Sardinian flatbread, chopped chicken liver on toast, oxtail French onion soup with Gruyere cheese and deviled eggs with bourbon-smoked paprika. Lunch entrées include blue crabcake; steak frites with sunflower sprout salad; and smoked trout with Anson Mill grits, turnips, greens and Patak bacon butter. Choose a hearty steak salad with hen mushrooms, Asher blue cheese and confit tomato or opt for a more simple salad with mustard vinaigrette. Sandwich selections include The Federal burger, veggie, fried chicken, Iowa prosciutto and tenderloin steak and are served with a choice of potato salad, Napa slaw or fries. Roast pork or roast beef brisket sandwiches with topping choices of cheese, broccoli raab with garlic pickles, pickled banana peppers and roasted bell peppers are offered from 11:30 a.m. until the meat’s all gone.

Weekend brunch joins the picture from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. starting Saturday, Dec. 10. Sip a bloody mary verde, spiked sweet iced tea, peach Bellini, grapefruit margarita, fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice or a fresh-pressed juice of the day while contemplating chow. Perhaps you’ll share a big plate of seasonal fruits, fresh ricotta toast and beignets with café au lait sauce. Big day? Fill your tank with aforementioned winners such as steel cut oats, chicken and waffles, avocado or chopped chicken liver toast, fried chicken biscuits, brisket skillet or the protein-packed Southern or Texas breakfasts. Don’t forget about evenings…do dinner at The Federal Tuesday through Sunday; the staff has Monday nights off.

The Federal Now Open. Shaun Doty’s Restaurant Graces Midtown as New Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Destination

Acclaimed chef Shaun Doty returns to his roots with the opening of The Federal, his new restaurant at 1050 Crescent Avenue in Midtown. Those roots tap into his travels, growth as a chef and connecting with guests to develop lasting rapport. Doty’s appetizing “souvenirs of life” influence the traditional menu -- steak frites alluding to years in Belgium and chopped liver reminiscent of Katz’s Delicatessen, a favorite NYC haunt. Dinner service begins tonight at The Federal. Additionally, the coffee crowd can now grab weekday jolts of java and such at the coffee bar from 7:30-11 a.m. Breakfast and lunch are on the agenda – stay tuned for start dates. What’s in a name? The Federal takes its name from the nearby, architecturally grand Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Lance Gummere joins Doty in the new venture. The chef duo share roots, having worked side-by-side at Mumbo Jumbo and founding Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy together.