Culinary Caper: Double Zero Napoletana and The Iberian Pig Swap Restaurants on April Fools' Day

Looking for the perfect prank to pull on April Fools' Day? Bring your friends and family to Double Zero Napoletana or The Iberian Pig for dinner fun on Sunday, April 1, and watch their confusion quickly turn into delight. The Castellucci Hospitality Group restaurants are offering some of the other restaurant's most popular dishes and drinks, as well as their own dinner menu. The Sandy Springs restaurant and the Decatur restaurant are even swapping their kitchen staffs to pull off this culinary caper.

Some of The Iberian Pig items on the special swap menu at Double Zero Napoletana include pork cheek tacos, handmade veal shank ravioli and sweet churros. Drinks heading north are The Iberian Old Fashioned and a selection of Spanish wines.

Going to Decatur from Double Zero Napoletana are lobster pappardelle, lamb polpettine and Margherita pizza. Also visiting The Iberian Pig will be Double Zero chocolate cake, barrel-aged Negroni and a selection of Southern Italian wines. For full menu details on the swap, visit Facebook. April Fool's Day dinner hours are 5 - 9 p.m. at The Iberian Pig and 5 - 10 p.m. at Double Zero Napoletana.

Run (Or Walk!) to Local Restaurants to Help End Hunger

Help kick hunger by walking or running in the 2012 Hunger Walk/Run on Sunday, March 11, or top off your tab with a donation to the cause when dining at Aqua blue, Aria, Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Marlow's Tavernand No. 246 through March 11. Fifth Group Restaurants are not going to be left in anyone's dust -- they're also in the middle of fundraising for the event. For the past three years "running," Fifth Group has been the Hunger Walk/Run's top corporate fundraiser, thanks to loyal and passionate patrons and staff members. This year the group -- including Alma Cocina, Ecco, South City KitchenMidtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, The Original El Taco and La Tavola Trattoria -- has set a goal of raising $25,000. Join in the event that takes place from noon until 4 p.m. this Sunday at the Turner Field green lot. While participants come from all walks of life, fitness levels, socio-economic levels and faiths, they all share a desire to prevent hunger. In 1984, the first Hunger Walk/Run garnered $30,000. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 toward beating local and global hunger through six benefiting partners:  Action Ministries United Methodists, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Episcopal Charities Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Lutheran Services of Georgia and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Never Fear, Double Zero Is Here To Save The Holidays

Are you still searching for the perfect gift for the holidays? You're in luck then, gift cards are now available online at Double Zero Napoletana and all Castellucci Hospitality Group's restaurant websites. When you buy a gift card online for $100, you will receive a free gift card for $20 to spend however you see fit. Gift cards can be used at any of their restaurants (Double Zero, Sugo, The Iberian Pig). In order to receive the free offer, the purchase must be made online.

To redeem this special offer simply type CHG FAMILY into the Personal Message field at checkout.

Double Zero: 5825 Roswell Rd, 30328; 404-991-3666

You'll "Like" This Offer from Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig & Sugo

There's already a lot to "like" about the food, drinks and ambiance at Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig and Sugo, and now we have one more reason to love them! When new fans "like" the Facebook pages of Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig or Sugo, they will receive a $10 gift certificate to use toward their next bill at any one of these Castellucci Hospitality Group (CHG) restaurants. 

If you're already a CHG fan, hit the "Special Fan Offer" tab to claim your gift. Certificates expire on December 31 so go ahead and plan on connecting with friends for small plates and drinks or enjoying a post-holiday shopping dinner out.

Treat Yourself To Halloween Debauchery This Weekend!

Ready to haunt the streets of this city? It's all treats and no tricks when it comes to finding something fun to do in Atlanta this Halloween!

All three Smashburger locations are featuring a special Halloween deal for children under age 12. If they wear their Halloween costume to Smashburger on Friday, October 28 through Monday, October 31, they'll be treated to a free meal when their parent purchases a meal.

Get two for one at Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna on Saturday, October 29 when they host both the Smyrna Beer Fest and their own 9th annual Halloween celebration. From 1 - 6 p.m., there will be more than 100 beers to sample, live music, costume and pumpkin carving contests, bobbing for apples and more. The Halloween celebration kicks in from 10:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m. with a live DJ in the bar, more costume contests and other Halloween-inspired activities and decorations.

Over in Virginia Highland, Atkins Park Tavern kicks off Halloween with their annual pumpkin carving contest on Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. Join friends for a night of pumpkin carving, beer drinking, scary movie watching on the big screen and a chance to win great house prizes. On Saturday, October 29, DJ Lion spins tunes beginning at 9 p.m. followed by the Tavern's annual costume contest at the witching hour. And on Monday, October 31, get ready for the Halloween Hangover when Atkins Park serves up a trio including the "Rocky Horror Picture Show," Terrapin Big Happy Monster and Monday Night Football.

Dig those skeletons out of the closet and party your bones off at your nearest Marlow's Tavern on Saturday, October 29. All eight locations are hosting Halloween shindigs from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. There's no cover charge to attend, but you definitely want to come up with a costume -- you might win cash, gift certificates or other prizes. Music? You bet your bones there's a DJ or live music, depending on the location.

At Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant, the "Thriller Monster Bash: A Retro 80s Halloween Party" brings the 80s to life on Saturday, October 29. A spooky holiday and a kooky decade (fashion-wise) go together like tricks and treats when Fadó gets tricked out in full Halloween décor for the spooktacular event. Specialty cocktails come at a $5 treat of a price, and a DJ spins 80s tunes from 9 p.m. into the wicked wee hours. Why be shy about dressing up? Costumes are expected, and all are encouraged to enter the midnight costume contest for a chance to take home $1,001 in cash. There's a $5 cover charge for the 9 p.m. bash, although ladies get in free.

Aqua blue dresses up as "Aqua Boo!" for their 10th annual Halloween Monster Bash on Saturday, October 29. So what are you going to wear? Decisions, decisions! Do you go all out or do your best to be the worst for the 11 p.m. costume contest? Dressed up or down, you can still imbibe in specially priced creepy cocktails and gobble up ghoulish appetizers. The regular á la carte menu is available from 4 p.m. on into the witching hours. A DJ spins dance hits starting at 9 p.m.

RA Sushi doles out Boo Bites and Potent Potions at their Halloween night "Boo Bash 2011" on Monday, October 31. The fun starts at 8 p.m. as the DJ spins his haunting mix and thrills guests until closing. Dress up and enter the "Boo Bash" costume contest. Read up and RSVP on Facebook.

The Iberian Pig is a true party animal this Halloween night, lining up Decatur restaurants and bars for a Halloween Pub Crawl at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31. The cost is $45 per person, which covers one featured drink at each stop. Look for a smoking punchbowl at the Iberian Pig along with snacks. Wear a costume and take part in the Brickstore's annual costume contest (hint, prizes) at tour's end. Other participating restaurants and bars include Square Pub, Mac McGee's, Eddie's Attic and Leon's Full Service.

For those in Marietta, Cumming and Suwanee, kids eat free at all four Chepe's locations on Halloween! Kids in costume on Monday, October 31, will receive one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree.

Visit The Dish for more Halloween details.

Taste of Atlanta Returns and The Big Grill Premiers: It's a Foodie Weekend You Won't Want to Miss!

The age old dilemma of wanting to order everything on the menu is solved, at least temporarily, with Taste of Atlanta this weekend, a foodie’s heaven on earth. Those friends who always "just want a taste" of whatever you ordered will love Taste of Atlanta and so will you. The city’s biggest sampling bacchanalia kicks off its 10th anniversary celebration with The Big Grill - A Midtown Block Party in Tech Square on Friday, October 21 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. (VIP entry 6:30 p.m.). Birthday cake, beer and some of the best bites in the ATL rock this party benefiting Georgia Organics. Among the stellar chefs at the grill gig are Andrew Smith of Atkins Park and Ormsby's, Todd Annis of Bold American Events & Catering, Janine Falvo of Briza, Joshua Warner of Ray's on the River, Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar and Drew Belline of No. 246. Tickets are $50 each for general admission and $65 each for VIP early entry.

The Taste of Atlanta eat-a-palooza begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23, and keeps on dishing it out until 6 p.m. both evenings, so pace yourself for a full afternoon of food sampling paradise. More than 80 of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants will be represented including Atkins Park, Briza, Double Zero Napoletana, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Iberian Pig, No. 246, Ormsby's and Ray's on the River.

On the Home Plate Main Stage on Saturday, Chef Janine Falvo from Briza will whip up chicken pot pie and red kuri squash soup at 12 p.m. Chefs Drew Belline (No. 246) and Ford Fry (JCT. Kitchen & Bar) will be leading a "Simply Southern Thanksgiving" class with Angie Mosier of the Southern Foodways Alliance inside the Food Studio at 4 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday at 4:00 p.m., they'll take on Rosebud's Ron Eyester and Nick Melvin in the Team Chef Challenge, an "Iron Chef"-style competition, on the Home Plate Main Stage. Also on Sunday, Iberian Pig Chef Chad Crete will prepare farro risotto, roasted delicata squash, piquillo-hazelnut Romesco and fall vegetable sauté on the Global Flavors stage at 2:15 p.m. And Andrew Smith from Atkins Park and Ormsby's battles it out against Food 101's Justin Keith in the Dueling Chefs event at 1:15 p.m. Don’t fret mom and dad, there’s something for the kids too! Even picky eaters will devour Taste of Atlanta -- the Family Food Zone loads up on food-focused crafts, educational demos and kid chef competitions!

Snap up your tickets early for this wristband-access, gated event. Buy a general admission ticket voucher with 10 taste coupons for $25 in advance online or at The Cook's Warehouse stores or Whole Foods. "Day of" gate price is $35 each.

Pig Out at The Iberian Pig's Two Year Anniversary Celebration

They say pigs can’t fly, but The Iberian Pig has certainly soared to the top of the Decatur restaurant scene since it was opened by the Castellucci restaurant family two years ago. In honor of two years in business, The Iberian Pig is inviting Decatur residents and visitors to partake in their two-year anniversary and appreciation celebration beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 26th.

Tune into your Latin side with live music by a Spanish trio and Tyson Bittrich and take in the artistic work of Hense as he unveils his new mural at 7 p.m. Enjoy food and drink specials all night like $3 Sherry Cañas -- a small Spanish snack and sherry; $6 glasses of sangria, cava and craft cocktails; and $5 "Haute" dogs. Suckling pigs will be slow roasted all day and carved in the dining room as tapas ($10). Call ahead if you want to reserve one solely for your table; $280 covers pig, salad and sides for 8-12 people and a bottle of wine.

Chefs will cut into Jamon Iberico de Bellota, aged for 48 months and procured when the bistro opened two years ago; it's the rarest and highest quality Jamon Iberico available! Try some at $18 per ounce. Experience the true flavor of Spain, paella, served for the first time at The Iberian Pig and priced at $16 for two and $32 for 4 people. Although reservations are suggested, go ahead and pop in if you're in the neighborhood.

The Iberian Pig: On the square in Decatur at 121 Sycamore Street; 404-371-8800.