Kevin Gillespie Launches Red Beard Restaurants

Red-bearded Atlanta chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie is launching Red Beard Restaurants to oversee his Atlanta dining concepts and provide consulting services to other food and beverage start-ups. The company was created to maintain consistency at both Gunshow and Revival, Gillespie’s second restaurant slated to open in Decatur this month, but also will offer its leaders’ restaurant development experience to help other restaurateurs get off the ground. Red Beard’s executive team includes longtime friend, restaurateur and business associate Marco Shaw as director of food and beverage and M. Blake Morley as director of development. Morley first worked with Gillespie at Woodfire Grill and has helped the celebrity chef turn ideas into reality as Gunshow’s opening general manager. In addition to employing a small sales team to coordinate events at Gunshow and Revival, the company will oversee all of Gillespie’s merchandise.

Creative Loafing "Best of Atlanta" Winners are Out and Showing the Love

  

We all have our ATL favorites! Blessed are those who share their favorite place to dine rather than try to keep it as their secret place. Creative Loafing's "Best of Atlanta" votes are in and tabulated, putting favorite places right out there for all to see. Gunshow hits the bull's-eye with the "Best New Restaurant" votes. The Optimist sails into the "Best Overall Restaurant," "Best Restaurant Design" and "Best Seafood" slots. Woodfire Grill on Cheshire Bridge Road ties for "Best Service." Decatur gets critics' nods for being one of the "Best hoods for Food Lovers," with No. 246 in the list of reasons to dine there. Love tasty tweets? @FifthGrouper tied for the title of "Best Foodie Twitter." Bold American Catering tied for "Best Caterer" - keep this in mind for your next event! Thanks for sharing, everyone! Where will you eat over the weekend? 

Atlantans are Saying "Yes, Please!" to Pastured Poultry

Atlanta restaurants are never too chicken to try something new, and this week is no exception. Pastured Poultry Week is upon us, and ATL’s hottest spots are cooking up dishes that will make mouths water from June 10-16. Diners have the chance to taste the difference that pastured poultry offers, including enhanced flavor, health and environmental benefits. The entire city, including restaurants like Seven Lamps and No. 246, is clucking with excitement! Check out the list of participating restaurants and learn more about pastured poultry at Compassion in World Farming. 

Chill Out at the Slow Food Ice Cream Social June 8

 

Scoopers, they have. Spoons, however, are a bring-your-own necessity to taste all of the frozen concoctions at Slow Food Atlanta's 7th Annual Ice Cream Social coming up Saturday, June 8 from noon-2:30 p.m. at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. Professionals and amateurs will churn 'til they burn to crank out classic, wild or wacky flavors for tasting, including the likes of Bantam + Biddy, The Optimist, Seven Lamps and Woodfire Grill. Tickets are $15 each ($5 for ages 5 to 10 and free for the under-5-year set). Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Chapter of Slow Food International and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market.

Gerry Klaskala and Tyler Williams Cover Next Two Morningside Farmers Market Chef Demos

 

You don't have to wait long to start the weekend off right at the Morningside Farmers Market. Booths open shortly after sunrise (7:30 a.m. to be exact) on Saturday mornings, so you can jump in as soon as the sun starts shining. By 9 a.m., shopping bags are bulging with locally grown organic produce, herbs and craft food items. Chef demo time! Gerry Klaskala of Aria leads a lesson in working with Riverview Farm andouille sausage on May 25, and Tyler Williams of Woodfire Grill takes on the fresh taste of Woodland Gardens fennel on June 1. Be sure to stock up on these items before the demos because after these chefs share their ideas there's sure to be a run on the market.

What's the Dish?

At Woodfire Grill Executive Chef Tyler Williams has put together a creative menu using as much local produce and sustainably purveyed ingredients as possible.  By adding ingredients inspired by the various "likes" that flavor his downtime, he adds a personal touch to his cuisine. You'll find Williams jamming out to music by Iggy Pop, Morrissey and Terence Trent Darby and watching foreign movies such as "The Blind Swordsman Zatoichi" (Japan), "The Five Obstructions" (Denmark) and "Cool Runnings" (Jamaica). For fun he might kick back and catch up on "Antiques Roadshow," "Modern Family" or "The Borgias." The foodie likes to experiment with a variety of ethnic dishes from Bhojanic and Peter Cheng's. To satisfy his sweet tooth, Tyler loves to eat only the middle of the yummy frosted rolls at Cinnabon. 

Dine Out for the March of Dimes on May 3

   

Some of Atlanta's favorite restaurants are hosting private dining tables for the 29th Annual March of Dimes Dining Out benefit on Friday, May 3. Aria, Article 14, Lure, Seven Lamps, The Optimist and Woodfire Grill are each hosting a table that will accommodate from six to 10 guests at prices varying from $1,000 to $1,500 per table. Enjoy a unique four-course VIP menu with wine pairings. There's still time to reserve a table, but many are already sold out! Check the event website for availability.

Join Aria, Woodfire Grill and Many More for Taste of the Nation at Georgia Aquarium on April 11

Chefs from more than 50 of Atlanta's top restaurants, including Aria and Woodfire Grill, will serve their specialties at the 25th Annual Taste of the Nation Atlanta filling up the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday, April 11. A nationwide culinary benefit, Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation plays a huge part in achieving the organization's goal to end childhood hunger in America. Guests will have plenty of opportunities to bid in live, silent and wine auctions while enjoying unlimited food, wine and beverage tastings and live music. Honorary chairs are Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal and John Mariani, Esquire food and travel columnist for the last 30 years. VIP ticket holders enter at 6:30 p.m.; general admission ticket holders enter at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online: VIP tickets are $350 each, and general admission tickets are $250 each. Black tie optional for guests, however, not for the penguins.

Eat It and Tweep: Tyler Williams Tweets at Woodfire Grill

 

As executive chef at Woodfire Grill, Tyler Williams is constantly thinking out loud about how to show off the season's freshest and best ingredients. Or he's sharing about how we can help with causes such as Team HIDI and Taste of the Nation for Share Our Strength. Or he's showing where you can learn a new cooking skill or menu idea at one of his chef demos. Keep up with this busy chef on Twitter (@tylerjamie79).

Sample Tweet: Foie torchon. Cocoa puffs. Malted foie powder. Burnt bread. Pickled strawberry. Cocoa berry bubbles....http://instagram.com/p/XPfAJ1JDOR/

Get the How-To from Woodfire Grill Executive Chef Tyler Williams at Piedmont Park Green Market

 

Learn how to cook something new this Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. with Woodfire Grill Executive Chef Tyler Williams. He is teaching the Green Market in Piedmont Park shoppers how to prepare lamb kheema, feuilles de brick, house-made yogurt and fava bean agrodolce salad. Stick around and shop for fresh produce, sauces and baked goods from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the 12th Street entrance gate.

Fourth Generation Italian Winemaker Joins New Executive Chef Tyler Williams at Woodfire Grill Demarie Wine Dinner on February 26

Imagine 14 hectares of beautiful vineyards spread along the sun-kissed gentle slopes in the heart of the Roero region, all cared for by a family that has passed down their winemaking heritage into the fourth generation. It’s not a romance novel cliche; for the Demarie family, it is a way of life. Winemaker Paolo Demarie brings all of his experience and knowledge, as well as wines, to the table at Woodfire Grill's Demarie Wine Dinner on Tuesday, February 26. A 7 p.m. reception includes sparkling Arneis, followed by a five-course dinner prepared by the restaurant's new executive chef Tyler Williams at 7:30 p.m. and featuring pairings of 2010 Arneis Roero DOCG, 2008 Barbera D'Alba Superiore DOC, 2007 Barbaresco DOCG, 2007 Barolo DOCG and NV "Birbet' Brachetto." $105 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). Call 404-347-9055 to make reservations.

Appetizing Aperture: @DiscoverAtlanta’s 100 Signature Dishes

Happy 100 Years of Hospitality, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau! The organization marked this landmark occasion by building a list of the city's top Atlanta-only signature dishes. The "100 Signature Dishes" list includes hits from lots of our favorite dining spots – we had a hard time picking just one dish to picture here! Now we’re hungry for fried avocado taquito at Alma Cocina, Aria's butter-braised lobster, fried goat cheese with honey and black pepper at Ecco, spaghetti with tomatoes, basil and veal meatballs at La Tavola Trattoria, infamous fish tacos at Marlow's Tavern, fried chicken taco at The Original El Taco, buttermilk fried chicken and fried green tomatoes at South City Kitchen - Midtown, and glazed pork belly with local apples and turnips at Woodfire Grill. Eenie, meenie, and many mo', this week we're picturing....

South meets Southwest in the fried chicken taco at The Original El Taco. The cantina's consistently top-selling taco throws Mexico City grilled corn in chili-lime mayo and crumbled Mexican cheese into the mix and wraps it all up in a warm flour tortilla. 

See how many of these amazing dishes you can fit into your culinary rotation this year – sounds like the right kind of resolution to us!

Check Out a New Year of New Restaurants, Menus, Demos and More

Start the new year off right by trying something new! Stop by Gilbert's Cafe & Bar to taste a bite from the revamped menu, or be inspired by Brian Stanger, Woodfire Grill's bar manager, and concoct your own season-appropriate grapefruit cocktail. There are plenty of new things to experience and more in this week's Dish!

New Year, New Brews: Catch The New Belgium Beer Dinner at Woodfire Grill on January 10

Did you resolve to try new things and explore new experiences this year? Get started with that resolution this week at Woodfire Grill as the restaurant showcases the brews of New Belgium Brewing Company on Thursday, January 10. 

Enjoy a four-course menu, complemented by five different craft beers from the Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewery, including New Belgium Shift, New Belgium Fat Tire Amber, Snow Day Black IPA, Ranger IPA and Imperial Chocolate Stout. Reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by 6:30 p.m. dinner. $80 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Don’t forget to make your reservation at 404-347-9055. Cheers!

Cook Alongside Former Top Chef Contestant Kevin Gillespie at Salud! Cooking School

Where else can you say you’ve had the opportunity to cook with a former Top Chef contestant? Salud! Cooking School hosts Chef KevinGillespie, who is eager to share his passion for preparing organic and sustainable food at his “Fire in My Belly” cooking demonstration. Guests will get a chance to taste several menu items from the Woodfire Grill executive chef’s new book – “Fire in My Belly: Real Cooking” including buttermilk-marinated fennel with satsumas and jalepenos; sage-battered mushrooms with cheddar fonduta; butter-basted scallops with Romanesco; slow-roasted pork chops with apples and redeye gravy; and warm banana pudding. Besides this delicious tasting menu, the $79 class price includes a signed copy of Gillespie’s new cookbook. Space is limited, so make sure you register in-store or by calling the customer service desk: 770-442-3354 ext.1 or 770-664-6300. Note: No coupons, discounts or student cards are being accepted for this class.

Woodfire Grill Dinner Highlights Five Craft Beers from Stone Brewing Company on October 23 and Rhone Valley Wines on October 25

  
Versatile beer can hop right in there as the beverage of choice to go with fall's heartier fare. Such is the case as Woodfire Grill Chef de Cuisine E.J. Hodgkinson plans his four-course menu to complement five Stone Brewing Company craft beers at the restaurant's Tuesday, October 23 beer dinner. The evening begins with a 6:30 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Paired California brews include:  Stone Cali-Belgique IPA (California-style IPA with a Belgian influence); Stone Ruination IPA (big, bold, bitter character on a refreshing malt base); Stone Smoked Porter (dark, smooth and complex with rich chocolate and coffee flavors, balanced by a subtle smokiness); Stone Imperial Russian Stout (intensely aromatic with notes of anise, black currants and coffee) and Stone 16th Anniversary IPA (a double IPA with rich toasted malt character punctuated by hints of spicy rye and subtle lemon). $80 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Limited seating means reservations required. 

Prefer wine over beer? A leisurely 8-wine tasting shifts the focus to Rhone Valley red wines on Thursday, October 25. Sommelier Cate Hatch pours through 8 red wines from Gigondas, Croze Hermitage, Hermitage, Chatenunuf du Pape, St. Joseph and Cote Rotie. Geographically, the wines range from Grenache in the south to Syrah in the north with stops at more rich vineyards in between. $15 per person. Reservations required; wine tasting offered 6-9 p.m. in the dining room. Call 404-347-9055 to reserve your spot for the dinners.

Hirsch Vineyards Wines Pair Up with Five-Course Dinner at Woodfire Grill on October 16

Jasmine Hirsch from Hirsch Vineyards is coming to dinner at Woodfire Grill next Tuesday, October 16, bearing six superb and different wines to pair with the evening's five-course menu. 

Come for the reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Sonoma Coast wines being served with dinner include: 2010 Hirsch Vineyards Estate Chardonnay, 2009 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve, 2010 Hirsch Vineyards "Bohan-Dillon" Pinot Noir,2009 Hirsch Vineyards "San Andreas Fault" Estate Pinot Noir,2010 Hirsch Vineyards "San Andreas Fault" Estate Pinot Noir and2010 Vineyards Pinot Noir East Ridge. 

$130 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Reservations required; call 404-347-9055 or email cate@woodfiregrill.com. 

Woodfire Grill Hosts "Fire in My Belly" Cookbook Release Party for Chef/Author Kevin Gillespie

The man with the pig tattoo is getting ready to bare all - about using top-quality ingredients in a kitchen like the one he calls home at Woodfire Grill. Kevin Gillespie's new cookbook, "Fire in My Belly," showcases Gillespie's recipes and his passion for food pulled together with "heirloomesque" photos and 120 easy-to-make recipes for home cooks. Guests at the Tuesday, October 9 cookbook release party will taste hors d'oeuvre from recipes featured in "Fire in My Belly" including mushroom toast, fried green tomatoes, smoked trout puffs, ribs, chicken sandwiches, squash tarts and banana pudding. Cost for the 6-10 p.m. event is $75 in advance when purchased online by October 9 or $90 at the door pending availability. Ticket includes a copy of the cookbook to be personalized by Gillespie during the party; additional copies will be on hand for purchase.