Make Memories this Summer with Tin Lizzy’s Cantina

Need an excuse to throw a summer soirée? This month, Tin Lizzy's Cantina is offering 20 percent off catering for orders over $150! What more of an excuse do you need?! You provide the tables, chairs and décor, and Tin Lizzy’s Catering will handle the rest. From taco bars to margarita mix, host a party your friends will never forget.

Speaking of never forgetting, this summer Tin Lizzy’s is also encouraging fans to share their favorite TL memories for a chance to win a $100 gift card. To enter the contest, guests can go online and reminisce about their greatest nights at Tin Lizzy’s – you know, the infamous girls nights you barely remember, the awkward first dates, the tequila Tuesdays – nothing is off-limits, so share away! 

Restaurant Gift Card Deals Pile on Green and Cut Holiday Shopping Time

If you’re anxious about choosing gifts for everyone on your list, Atlanta restaurants are offering gift card deals to soothe frazzled shopper nerves. Appetizing gift cards are always the right size and color, and you can treat yourself to a soul-soothing snack and spirit to celebrate a mission accomplished and dollars saved.

Aqua blue adds green: receive a $20 bonus card with purchase of a $100 gift card.

Pastured poultry presents are always welcome for dining in or busy night takeaways. Bantam + Biddy locations (Ansley, Avalon, Crescent, Lenox) as well as Chick-a-Biddy in Atlantic Station add a $10 gift card to every $50 gift card purchase through December 30.

Communitas Hospitality restaurants 10th & Piedmont and HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern are throwing in an extra $20 for every $100 gift card purchased in the restaurants. They’ll add in the extra $20 or put it on a separate gift card to keep or give to someone else. Cards cannot be used the day of purchase.

FLIP burger boutique gift cards and chef Richard Blais’ lighthearted menu thrill traditional and adventurous burger lovers alike. Gift givers also are happy because, during the holidays, FLIP is offering half off $25 gift cards or an added 20 percent value on gift cards more than $25.
 
Legacy Ventures is offering a limited-time online deal that will be at the top of everyone's wish list. Friday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 24, score a $100 gift card for every $100 gift card purchased.  Available online only, this offer includes Legacy Ventures restaurants Der Biergarten, Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, STATS and Twin Smokers BBQ.

Marlow’s Tavern tacks a bonus $20 onto the purchase of every $100 gift card during December. With restaurant locations near so many Atlanta neighborhoods, a Marlow’s gift card is a surefire solution for anyone on your list.

All four Ray's Restaurants -- Ray's On The River, Ray's At Killer Creek, Ray's In the City and Ray's Rio Bravo -- are including a special gift ($25 value; while supplies last) with all in-restaurant gift card purchases of $100 or more. Additionally, the restaurant group is offering a 20 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $25-$975 and a 25 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $1,000 or more now through Jan. 31, 2016. Bonuses will be valid from Feb. 1 through Sept. 30, 2016 (excluding major holidays).

Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar in East Cobb top off in-store gift card purchases of $50 or more with an added 20 percent value (not valid online). Gift cards are accepted at both Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar.

Southern Proper Hospitality restaurants offer cards for all tastes. For every $50 gift card purchased until December 31 at The Big Ketch Buckhead, The Big Ketch Roswell,Smokebelly BBQ, Gypsy Kitchen, The Southern Gentleman and Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails, receive a $10 gift card at that restaurant valid through February 29, 2016.

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina Flex-Mex is a much-loved find in every stocking. Every $25 gift card purchase at Tin Lizzy’s earns a $5 off coupon. Give the coupon away to friends or keep for yourself; we won’t tell.

FIGO Pasta’s West Midtown Location Enters Second Year of Pasta-Pleasing Euphoria In-House and Via Catering

We’ve long thought pasta paves the road to happiness, and now we have proof in the story behind FIGO Pasta in West Midtown. The sixth location of Atlanta’s popular pasta chain just celebrated its first anniversary of feeding the Marietta Street Artery neighborhood with made-from-scratch Italian recipes that have been passed down through FIGO founder Sandro Romagnoli’s family for generations. Romagnoli, a native of Certaldo, Italy, wasn’t always in the restaurant business. During a period of reflection, he realized serving and satisfying people made him extremely happy, and he changed his life course. FIGO guests find devouring themenu’s tasty traditions and re-invented classics, over 600 combinations in all, leads to their own chow-time bliss. The same enticing fresh pasta, sauces, sandwiches, specialties, antipasti, insalate and sweet dolci can be found on FIGO’s catering menu. Drop that hint and guests will clamor to attend FIGO-fueled meetings, parties or dinners. Boxed lunches treat noon right, and FIGO delivers. Call 404-877-8152 or email figocatering@figopasta.com. FIGO’s West Midtown restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily and offers free Wi-Fi and private parking. For updates, follow FIGO onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information, call 404-963-7950.

Appetizing Aperture:Willy's Mexicana Grill

Willy's Mexicana Grill caters to morning meeting or tailgate plans with mucho "olé!" Breakfast burritos encase your choice of sausage, chicken or bacon, eggs, jalapeño hash browns and Monterey Jack cheese in a flour tortilla blanket and have sides of pico de gallo and chipotle salsa. DIY-ers can build their own, same ingredients, with Willy's breakfast bar.

It's Follow Friday; Meet our Tweep of the Week @SBKitchens

Squash Blossom Kitchens is a boutique catering company that specializes in small- to mid-sized dinner parties. Childhood friends Christine Roberts and Katy Purwin shelved their corporate careers to pursue their first love:  food. The duo is a regular on 11 Alive cooking segments, and have developed winning recipes for Jake's Ice Cream and Maggiano's. Follow their tweets (@SBKitchens) to stay on the detox track for 2012. Learn more about them on their Squash Blossomings blog.  

Tailgating Time is Finally Here!

For all you football fans, we’ve got some sure bets for tasty tailgate fare that will definitely win points….off the field, at least:

- For a healthier version of football-watching food, EVOS trades grease for fresh ingredients and offers burgers, fries, sandwiches and wraps with half the fat.

- Six locations of Marlow’s Tavern serve as convenient gathering spots with hearty American fare and flat-screen plasma TVs. For pre-game food on the run, Marlow’s also offers a to-go menu.

- For a fumble-free to-go menu, Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead and Downtown offer only the best with tuna tartare, colossal shrimp cocktail, double-cut filet mignon or New York strip steak and Key lime pie.

- Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge have a couple of options, especially for those heading to nearby Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech. Football fans can pick up fare on the way to the game or let the Midtown restaurant cater their pigskin parties. Pacci’s tailgating menu veers off the restaurant’s Italian steakhouse tradition to include sporty favorites like wings, ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. AltoRex Rooftop Lounge opens at 10 a.m. on game days to cure football fever with a healthy combo of open air, wide-screen viewing, fun beverages and good eats including Johnsonville brats, Italian sausages and soft pretzels. All Pacci catering orders must be placed at least 24 hours before pick-up time.

- Panera Bread’s Via Panera catering menu has about as many choices and Atlanta-area locations as a team roster has players. Bring home sandwiches, salads, soups, bagels, breakfast and brunch foods.

- The Original El Taco catering team can roll out an array of tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, the Grande house salad, appetizers, sides and a salsa bar. Orders include napkins, utensils and plates. Pick up or have your chow delivered ($20 delivery charge). Place your order at least 24 hours in advance by email or calling 404-873-4656.

- Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food knows how to plan a football fiesta with food-to-go, party packs and catering. All menu items can be ordered to go – just call Uncle Julio’s to-go line at 404-974-2991. The staff will load up a party pack with your gridiron favorites, or Uncle Julio’s team can set out the linens, chafing dishes and serving pieces; decorate your buffet; and line up plates, utensils, napkins and food. One glance at the catering menu will get your mojo going.

- WaterHaven, in Midtown’s Technology Square, welcomes Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to touch down for brunch before the game on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.; WaterHaven serves brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. They also offer FREE (validated) parking in the AT&T deck at 5th and West Peachtree streets.

- For prepared foods, Whole Foods Market has what you need including hot pizza, breads, deli items, cheeses, sweets and cold beer… you name it.

Looking for a Personal Chef?

If you like good food but aren't always the best at cooking it yourself you may have considered a personal chef. That's where Chef Barry comes in. Chef Barry Kraemer is a private chef with catering services of organic and natural cuisine. He can be contracted as a personal chef at your home for a given time period, maybe holidays to impress the in-laws? Or, you can use his services for catering at specials events.

Kraemer specializes in global comfort foods and is committed to using only natural and organic ingredients. He works with clients to meet their dietary restrictions including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic. Check out his website if you're interested or would like more information.