See Your Favorite Chefs at the Visionary Dinner for Southface on Sept. 25

See all your favorite Atlanta chefs lend their talents for a good cause at the 15th annual Visionary Dinner on Wednesday, September 25. The event raises awareness and funding for Southface's continued work in sustainable community development, high-performance affordable housing, green jobs training, clean energy and green building. The evening includes a wine-paired, five-course, locally sourced feast created by some of the city's top chefs, and takes place in the Egyptian Ballroom at the fabulous Fox Theatre. Chefs include Adam Evans of The Optimist, Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor of Heirloom Market BBQ, Mary Moore of The Cook's Warehouse, Chrysta Poulos of King + Duke and Zeb Stevenson, chef, consultant and "Chopped" champion. 

The cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $300. For more information on how to purchase tickets, click here.

Southface's "vision" began in 1978 when the organization first started promoting sustainable homes, workplaces and communities. Today, Southface continues to develop partnerships between government agencies, businesses and community-based organizations to create programs that will impact thousands of people each year. 

Support the No Kid Hungry Campaign by Dining Out at Marlow's Tavern, Aqua blue and Ray's Restaurants in September

When we're whipping up our favorite morning treats or afternoon snacks, it's all too easy to forget just how lucky we are to have access to these meals. Unfortunately, some kids in America can't focus on schoolwork or things because they are underfed and may not know when or where their next meal will come from. Share Our Strength is working to help end this problem with No Kid Hungry campaigns. Marlow's Tavern locations, Aqua blue Restaurant & Bar and all three Ray's Restaurants are on board and eager to be part of the solution by participating in Dine Out for No Kid Hungry. From September 15-23, Marlow's Tavern will give each guest donating to the campaing a $5 coupon redeemable at any Marlow's Tavern between October and December 31, 2013. Limit one coupon per donation and one coupon per visit, per guest. Aqua blue is extending the same tempting offer. Ray's Restaurants -- Ray's in the City, Ray's on the Creek and Ray's on the River -- will donate $2 to the cause for each three-course menu meal sold during the month of September.

STATS Helps Save Our Water with Five-Course SweetWater Beer Dinner on Aug. 23

"Can't make good beer without good water," confess the brewmasters at SweetWater Brewing Company. No wonder this Atlanta-based brewery has been dedicated to protecting local waterways for more than a decade. Jumping in the boat to help the Waterkeeper Alliance's Save Our Water Campaign, STATS is hosting a five-course dinner with SweetWater beer pairings on Friday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. Georgia trout roe and house-made potato chips pair up with SweetWater Waterkeeper Hefeweizen; SweetWater Blue is a natural alongside an arugula, fig and blueberry salad with homemade ricotta; IPA-brined crispy quail arrives with SweetWater IPA; porcini-rubbed hangar steak and SweetWater 420 team up well; and SweetWater Georgia Brown complements Krispy Kreme bread pudding, incorporating more of the same brew. $45 per person including tax, gratuity and a $10 donation to the Save Our Water Campaign. To reserve a spot, call 404-974-2944 or email Mary Jo Schmidt at mjs@legacyrestaurantpartners.com.

Dine on Five Courses at Share Our Strength's "Give Me Five" Fundraiser This Sunday

The gorgeous Cherokee Town and Country Club in Buckhead is the setting for this year's "Give Me Five" wine-and-dine event to raise funds for Share Our Strength and its mission to alleviate childhood hunger in the U.S. In the datebook for Sunday, August 19, the elegant evening opens with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. East Lake Country Club Chef Michael Deihl is the chef chair for the night's five-course dinner where five talented guests, including Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill, will each prepare a course. Sommelier Andrés Loaiza of Aria is one of the four Atlanta sommeliers who will select wine pairings for each course. Jenn Hobby of Q100's The Bert Show and WSB radio host Scott Slade cap dinner with a full evening of live entertainment and live and silent auctions - which should be pretty tasty since each chef is donating something to the auction lineup. Individual tickets are $275, and tables for 10 are $2,500; purchase online. 

Dine Out For No Kid Hungry with Marlow's Tavern and Aqua blue

Love it when someone has a dinner idea for every night of the week... and adding a way to nourish others in the process ups the yum factor.  Join Americans across the country in dining out in the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry through Saturday, September 24.  More than a thousand restaurants nationwide are participating in Share Our Strength's fundraiser to help alleviate childhood hunger in our nation by 2015.   Here in the metro area, Aqua blue in Roswell and all Marlow's Tavern locations are among the fabulous and friendly restaurants on the 75+ list.  They'll ask guests to donate $1 or more toward the cause.  In return, guests will receive one $5 bounce-back card to use on their next purchase at the restaurant.

Tempt Your Taste Buds at the Annual March of Dimes Dining Out Event June 13

The March of Dimes Dining Out, now in its 24th year, is an evening filled with Atlanta’s most delectable dining and great fun with the proceeds going to a worthy cause. This year's Dining Out takes place tomorrow night, June 13, and features more than 40 of Atlanta’s finest restaurants in one unforgettable evening. Here is how it works, patrons enjoy a specially selected dinner with wine hosted at a participating restaurant. After dinner, the evening continues at Opera where everyone mingles for cocktails and dessert. Tables are $1,500 or $1,000, depending on the restaurant chosen, and are sold on a first come, first served basis. Price includes a three-course dinner for eight or ten guests, wine pairings, and gratuity as well as admission to the after party. Just want to join the after party? Tickets may be purchased for $40 each. Participating restaurants include some of my personal favorites like Aria and Canoe. For more information, contact Jennifer Cobb at 404-350-9800.

Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-7673.
Canoe: 4199 Paces Ferry Road, NW; 770-432-2663.

(photo courtesy of lhabbmar2008 at flickr.com)