Southern Proper Harvests Fresh Fall Menus at The Big Ketch, The Southern Gentleman, Gypsy Kitchen and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails

Four Southern Proper Hospitality favorites -- The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, The Southern Gentleman, Gypsy Kitchen and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails -- are warming guests and the colder days ahead with new seasonal dishes and culinary comforts.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead and on Canton Street in Roswell is now featuring Gulf grouper and Scottish salmon. At both neighborhood beach houses, guests can enjoy seasonal specialties like lobster Cobb salad ($19.95); seafood pot pie with lobster, shrimp and scallops ($26.95) and Grouper Louisiane of blackened Gulf grouper, jumbo lump crab meat with creole BBQ sauce, mashed potatoes and grilled green beans ($29.95)

At The Southern Gentleman in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, chef Danilo “Q” Myers infuses the Southern-inspired gastropub’s menu with lighter fare and larger plates meant for sharing including a “for the table” menu section, a decadent burger and three new entrées. A family style farmhouse terrine board boasts house-made rabbit rillettes, pork and chicken liver terrine, pastrami, bresaola, local cheese, seasonal preserves, pickled okra and drunken cherry tomatoes ($24). Southern chop chop salad of gem lettuce, shaved roasted vegetables and bacon lardons ($10) satisfies salad cravers, and seafood lovers can devour scallop risotto with pan-seared scallops, smoked tomato risotto, saffron-spiked “flat” empanada, torn herbs and pepper jelly ($30).

Gypsy Kitchen in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta calls on chef Gary Finzer for small plates packing big taste sensations and expanded charcuterie and tapas selections. Additions include seared tuna tataki with Moroccan spices and warm gigante beans ($15); queso frito of pan-seared Caña de Cabra goat cheese with Basque cider apple purée and arugula ($12); and charred vegetable paella “fried rice” with spring onions, zucchini, eggplant, red peppers and sofrito ($20). Add a fried farm egg for $2.

In historic Crabapple, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails picks ingredients from its on-site garden for contemporary Southern “seed-to-fork” sensibility. New fall dishes include bacon-wrapped Prime meatloaf made of ground veal, wagyu beef and Kurobuta pork served with smoked Gouda mashed potatoes, grilled broccolini and tangy meatloaf glaze ($23); and charred broccoli, cauliflower and red pears with sweet potato purée, Asher Blue cheese, pickled red onion, candied pecans and sherry maple vinaigrette ($19).

Atkins Park Va-Hi New Dishes Satisfy Frisky Fall Appetites

Cooler weather has us craving the new fall dishes at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland. Lunchtime calls for crisp salads with chicken and apple or steak with grilled portabella mushrooms, fried onion, tomato and bleu cheese dressing ($11) or perhaps creature comforts like fried fish tacos and chicken and dumplings ($10-$11). Early darkness primes us for dinners that open with small plates of pork belly seared scallops, Georgia Johnny cakes with smoked pork and jalapeño-corn slaw or pan-fried crab cakes with arugula salad and whole grained mustard cream ($9-$14) before settling in on the 12-ounce ribeye steak with Parmesan potato gratin and creamed spinach, sweet potato gnocchi with roasted cauliflower and toasted walnuts or smoked salmon carbonara ($15-$25). Cornbread-crusted Georgia trout with mashed potatoes, green beans and bourbon brown butter apples or the seasonal local vegetable plate bearing butternut squash, wilted Swiss chard, fried Brussels sprouts, grilled wild mushroom, Parmesan potato gratin and cornbread are new midday and evening hits ($12-$19). Stick-with-you weekend brunch fare adds sizzling skillets full of chorizo, Cajun shrimp and andouille sausage, Southwestern grilled chicken with black beans, Philly steak or vegetarian with spinach, tomato and feta cheese, each served with crispy potatoes and topped with two sunny-side eggs ($9-$12). Other brunch specialties include avocado toast, fried chicken pancake sandwich and crab cake or country fried steak Benedict ($10-$12). Spinach and smoked Gouda sauce top house-made focaccia, which debuts as an appetizer at all three meals. It’s comforting to know those faithful “always available” favorites are still options (even after midnight) -- grilled chicken panini, smoked prime rib French dip sandwich and Atkins Park Totchos really hit the spot, whatever the season. Open Monday-Friday 11:30-3 a.m., Saturday 11-3 a.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-midnight.

5Church News Flash: Jamie Lynch of 5Church is Bravo “Top Chef” Charleston Contestant – And He’s Added New Dishes to Dinner Menu

Bravo Media’s Emmy- and James Beard Award-winning “Top Chef” heads to Charleston, South Carolina, for the upcoming season, and 5Church executive chef and partner Jamie Lynch is on board. Lynch battles it out in the kitchen along with eight esteemed chefs from across the country and eight returning chefs – chefs from past seasons who are seeking redemption for not bringing home the “Top Chef” bacon the first time. Lynch oversees operations at all three 5Church locations – Charleston, Charlotte and Atlanta – and he’s splitting his time between Charleston and Atlanta during the competition. Season 14’s supersized premiere airs Thursday, December 1 at 10 p.m. ET. For a sneak peek, visit online.

Amid all of the “Top Chef” excitement, Lynch has created several irresistible new dishes to top off the dinner menu at 5Church Atlanta. Could chicken adobo pay homage to the Charleston “Top Chef” competition with crushed Charleston gold rice, shaved broccoli, and lemon ash ($24)? Fresh farfalle beckons veggie lovers to savor corn, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli florets and ricotta salatta ($24) – and add grilled chicken for $5. Treasure the flavor of PEI mussels with toasted garlic, chorizo, heirloom tomatoes, vermouth and grilled bread to soak up those intoxicating juices ($13). Dine inside or go all out for fall by dining out on the street level or rooftop patios overlooking Peachtree Street in Midtown.

Guy Wong Reveals Personal Interpretations of Vietnamese Flavors on New Le Fat Fall Menu

At West Midtown Vietnamese brasserie Le Fat, Guy Wong’s new fall menu diverges from the classic traditional dishes inspired by his mother’s cooking to reflect Wong’s personal interpretation of Vietnamese food. Chili garlic prawns, anew entrée, features local Georgia prawns stir-fried with roasted garlic, onions and chili oil. Thit kho bowl brims with caramelized pork belly, pickled mustard greens, braised egg and grilled scallions. Wong’s take on drunken noodles, one of his childhood favorites, brings in Angus beef flank steak and fresh noodles from a mom-and-pop shop in Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood. From 5-7 p.m. nightly, diners can snatch the banh mi bao appetizer filled with pork belly, carrot and daikon accented with cilantro and jalapeño, a dish Wong initially created while at Miso Izakaya, his Old Fourth Ward Japanese tapas and sushi spot. Traditionalists, take comfort. Wong is keeping the ones you love, including clay pot chicken, bo luc lac “shaking beef,” the fabulous pho noodles and his famous rotisserie half chicken with lemongrass, ginger scallion oil and jasmine rice. Makes mom proud -- and diners extremely satisfied. Dinner nightly, lunch weekdays; 404-439-9850. Photo credit Andrew Thomas Lee.

Get Ready to Fall for Aqua blue's New Menu

Mark your calendars! This Friday marks the first day of fall and Aqua blue is unveiling its new menu in honor of the season. Starters of handcrafted flatbread, seared pork dumplings, Colorado lamb sliders with tomato-bacon jam, caramelized cipollini onion and gorgonzola, and new sushi rolls replace spring rolls and other light fare. Crowd pleasing mains include roasted chicken with Parmesan farro, carrots, celery, caramelized onion, Brussels leaves, Meyer lemon and thyme-scented wild mushroom jus; Niman Ranch pork chop with habanero sauce, Swiss chard and loaded red bliss potato; soy-glazed Georgia mountain trout with shiitake mushrooms, baby corn, zucchini, snow peas and carrots with teriyaki sauce; the "AB House" burger topped with fontina cheese, caramelized onion and oven-dried tomato; and thyme-seared ahi tuna with chickpeas and basil ratatouille. Even crisp salads hint of fall -- the Aqua blue house salad tops field greens with Granny Smith apples, asparagus, toasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and sweet herb dressing. These seasonal dishes will have you declaring your love for autumn in no time!

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Enjoy the Twilight Hours with Aqua Blue

I can’t remember the last November in Georgia that started out this beautifully. The time change typically indicates a long period of short, chilly days on which the sun is veiled in thin clouds. On days when the sun escapes the clouds, it usually bids goodnight long before time to shut down the computers and head home from work. The weather this week has given us the opportunity to enjoy the twilight of the day, without the requisite scarf and gloves of years past, by slipping outside and taking in a deep breath of the crisp autumn air during a late noon stretch.

Another, more delicious, way to savor the twilight of the day is to stop by Aqua Blue for their Twilight Dinner special. Offered every Monday through Wednesday from 4 - 7 p.m., the Twilight Dinner let’s you can create a menu from a wide variety options: for starters, a choice of Aqua blue house salad, Caesar salad or soup du jour; for entrees, choose from chicken Marsala, bourbon- glazed salmon, ginger-glazed yellowfin tuna, pork tenderloin with Creole crawfish sauce, or blackened white tuna with citrus reduction (all entrees include garlic mashed potatoes and thin beans). End with a personal-sized dessert. Limited time menu is $19 per person (not including tax and gratuity. I plan to hurry and check it out, because, like the gorgeous weather of late, I’m, sure this generous offer won’t last forever.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.

3-$30-3 Three by Three at the Dogwood (Tree)

I can't tell you how excited I am about Dogwood's new three-course, three-day-weekly, $30 menu! I was bummed when I missed out on the deal at Midtown Restaurant Week, so this is perfect! Three delicious courses for $30? This is too good to be true! The autumnal prix fixe menu, available Monday through Wednesday, rakes in a bushel of fall's flavors and colors. Go for either a "Southern Caesar" of romaine hearts, cornbread croutons and tomato-bacon Caesar dressing or roasted tomato bisque topped with fried Split Creek Farm goat cheese and micro basil as your first course. Savor a second course of buttermilk fried Springer Mountain chicken breast, baked mac and cheese and braised greens or braised beef short ribs joined by smashed rutabagas, fried sage and blackberry demi-sauce. On third - choose any of Dogwood's dessert selections. One price, $30, covers all three courses - a boon when you're watching those other leaves of green in your wallet.
Dogwood: 565 Peachtree Street; 404-835-1410.

Put the First Day of Fall on Your Calendar...and Celebrate at Dogwood

Here at MLA, we were all wondering “What happened to summer?” until we took a look at what the first day of autumn is bringing to the tables at Dogwood on Peachtree...it's time to welcome the new season and start salivating over this new menu. Beginning Monday, September 22, diners can start at the Grits Bar where Logan Turnpike’s creamy white stone ground grits are well complemented by wild mushrooms, butter-poached lobster or ham and pimento cheese ($4-$6). Southern-fried quail breast with buttermilk spoon biscuit, goat cheese-pepper gravy and red onion marmalade and sweet potato gnocchi in brown butter parmesan cream with toasted pecans are two tempters on the appetizer menu ($9-$15). Try a “soup flight” of three soups or go solo with a bowl of root vegetable puree with grilled wild boar-cranberry sausage and lingonberries, tomato bisque with Split Creek Farm goat cheese or the soup of the day ($6-$11). Main dishes call out to fall: SoCo glazed pork chops with caramelized shallots and sweet corn soufflé; pecan-rubbed tuna with fingerling potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, caramelized onion and bar-b-que drizzle; venison osso bucco with rosemary-parmesan grits and apple-turnip preserve; grilled Atlantic salmon with BLT sauce and grilled cornbread; and the comforting Dogwood burger or off-the-bone short ribs with smashed rutabagas and blackberry demi ($13-$32). Delish desserts ($6) such as blackberry-chocolate cornbread upside down cake with coffee gelato or hazelnut cheesecake with apple-cranberry compote and cheese selections will entice you to stay on until winter!

And if the new menu was not enough, Dogwood is enticing guests with drink specials, too. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday guests can enjoy half-price Ketel One martinis and cosmos along with half-price bottles of wine up to $100. Fox Theatre patrons can take advantage of half price wines by the glass with the purchase of an entrée any day of the week. Dogwood: 565 Peachtree Street; 404-835-1410.