Winner Winner Whiskey Dinner!

Thanks to Chef Shaun Doty, Atlantans can get a taste of what High West Distillery & Saloon, Utah's first distillery, has to offer without having to head out West. Doty has partnered with the distillery to host a whiskey dinner at his restaurant, Shaun's, in Inman Park on Thursday, July 29. Doty will prepare four courses of Southern fare that will be paired with High West's award-winning Rocky Mountain whiskeys (some neat, some in the form of cocktails made by mixologist Callie Schlosser). The evening begins with an hors d'oeuvre reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Guests will enjoy dishes like Sea Island red pea soup served with shrimp toast; Riverview Farms porchetta with grilled okra and Benton's smoked ham gravy; and vanilla pound cake served with sweet corn ice cream and cinnamon. Whiskey pairings include Silver Oat Whiskey, Rendezvous Rye, Bourye, Rocky Mountain Rye 16 Year Old and Rocky Mountain Rye 21 Year Old. High West Whiskey Proprietor and Distiller David Perkins, an Atlanta native, will give an educational overview of how whiskey is made, its history and how to appreciate it. The menu is $75 (with alcohol) or $55 (without alcohol) per person. Call 404-577-4358 to reserve a seat as space is limited.

Shaun's: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE.

The Pinnacle of Potlucks

On Sunday, July 18, Serenbe and the Southern Foodways Alliance Skillet Brigade are hosting a “Southern Chefs Potluck” event at the Inn at Serenbe lake pavilion. A baker’s dozen of Atlanta-area star chefs such as Shaun Doty of Shaun’s and YEAH! BURGER, Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar and Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill and Top Chef fame will do the cooking then sit down with the 150 guests for family-style dining. Each participating chef will contribute their favorite “Sunday Supper” side dish, a relish and a dessert for the event. The main dish will be White Oak Pastures beef prepared by Jim –n- Nick’s BBQ, and fried chicken legs from The Farmhouse. In addition to food and fellowship, guests will enjoy local beer and “Shine On Punch” mixed by Greg Best of Holeman & Finch. Potlucks don't get much better than this, so get your ticket now! Supper begins at 3 p.m.; tickets are $100 per person and may be purchased online or by calling 678-702-0400. “Southern Chefs Potluck” benefits Wholesome Wave of Georgia, a nonprofit organization that helps make healthy food accessible to all Georgia citizens while contributing to our local food economy. WWG uses private funds to double WIC and EBT coupons spent at partner markets and farm stands.


Inn at Serenbe: 10950 Hutcheson Ferry Road, Chattahoochee Hills, Ga.; 770-463-2610.

Chef Shaun Doty Gives Tips on Gazpacho at The Piedmont Park Green Market

Once again, Shaun Doty is taking center stage at the Piedmont Park Green Market. This Saturday, June 26, he'll be preparing a summertime favorite -- gazpacho. You'll find Doty slicing and dicing from 11 a.m. until noon under the patio at the Piedmont Park Community Center. After that, head home to try out his techniques or enjoy brunch or dinner that night at his restaurant, Shaun's in historic Inman Park.

Shaun's: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358

You Gotta Go to Yelp Eats 2010!

Don’t miss the incredible deal on a three-course meal at some of Yelp’s highly rated restaurants (like Shaun's and Toulouse) at Yelp Eats 2010! Through Sunday, June 27, order from deluxe, prix fixe menus for just $25 per person (does not include tax, gratuity or additional items). Reservations and a request for the Yelp Eats 2010! menu are mandatory to get the special price. At Shaun's, choose local tomato gazpacho or organic iceberg wedge; Berkshire pork schnitzel or Georgia shrimp and grits; and vanilla bean cheesecake or sticky toffee pudding. At Toulouse, choose baked goat cheese wrapped in phyllo dough or cold strawberry soup; wild mushroom ravioli or seared scallops in a rosemary-citrus reduction or buffalo meatloaf; flourless chocolate cake or white chocolate banana bread pudding.

Shaun's: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358.
Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-351-9533.

Don’t Forget About the First Ever Atlanta Beer Week

The exciting inaugural Atlanta Beer Week began yesterday and will run through Saturday, May 22. You don't want to miss more than 50 of Atlanta’s top beer spots -- bars, restaurants, brewpubs and breweries -- joining together to host about 100 beer-related events, tastings, dinners and special beer releases. We know two popular Atlanta Beer Week participants quite well, and we frequent them as often as possible: Shaun’s, the neighborly bistro in historic Inman Park, and Ormsby’s, a “good place to be” on Atlanta’s Westside.

Shaun Doty of Shaun’s has tipped The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he’s adding 30 American, Belgian, British, German and Japanese craft beers to his menu for the event. He’s planning a different seasonal three-course menu each night for $29 plus suggested beer pairings. Read more on the AJC’s Drink blog. Ormsby’s boasts a generous variety of craft beers, dedicating a page to the beer list on its website. During Atlanta Beer Week, the tavern will tap into a cask of Terrapin Monk’s Revenge at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18 and a cask of SweetWater Four Drink Minimum with Breakfast (a BSP quad brewed with coffee) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 20. Wednesday night, May 19, the Schmaltz Brewery traveling freak show starts at 8:30 p.m. -- watch their man swallow a sword and hammer nails into his face. Yikes! On Friday, May 21 Ormsby’s will tap the only remaining Atlanta keg of New Belgium’s La Folie. The Flemish sour ale will flow all day.

Sign up online to stay afloat with Atlanta Beer Week brew news via Facebook and Twitter.

Ormsby’s: 1170 Howell Mill Road, NW; 404-968-2033.
Shaun’s: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358.

It’s Follow Friday: Meet our Tweep of the Week @PtreeFarmersMkt

Early birds are on to something more than earthworms and rich dirt. They tweet about snatching up farm-fresh veggies, fruits and food products gracing the tables of the Peachtree Road Farmers Market located at the beautiful Cathedral of St. Phillip. Besides an eye-popping array of produce, market vendors offer meat, eggs, cheese, bread, prepared goodies, art, beautiful and useful goods made from recycled items, and even healthy dog biscuits. Make sure you follow the market on twitter to get the latest word on what's new at the market!

This Saturday brings a demo that those early birds won’t want to miss – Chef Shaun Doty of Shaun’s will be leading the cooking demo this weekend! The market is open for the season from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. every Saturday morning through December 18 at 2744 Peachtree Road, NW.

It's Time to Treat Mom

Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away, so it’s time to start making plans to celebrate these special women. We’ve got a list of mouthwatering meals and great gift options that every mom is sure to love. Get ahead of the game and make mom’s day!

Aqua blue starts mom's day in Roswell with a special 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. brunch buffet for $29.95 per person. Children under the age of 14 are $9.95, and children under four eat free. A buffet peek shows carved strip steak and turkey, roasted pork tenderloin, made-to-order omelets, assorted pastries and desserts and many more tempters. Treat mom to bottomless mimosas for $15 per person. If dinner out is her preference, come from 5:30 - 9 p.m. for Aqua blue's regular à la carte menu and seasonal features. Reservations are required; call 770-643-8886. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road.)

Dine in Midtown at Ecco's Mother's Day brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and give mom a mini-Mediterranean holiday. Ecco's brunch menu includes a shareable selection of meats and cheeses and other taste and share items such as a chocolate croissant ($6), goat cheese and lemon croissant ($6) and fried goat cheese with black pepper ($7). Main dishes include a frittata with green garlic, escarole and pecorino ($12); house-made pork sausage with lentils and a poached egg ($12) and crepes with honeyed ricotta, strawberries and pistachios ($9). Crispy, woodfired pizzas ($13-$14) are another favorite. Round out the meal with sides of polenta, sautéed spinach, sautéed potatoes with chorizo ($5 each) and more. See the complete menu and make online reservations. (40 7th Street, NE; 404-347-9555)

Mother's Day "Supper" can only mean one thing -- JCT. Kitchen & Bar is putting on a fine Southern-inspired Sunday Supper for mom's big day from 5 - 9 p.m. Chef and Owner Ford Fry starts his Mother's Day $36 prix-fixe menu with a selection of warm biscuits, house-made jams, deviled eggs and Benton's country ham. After that comes a local "farm stand" salad and then on to the entrée decision . . . will it be slow-cooked rabbit with Vidalia onion, fontina-filled pasta and wilted local greens; pan-roasted dayboat fish; hickory-roasted Berkshire pork rack; cider-braised short rib "pot roast;" black skillet-fried chicken; or the vegetable plate piled with local vegetables, buttered potato dumplings and preserved tomatoes. A classic Georgia strawberry shortcake with local honey and lavender cream makes a sweet supper ending. (1198 Howell Mill Road; 404-355-2252)

Mama mia, La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia Highland loves moms! Their Mother's Day feast welcomes guests from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with refreshing salads, bruschetta and an antipasti platter of meat and cheese ($5.95-$13.95); and entrées such as house-made challah French toast, chicken sausage, ricotta and lemon ravioli and a smoked salmon crostini ($7.95-$14.95). See the complete menu and make reservations online. (992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430)

Present mom with luxurious chocolates and

truffles from LW Chocolatier chocolate boutique. Select a package filled with a variety of LW's incredible riches of chocolates and truffles or handselect her preferences for a custom-made gift box. Make sure to sign up for their monthly newsletter to find out the latest specials and events! (One Buckhead Plaza at 3060 Peachtree Road, NW, Suite 40; 404-467-8503)

Four of the Marlow's Tavern locations around town will be offering brunch for $14.99 per person and $15 bottomless mimosas for adults on Mother's Day. Savory brunch specialties at Marlow's Tavern include crabcakes Benedict and made-to-order omelets. (Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.)

Morton's The Steakhouse honors mothers with a special $59 menu. The prix-fixe menu includes a choice of Morton's salad or Caesar salad; single-cut filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, Filet Oskar, broiled salmon fillet with beurre blanc sauce, Colossal Shrimp Alexander with beurre blanc sauceor Chicken Christopher with garlic beurre blanc sauce; one vegetable or potato side dish; and crème brûlée or double chocolate mousse for dessert. Each mom dining at Morton's Buckhead on Mother's Day will receive a mini-spa package of a 30-minute massage, mini-facial, and a shampoo, blow out and style at the newly-opened William David Salon in the Terminus Building. Both locations are open from 3 - 9 p.m. on Mother's Day. (Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535. Morton's The Steakhouse - Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366)

Elegant Pacci Ristorante pays tribute to moms with an abundant brunch buffet laden with flavorful dishes by Executive Chef Keira Moritz, including deviled eggs, crab fondue, cheese grits, pesto squash casserole and an assortment of pastries. The Mother's Day brunch buffet is available from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and is priced at $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages six to 12 and no charge for children under six. (866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678-412-2402)

Let Mom choose brunch or dinner riverside, downtown or in the 'burbs at Ray's Restaurants on Mother's Day. From 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Ray's on the River is offering a Mother's Day brunch buffet priced at $35 for adults and $17 for children ages five to 10. From 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., both Ray's Killer Creek and Ray's in the City are offering a brunch priced at $29.95 for adults and $12.95 for children ages five to 10. Both locations also are offering the regular dinner menu from 5 - 8 p.m. (Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187. Ray's Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064. Ray's in the City: 240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224)

Shaun's, in historic Inman Park, is offering a Mother's Day brunch spread that will make mom swoon. Served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Executive Chef Shaun Doty's brunch menu boasts breakfast fare including cage-free organic eggs, applewood smoked bacon, homemade sausages, cheddar waffles with Steen's cane syrup, Anson Mill speckled grits, eggs Benedict and a selection of artisan breads and biscuits. Other items include Southern-style fried chicken, braised local collard greens, cedar-planked salmon, marinated pork loin, a selection of farmhouse cheeses and assorted desserts. Price is $40 per person; $10 for children 10 and under. Reservations can be made online. (1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358)

Treat your modern-day Southern belle to the regional flavor of Mother's Day brunch at South City Kitchen Midtown or South City Kitchen Vinings. Bask in Southern hospitality while dining on first flavors such as chocolate muffins, fried green tomatoes and sautéed chicken livers; brunch specialties like a country frittata, peach "French toast" pudding, Southern-style eggs Benedict and crab hash; and regular menu favorites including their famous buttermilk fried chicken and pan-fried mountain trout. See the South City Kitchen Midtown menu and make online reservations. 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358. View the South City Kitchen Vinings menu and make online reservations. 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

Mom has her own Mother's Day dish at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food! The Plato de Madre ($29.95) fills her plate with cold water lobster tail, chicken and beef fajitas, guacamole, pico de gallo, Mexican rice and frijoles a la charra. So delish, everyone else may want to order their own "plato." The special dish will only be available from May 3 - 16. (Buckhead: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. Sandy Springs: 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260).

For a meaningful Mother's Day celebration, take mom to Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery. The North Georgia winery offers a memorable meal with breathtaking views. Since both Mother's Day brunch seatings are already sold out, surprise mom early with a lovely lunch at the winery's Vineyard Café. The café is open Thursday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Advance reservations are required for all food service events and can be made by calling 706-867-9862. Wolf Mountain Vineyards is located at 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega, Georgia, 706-867-9862.

Lastly, if you want to get mom a gift she'll use for years, the Atlanta Cooks at Home cookbook is a great Mother's Day option. Whether your mom is an Atlanta native or an at-home cook who is eager to learn the culinary ways of the South, this book gives readers cool recipes and insight for different occasions as well as personal interviews from the city's top chefs.

It’s Follow Friday! Meet our Tweep of the Week – Atlanta Foursquare Day

In case you haven’t heard, TODAY is Atlanta Foursquare Day! Lots of great businesses around the city are celebrating by offering special discounts when you flash your Foursquare check-in.

Follow on Twitter to get the latest updates! There are so many fantastic offers – free beer at Ormsby’s, Atkins Park, and Thirsty Dog Tavern, free dessert at Shaun’s, free margarita at The Original El Taco, discounted bento box at Spice Market, free tent event at the new Pinkberry location this afternoon and lots more! Thanks to the organizers of this special one day event – check out their website for full details for each deal.

Saturday Brunch at Shaun's for Half the Price

As if we weren't already jonesing for Shaun's bistro fare for brunch on Saturdays, the Inman Park restaurant is offering brunch-goers 50 percent off their meal (excluding alcohol) on Saturday, April 17. Executive Chef/Owner Shaun Doty's brunch menu includes items like cheddar waffles, ricotta beignets with chocolate sauce, Maryland-style jumbo lump crab cakes and Sea Island red pea soup with Tabasco cream that will have you licking the bowl (which I had to restrain myself from doing last week). If you are a mimosa drinker, I highly recommend the Mistral Mimosa with lavender, honey, lemon and prosecco. It's a light and refreshing cocktail that is perfect for any time of day.

Weekend brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Shaun's: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE: 404-577-4358.

Don't Forget Your Easter Brunch Reservations

Alrighty, my procrastinating peeps, you really should hop to and make those Easter eating plans today. Otherwise, the Easter Beagle may skip your house. And we wouldn't want that! Just in case you need an idea, here are a few from us. Enjoy!

In Roswell, Aqua blue will serve a bountiful Easter brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. A few of the delicious items on the spread are carved leg of lamb, blackened fish with lobster sauce, roasted turkey with giblet gravy, fresh sushi and made-to-order omelets. $29.95 adults, $9.95 children ages four to 12 and free for children under age four. Imbibe in bottomless mimosas for just $15. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886)

The staff at La Tavola Trattoria, in the heart of Virginia Highland, will rise and shine an hour earlier than usual, opening doors for Easter brunch from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Salads, bruschetta, a meat and cheese antipasti platter, chicken sausage, smoked salmon crostini and ricotta and lemon ravioli balance sweeter tastes such as challah French toast. (992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430)

The hunt for food and frolicking ends in Midtown at Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge. Executive Chef Keira Moritz has a full buffet spread with deviled eggs, crab fondue, cheese grits, pesto squash casserole, pastries and much, much more from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages six to 12 and free for children under the age of six. Upstairs, AltoRex Rooftop Lounge will host a family egg hunt from 5 - 7 p.m. followed by an adults-only version from 9 - 11 p.m. Gift certificates, AltoRex cocktail party packages, drink tickets and appetizer tickets fill "adult" eggs. (866 West Peachtree Street, NW, adjacent to the Hotel Palomar; 678-412-2402)

Enjoy a traditional Southern Easter menu at both South City Kitchen locations. Chocolate muffins, fried green tomatoes and sautéed chicken livers make way for a hearty country frittata, peach "French toast" pudding, Southern-style eggs Benedict and crab hash as well as buttermilk fried chicken and pan-fried mountain trout. South City Kitchen Vinings will serve the Easter menu from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700); South City Kitchen Midtown will serve the special brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358)

On Atlanta's north side, Ray's Restaurants will have two locations open on Easter. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Ray's on the River will offer a holiday brunch; $35 for adults and $17 for children 10 and under (6700 Powers Ferry Road, NW; 770-955-1187). Ray's Killer Creek will serve a special Easter brunch from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; $30 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under. (1700 Mansell Road; 770-649-0064)

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food spices up the Easter weekend menu with border-style breakfast tacos, brunch quesadillas, classic huevos rancheros and chilaquiles, and a kids menu featuring egg tacos and quesadillas served with fruit cups. Adults, add a little kick to your hop with a Bloody Mary, Salty Juanita, Chispas and Gran Mimosa. Brunch and regular menus available during weekend brunch, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Buckhead: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. Sandy Springs: 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260.)

A picture-perfect Easter Sunday is yours when the family brunches at Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery near Dahlonega. Seafood gumbo, seared scarlet snapper, Southern fried chicken, maple-glazed ham and leg of lamb with mint Dijon sauce are a few of the delicious offerings. Seatings are at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; $30 for adults, $15 for kids ages six to 12 and free for kids five and under (plus tax and gratuity). (180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega. Meal reservations are a must: 706-867-9862.)

Look to LW Chocolatier for the sweetest Easter gifts -- luxurious chocolates hand decorated by master chocolatiers. Lucky for us, the first U.S. location is easy to find in the heart of Buckhead so you can find high-quality chocolate bunnies, chicks and eggs filled with dulce de leche, strawberry, lemon, orange and other fillings ($4 to $50). Open Monday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (One Buckhead Plaza at 3060 Peachtree Road, NW, Suite 40; 404-467-8503)

Shaun's will be featuring a traditional brunch buffet this Sunday. Items include homemade pork sausages, organic eggs, delicious sublime doughnuts, cedar planked salmon and an amazing selection of southern layer cakes. And if you are their Facebook friend, you get a round of mimosas for your table! Reservations available from 11-2, $40 for adults, $10 for kids 10 and under. Ask for Courtney to get the drinks!

Chef Party at El Taco Sunday

Feeling a little let down now that all the holiday parties are over? Don't despair! There's a great party on Sunday night at El Taco - and you're invited. A while back, Kirsten Ott from The Sunday Paper named her top 25 chefs in the city and Shaun Doty has invited them all to come celebrate with him. And you know there's nothing more fun than partying with a bunch of chefs!

Sunday night, Dec. 28, starting at 9 p.m. El Taco will be serving $1 tacos and $2 beer. No deals on the FroMos though - boo! Nevertheless, it will be tons of fun. All the chefs have been invited and we know for sure that Joe Truex/Repast, Craig Richards/La Tavola Trattoria, Micah Willix/Ecco, Shane Touhy/Dogwood, Riccardo Ullio/Beleza, Cuerno, Sotto Sotto and Fritti and of course Shaun will be there.

I can't wait!

Atlanta Cooks at Home Chefs Signing

We had a nice Atlanta Cooks at Home cookbook event today at Twigs and Lace in Alpharetta. Chefs Shaun Doty/Shaun's, Piero Premoli/Pricci, Jay Swift/Fourth & Swift, and Sheri Davis were there to sign cookbooks and give out tasty treats. The event was actually just behind the store in a catering facility called The Prospect House. I had never been here before. The store is adorable and the facility is very nice - would be great for a wedding.