The Federal, Aria, Kevin Gillespie are James Beard Foundation 2017 Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists

News flash! The James Beard Foundation (JBF) has announced the 2017 semifinalists for its prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards. Yes, we have to brag on several from our own town: 

Best New Restaurant -- The FederalOutstanding Service -- AriaBest Chef: Southeast -- Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow
What’s next? JBF will announce the final Restaurant and Chef Award nominees on Wednesday, Mar. 15 and post the names in real time on Facebook Live and Twitter. The 2017 James Beard Awards Gala will take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 1.

Shout Out to Atlanta.About.Com -- Now on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Chances are you’ve clicked on About.com when sleuthing out information on various topics and how-tos. The online engine has added an “About Travel” Atlanta-specific section with volumes of useful information for visitors, newcomers and those already well-entrenched in Atlanta ways, means, ins and outs. Click in for freebies and attraction discounts, activity ideas, who’s who and even how to transfer your driver’s license to Georgia if you’ve recently moved here. Which will be your most-used mode to information? Atlanta expert Kate Parham Kordsmeier has everything you need online at Atlanta.About.com, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

#foodgram of the week: fellow foodie Jessica

How do self-proclaimed pro eaters, food-tographers, master chefs and exercise lovers squeeze in a little time for everything? Jessica will show you how she does it all via blogs, tweets and tasty pics @howsweeteats.

Eat It and Tweep: Downtown Atlanta Has Tweets You Won't Want to Miss!

Downtown Atlanta is more than blocks of tall buildings and heavy traffic; the city is full of enthusiastic people who are eager to share what’s happening. Follow along via Central Atlanta Progress tweets (@downtownatlanta) to see what everyone’s chatting about, from the scoop on sports to appetizing eateries.  

Sample Tweet: Central Atlanta Progress announces new Downtown Partner program for businesses, nonprofs, HOAs and individuals http://bit.ly/15lqihH

Eat it and Tweep: Old Vinings Inn is Not Too Old to Tweet

Built in the 1880s, Old Vinings Inn is one of the oldest sites in quaint Vinings. Old age doesn't stop this charming place from coming alive alive with bands, The Attic Bar, special dinners, weddings, meetings and more! Keep up with it all on Twitter (@Old_Vinings_Inn).

Sample Tweet:  This Weekend at the Vinings Inn -eepurl.com/ztvy9

Eat it and Tweep: Vidalia Onion Tweets Tell How to Enter Flavors of Summer Recipe Contest

Even though Vidalia onions are tearless, missing the Flavors of Summer recipe contest will leave you feeling down. Don't miss your chance to enter by connecting on Twitter (@VidaliaOnions1) to peel back the exciting contest details. A winner from each of four categories will receive a cash prize of $1,000, and the grand prize is an outdoor entertaining package from Sears valued at $5,000.

Sample Tweet: Meet our Flavors of Summer bloggers! They come to you with great recipes, decorating tips and more. You won't want... http://fb.me/Nc7W4fzN

Eat it and Tweep: Let the Dog Days of Summer Begin by Adopting a Golden

School’s out and the kids are barking up trees for things to do. Why not Adopt a Golden? Give your kids the perfect chance to learn responsibility by adding a furry new friend to take care of. The whole family can get in on the fun and enjoy evening strolls with your newest family member. Get ready to fall in love with adorable tail wags and wet kisses by following Adopt a Golden Atlanta on Twitter (@adoptagolden). Go on now, fetch.

Sample Tweet: Little Millie is here at AGA and is looking for a home! At just 8 1/2 weeks old, she is simply adorable! http://fb.me/19b9J8hKf

Eat it and Tweep: Now Open, Gunshow Right on Target with News Tweets

 

Kevin Gillespie's new restaurant Gunshow is open and getting the word out on all the excitement, weekly menus and media coverage via Twitter (@GunshowATL). Sneak a peek via snapshots and links to Facebook and their website.

Sample Tweet:  The Daily South from @Southern_Living named Gunshow a "cutting edge kitchen in Atlanta." Come and see us! http://ow.ly/kYhWM

Eat It and Tweep: A Twitter Feeding Frenzy Counts Down to King + Duke Opening

 

Want to stay in-the-loop with the happenings of Chef Ford Fry’s latest venture? The scoop about his new Buckhead restaurant, King + Duke, can be easily found by following along on Twitter (@kingandduke). And don’t worry, the opening on May 13 at 3060 Peachtree Road won’t bring an end to King + Duke’s Twitter action! 

Sample Tweet: getting close. we have furniture and lights and art! follow our progress here: http://kingandduke.tumblr.com

Eat it and Tweep: BurgerFi® Tweets with Burger in Hand

 

Develop a personal relationship with the burgers and burger masters at BurgerFi® (@BurgerFi). Besides keeping up with quips, see who's heading over to the new Emory Point location and get a feel for the local faves to cut down on your own decision-making time.

Sample Tweet: @advtastes You can tell a lot about a person by looking at what they order. We have decided you are awesome!

Eat It and Tweep: This Rebecca Lang Tweets Around a Southern Table

 

There are multiple Rebecca Langs on Twitter, but only one is Athens' own Rebecca Lang, mom of two as well as contributing editor for @southern_living, author of Around the Southern Table, food writer, cooking instructor and heir of cast iron skillets. Rebecca is also this year's Vidalia Onion spokesperson and you won't want to miss her! Follow her tweets at @rebeccalangcook. Full reads athttp://rebeccalangcooks.blogspot.com/.

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/

Eat it and Tweep: Sprint2theTable for Fitness and Food Tweets

Laura is into NPC. Not to be confused with NPR. Preparing for National Physique Competitions dictates careful attention to nutrition and getting physical - the two mainstays of her tweets(@Sprint2theTable). Her tweets and blog posts send out some fun and useful food and fitness help for the average Jane and Joe Gymgoer as well.

Sample Tweet:  What new things have you tried to get outside your safety box? Don't be scared to embrace your weird!http://ow.ly/hUhso#beweird...

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week: @CakeWrecks

 

We know everyone loves a good laugh, and what’s better than hilarious bloopers and blunders… on cakes? Jen Yates (@CakeWrecks) finds them so hilarious that she dedicated a blog to "Cake Wrecks - when professional cakes go horribly wrong." From misspellings to cake decorating gone awry, Jen Yates has found some of the greatest bakery disasters. As a home baker, it's kind of comforting to see that everyone makes mistakes, and they're just as delicious anyway.

Sample Tweet: Is this way off, or just another potty-training cake? YOU DECIDE. http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2013/1/17/ooooohso-close.html ... pic.twitter.com/Efe5YCX5

It’s Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @danapops

This week, be sure to follow our Tweep of the Week Dana Hazels Seith - @danapops! Dana covers it all - culture, food and drink, travel, life in general. As a mom-to-be myself, I really relate and learn from her revelations as they pop up on her blog!

Sample Tweet: The Pop Five—danapop. An interview with @margaretcho,@FiatUSA takes on Motherhood, and 2013’s word top my list.http://bit.ly/WxiIdh  

It’s Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @cakespy

When it comes to sweets, our office is always looking out for fellow baking minded enthusiasts! Our tweep of the week for this week is Cake Spy Jessie Oleson Moore (@cakespy), a freelance writer and illustrator who tracks down bakeries, conducts baking experiments, interrogates bakers and food artists and shares her finds. 

Be sweet and also drop by her website at www.cakespy.com!

Sample Tweet: Another day, another Lord of the Rings themed cupcake painting commission… http://www.cakespy.com/blog/2013/1/2/sweet-art-cupcakes-at-rivendell.html  

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @Bakerella

So you say you like baking? Well then, we have the tweep (@Bakerella) for all your dessert and decorating needs. You can find posts about cake pops, fondants, sugar cookies and other divinities conjured up from sugar, butter, flour and flavorings. Also, visit the sister website Bakerella for more details to achieve a blissful sugar coma.

Sample Tweet: Love the cake pop necklace. Thank you Adonia! http://instagr.am/p/TRi_zep_Xt/

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @Ariannebar

 

You can tell from her photo she's full of smiles, stories and serious skills for mixing up beverages behind the bar at new Seven Lamps in the Shops Around Lenox. Atlantan Arianne Fielder (@Ariannebar) dubs herself a Southern Cocktail Resurgen, bourbon and American Whiskey aficionado and a "Big Dog Mom." When not mixing it up behind the bar, Arianne tweets about cocktails and her thoughts on current events. 

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @graceyu

Now, 20-something eater/writer/Tweeter/blogger Grace Yu (@graceyu) puts it right out there exclaiming "My stupid thoughts are mine & mine alone."  A disclaimer like that only makes one want to read more so take a lap on the laptop and check out her blog. 

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @SouthernFood

Based in NOLA, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization SoFAB(@SouthernFood) revolves around the discovery, understanding and celebration of eating and drinking in the South. Follow for thought-provoking F&B topics, deals, gift ideas, recipes and more. Sit down with your favorite hot cup and mull over more at http://www.southernfood.org.

Sample Tweet: For the perfect bird, treat it well - and we mean, very well... http://fb.me/1HuAHRnJh