Morton’s The Steakhouse Wins Over Wine-Lovers With a New By-The-Glass Menu

Wine-lovers rejoice! Morton's The Steakhouse is now offering a new Wine by the Glass menu at both the Buckhead and downtown Atlanta locations. The menu pours it on with a selection of 27 wines that complement the existing award-winning variety of more than 200 bottles. Spring/Summer 2010 selections by the glass include: the 25th release of 2010 Vintner's Hall of Fame inductee Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon "Le Cigare Volant" (This California vintage is offered as a special label "Morton's Cuvee."); a single vineyard Pinot Noir from Tony Soter's Willamette estate; and a rich Chardonnay from Dan Goldfield at Dutton Goldfield (Russian River).

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.

Sara Moulton Wows Crowds at Cook’s Warehouse

The culinarian’s calendar is always full in this town. After hearing reports about Sara Moulton’s recent classes at Cook’s Warehouse, we’re slapping our wrists for missing the event!
Current Good Morning America Food Editor and former Gourmet magazine chef Sara taught a class in each of Cook’s Warehouse’s three stores featuring recipes from her great new cookbook Sara Moulton's Everyday Family Dinners. We hear reports that she was gracious and fun! If you missed the class, there’s still a limited supply of freshly autographed copies of her book available at Cook’s Warehouse.

It’s Follow Friday – meet our Tweep of the Week @pointsnorthedit

Monthly Points North magazine has kept stylish Atlanta Northsiders informed about what's happening on their side of town since 2000. Readers can now find much of that information elegantly presented on the Points North website.

Dining, entertainment, travel, recipes, styles and human interest stories are all fair game. No time to read it all? Sign up for shorter Twitter updates!

Farm to Table to Kid: Be a Participant

Saturday, Alton Brown of the Food Network, Yael Lehman of The Food Trust, and Anthony Geraci of the Baltimore City School Farm to School Program will tackle the topic of increasing access to healthy foods in schools and low-income communities and you can participate.

Georgia Organics has organized three ways for you to join the conversation:

1. There's a Viewing Party at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market this Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pick up some information, tune in to the discussion and submit questions for the speakers LIVE on-site. More information here.

2. Tune in from your home and watch the webcast. Submit your questions online during the discussion. Watch the webcast live here.

3. Submit your questions now to be asked during the Q & A session on how we can truly fulfill Georgia Organics' goal of GOOD FOOD FOR ALL. Email webcast@georgiaorganics.org

A tour just for champagne?

Are you a lover of champagne? If the answer is yes, then tomorrow is your lucky day, because it's time for Tour de Champagne. The event will be taking place at 103 West on Friday, May 21 from 7 - 10 p.m. and will help get your weekend started out on a positive note.

Tour de Champagne will feature a selection of prestigious champagnes along with treats from some of Atlanta's most talented chefs. Chef Keira Mortiz of Pacci Ristorante will be among the chefs providing their delectable cuisines. For the champagne and truffle lovers, LW Chocolatier will be there to provide you with your chocolate fix.

In addition to the tasting tour, there will be a silent auction benefiting Angel Flight of Georgia -- a volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation for medical treatments that are not available locally and for other compassionate purposes for the benefit of the community. Tickets can be purchased online for $140 or at the door (if available) for $160.

103 West is located at 103 West Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-5993.

This Weather was Made for Chilling & Grilling

Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia-Highland is the perfect place to celebrate this beautiful sunny weather and get some good summertime grub prepared on the Big Green Egg. Every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant offers a Big Green Egg "Chill & Grill" patio cookout with a menu that changes weekly. Check out tonight's cookout and prepare to be dazzled by Sous Chef Justin Carr's seasonal selections. On the menu this evening: a BLT salad with crisp confit belly, local spring lettuce and tomato vinaigrette ($8); a spicy shrimp sandwich with charred cippoline onions and apples on crusty bread ($10); and tender BBQ chicken with corn on the cob ($12). Beer and wine pairings chosen for this evening include Brewery Ommegang Rare Vos, Full Sail Brewing Session Lager and Man Chardonnay.

Sneak a peek at the cookout fare each Monday when Atkins Park posts the week's Chill & Grill menu on their website and Facebook Fan Page. Atkins Park Tavern is located at 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

Coffee Talk

LW Chocolatier, the boutique chocolate shop in Buckhead, is adding even more European style to its selection by offering assorted coffees, espressos, cappuccinos and lattes. With LW’s newly-added patio seating and beverage offerings, you can get a taste of Europe right in the heart of Buckhead. Add a few truffles to your espresso and some prime people-watching and you've got yourself an excellent afternoon break! Even better, all coffee drinks range $2 to $5 in price. Did I mention the chocolates? Do yourself a favor and try the dark chocolate Dulce de Leche; you won't regret it.

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.

Save Atlanta Farmers Markets!

We had intended this post to be an excited update about Chef Gerry Klaskala doing a chef demo (we do love those!) at the Piedmont Park Green Market tomorrow. My, how things change in a few days! Atlanta Dish received word yesterday that our farmers markets are in need of our help as the city evaluates their policies regarding the markets – specifically, there aren’t any currently. If current city event rules were applied to Atlanta farmers markets, it would create expenses that most markets cannot afford since most of them are a labor of love run by volunteers.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t and don’t want to imagine an Atlanta without our farmers markets. The Atlanta City Government is generally supportive of the markets which is much appreciated, but they do need to hear our voices against these extended policies that would financially cripple or close down the markets. To find out more about the policies involved and about how you can contact the mayor to let him know how important these farmers markets are, please visit the Facebook event page!

It's Follow Friday - Meet Our Tweep of the Week @intownfriends

It’s springtime and there are few things we’d rather be doing than spending time outside, Terrapin Beer in hand, along with great tastings from local restaurants like Atkins Park, Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, South City Kitchen, The Original El Taco and at least 20 other Atlanta restaurants! Good thing that A Taste of the Highlands is here this weekend! The 8th annual event returns to John Howell Park tomorrow from 2 to 5 p.m. and it’s all for a great cause – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Live music from Lexi Street Band and Blue Remedy will keep you happy and smiling while you sample the best the neighborhood has to offer! Follow them on Twitter to get the latest updates on the event, as well as the other fundraisers they do throughout the year. Bonus – if you buy your ticket online before noon today, you can save $10!

Race Across America Sunday

Warren Bruno makes everything fun! This year he is the co-crew chief for the Georgia Chain Gang - a group of cyclists raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This Sunday the group cycles from Atkins Park in the Highlands to Atkins Park in Smyrna and back. Oh yeah, and they'll stop by Ormsby's too. Trust me when I say this ride will be fun, and delicious.

The ride starts at 8:30 on May 16 and costs $30 per person. A great event for a great cause!

Reserve your spot at Toulouse's monthly wine tasting

Fellow wine lovers I have good news, great news actually. Toulouse Restaurant is having their monthly wine tasting on Sunday, May 16. I have been to a previous wine tasting and it was time well spent. I recommend it to all.

The bistro will be featuring reserve wines and you'll be able to learn the subtle nuances that make it special. There will be 15 reserve wines, as well as light appetizers for the 6:30 p.m. tasting. The cost of the wine tasting is $40 per person. If you have any reservations about going then I recommend you reconsider and reserve your spot for this months reserve wine tasting. Reservations are encouraged so reserve your spot now at 404.351.9533.

Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533.

How To Throw A Party Morton's-Style

Thinking of throwing a party over Memorial Day Weekend? Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead is hosting the perfect event for you! On Thursday, May 13, from 6 - 7:30 p.m., Morton's is hosting a Summer Soiree How-To complete with cocktail making demonstrations and recipes for summertime appetizers.

Learn how to make breezy cocktails like the Cool as a Cucumber cocktail, Guava Caipirissima and Port Sangria. Complementary appetizers such as tuna tartar canapes, mini crab cakes and sirloin rolls will also be demonstrated. And, of course, complimentary bites and sips of everything will be available throughout the demonstration. After all, you can't serve something at a party that you've never tried, right?

The event is $45 per person and seats are limited so be sure to make a reservation to attend!

Pacci Ristorante Loves Pooches!

This month marks the one-year anniversary of Pacci Ristorante, an Italian steakhouse in Midtown that opened last May and was named one of Esquire magazine's "Best New Restaurants of 2009," and the restaurant is celebrating by partnering with the Atlanta Humane Society (AHS). Throughout May, Pacci will donate $1 to AHS for each signature carpaccio (Kobe beef or tuna) or new spring cocktail ordered. Many of the restaurant's guests and staff members are dog lovers, including Pacci's Chef Keira Moritz who has a border collie, and hold AHS close to their hearts. The restaurant is also collecting items on the AHS Wish List to donate to the organization. In honor of this partnership, AHS is naming a puppy that is currently up for adoption (pictured above) Pacci.

For guests who dine at Pacci and have dogs waiting at home, Chef Keira creates homemade Pacci Pups (a bag of gourmet dog biscuits for only $2) to go!

Pacci Ristorante: 866 West Peachtree Street, NW, adjacent to the Hotel Palomar; 678-412-2402.

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.

Satisfy your hunger AND help feed children

Nearly 17 million children in the U.S. will face hunger sometime this year. That's one in four children. Please help Share Our Strength provide them with good nutrition and food so they can concentrate on learning at school and growing into healthy adults. Be a part of the solution by attending Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation fundraiser on Wednesday, May 12 at the Georgia Aquarium.

Sample specialties from more than 50 of Atlanta's star restaurants! It's one stop for trying out the cream of the crop restaurants you've been hankering to visit, including Aqua blue, Aria, Ecco, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Marlow's Tavern, Pacci Ristorante, Spice Market and Woodfire Grill. Wine tastings, three auctions -- silent, live and wine -- and live entertainment by Charley Marshall and Joe Gransden will keep you busy between bites. Mind if we drop some names? Jane Fonda is the Honorary Chairperson, and Dean Fearing of The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas serves as Honorary Chef for the evening. Guests attend from 6:30-10 p.m. with $350 VIP tickets; guests purchasing $250 general admission tickets enjoy the event from 7:30-10 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium: 225 Baker Street, NW; 404-581-4000.

Tails are Wagging for Wine Down Wednesdays at Thirsty Dog Tavern

Thirsty Dog Tavern, the newly-opened pet friendly eatery in Buckhead, will get you over the work week hump with Wine Down Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, the restaurant serves up a $20 tasting of five wines accompanied by light appetizers from 5:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. Additionally, Thirsty Dog offers half off the price of all featured bottles of wines on Wednesdays. The restaurant also has 15 flat screens tuned in to sports, plus a separate cigar and smoking lounge. And don’t forget to bring your dog along for Milk Bones, kibble and water on the lower patio.

Thirsty Dog Tavern: 2110 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-367-8482.

Mother's Day Dining Dilemma Solved

Flowers? Check. Cheesy but sweet card? Check. Delicious chocolates? Check! Reservations? Uh-oh... Still haven't made reservations to take your mom out for a Mother's Day celebration? Well, just a friendly reminder that Mother's Day is THIS WEEKEND and now is probably the time to finalize those plans...

Whether picking an old favorite or a new hot spot, click here to check out the special happenings, unique menus and celebrations just for mom at some of Atlanta's favorite restaurants.

Reservations? Check!

Don’t Forget to Make Your Cinco de Mayo Party Plans

You have two days to decide what you’re doing for Cinco de Mayo. Luckily, we here at Atlanta Dish have a plethora of places for you to visit. From tasty taco bars to mouthwatering margaritas, there’s something for everyone.

AltoRex is celebrating with delicious dishes like tamale poppers and taquitos, and drinks including mouthwatering margaritas and Mexican beers. Those of you who visit AltoRex before Wednesday, May 5, can get a special margarita glass to take home. Bring it back on Cinco de Mayo and get your first fill-up for free! AltoRex Rooftop Lounge is located atop Pacci Ristorante at 866 West Peachtree Street NW; 678-412-2402.

In addition to their weekly Chill and Grill patio cookout event, Atkins Park in Virginia Highland will be serving up special Cinco de Mayo dishes like scallop ceviche with cucumber noodles; and jalapenos and crispy pork taquitos with house-smoked pork, tomato and spicy cheese. The Chill and Grill menu (served from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each Wednesday) also gets into the Cinco de Mayo spirit with items like tender grilled chicken legs with white bean salsa and garden herbs; and traditional elote with cotija cheese and spices. Atkins Park Tavern: 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

The Original El Taco is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with some sweet drink specials including $18 buckets of Dos Equis Amber or Lager, $6 margaritas, $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots and $3 Tecates. The Virginia-Highland eatery is also serving up some Cinco de Mayo menu items like smoked trout with a spicy masa cake and salsa borracho ($6.50); shredded savory pork tostadas with lettuce and guacamole ($7.50); and grilled chicken with poblano chile-cream over steamed morisqueta ($11.50). El Taco is located at 1186 N. Highland Avenue. For more information or to make reservations for a group of seven or more, call 404-873-4656.

Thirsty Dog Tavern, the newly-opened pet-friendly eatery, is getting in on the Cinco de Mayo celebration by offering a tasty taco bar from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and drink deals like $5 margaritas, $14 pitchers of sangria and $3 Coronas all day long. The Buckhead restaurant will also get the party going with a DJ spinning tunes at 7 p.m. Thirsty Dog Tavern is located at 2110 Peachtree Road NW in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood of Buckhead; 404-367-8482.

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food is giving Atlantans a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year. Diners can dig into Uncle Julio’s delicious dishes like smoky grilled fajitas, sizzling shrimp brochettes and marinated grilled quail. For those looking to sip the night away, guests can take a seat at the beautiful bar and quench their thirst with Uncle Julio’s signature Swirl (frozen margarita swirled with frozen sangria) or choose from more than 15 different tequila options to create their own Cinco de Mayo margarita. The restaurant also offers an array of imported Mexican beers, the perfect accompaniment to all of the menu’s savory selections. As always, guests can choose to enjoy their Mexican holiday meal alfresco by sitting on Uncle Julio’s lively patio. The restaurant has two locations in the Atlanta area: 1860 Peachtree Road NW; 404-350-6767 and 1140 Hammond Drive NE; 678-736-8260.

Big Hats, Big Drinks, Big Horses, Big Fun

You might say that the Kentucky Derby is practically a holiday in the South. We’re pretty sure that it’s the birth right of every natural born Southerner to don large, spectacular hats (or for the gents, a classy seer-sucker suit) with a refreshingly classic Mint Julep clasped tightly in hand. Oh, and yes, of course, the majestic horses with ridiculously fun names – we can’t forget about them!

If you can’t make it to Kentucky this year, select locations of Marlow’s Tavern are bringing the party to you. Venture to the Alpharetta, Duluth or Kennesaw locations to cheer on your favorite horse and jockey – they’ll have the race on all televisions so you can watch while enjoying some delicious food and drinks! Make the party extra fun by dressing up – you could win “Best Dressed” or “Best Hat” contests! They’ll have derby themed menu items like the aforementioned Mint Julep and Kentucky burgoo. Even if your horse loses, The Atlanta Community Foodbank Hungerjam will still be a winner – Marlow’s is donating 10 percent of the day’s proceeds!

It’s Follow Friday – meet our Tweep of The Week @GingerCM

Ginger Carter Miller, Ph.D. turns the gluten-filled world into a gluten-free one for those who need to cut the G-word from their diets. The three-year gluten-free twitterer/blogster is a professor of mass communications at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, a self-dubbed gluten-free social media fan, journalist, wife and mother, and a "War Damn Eagle." She's the author of the blog Gluten Free in Georgia. . . Finally and an avid #gf twitterer.  Follow her at http://twitter.com/GingerCM!

Friday Night Scotch & Cigars

If your week has been as long as mine has you definitely need some Friday night plans to start the weekend off right... How about scotch, cigars and dinner at Ray's Killer Creek?

Tomorrow night from 6 - 8 p.m. Ray's Killer Creek is hosting a Rocky Patel Scotch & Cigar event. Each $10 ticket purchase includes one cigar (Patel Brothers, Super Toro or Nicaraguan), one glass of House of Glenmorangie Scotch and one raffle ticket. Raffle prizes include goodies from The Cigar Merchant and gift cards to Ray's. The more you buy, the better your chances of winning!

Ain't no party til it's a patio party!

With spring in full swing, people are ready to get outside and enjoy all the warmth and sunshine that was missing this past winter. What better way to enjoy the sunshine than to sit out on a patio and enjoy food and drinks while basking in warm rays of the sun? Aqua blue will be christening the patio season by throwing their 2nd Annual Patio Kick-off Party on April 30 from 4 p.m. until close.

For those of you who are worried about the weather, don't fret because I've got an inside guy (The Weather Channel) that says it'll be 80 degrees and mostly sunny. Also, the Kristin Tinsley Band will be performing from 7 - 10 p.m. for those in the mood for good music and a little dancing. As if that isn't enough, there will be $6 wine features, $5 drink features, $3 Peroni and Bud Light Golden Wheat and a tapas menu for you to enjoy while you're partying it up.

So get your weekend started out right and put on your patio party pants and make your way to Aqua blue on Friday.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076 · Phone: 770.643.8886

Calling All Disastrous Cooks

It was Thanksgiving and my mom was visiting. She brought all the fixins' for a proper traditional meal to my little apartment in Buckhead. That morning we turned the oven to pre-heat and waited, and waited, and waited. Oops. It didn't work. And I had no idea how long it had been broken. A helpful neighbor with oven space to spare saved the day and my landlord quickly replaced my oven with a brand new one. Fast forward one year later to the next Thanksgiving. Same scene. Mom turns the oven to pre-heat and, after a few minutes, a weird smell fills the air. A quick inspection turned up the melting plastic-covered instruction manual inside. Yeah. Oops again.

I was reminded of this true story when we got an email from the Food Network about their new show for "hopeless home cooks" and those who are "totally incompetent in the kitchen." Details are below if you, or someone you know, want to apply. Please note that I will not see you in line although I qualify!

Food Network is looking for the most disastrous home cooks in
Atlanta to participate in a very different
culinary competition show!


This is the opportunity of a lifetime—to work with the best chefs in the country and learn to cook like a professional. Seeking people with a genuine inability to cook, but a need and desire to improve!

NOMINATE YOURSELF
Has your wife told you it was probably better if you ordered take out?
At the big potluck dinner, are you always asked to “just bring the napkins?”

NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW
Is someone you know constantly offering you food that you have to turn down?
If you know a dad/mom who can’t scramble an egg, a colleague who can’t convince anyone to try their culinary creations, or a guy friend who tries but can’t seem to get it together in the kitchen, this is your chance to get them the help you BOTH need!
OPEN CALL ATLANTA
W Atlanta
188 14th Street NE, Atlanta GA 30361
Saturday, May 1st
9am – 3pm
*Please bring a dish that represents your cooking

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY:
WE ARE CONDUCTING CASTING PHONE INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK, SO PLEASE APPLY ASAP!!!
Email us at worstcooksatlanta@gmail.com
Tell us why you (or the person you are nominating) is the most disastrous cook in the country
Include name, age, hometown, occupation, contact phone number, and a recent photo of the hopeless cook
Additional information & application available at worstcookscasting.com

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.

Big Green Egg-cellence at Atkins Park

If you're like me, you can't get enough of patio dining now that the spring weather has finally arrived. Luckily, the folks at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia-Highland feel the same way and have begun offering a weekly Big Green Egg "Chill & Grill" patio cookout. Every Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant's Sous Chef Justin Carr will prepare seasonal à la carte appetizers and entrées on the Big Green Egg that will change each week. The “chill” comes from a weekly selection of wine and craft beer chosen as ideal mates for the night’s menu. You can start teasing your taste buds every Monday when Atkins Park posts the week’s Chill & Grill menu on their Facebook Fan Page.

Atkins Park Tavern: 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

Five Years of Awesomeness in Vinings

Ah, the older we get, the faster the years pass. And so it goes over at Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings as they clock in five years of serving great food and drinks to the neighborhood!

Celebrate with them this Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25.  Saturday brings a full day of festivities with live music on the patio all day, great food and drink specials and HELLO, birthday cake on the house! Not to mention your wallet will thank you for indulging in half-price appetizers from 4 to 7 p.m. Party-goers can enter to win free dinner each week for a YEAR ($30 gift card per week for one year)! You won’t want to miss that announcement at 10 p.m. on Saturday – you must be present to win.
Can’t make the fun on Saturday? Come on Sunday to enjoy their anniversary brunch starting at 11:30 a.m. followed by dinner specials and live music throughout the day again. Good times!

It’s Follow Friday – Meet our Tweep of the Week @RestaurantsATL

Atlanta has a glorious treasure trove of restaurants to explore. Whether you prefer the international stylings of Buford Highway or a ritzy night out dining in Buckhead, there’s something for everyone! That’s one reason we love @RestaurantsATL on Twitter and on the web – no stone remains unturned in the search for the latest restaurant news. Make sure to follow for great dining deals, upcoming events and positive energy – three things we love to read in our feed!

The Flavors of Friuli at La Tavola Trattoria

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at La Tavola Trattoria to taste the collaboration between the restaurant's Executive Chef Craig Richards and his good friend from Italy, famed Italian Chef Luca Plett. Craig spent time in Luca's kitchen at Ristorante Al Ponte in Friuli last fall and came back with a lot of great ideas to incorporate into the menu at La Tavola, so we knew we were in for some fantastic food. My favorite part of the meal was one of the specials, a nettle ravioli dish, that is pictured above and contained fresh nettles that Luca was able to bring over from Italy. We also really enjoyed the pennoni with rabbit, which is currently on
the restaurant's regular dinner menu (pictured right). If you haven't had a chance to check out any of the nightly specials inspired by Friuli yet, I highly suggest running to the phone and calling 404-873-5430 to make a reservation for tonight's "Friuli Finale" five-course dinner that is being offered at 6:30 p.m. for $65 per person. Check out the menu for tonight here - and be prepared to drool.

It's time for the Inman Park Festival!

You don't want to miss the train to this weekend's Inman Park Festival, so hop on the closest MARTA and make your way down. The festival will be taking place on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25, so go ahead and make your plans to enjoy all that Inman Park has to offer.

Drop into Shaun's for a bite and a brew or beverage before or after hitting the street party festivities. Shaun's knows you don't want to waste time getting to the festival's three stages of live music and entertainment, street market and wild parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, so they've created a quick and casual menu of fresh festival-friendly foods such as White Oak Pastures beef cheeseburgers, Niman Ranch hotdogs, roast beef sandwiches and more. Cool cocktail options include Mistral mimosas, Bloody Marys, margaritas and the house sangria. Absorbing all the music -- Americana, bluegrass, hip hop, New Orleans funk, pop/rock, jazz and more -- could cause folks to forget to eat until day's end. Sink into a seat at Shaun's and order a relaxing dinner from the regular menu after 5 p.m.

The Inman Park Festival opens at 11 a.m. both days and so does Shaun's, staying open until 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday.

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

Don’t Miss the 8th Annual Crawfish Boil at Atkins Park in Smyrna

On Saturday, April 24, Atkins Park - Smyrna is holding the 8th Annual Crawfish Boil in Smyrna's Market Village. The Atlanta eatery’s special event gives guests three-pound platters piled with crawfish and all kinds of bayou fixings. There’s a $5 cover charge to get in with event proceeds going to Mustard Seed Communities. There will be live music outside in Smyrna Market Village from Blair Crimmins & the Hookers, Travel By Train and Lost City, and by Davin McCoy & the Attractions inside Atkins Park. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.

Through caring, sharing and training, Christian-based Mustard Seed Communities fosters homes and communities, uplifting the most vulnerable members of society, especially handicapped and abandoned children, and marginalized communities to bring joy, hope and dignity into their lives.

Atkins Park Tavern: Smyrna Market Village, 2840 Atlanta Road; 770-435-1887.

Get Earthy

Got plans for Earth Day yet? Pacci Ristorante does! Pacci is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22 with a special three-course menu from Chef Keira Moritz for $35 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

Appetizers on the Earth Day menu include local greens with candied pecans, Sweet Grass Dairy goat cheese croutons, Georgia peach vinaigrette and port reduction; smoked Georgia shrimp crespelle with Lolla Rossa and tomato vinaigrette; and grilled plantation quail with corn pudding and arugula pesto.

Entrée options include peanut crusted mountain trout with warm potato gnocchi and escarole salad; porcini dusted pork tenderloin medallions with wild mushroom ragout; and Springer Mountain chicken breast with grilled scallion and roasted tomato risotto.

The dessert course features pecan praline bread pudding with peach zabaione and peanut butter mascarpone cheesecake with Savannah tupelo honey. If there was ever a reason to go to Pacci, I'm thinking these desserts are it!

The best part is that this menu is only one of many efforts to support sustainability at Pacci. The restaurant has also implemented the Kimpton Restaurant EarthCare program whereby all seafood served is solely sustainable in accordance with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, and 30% of Pacci’s wine lists feature eco-friendly selections. The restaurant is also giving guests the opportunity to recycle and receive wine discounts with its Cork to Fork promotion in partnership with ReCORK America. To help ReCORK America obtain more corks for reuse, Pacci is asking patrons to bring in real corks from wine bottles and to buy a bottle of wine with their dinner. The restaurant will deduct 2 percent off the total bill for every cork brought in up to a maximum of 20 percent off.

So grab your corks and head to Pacci for a delicious way to honor Earth Day.

Atlanta Food Bloggers Bake Sale Whips Up Treats For A Good Cause

Why not get your cupcake and cookie fix a little earlier this weekend? Join us for the Food Bloggers Bake Sale tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in lovely Cabbagetown at the Cabbagetown Market! There will be quite an assortment of tasty treats from your favorite Atlanta food bloggers!

Every dollar goes towards helping Share Our Strength. Atlanta Dish will be representin’ with some treats of our own – namely some tasty rosemary shortbread cookies that are a perfect partner for your morning coffee or tea. We’ve posted the recipe below and can’t wait for the event tomorrow!

Rosemary Shortbread Cookies (adapted from Gourmet)
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, ¾ tsp salt, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, 1.5 sticks (3/4 cup) softened unsalted butter, 2 tbsp mild local honey, ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Directions: Preheat oven to 300°F. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, & rosemary in a bowl. Mix together butter, honey, & conf. sugar with an electric mixer, then add flour mixture and mix until dough resembles coarse meal. Gather dough into 2 balls, wrap in saran wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 mins. Roll dough out on floured surface and cut out shapes. Transfer shapes to baking sheet and sprinkle with granulated sugar and finely chopped rosemary to garnish. Bake until golden brown, around 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.

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.

“SOME PIG” leads our Hog Haiku poet winner to “SOME PORK”

Thanks to everyone who pulled on their thinking caps for our Hog Haiku contest for a chance to win Cochon 555 Atlanta tickets! Now one lucky poet will have a chance to take off the thinking cap and put on the bib for the delectable event this Sunday. Drum roll please… our lucky winner is whodigsben with this “terrific” entry!

As a kid, I learned
that Wilbur was terrific.
But he's tasty too!

Get ready for the smorgasbord, whodigsben! Email us at atlantadish@gmail.com to claim your big prize!
We couldn’t let the runner-up slip past without a single oink, so we have to give props to AtlantaDude for this entry:

Tigger, Piglet, Pooh
Closest Friends Til Hunger Strikes
Piglet on the Spit

AtlantaDude, shoot us an email and we will mail you your very own Atlanta Dish t-shirt!

Taste the Flavors of Atlanta discount

Please raise your hand if you like good food. Now raise your other hand if you enjoy a discounted price to get that food. Of course, you and I like both of those things and it's okay if you didn't actually raise your hand; I know you at least thought about it.

Flavors of Atlanta is one week from today on Wednesday, April 21, so the time to get your tickets is dwindling. Tickets are $250 each for the 6 - 10 p.m. event and may be purchased online. As a special for Dish readers, you may purchase tickets for $225 by calling 404-633-9169 and mentioning The Dish. The discounted price cannot be applied to online ticket purchases. All proceeds go to the American Liver Foundation and its mission to promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.

Flavors of Atlanta will have what I like to call "chef roulette." There will be 25 chefs, with the likes of Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Todd Annis of Bold American Catering, Shaun Doty of Shaun's, Ian Winslade of Spice Market and Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill, to name a few. The catch is you won't know which chef will be paired with which table until that night. So don't miss out on a discounted opportunity for suspense and great food!

For more information, contact Katherine Cline, 404-633-9169.

Perfectly Poached Eggs and Practical Dating Advice

We learned alot this morning on the set of FOX5's Good Day Atlanta. First, Chef/Owner Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar talked about the restaurant's "Farm to Table and Back" guest chef dinners and demonstrated how to prepare a poached farm egg salad with black radishes and smoked bacon that had the entire station drooling and wishing for "smellevision," as Host Karen Graham so perfectly put it. Click here for a glimpse of Ford's cooking and call 404-355-2252 to make reservations for tomorrow night's guest chef dinner featuring Hugh Acheson of Five and Ten and The National in Athens. Hugh's menu (five courses paired with wine for $75) looks amazing and it will save you a drive up 316! Plus, all proceeds from the special menu benefit Georgia Organics.

As an added bonus, we got to hear Ford give great relationship advice along with Vincent McCant of Atlantahapps.com and John Gidding of HGTV's Curb Appeal for the male perspective on dating during Good Day Xtra's "The Male Bag." All the men out there who are hungry for a healthier relationship can get tips here.

Lucky Atlanta Dish Winner Could Pig Out With The Best at Cochon 555 Atlanta

There are some things that are innate to being a Southerner. Drinking sweet tea, calling every soda a “Coke”, complaining about pollen and of course, our passion for our tasty friend, Mr. Pig.

Come celebrate your love at Cochon 555 Atlanta this Sunday as a talented group of chefs will prepare 140 pounds of heritage breed hog for guests and professional judges to savor and pronounce the best dishes based on presentation, utilization and best flavor! Five winemakers will also be selected to showcase their wines at the event.

Drooling yet? Grab some paper and get your brain churning, because Atlanta Dish has a PAIR of tickets to give away! Leave us your best Hog Haiku in the comments below and we will select a lucky winner to live on the high hog this Sunday.  Winners will be selected on Wednesday, so better hurry and start channeling your inner Haiku Master!

(If you skipped that day in school, refresh your brain on haikus here!)

Freebies for Ray’s Facebook Fans

This is a no-brainer. While you're already looking, booking, tagging and poking on Facebook, just visit one of Ray's Restaurants' pages, become a fan and go to the “offers” tab at the top of the page. This simple process gets you access to an offer for a free appetizer or dessert at your favorite Ray’s location. We are making it even easier by posting Ray's Facebook links here for you!

Ray's Restaurants

Ray's in the City

Ray's on the River

Ray's Killer Creek

Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road, Sandy Springs; 770-955-1187. Ray's Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064. Ray's in the City: 240 Peachtree Street: 404-524-9224

Thirsty Dog Updates!

We've been barking for weeks over how great Thirsty Dog Tavern is and now it has gotten even better! The tavern is now also open for lunch during the week and brunch every Saturday and Sunday. A brunch menu is offered every weekend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with breakfast favorites like omelets, French toast and spinach frittatas. The highlight of brunch is surely going to be the $5 Bloody Mary bar or the $6 Bellinis though!

The patio has also been finished with brand new furniture. Since the restaurant is also canine-friendly, Thirsty Dog offers a spacious lower patio where pups can prance around and enjoy a man’s best friend menu of Milk Bones, Kibble, a hot dog, burger and filet. Outside the patio is a designated dog walking area complete with fire hydrant, and during doggie happy hour, weekdays at 5 p.m., canines can enjoy free Milk Bones.