Lots Going on at Shaun's

Don't expect to see Shaun Doty anywhere but in the kitchen at Shaun's for the next few days. He'll be whipping up a 3-course gluten-free menu all weekend (Fri - Sun). Those who avoid gluten will love the white gazpacho and scuppernongs, followed by prosciutto San Daniele with gluten-free focaccia and wilted radicchio with burst tomato vinaigrette, Steen's cane syrup-marinated duck with ginger, sweet potato and endive, and vanilla panna cotta and fresh cherry sorbet close out the meal. It's $45 per person (excluding beverage, tax and gratuity). Additionally, on Saturday he's bringing back the popular half price brunch offer that will surely bring a line of happy customers to the door. And then, it's Inman Park Restaurant Week! Usually closed on Monday and Tuesday, Shaun's will be open all week serving a yummy $25 menu. I don't know about you but I see a can of Red Bull in his future!

thanks to benay kissel/tribal chicke designs for the photo

It's Follow Friday; meet our Tweep of the Week @kittenwithawhip!

You might think CNN is short for Culinary News Network when you click on Eatocracy, the network's food blog.  

Get comfy with your laptop or iPad because you're going to find a hefty amount of intriguing reads here!  Keep up with the short version on Eatocracy Managing Editor Kat Kinsman's Twitter.

Spice Market Steps Outside

Looking for a reason to stay outside on a beautiful day like today? Well, we’ve got the perfect event to embrace this amazing weather. Today, Spice Market Executive Chef Mauro Gomez will provide complimentary appetizers at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's weekly Cocktails in the Garden party. This month’s theme, "Mocha & Mudslides," ushers in the chocolaty goodness of the Garden's newest exhibit, Chocolate: Seed to Sweet. Treats and drinks at the 6-10 p.m. party will be derived from the cacao tree. Tickets are just $15; garden members free; guest passes accepted. Full cash bar.

If today is already booked, then you can catch Chef Gomez at the Piedmont Park Green Market's 11 a.m. chef demo this Saturday, September 18. This event is free, although you'll probably spend some green beforehand on fresh veggies and other finds at the Green Market.

Spice Market: In the W Atlanta-Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550.

Two Weeks of Smyrna Eats and Drinks with Atkins Park

It’s time once again for the Taste of Smyrna “Festival of the Delectable” and Atkins Park Tavern is one of over 30 restaurants participating on Saturday September 18^th from 11am – 8 pm on the Village Green in downtown Smyrna.  Samples will range from 50 cents to 4 dollars, but event admission (plus all the smells!) is completely free.  A feast for the eyes and ears too; event attendees can enjoy the acoustic stylings of Scott Thompson on the Veteran’s Memorial and continuous entertainment on the Main Stage.  Plus there will be a Kid’s Zone equipped with impressive interactive inflatables.  The entire food-filled event concludes with a concert on the Main Stage at 7pm.

But wait - the foodie fun in Smyrna is just getting started!  Atkins Park will be hosting the Smyrna Beer Fest on Saturday, September 25 from 1-6pm at Smyrna Market Village, 2480 Atlanta Road.  Admission includes hundreds of local, domestic, and imported beers, wine tastings, and a commemorative 7 ounce tasting glass, plus tasty snacks from Atkins Park and other local eateries.  In addition to the drinks and eats, there will be entertainment by Lethal Rhythms and college football viewing.  Must be 21 and up to attend, but dogs of all ages are welcome (just be sure to clean up after your pooch!).  Purchase tickets for $25 in advance or $35 at the gate.  No strollers, backpacks, or coolers permitted.  Event proceeds will benefit Mustard Seed Communities and the Smyrna Education Foundation.

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

Get Your Taste Buds Geared Up for the Martinelli Wine Dinner at Aria Next Week!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away...yes, we're talking about THAT Martinelli, the company that has been producing both apples and wines since 1896! But this time around they will be gracing Aria guests with a fall wine dinner on Wednesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. Juliana Martinelli will bring Martinelli Estate's fine wines to the intimate Buckhead restaurant for a Sonoma Valley wine dinner experience featuring food from Aria Owner/Chef Gerry Klaskala. Between sips, guests will get to learn about the Martinelli family's winery legacy and winemaking techniques. Cost is $100 per person including tax and gratuity. Call 404-233-7673 for more information and to make reservations.

Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead.

Cobb County Restaurant Week

You have until this Saturday to "Taste the Good Life" during lunch or dinner for only $20.10 per person during Cobb County Restaurant Week. From Vinings to Kennesaw, a whole slew of Cobb County restaurants are participating in the week long food fest by offering special three-course prix fixe lunch or dinner menus.

Guests can select their appetizer, entrée and dessert from a menu of options at local favorites such as South City Kitchen Vinings, Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna and Marlow's Tavern locations in Kennesaw and Vinings. Be sure to snag your seat before Saturday or this deal will be long gone!

Dine Out For A Cause

I tend to dine out for lunch or dinner several times each week, so now my eating habits will actually benefit a great cause. The Great American Dine Out is being held September 19-25 to help Share Our Strength end childhood hunger in America by 2015. All Marlow's Tavern locations, Aqua blue and Spice Market are among the many participants for the nationwide event.

Aqua blue and Marlow's Tavern locations are asking guests to donate $1 or more toward the cause. In return, they'll receive one $5 gift card to use on their next purchase at the restaurants. Spice Market is taking a different route to encourage diner participation by offering a special three-course menu for $45, with $10 going straight to Share Our Strength.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.
Marlow's Tavern: Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; 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; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; and Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.
Spice Market: In the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550.

Don’t Miss Deadwood’s Opening Party!

We’ve got a cure for the “hump day” blues this week: Deadwood Saloon’s grand opening party this Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.! You and all your friends are welcome at the newly-opened Midtown eatery and bar for an evening of complimentary appetizers, drink specials such as $2 Bud Light drafts and $3 Absolut cocktails and two DJs spinning tunes all night long. There is free parking across the street. Let ‘em know you’re coming by RSVPing today!

Deadwood Saloon: 66 12th Street in Midtown; 404-671-4290.

It's Follow Friday! Meet Our Tweep of the Week @BocceAtlanta

Bocce has become a fun pastime in Atlanta thanks to restaurants like Ormsby's and Leon's Full Service, and now the Atlanta Bocce League is turning it into some friendly competition. Find them at Piedmont Park or on Twitter.

The season starts up September 15, and you can still register this weekend if you're joining an existing team that has already been started by a friend. Bocce fans who want to cheer on the players can "Like" the league on Facebook to recieve updates.

Ormsby's is a league sponsor and the spot to end up after the weekly Wednesday night games at Piedmont Park's new bocce courts.

Calling all Cabernet Lovers! Get Your Caboose to Toulouse

For Toulouse’s September wine tasting, the Buckhead restaurant is taking guests on a tour through 15 different Cabernets this Sunday. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on September 12, vino lovers will be able to taste these wines and enjoy light appetizers for only $30 per person. To save your seat, call 404-351-9533.

Toulouse is located at 2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B.

Woodfire Grill Brings the BBQ at the Taste & Tour of Cheshire Bridge this Saturday

Cheshire Bridge Road, the street that never sleeps, has an eclectic mix of restaurants, retail, communities and businesses that are eager to share their vibe with everyone who drops by the annual Taste & Tour of Cheshire Bridge 2010 on Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12. Come try some delicious BBQ from Woodfire Grill as part of the Tasting & Market activities from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 11 only. Live music and art by local artists keeps things colorful. Purchase tickets online for $20 per person for both days or for $25 per person at the event (at the Cheshire Pointe Shopping Center at 2000 Cheshire Bridge Road NE). Parking is available at Cheshire Square Shopping Center, along Faulkner Road (and other side streets), or the Piedmont Road lot of Nakato's. Walk or take the trolley to the event.

Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

LOCAL CHEFS PARTY IN THE KITCHEN FOR A GREAT CAUSE

The 7th Annual Party in the Kitchen event at Mason Murer Fine Art is tonight, September 9th, and some of Atlanta’s finest chefs will be on location to help raise funds and awareness for Open Hand, a nonprofit organization that packs and delivers more than 5,000 meals daily across 17 Georgia counties for individuals living with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer. Tonight guests can catch a glimpse into the future of Open Hand since Mason Murer is located right next to the site of their new campus. The evening will include live music, dancing, and food prepared onsite by local chefs Gerry Klaskala of Aria and Craig Sauls of The Original El Taco. Plus, an exciting new addition to this year’s event will be a silent auction, where the grand prize is a meal for a lucky party of 12 prepared in the winner’s home by Peter Kaiser, Gerry Klaskala, Kevin Maxey, Kevin Rathbun, and Shane Touhy! Reserved admission is $150 for a single event ticket or $500 for two Patron tickets (which includes event admission plus access to the exclusive Patron reception at 6:00 p.m. where patrons can meet and greet participating chefs). Event parking is complimentary. Purchase tickets at ProjectOpenHand.org.

Where should I eat lunch? Davio's!

Newly opened Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse in Phipps Plaza will begin opening the doors even earlier -- at 11:30 a.m. every day! The restaurant is now offering lunch, Sunday brunch and an extensive bar menu to satisfy cravings at all hours of the day.

For a business lunch or a shopping and lunch date, Davio's is the place at Phipps.

Also stay up to date with the happenings at Davio's and add them to your Facebook friend list.

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810.

It's Time to Get Your "Chop" on at Aqua blue

Today officially kicks off "Chop Month" at Aqua blue! Make your way to the Roswell restaurant for incredible menu items like the Aqua blue "Chop" salad ($9), St. Louis-style hoisin rib chop ($10), bone-in spicy Guinness-marinated chicken ($19), Caribbean-spiced pork chop ($21) and Australian lamb chop ($30). All chops are accompanied by forest mushroom and asparagus tip risotto with sweet herbs. Aqua blue is also offering delightful drinks to pair with your chops: AB classic martini with Gorgonzola-stuffed olives ($7); the Black Bourbon "Chop" -- Jim Beam Black bourbon and peach with a splash of cranberry and a pickled ginger-stuffed cherry ($7); 2007 Benziger Sangiacomo Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay ($8) and 2007 Trapiche Broquel Malbec ($9). Guests may also order off Aqua blue's menu of à la carte items and award-winning sushi during "Chop Month." The special menu ends on Monday, October 11.

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

Who's Open on Labor Day?

Forgot to clean the grill? Don't have a staff? No worries! Here's a list of restaurants that will gladly cook for you and yours on Labor Day. Hope it's a great day!

Ray's Killer Creek will be open and serving its signature seafood, beef and chicken dishes to Alpharetta diners. Both the Buckhead and Sandy Springs locations of Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food will dole out their generous plates of Mexican specialties and chilling margaritas in a mucho lively atmosphere. Spice Market, in the W Atlanta Midtown, will be open on Labor Day to welcome guests to a globally inspired holiday. Have the gang meet you at Marlow's! With six locations conveniently located in neighborhoods all over town, Marlow's Tavern will be serving their classic American tavern fare that's sure to whet any appetite.



In Virginia Highland, La Tavola Trattoria and The Original El Taco will respectively serve up authentic Italian and plenty of fiesta fare. Both Atkins Park locations -- Virginia Highland and Smyrna -- will be open on Labor Day with staples such as Big Green Egg-smoked all-natural chicken breast, wild Georgia shrimp and grits, fresh North Georgia trout and lots of cold libations and brews. Atkins Park Virginia Highland starts the holiday early by staying open late on Sunday, September 5.




In Midtown, RA Sushi will be keeping folks happy on Labor Day with their deliciously fun menu of sushi, like their fan favorites Tootsy Maki and Viva Las Vegas roll. Buckhead residents can satiate themselves after a full day of Labor Day sale shopping with an incredible dinner at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse featuring menu items such as a grilled porterhouse veal chop or pan-roasted Maine lobster.




Westsiders can sidle into YEAH! BURGER for all-natural beef, bison, turkey or veggie burgers, toppings, sauces and sides, as well as shakes made with organic milk. Night owls, note Ormsby's is open late the night before Labor Day as well as being open on Labor Day to quench beer thirsts and provide classic game action like darts, for instance. West Egg Café, near the White Provision complex on Atlanta's Westside, will be open Labor Day, serving breakfast and locally roasted Batdorf & Bronson coffee from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Beef Up Your Day with Whole Foods and White Oak Pastures

There are some deals  that are worth the time to clean out your pantry or your freezer.  In this case, I spent a good chunk of time cleaning out my freezer this week because Whole Foods Market has a fantastic deal on grass-fed beef TODAY!  I foresee a lot of tasty sauces and burgers in our future this fall.

All Whole Foods Markets and Harry's Farmers Markets will serve up burgers made from White Oak Pastures' tender and juicy grass-fed beef at the remarkable price of a buck a burger!  Note to travelers:  special applies to Whole Foods in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and the Carolinas.  Also today, grillmasters can purchase ground, grassfed beef to shape into their own patties for $3.99 a pound -- that's $2 off the regular price! 

You can also pick up some free handy cooking tips if you’re in Duluth or West Paces Ferry areas today - White Oak Pastures Owner Will Harris will be at the Whole Foods Market - Duluth from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (5945 State Bridge Road; 678-514-2400) and at Whole Foods Market - West Paces Ferry from 4 - 7 p.m. (77 West Paces Ferry Road, NW; 404-324-4100) showing some of the best ways to prepare grassfed beef. 

Also, make sure to check out the video above – Whole Foods recently visited White Oak Pastures along with Woodfire Grill’s Executive Chef and Owner Kevin Gillespie.  Take a look at the farm and learn some grilling tips from Chef Kevin!

It's Follow Friday! Meet our Tweep of the week @CookingwCaitlin

How smart is your phone and how helpful is it as a sous chef? Depends on if you follow Cooking with Caitlin via Twitter. 

Find Kelly, Caitlin and Molly at Twitter (@cookingwcaitlin) or on their blog for surprising twists on everyday food, recipe advice and more!

Kevin Gillespie Brings Home the Bacon in Cincinnati

In cupcakes or alongside eggs, bacon is so hot right now. No one knows this better than Kevin Gillespie, executive chef and co-owner of Atlanta’s Woodfire Grill, whose passion for pork was clear on Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Now the pork enthusiast will celebrate his love with humans and dogs alike as the host of the Purina Beggin’ Bacon Bash in Cincinnati on International Bacon Day, Saturday, September 4. Cincinnati locals are in for a bacon-flavored treat complete with live music, a bacon-eating contest, and cooking demonstrations by Kevin Gillespie himself. Their furry friends can run hog wild in bacon mazes, costume contests, and can even participate in the “loudest group bark” attempt for the Guinness Book of World Records. What better way to wake up and smell the bacon?

Happy Cabernet Day!

Well, who knew? There's a day for my favorite wine grape! Today is the day to celebrate Cabernet, one of the most popular red wine grapes in the world. Find fellow Cab lovers on Twitter (#Cabernet) and Facebook. To be a part of it, just sample Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Blend and/or Cabernet Franc and engage with others doing the same with conversation, tasting notes and suggestions. Better yet, enjoy a glass of Cabernet at Morton's The Steakhouse. Both Atlanta locations serve a selection of Cabernet options that are sure to honor this holiday in a delicious way. Sit back, relax and tweet your heart out as you experience Cabernet Day in the comfort of Morton's bar or dining room.

Bring Your $25 To Midtown

Woot! Midtown Restaurant Week is back and it starts THIS SATURDAY! Three-course, prix-fixe lunches for $15 and dinners for $25 at more than 30 of Midtown's best restaurants are a tempting reason to get out and try some place new.

The week affords an opportune time to try the European and Mediterranean bistro flavors of Ecco, Italian steakhouse dining at Pacci Ristorante, tantalizing sushi rolls and Pacific Rim fare at RA Sushi, new-South favorites at South City Kitchen Midtown and the exotic Asian market-inspired cuisine of Spice Market. The nine-day "week" begins on Saturday, September 4 and runs through Sunday, September 12. (Prices are per person and do not include beverage, tax or gratuity). Find out more about participating restaurants and make reservations on the Midtown Restaurant Week website.

Put Some South in Your Mouth at Shaun's Southern Beer Dinner

Photo courtesy of Benay Krissel for Tribal Chicken Designs, Inc.

On Wednesday, September 8, Chef Shaun Doty of Shaun's in Inman Park is hosting a five-course Southern Beer Dinner featuring a perfect pairing of regional brews and foods. The evening begins with a 7 p.m. reception boasting beer-battered bay leaves, Berkshire pork gravy sliders and flatbread with fresh Carolina ricotta and hot chilis, accompanied by a SweetWater beer and scuppernong cocktail. Guests will sit down to dinner at 7:30 p.m. to indulge in White Oak Pastures beef cheek ravioli with chicken liver sauce paired with Terrapin Golden Ale (Athens, Ga.); Heritage pork pie with foie gras and mustard greens paired with Red Brick Brown Ale (Atlanta); Neil's Yard Dairy Farm House cheddar with muscadine jelly and pecans, paired with Duck-Rabbit Schwarzbier (Farmville, N.C.); and roast summer fruit bruschetta with Nutella and Tupelo honey ice cream, paired with Highland Black Mocha Stout (Asheville, N.C.). Cost is $55 per person ($40 per person for food only). Reservations are required and seating is limited; call 404-577-4358 to reserve a spot.

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

Don't Miss the Hop City Beer Event Happening at Ormsby's

Ormsby's, the friendly neighborhood tavern located on the Westside, is teaming with Atlanta's Hop City Craft Beer & Wine for a five-beer, three-course dinner beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1. I can't think of a better place to relax after a long hump day! With menu items like local heirloom tomato salad with Sweetgrass Dairy goat cheese, Vidalia onions and balsamic vinegar; IPA-steamed black mussels and crusty bread; and roasted pork tenderloin, pimento cheese grits, green beans and a local fig glaze, this dinner is worth every bit of its $30 price tag (excluding tax and gratuity). Don't forget about the beer! The evening's courses are matched with a variety of offerings including Dupont Foret, Brooklyn Local 1, SweetWater IPA, Maredsous 8 and Trois Pistoles. Contact Ormsby's for reservations and more info.

Ormsby's: 1170 Howell Mill Road, NW; 404-968-2033.

Rave On, Food Fans

The Atlanta Food Rave- "Chef Keira Moritz" from The Atlanta Food Rave on Vimeo.

It’s the weekend!  What to do, what to do?

Pacci Ristorante Executive Chef Keira Moritz is one of the five hot chefs keeping things sizzling in the kitchen at The Atlanta Food Rave Experience tonight at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery.  The dinner menu is hush, hush until you arrive. (Vegetarians quell those food fears; there are options for you).  Tickets are $55 per person and include the Rave Review Culinary Extravaganza and Challenge dinner feast, an open bar with a collection of signature alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty beverages, plus complimentary valet parking.  Must be 21 or over to attend.  Tickets available for purchase online only and will not be sold at the door.  The event benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank and its mission to fight hunger by educating, empowering and engaging Metro Atlanta and North Georgia communities. 

Morningside is putting on a first of what we hope will become an annual summer tradition -- the Morningside Summer Block Party tomorrow.  The "block" lies behind DBA Barbecue and The Original El Taco at the corner of Virginia and Amsterdam avenues.  Gates open at 12:30 p.m., and the party cranks on with a lineup of four bands until 10 p.m.  Keep up the momentum with your El Taco favorites, ice-cold cocktails and Abita beer. Purchase these yums and others from DBA Barbecue and Mali Thai.  Your kids can frolic from 1 - 6 p.m. in the children's area.  Red and Rover?  They have to stay at home.  Tickets are $5 online in advance (plus $0.99 service fee) or $10 at the door; children 14 and under are free. A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to firehouse station #19 in Virginia Highland.

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

Thanks to all the votes from her fans, Q100 Bert Show radio personality Jenn Hobby made it on "Live! with Regis and Kelly" in the "Women of Radio Co-Host for a Day" contest.  The big day was August 20, and you can still follow the action on her Twitter, website and blog.  

Hobby is loved by Bert Show fans for her "I feel like I know you already" warm heart and ability to reach out.  The FSU grad is also a TV host, aspiring foodie (executive chef of her own kitchen) and a wishful yogi.  Namaste, Jenn!

Art + Food + Drinks = Shaun's Tonight

I've found the perfect way to kick-off your weekend an evening early. Shaun's in Inman Park is featuring Atlanta-based artist and educator Amber Singleton's Back to Basics collection at Shaun's tonight from 7-9 p.m. Come out and enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar while contemplating her contemporary works on paper.

Back to Basics explores the foundational elements of line and color to create movement, rhythm and pattern that reflect a therapeutic and hypnotic sense of flow. She has been teaching fine art for the past six years and has recently exhibited works at the Arts Exchange in Atlanta and the Anderson Art Center in Anderson, S.C.

A Thursday night in Inman Park at Shaun's is all I need for a great summer evening.

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

Check Out Checking In at RA Sushi

You already know to watch the temps this August for RA Sushi’s 100 Degree Hot Mess, but did you know they have an awesome new Foursquare offer?  Forget about those silly badges; we’re talking about a real reward here! 

Basically, you’ll get a FREE order of edamame or a miso soup with your Foursquare check-in.  Hop over to Midtown and just show your phone to your server after checking in to redeem!  1 offer per person, per day only.   

Today is the Day for Dinner at Davio’s!

The doors to Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse in Phipps Plaza finally open today and from the size of the incredible crowd at the grand opening party last night; you’ll want to make your reservation soon! The Atlanta newcomer has connections up north: a 25-year lineage under Owner Steve DiFillippo in Boston plus a location in Philadelphia and at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass. DiFillippo has chosen Executive Chef Bennett Hollberg, formerly of Atlantic Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, to bring on a mouthwatering menu of appetizers, seasonal salads, homemade pastas, pizzas, fine beef, fresh fish, savory sides and lots more classic Italian fare. Signature items include the popular Philly Cheese Steak Spring Rolls®; lobster ravioli with sweet peas and tomato lobster brodo; grilled porterhouse veal chop with creamy potatoes and vintage port; grilled prime rib with roasted corn-sweet pepper salad and mashed potatoes; braised short ribs; pan-seared scallops; and sides such as quattro formaggi potato puffs and Gorgonzola mashed potatoes. I had my share of those dishes last night and let me say, they did not disappoint! Don’t take my word for it though, head to Buckhead and try them for yourself. Davio's serves dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. If you want to get a early glimpse of Davio’s Atlanta location, check out the restaurant's Facebook page.

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810.

How’s About Cooking Something Up With Me?

Apparently it’s not just to-die-for dishes and cutting edge cooking tips coming out of The Cook’s Warehouse kitchen these days – true love is on the menu! This past Friday night, cooking assistant Cyrus Bhedwar proposed to Naina Mehta as she taught an Indian cooking class. So sweet! 

The two have been dating for about a year and Cyrus thought that the class would be the perfect place to propose since they’ve had so much fun there together.

About 40 of the couples’ friends slipped in a back door to surprise Naina and celebrate her accepting the proposal! 

Congrats to the newly engaged couple – we wish you much happiness and lots of great times in the kitchen together in the years to come!

Get Your Wine Fix at Spice Market Before it's Going, Going, Gone!

Beginning today, it's out with the old and in with the deals at Spice Market in the W Atlanta Midtown. The restaurant is slashing prices on wines that are no longer on the wine list in order to make room for new fall selections and appropriately dubbing it "Going, Going, Gone." Two different wines will be featured each week and both options will be a steal: one will be a wine that is rarely served by the glass and the other is priced at only $5 per glass. Each wine lasts a week or until that stash in the cellar is depleted. What we like most about this deal is it gives us a chance to try out wines without committing to a whole bottle. Up on deck this week are Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($19/glass, $70/bottle) and Frei Brothers Chardonnay, Sonoma County ($5/glass, $19/bottle). "Going, Going, Gone" offers will be available at Spice Market through the fall.

Spice Market: In the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550.

Good Morning Scoutmobbers!

Woohoo!  We here at Atlanta Dish were thrilled to be featured by Scoutmob this morning in their very cool newsletter and we just wanted to say hi to everyone who stopped by as a result!  What a lovely way to start the week out – thanks for popping by to see what Atlanta Dish is all about.

There’s always lots of great culinary news and events here in Atlanta to share, so make sure you’re connected with Atlanta Dish on all fronts!  You can sign up for our weekly newsletter over to your right on our blog here, or you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  See you online!

It's Follow Friday - Meet our Tweep of the Week @FifthGrouper!

Fifth Group Restaurants Director of Marketing Michael Erickson has one thumb on what's going on in his restaurants and the other thumb on his Twitter keys.  How he divides his "restaurant thumb between South City Kitchen Midtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, The Original El Taco and Bold American Events & Catering -- we don't know, but he does it very well.  Follow Erickson @fifthgrouper and on Facebook!

JCT's Take on National Lemonade Day: Shandy-O, I Need You So

Be sure to squeeze National Lemonade Day into your agenda today! Leave the lemonade stands to the under-21 crowd and shake up a couple of Shandy-O cocktails. JCT. Kitchen & Bar Mixologist Lara Creasy starts with two ounces of lemonade -- after that, it’s all adult-only ingredients.

Thank goodness the recipe fills an adult-sized glass and not one of those little lemonade stand kiddie cups! Of course, you're welcome to cool off with Shandy-O and a full menu of cold beverages at JCT.

Shandy-O

1 oz. Wild Turkey American Honey
2 oz. Allagash White beer
2 oz. fresh lemonade

Combine all in a tall glass with plenty of ice. Toss briefly in a cocktail shaker to mix and serve with a lemon wedge for garnish.  Delicious!

Pick up fresh fare and recipes at your local market

Here is your chance to see what a local chef likes to cook and pick up from fresh veggies at the market too. A great place to add a recipe into your vault is at a chef demo. This evening at 6:30 p.m. Chef Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill will be doing a demo at the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market. Here is your chance to see what a local chef likes to cook and pick up from fresh veggies at the market too. The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market is located at 1231 Glenwood Ave. SE, 30316 at Village Hardware and goes on from 4 to 8 p.m.

If you're still in search of more demos then on Saturday, August 21 you'll find Chef Bennett Hollberg of Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse working in the demo kitchen at the Piedmont Park Green Market from 11 a.m. until noon on the Community Center patio. Come say "hello" and garner some healthy ideas for summertime eating. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until Davio's opens in Phipps Plaza on August 25 to enjoy lunch or dinner by Hollberg.

Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810.

The Competition Cuts Like a Knife at Protein U

Protein University is officially in session and Brian Sapp of White Oak Pastures is nearing the top of the class!  The plant manager and artisan butcher has entered a video in Protein University’s “Who’s Your Butcher?” contest and it’s been selected as one of the Top 20!  Congrats Brian!

You can show your love of his grass-fed butcher style by heading online to his video and casting your vote.  Online voting will conclude August 21^st and the winner will be announced the next day, so stay tuned for the big winner!

Text Your Way to Spice Market Insider Perks Today

Thank God it's Wednesday! We heart Spice Market and so should you because the W Hotels of Atlanta are offering "TGIW" summer specials that will bring an exciting Spice Market deal directly to your phone if you text "TGIW" to 99699 today. Once you receive your text deal, you have one week to show and redeem it at Spice Market in the W Atlanta Midtown. For more information, visit W Hotels of Atlanta on Facebook. Offers will be updated by 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday mornings. Text messaging and data rates may apply.

Spice Market: In the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550.

Dine Out For Safety!

Tomorrow, join your fellow Atlantans in the second annual "Dine out for a Safer Atlanta". Restaurants across the city will be donating 10% of their proceeds to Crime Stoppers Atlanta. Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria and Woodfire Grill are three great choices for a Wednesday night out on the town and it is all for a good cause! Thanks to Crime Stoppers, which began in 2007, more than 149 dangerous criminals are off the streets. Goes to show, crime doesn't pay...but dining out for safety does!

Aria Gives you a Taste of Argentina

Don’t miss your chance to meet Susana Balbo, Argentina’s most-recognized and famous female enologist, at a special Tuesday, August 24 wine dinner at Aria in Buckhead. Balbo’s philosophy, developed during more than 25 years as a domestic and international winemaker consultant and then as an Argentinean winemaker, focuses on sustainable agriculture, precision viticulture, superior skills and wine-crafting passion. The fascinating evening starts at 7 p.m. and unfolds around Balbo’s handcrafted wines, and Aria’s to-dine-for cuisine. Don’t miss out -- make your reservations today by calling 404-233-7673. Read more on Facebook.

Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead; 404-233-7673

Breakfast of Champions at Pacci with The Scramble Gamble

Photo by Broderick Smylie

Weekend breakfasts are no joke – I take them very seriously after a week of boring toast and oatmeal in my morning rush.  Saturdays and Sundays are the time to splurge and savor the bounty that proper breakfast favorites have to offer! 

Midtown’s Pacci takes breakfast just as seriously as I do, but this August they’re adding a lucky and very fun element to the early morning meal from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the weekend.  The Scramble Gamble is back and allows guests to have a shot at winning their breakfast! 

Just order from the special “Scramble Gamble” menu and after you finish your meal, a Pacci employee will flip a coin and let you call it to determine whether you have to pay for the dish or not…  Yes, we know Mama told you not to “play with your food”, but she never said anything about playing FOR your food, right?

It’s not all gambling and biscuits & gravy though – Pacci is also partnering with the American Egg Board (who Chef Keira serves as a consulting chef for) and The Good Egg Project to donate one egg to local hunger organizations for every petition signed during the month. Eggs-cellent!

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

With one cookbook under her apron and another on the way this fall ("Gourmet Made Simple" and "Southern My Way," respectively), Gena Knox has plenty to tweet and blog about. When she's not writing, tweeting and blogging, Knox keeps the fires burning with her husband and their grill-mastering Fire & Flavor business. Follow her on Twitter and read her blog to keep up with Southern people and flavors past, present and upcoming, as well as plenty of simple, fresh recipes.