The Georgia Fine Wine Festival at BlackStock Vineyards and Winery

Just as wine gets better with age, so does BlackStock Vineyards and Winery's Georgia Fine Wine Festival. We don’t want you to miss out on this weekend of sampling more than 60 different Georgia wines, including wines that have earned national and international awards, so take our subtle him and buy your advance discount tickets before Saturday, April 30. The two-day festival features "the finest food, wine, music and art found in the North Georgia Mountains," and will be held from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 and from 12:30 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 5, right outside of Dahlonega. Restaurant food tastings, an artisan market and live music round out the festival weekend while you explore the beautiful estate. If you haven’t seen BlackStock Vineyards and Winery already, its picture graces the front of the official 2011-2012 Georgia DOT Highway Map! BlackStock Vineyards and Winery: 5400 Town Creek Road in Dahlonega, GA; 706-219-2789.

It's Follow Friday; Meet our Tweep of the Week @TheWineGenie

There's a fun story behind Kiley - The Wine Genie and her blog.  Upon graduating from college, she heads over to Italy to teach English and ends up gaining a wine education with friends and a Fiat on weekends.  Nice homework!  

Follow her short sips on Twitter: @TheWineGenie.  Fill up a big wine glass and prepare to take notes when you click into her The Wine Genie vino blog.  For all of you who dream of wining through Italy, this one's for you.

Half Price is So Nice at Spice Market

It's April, and the tax man cometh.  Don't give him the slip; share this lucrative tip:  All month long, Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown is slicing 50 percent off the price of every bottle of wine.  Forget the stress of filling out forms, filing, waiting for refunds or, gulp, paying way more than you anticipated.  There's no double-dipping, as in, this offer cannot be combined with any other offer.  

Spice Market serves dinner daily, and offers guests options of complimentary valet parking for up to three hours or self parking in the Colony Square parking deck at the corner of 14^th and Juniper after 6 p.m. daily. 

RAISE A GLASS TO HELP UNCORK A CURE FOR HIV

Check your calendars! You don’t want to miss the 21^st annual Uncork a Cure on Thursday, April 28 from 6 - 9 p.m. Take an evening to grab a glass of wine, eat some delicious food and enjoy the silent auction at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. More than 20 Atlanta area restaurants are sending chefs with specialties to this annual event including La Tavola Trattoria, The Original El Taco, RA Sushi and Spice Market.

Your ticket and/or charitable donation supports the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta, a local 501( c)(3) organization that leads HIV education programs, conducts research and clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines to fight HIV, and provides free, fast and anonymous HIV testing programs. Tickets are $75 until April 27 or $100 at the door; special VIP packages are available too. Grab a pen and save the date, you don’t want to miss this fun evening!

The Foundry at Puritan Mill: 916 Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard; 404-962-8700.

Spice Up Your Saturday and Your Email Inbox

Ban the bland by sitting down to a Spice Route Supper Club dinner where you can wake up your senses with the spice route flavors of Kerala, India. The Saturday, April 16 dinner is a traditional sadya -- a banquet that is a staple of Kerala celebrations. Asha Gomez will guide diners, seated on floor mats, through the history and ritual of this 21-dish vegetarian feast. Among the dishes are avial, the classic coconut-enriched Kerala vegetable curry; sambar, the classic tamarind-based vegetable stew of South India; ginger curry; beet pachadi, which is a yogurt-based curry; and thoren, made of stir-fried vegetables with grated coconut nut, mustard seeds and curry leaves.

Cost for the 7:30 p.m. dinner is minimum cash-only donation of $75 (payable at the end of the meal) and includes wine pairings, beer or tea. The secret northwest-Atlanta location will be revealed to guests once they sign up; however, you'll feel like you're in the tropical state of Kerala on India's southern coast by the time the evening's over!

Get on the invite list for future Spice Route Supper Club events by emailing spiceroutesupperclub@gmail.com. Upon receiving an invitation, reply promptly if you are interested in securing a place at the table. Spice Route Supper Club gatherings generally include approximately 20 people.

It's Not Just Another Manic Monday...on April 18, RA Sushi is Extending Happy Hour

Since the IRS has extended the national tax return deadline until Monday, April 18, RA Sushi is hosting "Manic Monday" and extending the restaurant's happy hour specials from 3 p.m. to midnight that day to give guests an incentive to finish their taxes over the weekend. All-day $2-$6 pricing on select beer, wine and sake, as well as more than 35 sushi, appetizer and tapas selections for $2-$7 is the ultimate stress reliever for those making the last-minute mad rush to the postbox. Food specials include garlic sugar snap peas, shishito peppers, squid salad, seaweed salad, spicy salmon roll, rainbow roll and tuna tataki. "Manic Monday" pricing is available for dine in only.

RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

It’s Time to Get Hoppin’ on Your Easter Plans

Easter is coming up next weekend and we’ve got a list of great places to celebrate all over the city! From brunch buffets to family fajita nights, there’s something for everyone! 

In Roswell, Aqua blue is the place to go for a chic Easter Sunday brunch buffet starting 10:30 a.m. $29.95 for adults, $9.95 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for children under the age of 4. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886) 

Hop off GA 400 or Peachtree and skip into Phipps Plaza in Buckhead to enjoy your Easter meal at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse. Sit down to Davio's white-clothed tables and attentive service. Fill your plate from the abundant appetizer buffet then choose from a selection of à la carte entrée options and a generous dessert array. The special Easter spread is $45 for adults and $17.50 for children 12 and under. (Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810) 



Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar invites you to sit down to their special Fleming's Bellini cocktail for $6.95 while deciding which appetizer, entrée and dessert selections you want to savor on their three-course prix fixe brunch menu. Easter Sunday brunch is offered from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. for $32.95 for adults and $15.95 for children 12 and under (plus tax and gratuity). Those of you with Fleming's favorites, stay calm . . . the regular menu also will be offered. (4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112)

Marlow's Tavern makes celebrating Easter easy with six of its seven locations serving Sunday brunch. Each location is extending brunch hours and expanding its menus for the special day. Call your local Marlow's for more details. (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; Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033; and East Cobb at 1311 Johnson Ferry Road (across from the movie theatre and next to Kohl's department store); 770-977-7747.) 

Settle in for a traffic-free Easter meal with the help of the New York Butcher Shoppe. All three Atlanta locations are offering a variety of delicious meats, sides, wines and desserts to create a fabulous holiday feast. Less-skilled cooks can impress with the "mother-in-law" trick option. Simply bring in your own casserole dishes and have them filled with side items to complement your meal. Place your order by April 17, and the New York Butcher Shoppe will knock 20 percent off the price of all side items. (Dunwoody at 2458 Mt. Vernon Road, 770-399-6328; Sandy Springs at 4969 Roswell Road, 404-303-0704; and Alpharetta at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road, 678-624-0047.) 

From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta will offer a generous brunch buffet priced at $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for children ages 5 to 10 and free for children ages 4 and under. Dinner guests may order off the regular menu from 5 - 9 p.m. (1700 Mansell Road; 770-649-0064) 

We do Easter brunch right down south, and both locations of South City Kitchen are preparing three-course meals rich with Southern favorites and hospitality served from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. $25 for adults and $12.50 for children under the age of 12. (South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700. South City Kitchen Midtown: 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358.) 

And if that's not Southern enough, zip across the culinary border for Easter brunch at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food. The Uncle covers the heat range from mild and savory to wake-you-up spices in his breakfast tacos and brunch quesadillas, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, applewood smoked bacon, brunch potatoes, seasoned fruit and beans (frijoles a la charra, refried or black beans). For youngsters, Uncle Julio's offers a special menu with scrambled egg and cheddar tacos, quesadillas and more -- all served with fruit. If Easter dinner is on the agenda, Atlantans can take advantage of Uncle Julio’s new Fajita Fiesta family-style meal offered on Sundays for only $15.95 per person and $5.95 for children ages 12 and under. Enjoy Saturday and Sunday brunch and the regular menu every weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Buckhead: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. Sandy Springs: 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260.)

Post-Paddy’s Irish Fun at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

Did St. Patrick’s Day celebrations leave way too soon? With your luck of the Irish, you can still have “craic” (Irish for big-time fun) at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant in Buckhead. Have a few pints during the Pub Quiz on Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. with Irish host Rob Kiely. The top three teams win prizes; those teams with clever names get prized in its own way. Later in the week, come back to Fadó on Friday, April 15 to get your Irish jig on with DJ mixes from the 80s, 90s, U.S. to U.K. starting at 10 p.m. Irish musicians gather at Fadó on Monday, April 18 for a night of Irish music. Be prepared to dance and musicians are welcome to come add their talent to the evening.

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant: 273 Buckhead Avenue; 404-841-0066.

Feed Yourself To Help Feed Others

There's been plenty of attention lately to childhood obesity, yet not so much on the one in four children in the U.S. who go hungry each day. Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation is in its 23rd year of raising funds to provide healthy nutrition for these children so they can focus on learning instead of wondering when hunger pangs will go away. Atlanta's annual event takes place Thursday, April 14 at the Georgia Aquarium and will honor chefs, like Aria Executive Chef/Owner Gerry Klaskala, who have supported Taste of the Nation Atlanta for 10 years or more. More than 50 of Atlanta's top restaurants will be on hand with flavorful dishes and wonderful wines including Aqua blue, Aria, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, Marlow's Tavern and Woodfire Grill. You can still purchase tickets online for the big night and know that while you're enjoying yourself you're helping local kids through the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters and Genesis, a New Life. General admission is $250 for the 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. gala. VIP ticket purchasers ($350 per person) enter at 6:30 p.m. for the preview party.

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival this Weekend at Piedmont Park

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is back once again from Friday, April 15 through Sunday, April 17 at Piedmont Park! Several local restaurants are participating in the "Friends of Dogwood Pavilion" portion of the festival, including Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, Morelli's Ice Cream, RA Sushi and Spice Market, where guests can sample delicious foods, desserts and special wine offerings. Tickets for the "Friends of Dogwood Pavilion" are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. The festival opens at noon on Friday, April 15 and closes at 9 p.m. The festival continues on Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., and finishes off the weekend on Sunday, April 17 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The artist market closes at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Atlanta Dogwood Festival, the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House are collaborating on the double anniversary. Both organizations have engaging festival activities planned, and festival goers receive free admission to the Margaret Mitchell House on April 16 and 17.

It's Follow Friday; Meet our Tweep of the Week @andrewzimmern

We're flattered that Andrew Zimmern, chef, writer, traveler and Travel Channel "Bizarre Foods" host started following @AtlantaDish!  Turn about is fair play, so here's the tweet-spot for this Minneapolis male: @andrewzimmern.  

For more food oddities, hit up his website and "Bizarre Foods," Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. on the Travel Channel.

Saturdays Are Looking A Little Greener On Peachtree Road

See all of those green shoots poking up?   As azaleas and dogwoods are perking up landscapes, local farmers are eager to brighten our tablescapes with arugula, asparagus, bok choy, spinach and a host of other tender spring greens.  Time to toss the market basket over your arm and head to the opening of the Peachtree Road Farmers Market's fifth season!  Bring a kazoo and be a part of the first morning buzz at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 9 in the parking lot of The Cathedral of St. Philip. 

Twelve vendors peddled locally grown food when the market opened in 2007, and 65 vendors are anticipated to rotate through during the 2011 season.  The Peachtree Road Farmers Market has blossomed into the largest producer-only market in metro Atlanta. Buy from farmers, Savannah shrimp sellers, meat and dairy purveyors, chefs and prepared food specialists and artists.  And if you forget your shopping bags, the market now uses biodegradable and compostable biobags.  The market accepts Georgia food stamps and doubles the value in partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia to help make healthy food more accessible to all.

Chef demos, music, kids' activities and other special events are more reasons to trade muzak and fluorescent lights for the outdoor market's festival atmosphere.  We're looking forward to seeing JCT. Kitchen & Bar mixologist Lara Creasy in the demo tent on May 21, to poring over kitchen finds at the Les Dames Culinary Yard Sale on June 11, to licking up the Slow Food Ice Cream Social on June 18, and to witnessing chef demos by Attack of the Killer Tomato Fest chefs on June 25 and July 2, 9 and 16.  And there's still half of the summer left to shop after that! 

Open 8:30 a.m. - noon, come rain or shine, through December 17.  Visit the market's website for chef demo recipes, in-season calendars, a vendor listing and much more.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market:  The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, NW.

It's Called Fondue Not Fon-don't!

To dip is divine, but to double dip is atrocious. Besides, there will be plenty of fondue and dippers to go around at the April 11 Les Dames D'Escoffier "Fondue Fun-Raiser" at The Cook's Warehouse - Ansley Mall. Plunk down a $20 contribution and fill your pot with good stuff: a glass of wine, tastings of three different cheese fondues with bread and veggie dippers, tastings of chocolate fondue with fruit dippers, recipes for the fondues, a chance to win one of four "gently used" fondue pots that are worth up to $150, and 10 percent off most items in the store. Murray's Cheese counter at Kroger and Alon's Bakery and Market are helping out with the cheese and dipping bread for the night's recipes. The "Fondue Fun-raiser" will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. RSVP to local Les Dames President Stacy Zeigler at szeigler@boldamerican.com.

The Cook's Warehouse - Ansley Mall: 1544 Piedmont Road, NE (behind Blockbuster); 404-815-4993.

Cooking Tips on Your Shopping Break

If you're planning a little shopping in Buckhead this weekend, stop by Williams-Sonoma at Phipps to get some great cooking tips for your Easter feast. Pastry Chef Kathleen Miliotis of Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse will be there Saturday at noon to demonstrate some of her favorite Easter brunch dishes. Should be a fun and informative shopping break!

Speaking of Easter, Davio's is now accepting reservations for Easter brunch on Sunday, April 24. Call 404-844-4810.

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

Home Run Tickets with Atkins Park Smyrna for the Braves Home Opener

With spring time rolling around, that means only one thing—baseball season! That also means a headache when trying to get to the Atlanta Braves game with traffic jams and filled up parking lots. Atkins Park Tavern - Smyrna is here to help and have a blast on the April 8 Braves home opener. Tickets are $55 each which covers the round-trip bus ride, beer and Jägermeister, hot dogs, club level seats and a 755 Club pass. Score a home run with these tickets by calling 770-435-1887. 


Get your Braves hat and tomahawk ready for this anticipated game!

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

Spice Route hosts "Kerala by Sea and by Land" Dinner on April 9

Experience one of Spice Route Supper Club’s unique dining extravaganzas on Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. at their “Kerala by Sea and by Land” dinner. The club encourages gastronomical destination dining setting but at the relaxed feel of eating in the home of a local, and this week it’s Kerala! To give you a bit of background on Kerala … it's the lush, tropical state on India's southern coast where spices infuse business and cuisine. Kerala native Asha Gomez chefs the night of regional flavors and a menu featuring crispy Kerala-style fish cakes with ginger, green chile and green papaya relish; uthappam savory pancakes with two-shrimp curry; a pork vindaloo slider on H&F Bread Company buns and tempered by mango and blood orange salad; classic beef biryani rice dish with traditional accompaniments of pappadam, spiced yogurt, cucumber salad, boiled egg and lemon pickle; and vattayapam, a steamed cake with a texture similar to angel food cake with a custard pudding of ripe plantains, cardamom and coconut milk. $85 per person includes wine pairings, beer or tea. The supper club's Westside location is revealed to guests upon sign up.

Hot Diggity Dog! Wiener Wednesday is Finally Here!

While we are sad to see "Burgers 'n Brew" go, we couldn't be more excited for "Wiener Wednesdays" at JCT. Bar. Beginning today, the West Midtown restaurant is serving up three different specialty hot dogs for only $2 apiece on Wednesdays. These dolled up dogs will be available every other day Tuesday through Saturday as well, but for the regular price of $4 apiece. The selections will vary but these drool-worthy dogs include options such as a smoked Coca-Cola BBQ wiener with Vidalia onion relish; cider-braised fennel and onion wiener with Sweet Grass Dairy Asher Bleu cheese; chicken liver wiener with apple butter, house mustard and tiny pickles; and the "corn dog" wiener with hush puppy crispies, green tomato relish and rémoulade.

Remember, these dandy dogs are not available downstairs in JCT. Kitchen...only upstairs in JCT. Bar and out on JCT. Bar's terrace. JCT. Bar is open Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. If you're interested in meating and tweeting, JCT. Bar's "Wiener Wednesday" Tweet-up will take place next Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. with hosts @ATL_Events and @AtlantaDish.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar: In Atlanta's Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.

Today is the Last Day to Buy Tickets to GROW!

“GROW!”, a new documentary film by Anthony-Masterson, makes its Atlanta-area debut on Saturday, April 9, at a special screening hosted by Parsley’s Catering and The Gardens at Kennesaw Mountain, in Marietta sponsored in part by Whole Foods Market. Enjoy a farm-fresh, family-style dinner, musical entertainment by Little Country Giants (also featured on the film’s soundtrack), and of course a showing of “GROW!”

The cost is $50 per person. Seating is limited to 100. Tickets are available through Georgia Organics by clicking here and must be purchased no later than Tuesday, April 5th (that is TODAY!).

Details: Saturday April 9th from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Gardens at Kennesaw Mountain, 1127 White Circle NW Marietta, GA

Aria Hosts Tablas Creek Vineyard Wine Dinner this Wednesday

If you’re looking for an exciting evening of fine wine and delicious cuisine, don’t miss this Wednesday’s wine dinner at Aria. Enjoy five courses by Executive Chef and Owner Gerry Klaskala paired with wines from Tablas Creek Vineyard. Pairings include Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2010, Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2009, Cotes de Tablas Red 2008, Esprit de Beaucastel Red 2008 and Vin de Paille "Quintessence" 2006. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. and is priced at $100 per person, all inclusive. Tablas Creek Vineyard National Sales Manager Tommy Oldre will also be in attendance to give you the scoop on each wine you are experiencing. Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead; 404-233-7673