Throwdown Before the Showdown at Marlow's Tavern's Midtown Block Party on Nov. 26

On Saturday, November 26, an epic battle of "clean, old-fashioned hate" between UGA and Georgia Tech will be fought on the field of Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. These collegiate rivals have knocked it out on the football field 100 times since their first game in 1902! Dawgs and Yellow Jackets, show your team spirit at Marlow's Tavern's Midtown Block Party beginning at noon on game day and going way past the last touchdown with plenty of drink specials, giveaways and a fired-up DJ. The party lineup features outdoor grilling, tailgating fare, a mobile bar and four big-screen HDTVs with audio. Trucks from Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Company and Athens' own Terrapin Beer Company will be key block-party players.

Marlow's Tavern Midtown: 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323.

Refuel at Truffles Grill This Weekend

You're already gearing up for Black Friday, but have you planned where you're going to refuel to keep the shopping momentum going? Luckily, Truffles Grill is right in the thick of all the retail action (think Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and all the fabulous Buckhead boutiques) and takes the guesswork out of grabbing a bite. The best part: the restaurant has just released new menu items like seared sesame tuna wonton, ham and brie on a croissant and chile relleno risotto. Or, if you're saving your super shopper skills for the weekend, try out Truffles' newly launched Sunday brunch menu, available from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Sunday morning treats ($5 - $16) include homemade sour cream coffee cake; French toast with applewood bacon and brown sugar pecan apples; egg sandwich with applewood bacon and cheese on a croissant served with shoestring fries; huevos rancheros that tops a black bean cake with poached eggs, tasso ham, sautéed spinach and fire-roasted tomato salsa; and a trio of Benedicts -- eggs Benedict, steak Benedict, and Low Country Benedict. Truffles Grill is located at 3345 Lenox Road; 404-364-9050.

Book Your Favorite Rockin' Room For A Private Party

It happens every year. The grateful calm of Thanksgiving gives way to Black Friday retail frenzy. Then low and behold, the holiday party and gifting season is here. Whether or not you are an advance planner, Atlanta restaurants are ready to help out with warm and friendly seasonal settings, large and small spreads, private dining options and generous gift card promotions.

In Virginia Highland, lively Atkins Park Tavern has historical charm -- and a room upstairs ready to host 30 guests for a sit-down dinner or 50 guests for cocktails. To reserve, call 404-876-7249.

Fabulous global cuisine, personalized menus and lots of space are yours in Roswell at Aqua blue. A semi-private back room accommodates 60 guests, and up to 200 guests can party in the main bar. Available for bookings seven days a week for lunch and dinner; call 770-643-8886.

Marietta’s Chicken and the Egg serves up modern farmstead fare and can throw a Southern dinner party with ease. Host an intimate chef’s table for up to 28 guests in a separate corner of the restaurant -- guests will love the chef’s table menu of Chicken and the Egg specialties. Contact Elizabeth Taft at 678-388-8813.

Across Midtown and into Vinings, Fifth Group Restaurants gives a wide variety of options for private and group dining. At 7th and Cypress streets in the heart of Midtown, Ecco offers seasonal, European-inspired dining seven nights a week. For an evening of contemporary Southern fare, book South City Kitchen Vinings. More Fifth Group possibilities include South City Kitchen Midtown, La Tavola Trattoria and The Original El Taco. Bold American and Studio 887 offer off- and on-premise upscale catering for other event options. For group party planning assistance, call 678-302-3264. For more information, visit the company’s private dining page.

In Dunwoody, special occasions call for Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Book your party by Thursday, December 1 and receive a $50 gift card for every $500 you spend. Thrifty gifters, receive a $20 bonus card for every $100 gift card purchased from now until December 31 (bonus card valid on food and beverage only, January 1 through February 10). Call 770-698-8112.

The Westside party “junction” is JCT. Kitchen & Bar at Howell Mill and Huff roads in Atlanta’s Westside Urban Market. Up to 200 guests can celebrate on its 2,000-square-foot skyline terrace that looks out over the historic neighborhood; up to 165 people can dine downstairs in the main dining room. Discuss private event options with Valerie Mosley, 678-536-6506.

Don’t overlook your lunch spot when looking for a dinner party venue. Market Street Café in Buckhead can seat up to 125 people for dinner inside and 75 guests on the patio. Need more? Rent the whole place after 4 p.m. weekdays and anytime on weekends. For private event information, contact Sabrina Rosenberg or Lauren Hradek at 770-643-5990.

Reindeer games in West Midtown’s White Provision complex? Not quite, but Ormsby’s lounge space with its comfy couches, cocktail tables and game room access is ideal for up to 40 grownups. Better snatch it up by calling Leslie Battle at 404-968-2033.

Wildly fun RA Sushi in Midtown can seat up to 10 guests in its semi-private dining space and host up to 100 guests in its upstairs area. Call 404-267-0114.

From downtown to the Chattahoochee to Alpharetta, Ray’s Restaurants provides three unique party settings and a variety of menu options. Ray’s on the River (770-955-1187) can accommodate parties of up to 200 guests. Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta (770-649-0064) has several different room options and accommodates parties of up to 300 people. For intimate gatherings in town, look into private and semi-private spaces for up to 45 people at Ray’s in the City (404-524-9224).

The Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel epitomizes Atlanta with its modern design and Southern hospitality. Host guest lists from 30 to 400 in the hotel’s three ballrooms. Up to 300 guests can sip cocktails and admire the skyline view at Rooftop 866, the chic rooftop bar adjacent to the hotel. Briza, the hotel’s signature restaurant, also can be reserved for private events seating up to 110 guests or 200 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvre. Call 678-412-2400.

Here’s a smashing gift idea! At Smashburger, receive $5 Smashbucks for every $25 gift card purchased through December 31. Smashbucks expire on January 31. There are three metro-Atlanta locations with a fourth opening in Kennesaw on November 30.

Go for a glamorous midday or evening event at the W Atlanta-Midtown Hotel’s Spice Market restaurant. Spice Market’s Pond Room, Trellis Room and main dining room are three options, and the entire restaurant space accommodates up to 200 for a seated dinner and 350 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvre. For private event information, contact Cristina Perry at 404-724-2550.

Atlanta’s trend-setting farm-to-table restaurant, Woodfire Grill, houses multiple private dining spaces from "The Mezzanine," seating 50 or divisible into three private rooms; “The Loft," a cozy upstairs hideaway for up to 16 people; and a covered patio where up to 75 guests can gather for cocktails or 30 can sit down for dinner. Call Rick Blumberg at 404-347-9055 for more information.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

This week's aperture comes all the way from Charleston's Tristan! Executive Chef Nate Whiting's inventive style is evident in this grilled beef rib loin dish with poached eggs, molten smoked potato fritter and malt steak sauce.

Lots To Gobble Up for Atlanta Diners This Thanksgiving

Decision time. One, nail down those Thanksgiving meal plans (and be thankful for so many choices). Two, what to do about braving Black Friday, even as it edges into Thanksgiving Thursday. Tough choices, but remember, Atlanta restaurants are ready to come to your rescue with order-ahead meals, dining-out reservations and spreads...and plenty of places for bargainistas to take refuge on Black Friday.  

The night before the relatives arrive, both locations of Atkins Park Tavern will be holding a Thanksgiving Eve Party to usher in the holiday! Then enjoy Big Green Egg smoked turkey breast with caramelized apples, sage stuffing and cider gravy, along with braised pork shoulder with roasted root vegetables and bourbon glaze at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland starting at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna opens doors at 4 p.m. to serve deep-fried Creole turkey breast and Dr. Pepper spiral glazed ham for the main course joined by Southern sides of pimento cheese deviled eggs and pickled beet and squash casserole with a cracker topping. At both restaurants, the meal is $20 for adults, $15 for young adults and $8 for children 10 and under (tax and gratuity are not included). And yes, there will be desserts. Reservations are recommended; call Virginia Highland at 404 -876-7249 or Smyrna at 770-435-1887.

At Midtown-fave Briza, seasonal American cuisine with Southern inspiration tops the tables on the day's Thanksgiving turkey plate along with fall squash soup and pie served until 8 p.m. Or, take advantage of the lounge and bar area's all-day menu. Reservations are recommended; call 678-412-2402.

Head north to Marietta for a traditional Southern meal at Chicken and the Egg, where the menu offers a choice of entrée, three sides and a dessert. Served 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; $18 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under (tax and gratuity are not included). Reservations are recommended; call 678-388-8813.

Ease into the kitchen and simultaneously enjoy your company by including the New York Butcher Shoppe in Dunwoody or Sandy Springs on your guest list. Turn over your own casserole dishes, and they'll fill them with your choice of sides to serve 8 to 10 people. Sides include green bean, squash or broccoli casseroles, Grandma Mary's potatoes au gratin, mashed regular or sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, sausage or bacon/egg casserole, roasted veggies or roasted baby dill carrots, and an array of salads including tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella, Caesar, Greek pasta or broccoli.  There's even cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. Talking turkey, theirs are $2.99 a pound and come in three sizes to feed 6-8, 9-12 or 13-16 people -- and they'll brine your turkey for you. Fresh Tanglewood Farms free-range, all-natural turkeys are raised in North Carolina and packed fresh, not frozen or deep chilled. These are the same turkeys featured by four- and five-star restaurants and private clubs! Contact your nearby shop via email or phone:  Dunwoody at 770-399-6328 or Sandy Springs at 404-303-0704.

"RA Retail Therapy" at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant reveals food and drink deals extended from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on the busiest shopping day of the year, November 25. You have time to rack in some retail action first -- RA Sushi's doors open and specials begin at 11 a.m. Shop the menu of more than 35 sushi, appetizer, and tapas selections, plus a wide variety of beer, wine and signature cocktails ranging from $2 to $7.

Two Ray's Restaurants locations will dish up Thanksgiving feasts. Spoon some of this, more of that from the extensive Thanksgiving buffet at Ray's on the River at the perimeter top end. $39.95 for adults and $19.95 for children 5-10; available from 10 a.m. until the last seating at 7:45 p.m. For reservations, call 770-955-1187. A few miles north at Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta, savor a Thanksgiving meal of roasted turkey, house-made dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and succotash. The by-the-plate cost is $27 or choose the three-course option with soup or salad anddessert is $36. For reservations, call 770-649-0064.

Southerners seeking kitchen relief can turn to South City Kitchen Midtown and South City KitchenVinings, where doors will be open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. A special three-course menu offers guests their choice of one appetizer, entrée and dessert, priced at $39.95 for adults and $19.98 for children 12 and under (tax and gratuity are not included). Reservations are recommended. If you prefer a Thanksgiving meal at home, order a complete dinner to go for eight people for $200. Included are a boneless, roasted turkey breast, collard greens, buttermilk whipped potatoes, cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, house-made biscuits and corn muffins and a whole pumpkin or pecan pie with whipped cream for dessert. Orders must be received by Monday, November 21 for pick up on Wednesday, November 23. For reservations or to-go orders, call Midtown at 404-873-7358 or Vinings at 770-435-0700.  

The pilgrims ventured west, but you can head towards a Southeast Asian-inspired Thanksgiving meal at Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown for $39 per person (tax and gratuity are not included). The menu is available from 5 - 9 p.m.  For reservations, call 404-724-2550.

Home chefs saying "yes" to impressing guests with their own poultry prowess can order an American Standard Bronze turkey from White Oak Pastures (WOP). Raised in an open-pasture lifestyle, WOP's Free Range Pastured Turkeys are very different from the hybrid industrial turkeys filling freezer cases during the holidays. No antibiotics, no added hormones, pure taste. Three sizes:  $75 small (8-12 pounds), $100 medium (12-16 pounds), $125 large (17+ pounds). Shipping costs are calculated per mile per pound. Order online or by calling 229-641-2081.

Falcons and the Egg: Chef Marc Taft Takes Over the Local Chef Stand November 20

Chef /Owner Marc Taft takes wing from Marietta's Chicken and the Egg to the Georgia Dome for the Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans game kicking off at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, November 20. Find Taft inside 2View Restaurant located in the Dome's east end zone on the executive concourse (near the suites). 

Try out the game-day favorites he'll be preparing -- smoked chicken nachos with bacon, pimento cheese fondu and green tomato and Vidalia onion salsa, and beer-brined turkey wings with celery and garlic/buttermilk ranch dipping sauce. Screens show turf action so you won't miss a beat while you eat!

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

We did our own investigative reporting on WSB Anchor/Reporter Jovita Moore. Turns out you can learn quite a bit by following her tweets and taking a look at her "favorites." Who else can you think of that keeps the Atlanta Police Foundation, Georgia Highway Safety, the FBI -- and TargetStyle and Clark Howard all on speed-tweet?  To keep up with more, by way of Moore, follow her on Twitter (@JovitaMoore).  Get more news and even more Moore on WSB's website.

Come on in to Chepe's in Johns Creek

Starting today, Johns Creek-ers can quell a case of the queso attacks by high tailing it to the new Chepe’s Mexican Grill in the Old Alabama Square shopping center at the corner of Old Alabama and Haynes Bridge roads. Once you open the menu, you’ll want to stay for much more of Chepe’s “Always Friendly, Always Fresh,” generously portioned Mexican favorites. Prices are easy to swallow: appetizers ($4 - $9), soups and salads ($5 - $8) and entrées ($5 - $15). Look forward to two kinds of salsa made throughout the day to welcome you with house-made chips, daily specials such as “Wing It Wednesday” with half-off those famous Mexican wings, and a full bar pouring everything from fresh juices and fruit smoothies to signature margaritas made
to order, homemade sangria, beer and more. The three Atlanta amigos behind Chepe’s are passionate about keeping it family friendly and community oriented. Chepe’s covers the suburban calendar by offering call-ahead-to-go ordering, catering options and margarita machines. Open daily for lunch and dinner. More on Facebook. With five Atlanta-area locations to choose from, hurry in and see why Chepe's was named a Reader's Choice favorite for Best Taco and Best Mexican Restaurant in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Chepe’s Mexican Grill – Johns Creek: 3005 Old Alabama Road; 770-521-2321.

Tis' The Season For New Menu Items At Marlow's

Cooler weather is trending, meaning sweaters and jackets on the outside and a hot and filling new menu from Marlow's Tavern to warm you on the inside. Baked lump crab bread, for starters, sounds extremely enticing with its creamy blend of lump crab, spinach, mozzarella, provolone, chives, citrus aioli and basil oil on toasty ciabatta. Two hands or a fork and knife are required for the "Everything AND the Kitchen Sink" burger. More succulent proteins include the grilled turkey meatloaf and pan-roasted root veggies; grilled center-cut filet; pecan-crusted trout with roasted spaghetti squash; grilled Atlantic salmon; pecan-crusted chicken salad with crumbled gorgonzola, applewood-smoked bacon and a tomato and honey pecan vinaigrette. New starters and mains range from $11 - $19.50. And, Marlow's desserts ($6) do sweetly sustain one. Choose from fried apple pie, classic crème brûlée with a seasonal twist and chocolate banana bread pudding. Packing more heat than an Irish coffee are Marlow's strong wintry mixes of Blue Berry Buck with Hanger One Blue Berry; River Boat Sour incorporating Leopold's Sour Apple Whiskey; Boulevardier with Wathen's Kentucky Bourbon Single Barrel, Aperol liquor and Cocchi Vermouth; and a Tupelo Honey martini that hints of Deep South sunsets. There are eight Marlow's Taverns to choose from; find the location near you online.

Enjoy Perfect Pairings at Double Zero Napoletana's Wine Dinner

Keep the turkey on the back burner for another week or two -- Double Zero Napoletana has an Italian wine dinner for you on Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m. Fosco Amorosso of Tricana Wines will join guests to discuss the night’s small production Italian wine selections that will be paired with the five-course fall dinner. 

On the menu:  butternut squash fritters on a bed of caramelized onions and garnished with watercress, lemon honey and black pepper and paired with Montesel Prosecco 2010; grilled prawns seasoned with Italian herbs and Calabrian chilies, dressed with a red pepper coulis and served with Alexandri Sauvignon Blanc 2010; lamb cheeks served over butternut squash purée with roasted chanterelle mushrooms, caramelized artichoke hearts and finished with a mint foam paired with Cairel Nebbiolo d’Alba 2008; braised beef short rib and smoked sweet potato purée finished with a pan sauce demi, crispy sage and shallots and served with Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino 2004; and house-made zucchini cake accompanied by carrot mascarpone gelato. Cost is $99 per person, and vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. For reservations, call 404-991-3666 or e-mail admin@doublezeroatl.com.

A Smashing Good Time in Kennesaw

On Wednesday, November 30, the fourth Atlanta-area location of Smashburger will arrive in Kennesaw at 440 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway, giving Cobb County residents and visitors a chance to sink their teeth into the restaurant's "better burger." Smashburger's signature method of "smashing" burgers on a flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor is one we've come to know and love. Their 100 percent Certified Angus Beef Atlanta Smashburger and Atlanta Smashdog -- both topped with Wicked Pimena cheese and Vidalia coleslaw -- are sure to be smash hits in Kennesaw, too. Local beer, wine, hand-spun Häagen-Dazs shakes and IBC® root beer floats in frosted mugs complete the dining experience.

If you just can't wait that long to get "smashed," visit one of Atlanta's other three Smashburger locations in Buckhead, Johns Creek or Alpharetta in the meantime.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

Tacos Mexicanos, anyone? We can't wait to dive into this delicious dinner when Chepe's newest location opens at the Old Alabama Square shopping center in Johns Creek on Wednesday, November 16!

From Piedmont Park to the Georgia Dome... Catch Chef Janine Falvo Around Town This Weekend

Janine Falvo seems to be everywhere these days! While "Top Chef:  Texas" had her skedaddling out west, Briza's executive chef spends the majority of her time creating Southern-influenced, whimsical dishes that are drawing happy diners in at the Midtown restaurant. On Saturday, November 12, she won't have to travel far when she journeys the few blocks from Briza's turf adjacent to the Atlanta Renaissance Midtown Hotel to the Piedmont Park Green Market. Falvo will lead the Green Market chef's demo from 11 a.m. until noon on the patio. Market opens at 9 a.m. for shopping; fill your shopping bags with seasonal good stuff then get some prep and serving tips from Falvo.    

On Sunday, Falvo will be at the Georgia Dome, heading up the local chef stand while the Falcons take on the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. While the Falcons battle it out on the field, Falvo will be stirring things up inside 2View Restaurant located in the Dome's east end zone on the executive concourse (near the suites). Chat with Falvo and savor her dishes without missing a minute of the action on the field.

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

Grace Bonney founded Design*Sponge in 2004. These days, global readership tops 75,000 blog readers daily and 315,000+ Twitter followers. The New York Times calls it "Martha Stewart Living for the Millennials." With multiple daily updates on design, decorating, DIY, entertaining, travel, how-to videos and beyond, it's easy to see why followers are so absorbed. Follow her on Twitter(@designsponge) and soak in more on her Design*Sponge blog.  

Every Day I'm Trufflin'

Guests are euphoric about November's new $5 cocktail and appetizer promotion at Truffles Grill in Buckhead. Six Absolut martinis and an "Absolut-ly Your Way" cocktail are offered for $5 each -- all day, every day -- in the bar or dining area. That's not all, there's more! From 4 -7 p.m. daily, a $5 appetizer menu draws guests to the bar for baked brie in puff pastry, black bean cake, coconut shrimp, jumbo lump crab cake, fresh mushroom crostini or spinach and artichoke dip. Drop a $5, $10, $20 or more -- small prices for one big, happy setting.

Truffles Grill: 3345 Lenox Road; 404-364-9050.

Five After Five in the City

As if you needed one more reason to let rush hour pass before heading home after work, Ray's in the City is now offering $5 cocktails and appetizer specials starting at 5 p.m. every weekday in November to help keep you out of traffic - and sane! As part of the Downtown Dining District's "Five After Five" program, guests can sip on cocktails like a skinny margarita, sake mojito or blood orange old fashioned while nibbling on small plates such as Maytag blue cheese chips, crispy calamari, Ray's BBQ shrimp and select sushi rolls. Settle into a seat in the lounge area at Ray's in the City (240 Peachtree Street, NW) and say goodbye to road rage.

It's Open House Season - Come Visit New York Butcher Shoppe

I just love going to open houses. It's legitimized snooping. You can check out everything you've wondered about and there's usually food and drink involved too!

This week's open houses at the two locations of the New York Butcher Shoppe are no exception. You'll get to snoop to your heart's content, finding out that they carry a lot more than the best steaks around! Come by the Dunwoody location on Wednesday, November 9 or to the Sandy Springs location on Thursday, November 10 (5 - 8 p.m.) and sample chef-prepared holiday menu items and party appetizers, discuss menu options and get advice on holiday party and catering opportunities. As a bonus, order your turkey and sides while you're there, and New York Butcher Shoppe will give you 20 percent off your chef-prepared sides. See you there!

New York Butcher Shoppe - Dunwoody: 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328.

New York Butcher Shoppe - Sandy Springs: 4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704.

Cocktails and Ra Sushi Make The Perfect Pear

North Georgia apples fall close to trees. In Midtown, "The Perfect Pears" fall into RA Sushi's cocktail glasses. The Pear Martini and Asian Pear Smash are two seasonal cocktails, $8 each, that both begin with the crisp pear taste of Absolut Pears vodka and pear nectar. 

For kicks, the Pear Martini shakes in St. Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and a splash of Prosecco. The Asian Pear Smash muddles in falernum for spice, shiso leaf and fresh lemon juice and splashes in some nose-tickling soda. Try one or both of these "Perfect Pairs" before the last pear falls... November 30 to be exact.

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

How Sweet It Is – A Sugar Coma Awaits And You Could Win Tickets

Seeing as how quite a few of us on the MLA staff are dyed-in-the-wool sweet tooths (don't tell our dentist), we had to dish about the upcoming Sugar Coma event right here in Atlanta on Sunday, November 13 at Atlantic Station from 2 to 6 p.m.! It’s a dessert-lover’s dream, with a cornucopia of delicious vendors to tempt you with all sorts of amazing desserts. We hear that there are less than 30 tickets left, so be sure to snag yours online! 


If you’re feeling lucky today, we also have a pair to give away here…  just tell us what your favorite dessert is in our comments and we’ll be picking a winner at random later this afternoon. Good luck and happy desserts to you!

Chop Chop - It's The Last Weekend to Enjoy Chop Month at Aqua blue

Drool over Aqua blue's complete Chop menu, then hurry to Roswell to bite into these hearty dishes before the limited-time-only menu is, uh, chopped. Monday, November 7 is the last day to devour Chop menu specials including the Aqua blue "Chop" salad ($9) and St. Louis-style hoisin rib chop with jicama and apple slaw ($12); bone-in spicy Guinness-marinated chicken ($19); Caribbean-spiced pork chop with Maker's Mark glaze, black currants and pineapple ($26); and Australian lamb chop with pistachio, horseradish crust, Madeira demi and mint ($30). Chop month sippers include the "AB" classic martini with Gorgonzola-stuffed olives ($8); the "AB" Manhattan Chop made with High West Double Rye Whiskey, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, orange flower water and orange bitters ($10); 2008 Benziger Sangiacomo Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay ($8.50); and 2008 Trapiche Broquel Malbec ($10).

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

This week's Appetizing Aperture (a scrumptious salted caramel cake by Angie Mosier) is a delicious memory from a past Afternoon in the Country! Lucky for us that the event returns to Serenbe on Sunday, November 6 from 1 - 6 p.m. With sweet and savory bites from Bold American, Briza, Double Zero Napoletana, South City Kitchen, La Tavola Trattoria, JCT. Kitchen,No. 246, White Oak Pastures, Marlow's Tavern and more, it's bound to be a tasting guests won't soon forget!

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

Wife and mom of three, Stacie H. Connerty is a food truck stalker. She also likes toy trucks and has a truckload of tweets (@StacieinAtlanta) and lengthier posts on her The Divine Miss Mommy blog. 


She writes about her kids, and her "Wordless Wednesday" will brighten your day. Cruise with this lifestyle and travel blogger -- her posts drive home some money-saving deals!

Start Your Engines (and Appetites!) at the Cadillac Culinary Challenge, November 5-6 at Lenox Square

Cadillac and its culinary partners invite you and your friends to take part in the Cadillac Culinary Challenge this Saturday and Sunday, November 5-6 at Lenox Square. First, brake for a friendly competition between chefs Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster Harlem and Kenneth Bills of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Fuel up with fine cuisine and check out the best of Cadillac. You'll be revved up to test drive a Cadillac and compare it to challengers from BMW, Lexus and Mercedes. Test drives run the entire program time, and culinary demonstrations take place at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Register for this free event at www.cadillacchallenge.com.

Come Watch No. 246's Drew Belline at the Morningside Farmers Market

Drew Belline, executive chef at No. 246 in Decatur, welcomes Sequatchie Cove Farm, a Morningside Farmers Market product newbie, this Saturday, November 5. Belline will be working with ground lamb from the Sequatchie, Tenn. farm at his 9:30 a.m. demo. Make sure to stick around for a tasting and pick up some fresh produce for the week. Sequatchie Cove Farm is about 35 miles northwest of Chattanooga. Livestock, including Katahdin lamb, root and roam stress-free on grassy pastures.


Morningside Farmers Market, located at 1393 N. Highland Avenue, is open Saturdays 8 - 11 a.m.

A Sinfully Good Deviled Egg Recipe for National Deviled Egg Day

Halloween treats were egg-ceptionally good this past weekend. National Deviled Egg Day, November 2, will be devilishly divine when you boil a dozen eggs and one lobster to whip up JCT. Kitchen and Bar Owner/Executive Chef Ford Fry's lobster deviled eggs!  

Maine Lobster Deviled Eggs

Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

Makes 24 deviled eggs

Ingredients:

Eggs:

12 Eggs

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

6 cornichon pickles (chopped fine)

1 tbsp. minced chives

¼ lemon (juice of)

Dash of Tabasco

Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Lobster:

1 live Maine lobster

2 tsp. minced fresh garlic (Not that jar stuff!)

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt to taste

Vinaigrette:

1 Meyer lemon (zests and juice of)

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp. finely chopped Italian parsley

Kosher salt to taste

Method:

Place eggs in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Just as it boils, turn the heat off and let them sit for exactly 10 minutes. Immediately strain and cover with ice water to chill. Peel eggs, split in half and separate the yolks from the whites. Finely mash the yolks and mix in the remaining ingredients from the "egg" portion of the recipe. Place the yolk mixture into a piping bag with a nickel-sized round tip and chill until ready to assemble.

For the lobster, place a pot of water on to boil. Drop live lobster in for two minutes. Remove from water and cover with ice water. Once chilled, remove the meat and mince. Reserve until ready to assemble.

Prepare the vinaigrette by whisking together the juice, zests, olive oil, parsley, and salt to taste. (add the parsley just before assembling so that it does not turn brown.)

Just prior to serving, pipe the yolk mixture into each white bottom and place on your serving platter. Using a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Add the garlic and cook until light golden. Add the minced lobster meat and stir well. Cook until just done. Take pan off the heat and season lightly with kosher salt. Toss with the vinaigrette and the parsley. Spoon a divot into the yolk mixture of the deviled egg. Spoon in the lobster mixture and serve.

Tis the Season for New Treats at Truffles

The holiday are upon us, and while for some this can be the “most wonderful time of the year,” others tend to find the preparation and planning a little stressful. Never fear! Truffles Grill has just the thing to help us slow down and savor the season, with a brand new roster of $5 Absolut cocktails. Sample the elegant Pear & Elderflower Martini made with Absolut Pears, or the Orient Apple Martini made with Absolut Orient Apple. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even design your own drink using any flavors you like with the Absolut-ly Your Way cocktail.  Need some snacks to go with those drinks? Truffles is rolling out $5 appetizers for all bar-goers. They offer a baked brie in puff pastry, coconut shrimp, and fresh mushroom crostini (to name a few!), and at $5 a piece you don’t have to choose between them!  The cocktails are offered all day throughout the entire restaurant, but these tasty treats are in the bar area only from 4 p.m. to  7 p.m.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go treat yourself at Truffles!

Get to Know Briza Chef Janine Falvo on "Top Chef: Texas" Tomorrow Night

From our experience with past seasons of "Top Chef," we all know how much fun it is to have a local chef to root for, and Season 9 in Texas is no different. This time around, Briza Excutive Chef Janine Falvo is the hopeful we have our eyes on as she competes against 28 other chefs on the new season of Bravo's "Top Chef: Texas." Tune in for the season premiere tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2, at 10 p.m. Only 16 of the 29 chefs (double the usual number of hopefuls) will progress to cook their way across the Lone Star State. Since everything's bigger in Texas, cheer big for Chef Falvo! And when you're done cheering, come meet Falvo on her home turf at Briza. The restaurant happens to be hosting a Gloria Ferrer Wine Dinner at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 3 that will feature seven courses prepared by Falvo and wine pairings from Eva Bertran, executive vice president of Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards. During the dinner, you'll have a chance to taste the dish that Falvo created on the "Top Chef" Season 9 premiere the night before! Cost is $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity). For reservations, please call 678-412-2334.

Sake & Sushi Make Me Social

Sitting and staring at each other is kind of boring when you could be actively rolling sushi and tossing back sake at RA Sushi’s monthly Sake and Sushi Social. The first one is coming up this Tuesday, November 1 at 6 p.m. Participants in the interactive evening will roll up their sleeves and learn about sushi rolling and sake pairing while enjoying a selection of RA Sushi’s fresh sushi, appetizers and fine sakes. The cost of $35 per person or $60 per couple includes the lesson and a four-course sushi sampling with sake pairings. Space is limited so anchor your spot now by calling 404-267-0114.

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

Sit and Sip with Ray’s on the River and Shafer Vineyards

Once the craziness of Halloween is over, the idea of a quiet and delicious night at Ray’s on the River sounds fantastic to ease into November! Good thing that on Thursday, November 3, Ray’s on the River will be hosting an intimate wine dinner with Quality Wine & Spirits’ Master Sommelier Michael McNeill from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The four-course dinner includes mouth-watering dishes like rosemary roasted veal tenderloin with sautéed cherries, farro and raspberry red wine reduction paired with Napa Valley Merlot! Dinner is $95 per person (including tax and gratuity) and will include a selection of wines from Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley. There are only 4 seats left as we write this, so pick up the phone and call for your reservation at 770-955-1187. Cheers!

Saturday Fun with Urban Picnic in East Point

Wait until you see the spread Alisa Barry, creator of Bella Cucina, and social entrepreneur Donna Toepfer have for you this Saturday at their new farm-to-kitchen food center the two are opening in East Point. Down the street from Bella Cucina, the center will serve a wide variety of opportunities for community engagement -- kitchen space for local food businesses, classes for consumers and businesses, an edible learning garden and an abundance of events. The opening celebration is Saturday, October 29 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. See the garden handiwork of Crop Mob Atlanta, tour the kitchen facility, enjoy savory discounts on Bella Cucina products (made in East Point) during a sample sale and find out what's on the menu for this new community food center. While there, take an enlightening gardening class taught by Sustenance Design, sample mead from local meadery Obec Medovina and view the award-winning documentary "GROW!." Purchase tickets for $45 per person ($5 discount for Georgia Organics members) and enjoy the kitchen tour, lunch, garden class and movie (sample sale purchases are separate). All proceeds go toward opening the community food center. Bring your curiosity, enthusiasm and a picnic blanket! The Farm-to-Kitchen Urban Picnic will take place at Bella Cucina's kitchen located at 1870 Murphy Avenue, SW. Take I-85 to Langford Parkway. Take Langford Parkway west to the Fort McPherson exit and follow the Urban Picnic signs.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

We love Halloween... and we think even Slimer would be tempted to take a sip of this delicious Ecto-Cooler at Briza, one of the many ghastly delights the restaurant will have on the cocktail menu from October 26 to 31! 

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

You know the pit where you drown in your sorrows because you skipped the workout, overindulged or human-trash compacted the Halloween leftovers.  Self-professed workout and health food nut Zoë Levine tweets (@SkinnyPeaches). She's the little voice inside your smartphone steering you gently toward dietary corrections, suggestions and righteous workouts. She's a little bit louder on herSkinny Peaches blog.

Last Call for Oysterfest at Ray's in the City!

A new day means a new haul for Oysterfest at Ray’s in the City. This is the last week you can take in Ray’s pearl of an event that pairs ocean fresh oysters with New Belgium Brewery brews out of Fort Collins, Colo. Pairing examples are, say, Blue Point oysters from New York waters paired with New Belgium’s Fat Tire Ale; Fanny Bay oysters out of British Columbia’s western waters paired with New Belgium’s 1554 Black Ale; and Pine Island oysters out of New York paired with New Belgium’s Ranger IPA. New Belgium Hoptoberfest is also available to keep you and your friends afloat!

Ray’s in the City:  240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224.

Fall and Spring Internship Opportunities at MLA

Are you a student who is passionate about food/ wine culture and public relations? Melissa Libby & Associates is currently seeking an intern for the remainder of fall 2011 and also for our spring 2012 program.  Interns will join the MLA team to work directly with all facets of agency life, including media communications, social media, events and client services. Creativity, positive energy and great writing skills are very important.

The ideal candidate will receive school credit for their experience with MLA.  Our internships are unpaid and 15 hours per week.  We strive to make it a hands-on experience that our interns can definitely benefit from in the future.  To find out more about Melissa Libby & Associates, please visit our website and our Facebook page.  If you are interested, please send your resume and availability to atlantadish@gmail.com. Please be sure to specify which semester you are interested in – fall or spring. Good luck!

Treat Yourself To Halloween Debauchery This Weekend!

Ready to haunt the streets of this city? It's all treats and no tricks when it comes to finding something fun to do in Atlanta this Halloween!

All three Smashburger locations are featuring a special Halloween deal for children under age 12. If they wear their Halloween costume to Smashburger on Friday, October 28 through Monday, October 31, they'll be treated to a free meal when their parent purchases a meal.

Get two for one at Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna on Saturday, October 29 when they host both the Smyrna Beer Fest and their own 9th annual Halloween celebration. From 1 - 6 p.m., there will be more than 100 beers to sample, live music, costume and pumpkin carving contests, bobbing for apples and more. The Halloween celebration kicks in from 10:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m. with a live DJ in the bar, more costume contests and other Halloween-inspired activities and decorations.

Over in Virginia Highland, Atkins Park Tavern kicks off Halloween with their annual pumpkin carving contest on Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. Join friends for a night of pumpkin carving, beer drinking, scary movie watching on the big screen and a chance to win great house prizes. On Saturday, October 29, DJ Lion spins tunes beginning at 9 p.m. followed by the Tavern's annual costume contest at the witching hour. And on Monday, October 31, get ready for the Halloween Hangover when Atkins Park serves up a trio including the "Rocky Horror Picture Show," Terrapin Big Happy Monster and Monday Night Football.

Dig those skeletons out of the closet and party your bones off at your nearest Marlow's Tavern on Saturday, October 29. All eight locations are hosting Halloween shindigs from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. There's no cover charge to attend, but you definitely want to come up with a costume -- you might win cash, gift certificates or other prizes. Music? You bet your bones there's a DJ or live music, depending on the location.

At Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant, the "Thriller Monster Bash: A Retro 80s Halloween Party" brings the 80s to life on Saturday, October 29. A spooky holiday and a kooky decade (fashion-wise) go together like tricks and treats when Fadó gets tricked out in full Halloween décor for the spooktacular event. Specialty cocktails come at a $5 treat of a price, and a DJ spins 80s tunes from 9 p.m. into the wicked wee hours. Why be shy about dressing up? Costumes are expected, and all are encouraged to enter the midnight costume contest for a chance to take home $1,001 in cash. There's a $5 cover charge for the 9 p.m. bash, although ladies get in free.

Aqua blue dresses up as "Aqua Boo!" for their 10th annual Halloween Monster Bash on Saturday, October 29. So what are you going to wear? Decisions, decisions! Do you go all out or do your best to be the worst for the 11 p.m. costume contest? Dressed up or down, you can still imbibe in specially priced creepy cocktails and gobble up ghoulish appetizers. The regular á la carte menu is available from 4 p.m. on into the witching hours. A DJ spins dance hits starting at 9 p.m.

RA Sushi doles out Boo Bites and Potent Potions at their Halloween night "Boo Bash 2011" on Monday, October 31. The fun starts at 8 p.m. as the DJ spins his haunting mix and thrills guests until closing. Dress up and enter the "Boo Bash" costume contest. Read up and RSVP on Facebook.

The Iberian Pig is a true party animal this Halloween night, lining up Decatur restaurants and bars for a Halloween Pub Crawl at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31. The cost is $45 per person, which covers one featured drink at each stop. Look for a smoking punchbowl at the Iberian Pig along with snacks. Wear a costume and take part in the Brickstore's annual costume contest (hint, prizes) at tour's end. Other participating restaurants and bars include Square Pub, Mac McGee's, Eddie's Attic and Leon's Full Service.

For those in Marietta, Cumming and Suwanee, kids eat free at all four Chepe's locations on Halloween! Kids in costume on Monday, October 31, will receive one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree.

Visit The Dish for more Halloween details.

Knocking Out Breast Cancer One Smashburger At A Time

There's still time to help "smash" breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Wednesday, October 26, metro Atlanta's three Smashburger locations will donate a percentage of the day's sales to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Chances are that you know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease. Knock it out, one Atlanta Smashburger, avocado club or spicy Baja at a time!

Atlanta Chefs Show Off Pumpkin Carving Prowess This Thursday

Thinking about carving your pumpkin but need a little inspiration? Watch local chefs battle it out for the top pumpkin carver crown at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Fest-of-Ale on Thursday, October 27 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. We'll be cheering for Chef Janine Falvo of Briza as she cuts her way through the competition during the 25-minute contest (and if you miss seeing her at the pumpkin carving contest, you can catch her on Bravo's Top Chef Season 9, which starts on November 2). Guests are encouraged to clap loudly for their favorites as audience applause determines the winner. Once a winner has been picked, all of the chef-carved pumpkins will be sold in a silent auction to benefit the Garden, giving you another chance at an eye-catching jack-o-lantern for your own home.

Gear Up For Atkins Park Smyrna's Wii Bowling Tournament

Atkins Park is once again taking bar games to the next level. Get a crew together and find out who's kingpin (or queen) of the Wii bowling alley when Atkins Park - Smyrna rolls out a six-week Wii bowling tournament beginning at midnight on October 25. Anyone who wants to join in on the fun is welcome to participate in the tournament.

There's no sign up or league fee, and bowling shirts and shoes are optional. Best of all, each night's first- and second-place victors will walk away with house cash! Your points will add up week by week, and at the end of the six week bowling brouhaha, a tournament winner will be announced. The grand prize winner will receive a Fat Tire Cruiser bike, so get your team together now and start practicing your virtual bowling game so you can win this sweet ride! Follow along on Facebook.

Atkins Park Tavern: 2840 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna; 770.435.1887