Appetizing Aperture: Vidalia Onions

Sweet tears of joy! Vidalia onion season started yesterday. A-peeling facts: the real ones are grown only in Georgia, and the Vidalia Onion Committee provides plenty of recipes (Kevin Gillespie and Gerry Klaskala are on the Vidalia Onion Committee Chefs Advisory Board). 

Make sure to "like" their Facebook page for all the latest Vidalia onion news. We've been collecting the tastiest recipes for this sweetie all week over on Pinterest, too, so take a peek for some onion inspiration!

Out with the Old and In with Marlow's Tavern's New Menu and Facebook Page

With warmer temperatures in the forecast,  Marlow's Tavern is abandoning cold weather fare and welcoming the sunny seasons with exciting new menu tastes ($3.50-$19.50). 
Three new Start/Snack/Share items include burrata mozzarella and fried green tomato in a balsamic reduction on grilled ciabatta; big bowl long beans with applewood smoked bacon; crispy crimini mushrooms and a Szechwan sauce; and nutty Marlow's Cracker Jack. Packed with protein and veggies, chopped chicken salad piles on grilled chicken, hard-boiled egg, bacon, cheese, crunchy romaine, veggies, garbanzo beans, green olives and champagne vinaigrette. 
Big Bar additions are "The" Pita Club; open-faced tenderloin steak with garlic kale pesto and gorgonzola; a grilled chicken panini; and a burger lettuce wrap served with house-made tomato bacon jam. 
New Tavern Favorites include a grilled chicken stack with spinach, oven-dried tomato, fresh buffalo mozzarella, roasted cauliflower, tiny asparagus, onion confit and Parmesan farro; grilled center-cut filet with crispy wild mushroom potato cake, baby broccolini and garlic tomato fondue; and grilled Atlantic salmon with a succotash of Burbank potato, zucchini, yellow squash, bacon and scallion and tomato beurre blanc. Warm chocolate Tollhouse pie with chocolate, pretzels, Oreos, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream is a sure-fire sweet/salty dessert hit. 
The Soon-To-Be-Classic cocktails ($8.50-$9.50) and libations list heralds the coming of the Blueberry Buck, Spiced "Back-Porch" Punch, Cucumber Basil Cooler, Southern Peach Coupe and fresh fruit juices. 
Even more to "Like" is Marlow's Tavern's new Facebook page. The restaurant is streamlining its Facebook presence, combining all eight locations on one central Facebook page. 

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

Charleston has a rep for culinary prowess, and food doyenne Marion Sullivan plays a top supporting role. She's food editor at Charleston magazine, a columnist at the city's Post and Courier, a culinary specialist at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, and her professional bio is as substantial as a Thanksgiving shopping list. Follow her on Twitter (@mbscooks) and get the low down.

Chef Shaun Doty Demos At 2nd Annual High Meadows School Farmers Market This Saturday

Hooray for the return of market season! Roswell friends, get your basket or bag ready for this Saturday… The 2^nd Annual High Meadows School Farmers Market is a one-day festival of local edibles featuring organic and sustainably grown foods from more than 40 local farmers and food vendors, garden and cooking demonstrations, live music and family activities that you won’t want to miss.

This year's festival, sponsored by Whole Foods Market at Merchants Walk shopping center in East Cobb, is slated for Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the grounds of High Meadows School in Roswell. At 11 a.m., Chef Shaun Doty will show the crowd how to make delicious pastured chicken miso soup featuring Heritage Farms chicken donated by Will Harris and White Oak Pastures. Last year, more than 1,000 visitors attended this event, and this year's event promises to be even bigger. Don’t miss it!

Don’t Get Crabby, Just Eat Some Crabs at Aqua blue Crabfest This Week

Craving some crab? Before you miss it and get crabby, head over to Aqua blue, where stone crabs are taking center stage on the Crabfest menu through Monday, April 16. No need to worry about where these succulent crustaceans come from, because Aqua blue uses only seasonally harvested crabs that live in ocean waters from Connecticut to Belize, and they’re safely kept in sustainably managed fisheries. The Crabfest menu will tickle your taste buds with dishes like she-crab soup with spiced hominy frites ($7); jumbo lump crab cakes with avocado, mango, chili aioli, rice wine vinegar and wasabi honey mustard ($15); soft-shell crab rolls made with thin asparagus, crab cake, sweet herb, futomaki, soy paper and red tobiko served with wasabi honey mustard and fresh lemon ($14); chilled Florida stone crab claws served with traditional mustard sauce (MP); Drunken Crab Legs, a combo of king and snow crabs ($30); and large Florida stone crab claws served with green peppercorn cocktail and traditional mustard sauce (MP). So stop by Aqua blue, conveniently located a half mile east of Georgia 400 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell, before the tide washes away these crab-ulous dishes on Monday!

Help End Childhood Hunger with the Help of Atlanta's Finest Restaurants

Hunger pangs are one thing, the constant gnawing and nutritional deficiency of childhood hunger is totally different and can cause children to fall behind in many aspects of living, growing and learning. Taste of the Nation took root in 1988 to raise funds to help end childhood hunger throughout the U.S. On Thursday, April 12, chefs from 50 of Atlanta's top restaurants - including Aqua blue, Aria, Kaleidoscope, Marlow's Tavern and Woodfire Grill - will gather at the Georgia Aquarium for Atlanta's own Taste of the Nation event. The night holds cuisine samples, wine tastings and live entertainment along with live, silent and wine auctions crammed with luxurious goods and experiences (sneak peek here). NYC-based chef, cookbook author and "Top Chef Masters" 2011 winner Floyd Cardoz serves as honorary chef, and The Cook's Warehouse is one of the event sponsors. Purchase tickets online. A $350 VIP ticket buys more time to taste and shop from 6:30 - 10 p.m. General admission is $250 per person for entry from 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Fleming's Gives You More With Small Plates and Big Pours!

As days and nights warm up, we're finding ourselves craving lighter meals and thirsting for a taller glass. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is right there for us with their new "Small Plates, Big Pours" pairing through May 10. Select one of the steakhouse's seven innovative Small Plates and pair it with an oversized wine pour from a selection of seven premium wines from the Fleming's 100 collection -- for just $24.95. Generous on flavor, small plates include sliced or skewered filet mignon, jumbo shrimp scampi skewers, New Zealand petite lamb chops, seared ahi tuna, New Bedford scallops and Fleming's lobster tempura. Big Pour choices include Penley Gryphon Merlot, Paco & Lola Albariño, Cline Cashmere Red Blend, A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, Silverado Chardonnay and Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet.

Hump Day Hook-Up at Uncle Julio's in Sandy Springs

It's only lunchtime, but you're probably already thinking about happy hour and a place where you can wind down after work hours. Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food in Sandy Springs has you covered. Every Wednesday, all day and into the night, guests can take advantage of the "2, 4, 6 Hump Day Hook-Up." This deal features Corona and Corona Light for $2 a bottle; frozen margaritas (including The Swirl and frozen sangria as well as traditional and strawberry margaritas) for only $4 each; and specialty Patrón drinks (Patrón Silver margarita on the rocks, Patrón cosmo-ritas and Patrón skinny margaritas) for $6 apiece.

If you're gathering a group of friends, you can head to either Atlanta-area location of Uncle Julio's (Buckhead and Sandy Springs) for pitchers of house margaritas and sangria for only $25 on Wednesdays. Pair these deals with Uncle Julio's Mexican munchies and you've got a muy bueno meeting place for hump day happiness.

We've Got the Beet

Two more days til the Georgia Organics celebration "This Is Market," a local brew, chew, music party and fundraiser at SweetWater Brewing Company. Mark the calendar for Thursday, April 12 from 7 - 10 p.m. "Local" is the prefix for everything included in the ticket price: food prepared by chefs, SweetWater brews, "Two Friends Imports" wine, Smokey's Farmland Band, and farmers markets in Decatur, East Atlanta Village, East Lake, Grant Park, Morningside, Peachtree Road as well as Farm Mobile and Truly Living Well. Tickets are $45 each for Georgia Organics members and $55 for non-members (includes one-year membership to Georgia Organics). No tickets will be sold at the door. See you there!

Pour over Fleming's "Small Plates, Big Pours" Special - and more - in The Dish

A beautiful morning to take in all the delicious events going on in The Dish! If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

Alon’s in Dunwoody Hosts Authentique Vin’s Thomas Meunier For A Genuine French Wine Tasting

After six years of working at a Loire Valley winery, Thomas Meunier set out to accomplish one of his career goals – to find true winegrowers who make no concessions and whose distinctive personalities are reflected in their wine. Meunier’s vision came together with the creation of his start up Authentique Vin Imports. On Wednesday, April 11, Alon’s Bakery & Market in Dunwoody invites guests to attend a wine tasting from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. featuring a selection of Authentique Vin French wines. The cost is $20 per person and includes light hors d’oeuvre. As Meunier believes, “authentic people make authentic wine in a sustainable way, revealing the identity of a soil, a grape and a climate – the notion of Terroir.”

Here's An Easily Agreed Upon Pre-Nup: Host Those Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties At Spice Market

It’s that time of year again; when wedding bells are ringing, the perfect dress is waiting to be found, and brides-to-be are running around turning their dream wedding into a reality.

Let Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown take some stress off your hands with their packages for one-stop bachelor/bachelorette party planning! The packages include two different menu options with portions large enough for the whole table to share (to accommodate six or more guests). For $25 per person, guests will receive two appetizers, two entrées and an assortment of house-made cookies for dessert. For $35 per person, guests will receive a glass of champagne, plus their choice of three appetizers, three entrées and two desserts. Each guest receives complimentary valet for the first three hours as well.

The fun doesn’t have to stop here, however. Keep the party going with celebrity-style access to Whiskey Park, a glamorous bar and lounge located on the third floor of the W Atlanta-Midtown. Guests will be seated at a VIP table and receive a complimentary bottle of champagne for every bottle of liquor purchased (two bottle minimum for VIP table). Non-table options are negotiable. Party reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance and each group must specifically request the bachelor/bachelorette party package. Guests also may book a room at the W Atlanta-Midtown and stay the night.  Contact Damien Whitman at damien.whitman@whotels.com or John Pak at john.pak@whotels.com to get your party started!

Appetizing Aperture: New England Country Soup Southeast Soup Challenge Winner

And the New England Country Soup Southeast Soup Challenge grand-prize winner is (drumroll, please) Felice's mushroom and barley soup with rye croutons simmered up by Felice Bogus of Raleigh, N.C. Funny, her husband Robert won the "Best Presentation" prize for his Gulf Coast fish chowder with caramelized orange scallops. Congrats to a "souper-douper" couple. 

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

 

Libbie Summers and Chia Chong are tweeters behind Salted & Styled in Savannah, Ga. Midwesterner Summers is a creator/writer/culinary producer and is the writer behind "The Whole Hog Cookbook." Creator/photographer Chia Chong hails from Malaysia and resides in Savannah, where she earned her B.F.A. in Photography at Savannah College of Art and Design. Each day brings "food-inspired living" for these two as they notice and expand on one item at a time. Get the gist on Twitter (@SaltedandStyled). There are more words and photos to devour on the Salted & Styled blog!

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food Helps You Drink the Heat Away

This spring might be one of the warmest we've had in Atlanta, but luckily Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food is offering a remedy to beat the heat. We already know how wonderful the Swirls are but now the restaurant has added five new non-alcoholic teas and lemonades. Each one is handcrafted and made with fresh fruit, and only $3.75 apiece with $1 refills. Check out the flavors: 

• Mango Passion Lemonade - lemonade and Uncle Julio’s fresh mango passion fruit
• Strawberry Guava Lemonade - hand-shaken blend of real strawberries, guava nectar and lemonade 
• Cherry Limeade - sweet cherry with a tart lime flavor
• Raspberry Iced Tea - freshly brewed tea with raspberries 
• Raspberry Palmer - a refreshing blend of lemonade, freshly brewed tea and real raspberries 

Leave a comment below and tell us which one sounds best to you!

Gifts for Dads, Grads and YOU at Fleming's

The graduation announcements are starting to fill up the mailbox and it can be so hard to decide what to give! Most of the graduates in my life prefer cash to, say, a monogrammed beach towel or coffee table book of life wisdom. But I want to give them something more memorable than a Georgia Power payment or a tank of gas. Thanks to the folks at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar I can give a gift card for a fabulous dinner and get myself a little treat too! The Dunwoody restaurant is throwing in a $20 promotional bonus card with each $100 gift card purchased between April 1 and June 7. This will make a great Father's Day gift too! Gift cards can be used in the restaurant, bar or for a special event at any Fleming's location; bonus cards are for dining room use only. And since there are Fleming's in other cities, you can buy these for out of town grads and dads. Here's the link!

Plan Your Easter Feaster with Some of Atlanta's Hottest Restaurants

Peeps, chocolate eggs and jelly beans are a great start to Easter morning, but that sugar crash can lead to midday meltdowns. To really celebrate the day, fill tummies with yummies at some of the egg-straordinary Easter brunch and dinner options around Atlanta. The Dish basket was full of ideas last week - click here to take another look. South City Kitchen - Vinings and South City Kitchen -Midtown have finalized the three-course prix fixe menu to be offered at both locations from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Easter Sunday. See the complete big-as-the-South menu on Facebook -- a beauty for only $29 per adult and $14.50 for kids under 12 (plus tax and gratuity). South City Kitchen - Midtown reservations:  404-873-7358 or OpenTable; South City Kitchen - Vinings reservations:770-435-0700 or OpenTable. Marlow's Tavern in Duluth, Kennesaw, Midtown, East Cobb, Northlake and Vinings will be serving Easter brunch as well. Hours and specials vary by location. For more information, visit www.marlowstavern.com. 

A Few of Our Favorites From the AJC "Top 50" List

As you have probably already read, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Chief Dining Critic John Kessler recently wrote about a list of his "Top 50" restaurants, which he hasn't compiled since 2004. He notes that the passing years have brought a rewarding variety of foods and atmospheres to Atlanta, and we definitely agree. Some of our longtime favorites were included in the list: Aria (pictured right), Ecco and Woodfire Grill. And two more of our top picks were noted on John Kessler's blog as coming oh-so-close to making the list: JCT. Kitchen & Bar and La Tavola Trattoria. Visit the links above to sample John's thoughts, and be sure to play with the interactive map to locate these winning spots for your next dinner outing. You won't be disappointed!

Olé! Smashburger Introduces the Fresh Mex Burger for a Limited Time!

To top the new Smashburger Fresh Mex Burger, one really needs a sombrero. Smashburger, who's always building a better burger, employs a cushy Mexican roll. It excels in absorbing the juicy runoff from a 100 percent Certified Angus Beef burger dressed with a juxtaposition of cool avocado, chopped cilantro, onions, lettuce, tomato and sour cream against pepper jack cheese and spicy chipotle mayo, and served with a wedge of lime. A marinated chicken sandwich has equal olé with the same toppings. The choice beef and chicken chomper comes to the ATL from the sleepy California border town of San Diego, where it was created for locals who love their regional Fresh Mex combinations. Hold your siesta until after you partake in this flavorful fiesta because the visiting dynamic duo heads out of town on April 29. Maybe the peachy Atlanta Smashburger will pay an exchange visit to San Diego. We'll have to wait and see.

The Dish Hops In With This Week's Culinary Adventures

The Easter Bunny's bringing more than just chocolate treats this week. Find out what culinary adventures are in store for you in this week's Atlanta Dish! If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

Embark on a Fine Food and Wine Cruise with Kevin Gillespie, If “The Price is Right”

From being a contestant on “Top Chef” to serving as the executive chef at Woodfire Grill, Celebrity Chef Kevin Gillespie has many accomplishments under his belt. On Wednesday, April 4, be sure to watch “The Price is Right,” because up for grabs is an exotic Fine Food and Wine Cruise sailing away to French Polynesia, September 29 – October 6, with a ‘Wine, Dine and Jazz at Sea” party on board. So how does this wonderful prize involve Woodfire Grill’s executive chef? Aboard the intimate cruise ship, Gillespie will bring the “dine” element, with assistance of Washington winery DeLille Cellars on wines, and a Grammy-nominated jazz ensemble from Cjazz performs for guests’ to make this trip an unforgettable experience.  Gillespie, who also serves as a Celebrity Chef Ambassador for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, will be attending to the preparation of special culinary events during the cruise. Furthermore, he will be hosting a variety of cooking demonstrations and classes. Although, you may not be a contestant on “The Price is Right,” you can still register for the super-inclusive package at www.finefoodandwinecruise.com. As if there weren't enough reasons for you to book this fantastic eight-day cruise, Gillespie will also be celebrating his 30^th birthday during this trip. Wonder if you can eat his cake, too? Early booking rates start at $3,700 per person. For more information, call 800-218-6031 or email info@foodandwinecruise.com. 

Appetizing Aperture: Easter Doughnuts from Krispy Kreme

Hippity-hoppity, Easter's on its way. This year, the Easter Bunny has something new from Krispy Kreme in his basket to share with all the good little girls and boys. Hightail it down the bunny trail to pick up these treasures.  

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

She has a long-standing love affair with food and a new found love in Twitter. Ali Rosen is a video producer for NYC's The Daily Meal (@TheDailyMeal) in her other waking hours. Follow her on Twitter (@Ali_Rosen) and fill your plate with food articles at The Daily Meal website. 

Culinary Caper: Double Zero Napoletana and The Iberian Pig Swap Restaurants on April Fools' Day

Looking for the perfect prank to pull on April Fools' Day? Bring your friends and family to Double Zero Napoletana or The Iberian Pig for dinner fun on Sunday, April 1, and watch their confusion quickly turn into delight. The Castellucci Hospitality Group restaurants are offering some of the other restaurant's most popular dishes and drinks, as well as their own dinner menu. The Sandy Springs restaurant and the Decatur restaurant are even swapping their kitchen staffs to pull off this culinary caper.

Some of The Iberian Pig items on the special swap menu at Double Zero Napoletana include pork cheek tacos, handmade veal shank ravioli and sweet churros. Drinks heading north are The Iberian Old Fashioned and a selection of Spanish wines.

Going to Decatur from Double Zero Napoletana are lobster pappardelle, lamb polpettine and Margherita pizza. Also visiting The Iberian Pig will be Double Zero chocolate cake, barrel-aged Negroni and a selection of Southern Italian wines. For full menu details on the swap, visit Facebook. April Fool's Day dinner hours are 5 - 9 p.m. at The Iberian Pig and 5 - 10 p.m. at Double Zero Napoletana.

RA Sushi's Monthly Sake And Sushi Social Is A Short Course In Fun On April 3

Ever wonder how sushi chefs get all of that delicious sushi flavor into one picture perfect roll? Let all of your sushi questions be answered at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant's monthly Sake and Sushi Social, coming up on Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. Impress all of your friends by learning sushi-rolling and sake-pairing basics during this interactive social. Each lesson costs $35 per person or $60 a couple and includes a four-course sampling of fresh sushi and sake pairing plus some tasty appetizers! Be sure to get spots at the counter for you and your date or group by calling 404-267-0114. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to roll some sushi because learning a new craft has never been so yummy!

Spice Up Your Life and Check Out Hotel Restaurant Week

Hotel restaurants can fly under the radar when hometown honeys eat out. Hotel Restaurant Week sets out to change all that by spotlighting great restaurants in Atlanta hotels, including Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown. From March 31 through April 7, participating restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe menus for $30 per person (not including tax or gratuity). The special menu at Spice Market starts with two spice chicken samosas with cilantro yogurt, features an entrée of Thai basil cod with Malaysian chili sauce, and ends with coconut cake with guava ice cream in salted caramel sauce. Don't sleep on it; make reservations online now.

Our Picks for Easter Eats and Sweets

With Easter less than two weeks away, we've got some great ideas for celebrating with family and friends over brunch and ways to fill up that special someone's Easter basket. You can get the full scoop in Atlanta Dish, but here are a few ideas to nibble on:

Make any Easter basket a happier one with treats from Alon's (located in Dunwoody and Virginia-Highland), including chocolate bunnies, PB&J filled chocolate eggs (my personal favorite!) and more.

For Italian fare and the most extensive bakery you've ever seen, Alpine Bakery & Trattoria in Alpharetta will begin serving a special Easter menu along with the regular menu at noon (although you can peruse the bakery beginning at 10 a.m.).

Aqua blue in Roswell will have an Easter buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including a carving station and made-to-order omelets. Pricing is $29.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids ages 4-12 and free for children under 4.

In Dunwoody, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is serving an elegant three-course Easter menu from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost is $34.95 per adult, and there is a children's version for $16.95 (tax and gratuity not included). Be sure to try the new Blood Orange Fizz cocktail($6.95) while you are there!

At Ray's on the River, brunch is served all day long from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., complete with a riverside view. Cost is $39.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids ages 5-10 and free for children 4 and under.

Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta is serving Easter brunch from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost is $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids ages 5-10 and free for children 4 and under. Guests also may order off the regular dinner menu from 5 - 9 p.m.

Cooking at home? Grass-fed lamb from White Oak Pastures is the perfect entree for a traditional dinner. You can order online or by calling 229-641-2081, but don't forget that orders must be placed by Monday, April 2 for delivery before Easter.

Hippity Hoppity, Easter's On Its Way in This Week's Dish

It's a beautiful spring week here in Atlanta to explore all the latest culinary happenings around town! Get this week's scoop on what's next with Atlanta Dish. If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page!

MLA Seeks Summer 2012 Interns; Apply by April 6

Are you a student who is passionate about food/ wine culture and public relations? Melissa Libby & Associates is currently seeking two interns for the summer semester.  Interns who join the MLA team will work with and learn directly from all agency functions, including media communications, social media, special events and client services. Creativity, positive energy, strong work ethic and great writing skills are important traits for this internship. The ideal candidate will also receive school credit for their experience with MLA.  


Internships are unpaid and are 15-22 hours per week from early June to mid-August. Schedules are fairly flexible, although Monday mornings are required. 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 by April 6. Good luck!

High Museum Hosts 20th Annual Vintners’ Reception And Live Auction on Saturday, March 31

Lucky are those High Museum of Art supporters holding tickets to the sold-out 20^th Annual Vintners’ Reception and Live Auction on Saturday, March 31. They’ll be able to dabble in a delicious palette of dishes prepared by chefs from Atlanta’s best restaurants while tasting wines from scores of top wineries. Then the bidding begins on everything from rare and collectible wine, dreamy trips, fine art and other one-of-a-kind finds. Marietta’s Chicken and the Egg, Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown, Double Zero Napoletana in Sandy Springs and Aqua blue in Roswell will all be there. If you’re going, be sure to stop by their tables!

Ray's on the River Recycles Prom Dresses

Ah, prom season. Hoping for a cute date, planning a fun night with all your friends, and yes, shopping for the perfect dress. It's a right of passage for many girls. But some don't have the funds to splurge on a prom dress that will likely only be worn once (you know you aren't really going to shorten it and wear to a cocktail party when you're 21!). We have the solution! Take gently used prom dresses and evening dresses in current styles and drop them off at Ray's on the River before April 30. They'll be donated to Fairy Tale Endings, a local organization that provides prom makeovers for girls who might not be able to attend their proms due to financial limitations. Sweet ending for you: a complimentary appetizer or dessert at Ray's on the River. And if you need a memorable place to celebrate prom night, check out their special prom menu. There's a $30 - $50 price range (including tax and gratuity and choice of coffee, tea or soda) with entrée choices of vegetable stir fry, oven-roasted chicken, slow-roasted prime rib, broiled cold water lobster tail and charbroiled filet mignon. Guests may select a starter of field green salad or classic Caesar salad, and except for the vegetable stir fry, which comes with white rice, the other entrées are joined by goat cheese and chive whipped potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Dessert is available for an additional charge. For reservations, call 770-955-1187.

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

SocietySocial tweets it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. Do we hear an "amen" for that? Cut loose and incorporate some shop humor in your life, as in shopping, shopping, shopping. Get the quick tweet (@societysocial), or for serious shopping news out of NYC, peruse the Society Social website and blog.

Appetizing Aperture

Double dipping is so tempting when you're facing RA Sushi Bar Restaurant chips and salsa today for National Chips & Dip Day. Pinwheels of wonton chips hug a mound of spicy tuna tartare mixed with cukes, avocado and fresh salsa and sprinkled with bell pepper confetti. Dip once and devour entirely, lest someone get a chip on their shoulder over your brash behavior.   

Celebrate Spring Break with Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Now that we're two days into spring, it's only fitting that we start discussing spring break plans. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Spring Break Celebration is helping everyone celebrate the return of warm weather. This deal certainly won't "break" your bank. For $34.95 (excluding tax and gratuity), the Spring Break Celebration includes your choice of The Wedge salad or French onion soup; filet mignon AND North Atlantic lobster tail for the entrée; and French green beans or Fleming's mashed potatoes on the side.


This offer is not on the regular menu so mention the special when calling 770-698-8112 for reservations or reserve online. The Spring Break special is available through April 7. Traveling on your spring break? Stop by Fleming's Sandestin location for the same great deal!

When the Spirit is Right, You'll Have Fun All Night

Both Atkins Park Tavern locations in Smyrna and Virginia Highland invite you to come try their newest spirit, privately labeled Atkins Park Tavern Vodka. Not yet sold in package stores, Atkins Park Tavern Vodka comes in two flavors - house vodka and black pepper vodka. These special spirits are produced by Terressentia, a distillery located in Charleston, S.C.

Ray's at Killer Creek is creating its own refreshing liquor infusions for lounge and restaurant enjoyment. The $10 libations are shaken over ice and served in a glass -- perfect for spring sipping. Kiwi-cucumber infusion contains Fris Vodka, kiwi, cucumber and melon liquor. Pineapple infusion unites Fris Vanilla Vodka, coconut rum, simple syrup and pineapple. Chill, bro.

New England Country Soup Hosts a Southern Souper Battle

On Saturday, March 24, Southern soup lovers will compete for the chance to win the New England Country Soup Challenge. With the all-natural New England Country Soups available on Publix shelves, the Vermont-based creator of healthy, "tastes as good as homemade" soups has extended its Soup Challenge contest to the Southeast. The five regional finalists were chosen based on their original and family soup recipes, which they submitted online. This Saturday local souper-stars Jenny Levison of Souper Jenny and Chef Jim Gallivan of The Art Institute of Atlanta will help judge the 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. stockpot showdown at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta. The finalist who comes closest to matching the taste and nutrition of New England Country Soup offerings will win a foodie weekend getaway at The Hob Knob Eco Boutique Hotel on Martha's Vineyard. You do not want to miss out on this Southern Soup Showdown. This event is free and the aroma is certainly tempting. All you have to do is email info@soupchallenge.com to receive a free ticket that will hold your seat.

Everything's Bigger in Texas...Including the Flavor of Whisky

Texas is coming to town, and it's time to greet her with an Atlanta-sized appetite. Double Zero Napoletana is bringing the flavor of the Lone Star State to Atlanta-area diners next Tuesday, March 27, with a Balcones Distillery Dinner at 7 p.m. The Waco, Texas distillery produces small batches and uses blue corn; it's also the first-ever craft distillery "Icons of Whisky" award recipient. To complement the evening's whisky selections, Double Zero's Executive Chef Chad Crete is lining up a delicious series of small plates such as sautéed Brussels sprouts with bacon lardons and brown sugar peaches; a biscuit BLT with pancetta, spicy tomato jam and arugula; and smoked sweet potato puree, apple braised crispy pork belly and orange-mint marmalade. Cost is $59 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). For reservations, call 404-991-3666.

No.246 Gets Its 15 Minutes (Or Five Days) Of Fame As It Closes Temporarily For Filming

What’s better than dinner and a movie? Having dinner at a restaurant where a movie was filmed, of course! Unfortunately, you can’t dine during filming, meaning that No. 246 in Decatur will be closed to all of us regular, non-A-listers starting Sunday, March 25 until 6 p.m. on Friday, March 30. But with celebs like Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Jessica Alba, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jane Lynch starring in this upcoming comedy (called A.C.O.D., standing for “Adult Children of Divorce”), we’d say it’s worth the wait. No. 246 Owners Ford Fry and Drew Belline apologize to fans for the inconvenience, and they'd love for guests to come enjoy live music at the restaurant when it re-opens to the public. Music starts at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, but you don’t have to wait until then to start planning your meal; your mouth can water while reading the menus online! So even though you have to wait almost a week to dine out at No. 246, being able to say “Oh yeah, I ate there,” after the movie’s release, just might be worth it!

Good Morning, Atlanta - It's Time For The Dish

Fancy a little pollen with your coffee? It's time to grab the allergy meds, sit down and enjoy the week's best culinary news in The Dish. If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page!

Grab Your Hula Skirt and Coconuts – It’s Time for a Luau at RA!

Spring has sprung, and all this warm weather calls for a celebration! On March 22, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant is throwing a Spring Luau that will have you doin’ the hula in no time! Say “aloha” to tropical drink specials ($8 each):  Bikini Martini, layering Blue Curaçao, Kai Young Coconut Shochu, vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and a splash of lemon-lime soda; Pineapple Express featuring Kai Young Coconut Shochu, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice and some bubbly prosecco; and Baby Umami Punch mixed with Southern Comfort, cold sake and tropical fruit juices. Memorize some of the menu specials: the Tropical Roll with cucumber, mango and avocado ($8); spicy shrimp mixed with masago and mango salsa ($8); pineapple cheese wontons ($7); and spicy pineapple chicken with ramen noodles, bell peppers, spicy chili sesame sauce and black sesame seeds ($8). Tiki torches and a guest D.J. keep things fired up at the 8 p.m. until close party. Wear a Hawaiian shirt or lei and you’ll fit right in at this big beach bash. Check out Facebook for more info!