Help Kaleidoscope Crawl for a Cure on April 25

Don't run, crawl for a cure this Wednesday in Brookhaven. Cocktails 4 A Cause presents a night of drink and food specials, live music and much-coveted raffle items at the 2nd Annual Dresden Crawl for a Cure on Wednesday, April 25. All event proceeds go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its work to fight blood cancers and to help patients and their families. The starting point is Haven, where registration takes place from 5:30 - 8 p.m. Guests set off for Valenza, Verde Taqueria, POUR Bistro and Library Coffee Company, then wind up at Kaleidoscope for the after-crawl party. $20 donation at the door. Can't make it? No worries; you can make a donation online.

From the Bayou to Mexico, Get a Taste of It All at Atkins Park Tavern

This Thursday night's Tequila & Tacos dinner menu at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland will knock you out of your usual taco and margarita rut. For the evening's special four-course menu, the tavern takes the lowly taco to new realms and pairs each taco type with a unique, refreshing Herradura tequila cocktail.  Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and costs $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity). For reservations, call 404-876-7249.

For those looking for a weekend activity, Atkins Park Smyrna Business Partner and Zac Brown Band Executive Chef Rusty Hamlin is firing up the big pots this weekend and filling them with crawfish, shrimp, potatoes, corn, onions, garlic and mushrooms. Party starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 and runs on over through Sunday, April 29. A bowl of crawfish and a few brews are mood food for Saturday and Sunday's live music lineup of The Squirrelheads, Soulhound, Patrick Scott , Zack Graddy,  and The Mar-Tans. All proceeds benefit the Georgia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training. Saturday tickets are $10 at the door and $5 in advance and include a ticket for Sunday admission. Sunday admission price is $5 per person. Atkins Park Valued Guests may use Valued Guest points to purchase admission for 500 points. Get more info and purchase tickets online.

Patio Parties, Pub Crawls & Much More In This Week's Dish

We've got patio parties, fun benefits, tasty festivals, sweet downloads and much more in this week's 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.

Dine Out for Life at Aria and Fifth Group Restaurants This Wednesday

This Wednesday, April 25, Open Hand is hosting Dining Out for Life (DOFL), one of the organization's largest fundraising events to help deliver more than 5,500 nutritious meals daily to Atlanta-area residents battling chronic disease and disabilities. Open Hand was founded in 1988 and delivered its 20 millionth meal this past December.

All you have to do is dine out (breakfast, lunch or dinner) at one of the participating restaurants this Wednesday, and 20% or more of your bill will be donated to Open Hand. Some participating eateries that are on the top of our must-visit list include Aria and Fifth Group Restaurants -- Alma Cocina, Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, The Original El Taco and South City Kitchen Vinings. Find a full list of DOFL participants and make reservations here to help Open Hand serve its next millionth meal.

Watch Justin Balmes on Chopped All-Stars Sunday Night

Justin Balmes and Jon Hamm already have a lot in common. They are both tall, dark and handsome. And this week they are both on TV Sunday night! Watch Atlanta's adventure-loving Chef Justin Balmes as he flexes his competitive muscles again on a special edition of "Chopped All-Stars" airing this Sunday, April 22 on the Food Network. He'll wield spoon and spatula against "Food Network Star" Season 7 finalists Penny Davidi, Vic "Vegas" Moea and Chris Nirschel as he vies for a prize for his charity, SafePath Child Advocacy Group. We don't know what happens but hopefully there are no mad men on this set!

Appetizing Aperture: A Picnic with Alon's

Alon's asks, "What's going into your basket on National Picnic Day, Monday, April 23?" Hint. Hint. With locations in Dunwoody and Virginia Highland, Alon's has it all, from prepared entrées, salads, sides and sandwiches on homemade breads to cheeses, chocolates, pastries, desserts, wines and beverages. Gelato while you decide? 

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

The Sassy Radish is all over the board. This food writer and recipe lover is Russian expat Olga Massov who passed through New England as a child, went to college in Pittsburgh and ended up in Brooklyn. Somewhere along the way, she picked up a Southern penchant for pickles and bourbon. Fine dining, casual, mountain or beach, it's hard to pigeonhole this one, so best follow along on Twitter (@sassyradish). Lots of links, photos and reading on her Sassy Radish blog.

Share Your Favorite Maritime Memories with The Optimist

Swimming pigs (photo courtesy of Kimberly McCollum)

As thankful as I am to have such nice weather in Atlanta, a part of me can't help but long for a trip to the beach. Sunny skies, blue water and toes in the sand sound like paradise to me. Until my next vacation, I'll be submitting my favorite beach pictures to The Optimist. Chef Ford Fry's sustainable seafood restaurant is scheduled to open in mid-May and is looking for maritime memories to add to the coastal decor. You can submit pictures of you surfing, fishing, playing water sports, or building a sandcastle - whatever your idea of surfside fun is! Mail pictures to JCT. Kitchen & Bar (1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18, Atlanta GA 30318), attention Kimberly Powell or email them to theoptimistatlanta@gmail.com. Don't be a beach bum and miss out, the deadline to submit your photos is Monday, April 30.  

Be an Early Bird this Saturday for the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market

You won’t want to sleep in this Saturday, because on April 21 The Cathedral of St. Phillip in Buckhead will be hosting local farmers and purveyors for the always exciting Peachtree Road Farmers Market! The market lasts from 8:30 a.m. until noon, but make sure you catch Woodfire Grill Chef de Cuisine E. J. Hodgkinson at 10 a.m. as he cooks up spring recipes that will be sure to delight your taste buds! Want a sneak peek of Hodgkinson in action? You can check out his fall demo from the market archives. The early bird may normally get the worm, but this Saturday, it’s tasty springtime veggies and more!

Evening of Hops and Trivia at Ray’s on the River

Wild Card Question: “What’s happening at Ray’s on the River on April 20 at 6:30 p.m.?”

Answer: “They are hosting a Craft Beer Chef's Dinner along with a casual evening of trivia and fun prizes.”

Ray's on the River has hand-picked three craft brews from across the U.S. and one from Japan to pair up with four delicious courses.

First course: Arancini di roso with pimentón aioli

Beer pairing: Stone IPA from Escondido, Calif.

Second course: Tempura prawns with sweet chili glaze and Asian slaw

Beer pairing: Hitachino Nest White Ale from Japan

Third course: Seared duck breast with Vidalia spring onions and raisin port reductio

Beer pairing:Dogfish Head, Raison D'Etre from Rehoboth Beach, Del.  

Fourth course: Coffee and chocolate-braised beef short rib with celery root purée and glazed baby carrots

Beer pairing: Duck-Rabbit Porter from Farmville, N.C.

Don’t miss out on this fun evening;it is sure to be anything but trivial. The cost is $30 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Menu subject to change based on availability. 
RSVP to Mandy Carlos at 770-955-1187 or mandy@raysrestaurants.com

I'll Have a Glass of Wine, Please!

Starting this Thursday, April 19, Woodfire Grill is introducing a winning wine tasting series for spring and summer months. First up are cava, Dom Pérignon and six other champagnes and sparkling wines. These wines actually complement more foods than any other wine type, according to Woodfire Grill Wine Director Nicolas Quinones and Sommelier Catherine Hatch. The two wine experts hone in on a different type of wine at monthly tastings planned for the third Thursday of each month through August. At each tasting, eight carefully selected wines will be available to dining room guests from 6 - 8 p.m., concurrent with dinner service but not served as pairings. The tastings are $15 per person and are limited to 30 guests each month. Reservations are in order to guarantee a spot; call 404-347-9055 and specifically mention the wine tasting when booking.

For Chardonnay lovers, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering the elusive Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2010 for a limited time. Most is sold via the winery's private mailing list, and what does make it to restaurant wine cellars is seemingly sold for a king's ransom. Maeve Pesquera, director of wine at Fleming's, has an "in" on procuring this ultra-premium Chardonnay from one of California's most-sought-after producers. Leveraging a strong relationship with Kistler, Pesquera has obtained this king of the California Chardonnays, and Fleming's is able to offer it as an "Icon Wine" to guests at an exceptional price of $60 a bottle (excluding tax and gratuity) beginning April 18 and continuing while supplies last.

"Tax Day Tuesday" Specials Keep Tax Day From Being So Darn Taxing - And More - In This Week's Dish

The dreaded April 17 is here! Be sure to get those last minute taxes filed so you can kick back and read 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.

And the Golden Onion Goes To...

A dozen Georgia chefs will compete in the inaugural Golden Onion professional cooking competition preceding the 35th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival April 26-29 in Vidalia, Ga. Our personal favorites in the April 22 recipe creation competition are Marc Taft, owner and executive chef of Chicken and the Egg in Marietta, and Chef Richard Wiggins, executive chef at Spice Market in the W Atlanta - Midtown. All eyes and cleavers will be on the star of the cutting board - the Vidalia onion, the prominent ingredient in every recipe. Chefs Taft and Wiggins both sing praises about Georgia's mild and gentle state vegetable. Taft appreciates that their "flavor profile makes them easy to blend into dishes because they complement other ingredients so well; they're also fantastic alone." Wiggins enjoys "the sweetness and ability to manipulate the flavor" of Vidalia onions. First-place winner takes home the Golden Onion trophy for one year plus $500. Second-place winner receives $250, and third place receives $100. Competition takes place in the Vidalia Community Center and opens to the public at 12:30 p.m. Purchase $5 tickets in advance at the Vidalia Onion Museum; $10 at the door. 

Sweet Relief for Tax Day at RA Sushi, Ray's in the City and Smashburger

With tax day right around the corner, we are all thinking of ways to save without having to give up dining out. Because let's face it, that's just not an option. RA Sushi is where we're headed first tomorrow; the Midtown restaurant is offering special pricing on food and beverages on Tuesday, April 17. The $2-$7 "Tax Day Tuesday" specials include more than 35 sushi, appetizer and tapas selections. You've done enough itemizing this month so we won't list out all the menu options, but let's just say the Kaisen ceviche (pictured right) has your name on it. And so does the Stawberry-Kiwi Saketini, obviously.

For those who find themselves in Alpharetta, Buckhead, Johns Creek, Kennesaw or Sandy Springs on Tuesday and are looking to grab a quick meal, Atlanta-area Smashburger locations are offering Text VIP and Smashclub members a $2 discount on orders of an entree, side and drink. This is a refund you don't have to wait by the mailbox to receive. Sign up to be a Smashclub member online, and become a Smashburger Text VIP member to get great deals and special announcements sent right to your phone. Text SmashburgerATL to 90210 to join.

For the downtown work crowd, Ray’s in the City is hosting a Tax Day Lounge Party from 3 – 7 p.m. on April 17. The downtown restaurant can’t pay your federal and state taxes, but they will pay the tax on small plates and cocktails for you. Go forth and save.

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.