#Foodgram

Julia Kramer is the associate restaurant editor at Bon Appetit magazine. As if she's not poking enough irons in the fire with that job, she stirs things up on Instagram @juliakramer and tweets during her spare time.

Vote Your Favorites into Jezebel Magazine's 2015 Best of Atlanta

Food, fashion, Fido, fitness, fun. The list goes on with lots more letters. Are there some new faves on your tally going into 2015? Are your stalwart go-tos still pulling rank? Share your thoughts in Jezebel magazine's 2015 Best of Atlanta, casting votes for as many or as few categories as your heart desires. 

Waist Not with Healthy Choices at Tin Drum Asiacafé

Lighten up on calories while keeping all of that modern Asian umami-rich flavor you love at Tin Drum Asiacafé locations. Through Sunday, February 1, all 12 Atlanta restaurants are featuring two signature dishes full of simple, fresh ingredients to help resolution-minded guests "lighten up" their new year. Pad thai noodle (sweet Thai citrus sauce, stir-fry noodles, scallions, bean sprouts, carrots, lime, crushed peanuts, egg and sautéed chicken) and mango stir-fry (sweet-chili sauce, fresh mango, basil, onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, crispy chicken and steamed white rice) are Asian comfort foods that help you stay light on your feet. As another healthy option, calorie-conscious guests can substitute sautéed chicken for crispy chicken or fresh spinach for rice in their selections through February 1. Trying to slow down and pause between bites? Tackling chopsticks works for us.

Register Now and Save $15 on White Oak Pastures' Hooves & Horns Ruff Run March 14

Time to hit the turf on that New Year's resolution and start training for the White Oak Pastures Hooves & Horns Ruff Run canvassing the Bluffton, Georgia farm on Saturday, March 14. Your first step to overcoming the obstacles strewn throughout the course is to register for either a competitive or more leisurely heat. After that, only 3.1 miles of terrain on Georgia's largest organic farm and 10-12 fun, albeit challenging, obstacles come between you and the finish line. Early birds who register and pay the $60 entry fee before January 16 will receive a White Oak Pastures' Ruff Run T-shirt, a free beer at the end of the race (one per entrant age 21 and over) and a special lunch at the farm's own Pavilion restaurant. After January 16, registration fee jumps to $75. All paid entries receive goodies, and everyone will enjoy the day's live entertainment. Register before the 5 p.m. Friday, February 27 deadline or you're out to pasture on this year's run. Kick up more details here or call 229-641-2081.

The Pig & The Pearl Debuts Third Thursday Beer Dinner with Orpheus Brewing

The Pig & The Pearl catapults third Thursdays into a monthly high point with the debut of its Third Thursday Beer Dinner series on January 15. The Atlantic Station restaurant known for succulent smoked meats and raw, smoked and steamed seafood is casting Atlanta's artisanal Orpheus Brewing in the opening brew mastery role. Orpheus' two year-round signature brews are first up, chased by two seasonal crafts. Atalanta, a tart plum saison 5.25%, teams with tuna tartare with ponzu gelée and shiso, smoked oyster toast with celery root slaw and trout tartare with crème fraiche and smoked trout roe. Next, Szechuan pork belly with charred broccoli stem and fried rice plays well with Lyric Ale 6.5%. Sykophantes, an earthy fig sour 7.5%, escorts smoked short beef ribs with white bean ragout, and Wandering Blues, a blueberry sour 6%, complements huckleberry pound cake with sea salt ice cream. $50 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Call 404-541-0930 to save a seat.

The Shed at Glenwood Hosts Winemaker Dinner January 14

Contemplate tectonics, climate and volcanic eruptions with every sip of Davis Bynum wines when The Shed at Glenwood hosts the Russian River Valley winery for a winemaker dinner on Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. Millions of years of geologic and meteorologic activity have built the soil nourishing the vines of Davis Bynum, which specializes in sustainably raised, handcrafted, single-vineyard wines. The 40-year-old winery recently joined the Rodney Strong family, and Rick Sayre, head winemaker for both wineries, will be at the dinner. Chef Todd Richards knows exactly what to serve to complement each varietal, beginning with reception fare of smoked clams, salmon tartare and crab and celery root spring roll with kung pao sauce teamed up with chardonnay RRV 2011. Next, a salad of grilled squid and Swiss chard with fried chicken croutons and pomegranate vinaigrette plus pine nut and Muenster cheese crepes join Jane's Vineyard RRV pinot noir 2012. Venison osso buco with fig relish, olive stew with sun-dried tomato, mint and white anchovy, and grilled Logan Turnpike grit cakes with whipped goat cheese accentuate Clone 667 RRV pinot noir 2012. The night ends with a flourless chocolate cake with red wine chocolate sauce and Auntie Florence's rice pudding with bacon brittle and caramelized apple paired with Clone 115 pinot noir 2012. $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited; call 404-835-4363 to book your seat.

Ray's on the River Hosts Rodney Strong Wine Dinner on January 13

Savor Sonoma County sunshine by the glass when Ray's on the River hosts a Rodney Strong wine dinner on Tuesday, January 13. Over the past 50 years, Rodney Strong Vineyards of Healdsburg, California has earned a reputation for standout releases and best-in-class Sonoma wines. This night promises a special menu complemented by fine wines and the insights of Rick Sayre, Rodney Strong head winemaker. On the Strong team since 1979, Sayre knows his grapevine scoop. A 6:30 p.m. reception opens the event with scallop mousse crostini and Charlotte's Home sauvignon blanc 2013. Dinner follows at 7 p.m., flowing through four courses: butternut squash fritters with Chalk Hill chardonnay 2013; smoked duck cassoulet with pinot noir reduction, arugula, sausage, mirepoix and white beans paired with Russian River pinot noir 2012; cocoa nib-crusted short rib and roasted root micro vegetables with Brother's Vineyard cabernet sauvignon 2011; and dessert of mascarpone spice cake with salted caramel, candied orange peel and micro mint complemented by Knotty Vines zinfandel 2012. $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required; call 770-955-1187.

Award-Winning Author Adrian Miller Attends Bantam + Biddy Anniversary Dinner on January 11

Bantam + Biddy Crescent Avenue has been sharing the love for Southern food with Midtown for a year now. Apropos that James Beard Foundation winner, award-winning author and Southern food lover Adrian Miller is the special guest at the restaurant's especially soulful first anniversary dinner on Sunday, January 11. The evening features dishes from "Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time," the 2014 James Beard Foundation Book Award for Reference and Scholarship winner, which Miller calls a "love letter to African-American cooks." Mingle and munch with Miller over passed bites of mac 'n' cheese, sweet potato greens spoon bread and Buffalo fish ribs at the 6 p.m. reception then dine on catfish curry, cornflake fried chicken with cheddar waffles and banana pudding. $60 per person with an autographed copy of the cookbook or $45 for dinner only. Alcohol is not included. Excludes tax and gratuity. Limited seating; call 404-835-6450 for reservations.

Appetizing Aperture

Southern kitchens have long turned to buttermilk to tenderize and add tang to family recipes. No surprise then that The Southern Gentleman charms diners with its own buttermilk-poached GrassRoots Farms chicken breast accompanied by root cellar tomatoes and okra and brown butter rutabaga purée ($23). Grandma would be proud, once she gets over the fact that this new Buckhead Atlanta restaurant doesn't quite do things the way she did back in the day. Change is good.  

Photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee

Restaurants to be Excited About in 2015

   

Our 2015 bucket list is filled with new dining destinations. We'll keep you in the know as openings draw near. Here's what we're thinking:

Atlas at the St. Regis Atlanta

Bellina-Alimentari at Ponce City Market

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill Roswell

The Blind Pig: Parlour Bar

FLIP burger boutique Nashville

Marlow's Tavern Woodstock

Ray's Rio Bravo Sandy Springs

Tin Drum Asiacafé Akers Mill

Tin Lizzy's Cantina Duluth and Augusta

Terminus City BBQ

Highly anticipated new spot from the partners of Umi

What's New on Pinterest: New Year Nibbles

Still searching for the perfect snack to serve at tonight's party? New Year Nibbles promise foolproof assembly and mess-free eating for your soiree -- and they complement any toasting glass. Good to consider, thus saving yourself from midnight selfie posts displaying the spinach between your teeth and saucy red lips for all the world to see. Bowl game viewing approved, for those looking to double-dip on recipe ideas. 

#Foodgram

Ella Woodward promotes health, happiness and inspiration through her Deliciously Ella Instagram album and blog. Both are therapeutic responses to Ella's diagnosis of postural tachycardia syndrome, showing that thorns give way to roses. In for the long and healthy haul, she advocates a whole food, plant-based diet in her new cookbook, recipe app and in classes she teaches. Start following to find inspiration for a healthier lifestyle in 2015! 

Resolve to Nourish and Flourish in the New Year

It's time to set goals for 2015. Is this the year to lose weight? Maybe eat less fast food and exercise more? Whatever your goals for 2015, Atlanta restaurants are here to help, offering a variety of healthy options for diners. And for DIY-ers, Whole Foods Market has ingredients for cooking up a wholesome lifestyle and prepared foods to nourish your fast-paced life.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill menu eases diners into a healthier new year with signature low-cal bowls such as the Mediterranean quinoa bowl studded with lettuce, cukes, feta, Kalamata olives and tomatoes, and a spunky Meyer lemon vinaigrette or the Asian quinoa couscous bowl, crunchy with macadamia nuts and toasted sesame seeds, fresh herbs and veggies (both $5.95). Crisp salads ($6.95-$14.95) include TBK Smoky Caesar with low-cal smoked tomato Caesar dressing and four gluten-free selections -- Green Goddess, Tropical, Greek and Citrus Seafood Cobb. Grilled ocean-fresh fish pack mega protein in a lean package ($14.95-$23.95). The Big Ketch designates gluten-free options to assist diners monitoring intake. 

Nutrient-dense mangos show up at Tin Drum AsiaCafé in Kang Yum mango salad that loads up on vitamin-rich spinach and ginger to clear your senses. Slurp up pad woon, a street noodle dish stirring up bean noodles, veggies, egg and chicken. Along with shrimp and all-natural chicken and beef, Tin Drum Asiacafé proteins up vegetarian versions of signature dishes with organic tofu. Get these dishes to go if you're on the run, and remember to hydrate with their healthy teas -- green, black, hot or iced.

At FLIP burger boutique, guests can opt in on a gluten-free bun or lettuce wrap for any burger on the menu. Veg-heads will be in heaven here, opting for the vedge beet, black bean and brown rice "burger" dressed with lettuce, tomato, jalapeño, caramelized onion and sautéed mushrooms ($10) and the chickpea Fauxlafel with arugula, cucumber, pickled beets, red onion and tzatziki yogurt spread ($8.25). The raw tuna tartare burger shares the plate with Asian pear, pine nuts, compressed veggies, a mango sphere and avocado purée ($14). FLIP's four salads pack in the greens: Caesar, wedge, beet and goat cheese on arugula or the deconstructed chicken salad on arugula and romaine ($6-$10).

Power foods perch on nests of mixed greens or spinach in Bantam + Biddy salads. West Georgia's own Capra Gia goat milk feta graces the big Greek salad ($8.50). The Power House salad wears a Jb Farm egg, roasted broccoli, sunflower sprouts, organic almonds and more ($8.50). The Southern Cobb piles on your choice of roast chicken or pork, Patak bacon, tomato, avocado, a Jb Farm egg, blue cheese and pecans ($12.50). The organic spinach salad covers fruits to nuts with sunflower seeds, quinoa, apples, goat cheese and sunflower sprouts ($8.50). Grab some greens by adding a side of kale salad or organic quinoa and spinach salad to your entrée.

Whole Foods Market inserts "healthy" before any of these words: lifestyle, eating, cooking, pantry, community. Set aside an hour or two to explore a nearby location or venture to Alpharetta for a healthy field trip to their new Avalon store. Vibrantly hued organic and conventional produce, responsibly raised meats, poultry and seafood, local cheeses and fresh-baked whole grain bakery goods inspire setting and maintaining good-for-you goals. Build a salad and fill a cup of soup for a fast lunch or choose prepared foods for an easy, nourishing supper. Those with special dietary needs will find plenty of options here. Tackle post-holiday cleaning with safe and effective products for the whole home and whole body. Fido and Fifi will appreciate your perusing the Whole Paws aisle for pets. Coffees and teas, beer and wine deliver cozy comfort and health benefits -- select your favorite beverage to take home and savor while garnering healthy pointers and new recipe ideas on the Whole Foods Market blog.

New Year's Eve Plans, Dining To-do List for 2015 and More in This Week's Dish!

Drop the ball on making New Year's Eve plans? We're here to help with our list of dining destinations that are celebrating the arrival of 2015 with special menus, parties and much more. Once you've recovered from the festivities, scope out our list of the hottest restaurants set to open in 2015. Trust us - it's going to be a great year! All that and more in this week's Dish!

What's New on Pinterest

Our Boozy Bites board is a softy for the hard stuff, like whiskey, rum, stout and other libations. Appetizers, mains, desserts -- we've spiked them all. Buffalo chicken beer cheese is a fast party fix. Bacon bourbon BBQ burgers and Guinness-braised short ribs carry the theme to the next level. Dark chocolate and Guinness cookies, bourbon brown sugar ice cream and no-bake Bailey's bonbons are sweet nothings with something extra, and that honey chamomile hot toddy tea cake might just knock that winter cold into next year.  

#Foodgram

Natalie Migliarini lights up this toasting season with nice and naughty cocktails that entice you to raise a glass of something bubbly besides champagne on New Year's Eve. Bar none, this lover of all occasions that begin or end with beautiful cocktailsfills a colorful album on Instagram. Recipes on her Beautiful Booze website.  

Appetizing Aperture

The bison, a strong American icon and symbol of Big Sky Country, thunders across the menu at Ted's Montana Grill. Yet, like any rancher, Ted's has a sweet side. Ted's fresh-baked cookies -- snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip or double chocolate -- may cause a stampede at your table. Order up a herd ($2 each) to pal with coffee or an adult shake or sidesaddle your pick with Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream ($6). 

Team Hidi 3.0 Tickets Available for January 25 Tasting-Fundraiser

Think beyond New Year's Eve and flag Sunday, January 25 for Team Hidi 3.0 (TH3 for short). Click here to buy your tickets to this highly anticipated tasting-fundraiser at the Georgia Freight Depot. Now in year three, TH3 gathers 50-plus celebrated Atlanta restaurants and bars, live and buy-it-now auctions, the fun-loving Yacht Rock Review and a depot full of guests to raise dollars for The Giving Kitchen (TGK) emergency assistance program. TGK is a legacy of chef Ryan Hidinger. The visionary behind Staplehouse lost his battle against cancer in January but not before he, wife Jen and chef Ryan Smith started The Giving Kitchen, a safety net for restaurant and hospitality workers facing unanticipated crises. All event proceeds go to TGK, a 501(c)3 organization -- as do the profits from Staplehouse restaurant. Numbers? Last year TGK aided more than 60 of the 200,000+ employees within Atlanta's restaurant industry.

Twin Smokers BBQ Opens in Downtown Atlanta on December 27

Downtown Atlanta boasts a smokin' hot new lunch, dinner and drinks destination this week. Twin Smokers BBQ opens Saturday, December 27 at 300 Marietta Street (a few doors down from Der Biergarten) in the Luckie Marietta District. The newest member of the Legacy Restaurant Partners family, the Twin Smokers BBQ opening comes as Legacy marks 20 years of serving the downtown area. Football fans, Twin Smokers BBQ is only a gridiron length away from the newly built College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience. Legacy corporate chef Chris Blobaum's menu of smoked meats, fresh sides, craft beer and strong cocktails will please 'cue connoisseurs, no matter where they call home. Blobaum's culinary team traversed the U.S. on a reconnaissance mission to uncover the nation's best barbecue. They brought back their favorite styles from Texas, the Carolinas, Kansas City and Memphis to connect with signature rubs and a touch of Georgia flair and flavor. Southern-style barbecue, hickory-smoked chicken and pork, and Texas-style mesquite-smoked beef brisket start with locally sourced meats. Smoky meats love smoky spirits and cold brews, hence Twin Smokers commands an extensive bourbon and beer program. What's in a name? "Twin Smokers" refers to the restaurant's two custom, fire engine-red Oyler 700 smokers -- one for chicken and pork and one for beef. These smokers are designed to strengthen the individual flavors of each meat, especially when stoked with mesquite, hickory, white oak or post oak from the restaurant's "wood library." True 'cue lovers will want to check out Twin Smoker's BBQ Club for fired up perks.

Winter's Finest Wows on Marlow's Tavern Menu

Interesting how seasonal eating complements our hankerings. Winter's cold spells send us seeking foods entrenched with depth and flavors that warm souls and bellies yet light enough to entice a brisk walk rather than entering hibernation mode. Marlow's Tavern is winter ready, showcasing seasonal ingredients in revamped classics and new menu items. The crispy chicken stack, long a favorite, now snuggles alongside Parmesan-barley risotto with caramelized mirepoix, seared wild mushrooms, sautéed spinach and roasted thyme gravy. Beef eaters will rave over the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of the crispy short rib with jalapeño and corn grits, sautéed kale and red wine demi reduction; and the grilled "center cut" filet with roasted fingerling potato, seared butternut squash and a red wine shallot reduction. Cold seas yield more riches for this time of year: pan-seared snapper with celeriac purée, asparagus, tomato fondue and parslied olive oil; and Marlow's popular lump crabcake, served with baby arugula, grapefruit, pickled onion, fresh avocado and jalapeño to heat up your palate. Sweet and zesty citrus shines in the new lemon olive oil cake -- a moist, spongy cake topped with fresh grapefruit, vanilla syrup and candied orange. Rumor has it that an old family recipe inspired this slice of sunny Italy on a plate. Iffy that Santa's leaving a Cancun escape in your stocking? Who cares! Get away to your neighborhood Marlow's Tavern where the glad-to-see-you vibe, a new menu to explore and a full bar shaking up tricky drinks warm your heart, and you won't have to try on swimsuits in winter. 

Atlanta Restaurants Spread Holiday Cheer, Twin Smokers BBQ Opens December 27 and More in This Week's Dish!

The tree has been decorated, the stockings hung and the presents wrapped. After spending so much time getting ready for the big day, the last thing we want to do is pull out all of the pots and pans and spend hours cooking instead of enjoying the festivities. That's why we're heading out this Christmas and letting some of Atlanta's best restaurants handle the feast for us. Check our blog post for a roundup of all of the best places to spend Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. While you have your calendars out, be sure to clear December 27 for a chance to try Twin Smokers BBQ for the very first time. The new restaurant from Legacy Restaurant Partners brings the best barbecue styles from Texas, the Carolinas, Kansas City and Memphis right to the heart of the Luckie Marietta District. All that and more in this week's Dish!

What's New on Pinterest

Christmas Cravings run the gamut from party food to breakfast dishes to gifts for Merry Christmas wishes. Our Pinterest board is decked out with how to stack tomatoes, basil and cheese into caprese appetizers, gift squat jars of cinnamon honey butter, arrange cheese, crackers and sausages into a Christmas tree appetizer and shape a protein-filled crescent roll breakfast ring for brunches or breakfast. For fun, stick and dip Oreos to make snowman pops. We're craving gifts, too, and are not shy about posting pics of picks! 

#Foodgram

Atlanta is nirvana for grab-and-go delights, magnificent meals and global fare. Next time you experience an edible OMG moment, share a pic and some words with a like-minded community, @bestfoodatlanta, using the tag #myfab5. Travelers can scope out options in various cities using the app. 

MLA on the Town

All is merry and bright at Melissa Libby and Associates this yuletide season. Our radiant faces reflect the good cheer, reflections and laughter we enjoyed (not to mention Aria's exquisite cuisine) during our holiday party at Aria. Thanks, Atlanta, for a fabulous 2014 and all the best for 2015! 

Your Foodie Friends Will Polish Off These Local Gift Ideas

There are desire in your heart and jingle in your pocket, but you can't wrangle a notion of what to give foodie friends and family. Maybe you're looking too far and wide. Dote and delight with gifts from your own backyard -- ATL and GA.

Turn to Chef Kevin Gillespie and his General Store to pick up jolly jolts for coffee-fiend friends. His own "Red Beard's Delight" blend coffee out of Jittery Joe's in Athens is $14 a canister. Add a mug ($10), Gunshow T-shirt ($25) or any of the other novel ideas. Procure a signed copy of Gillespie's new cookbook, "Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes from Around the World" ($30), for your porcine-partial friends (to be released and shipped on March 31, 2015). 

White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, offers incredible one-of-a-kind holiday gifts through its convenient online store. The shop transports farm-fresh meats in Gift Pack and Samplers from farm to front door. Meatier than four calling birds, the "Holiday Gift Box Four" ($300) packs a pastured duck, pastured goose, grass-fed tenderloin roast, grass-fed prime rib roast, a medium pastured turkey and a pastured guinea hen. Browse the online shop for other farm-inspired items like Campessino whole bean coffee ($11), grass-fed beef tallow candle in vanilla scent ($4.99), White Oak Pastures clothing and Madeline Smiles handmade grass-fed jewelry.  

Whole Foods Market locations are well stocked with thoughtful host gifts such as prepared foods, Georgia wines, regionally produced cheeses and other locally produced products. It's easy to fill a basket with healthy stocking stuffers here.

The Pig & The Pearl keeps bottles of chef Todd Richards' spunky barbecue sauces handy -- just the right size and shape to stuff stockings. Depending on your recipient, buy Hot, Hotter or Bourbon Hot Sauce at the Atlantic Station restaurant for $8 a bottle; three for $21. 

No one will turn you down when you hand them brews from Midtown's Orpheus Brewing, and these beers will be a hit at your own party. Flagship beers Atalanta and Lyric Ale are now available in cans decorated with commissioned designs from Atlanta artists Brandon Sadler and Peter Ferrari. Buy six-packs at local retailers and package stores. 

Gift card deals throw in something extra for the giftee or the gifter! At Aqua blue, receive a $25 bonus card with purchase of a $100 gift card.

The golden egg at Bantam + Biddy is an additional $10 gift card with every $50 gift card purchased through December 31 at all locations. The same deal flies at Chick-a-Biddy.

If Midtown's their hometown or hangout spot, consider Communitas Hospitality gift cards, good at 10^th& Piedmont, G's Midtown and HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern and receive an extra $20 with each $100 of gift cards purchased. Buy here. Cards cannot be used the day of purchase and expire on March 23, 2015.  

FLIP burger boutique flips an extra $10 gift card your way with each $50 gift card purchase or an extra $20 with $100. Bonus cards expire on March 15, 2015 and are not valid on the day of purchase.  

Hearth Pizza Tavern tosses in an additional $10 gift card with each $50 gift card purchased through January 1, 2015.

In Buford, Parma Tavern bestows an extra $10 gift card with each $50 gift card purchased through January 1.  

The Pig & The Pearl shells out an additional $20 when you buy $100 in gift cards through December 31.

Neighborly Marlow's Tavern hands out an additional $20 gift card with each $100 gift card purchased through December 31. 

Roll into RA Sushi through December 31 to receive a $10 bonus card with every $50 gift card purchase. Bonus gift cards are valid from January 2 to March 31, 2015.  

Ray's Restaurants is giving out a special gift ($25 value; while supplies last) with all in-restaurant gift card purchases of $100 or more at Ray's on the River, Ray's at Killer Creek and Ray's in the City. Through the end of January, the restaurant group also is offering a 20 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $25-$975 and a 25 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $1,000 or more.   

Ted's Montana Grill gift cards earn their stripes as stocking stuffers, and you'll receive 15 percent off when you purchase $500 or more. 

The Shed at Glenwood adds $20 in gift cards with a $100 purchase now through the end of the year.  

Go with the pho at Tin Drum Asiacafe. Purchase a $25 gift card and receive a free entrée. Offer is valid now through December 28 at all Atlanta-area locations. 

Tin Lizzy's sends glad tidings of more FlexMex your way. Purchase a $100 gift card and get an additional $20 gift card. Offer is available only with a $20 minimum gift card purchase at a Tin Lizzy's location now through December 31. Redeem bonus cards January 1 through February 28, 2015.

Bantam + Biddy Now Open at Lenox Square

Visitors and shoppers will have a piri piri holiday season when they dine at the newest Bantam + Biddy location in Lenox Square. Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere's casual, all-natural eatery is now open on the mall level near Neiman Marcus, and a patio is part of the picture. Atlantans can look forward to savoring the same menu they love at the Ansley Mall, Crescent Avenue and Avalon restaurants: regional fare prepared from seasonal, organic vegetables and locally raised pastured poultry (accompanied by piri piri, wasakaka, beer mustard or sweet BBQ sauces) and White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef. Sure, you can order a vegetable plate ($12.50), chicken and cheddar waffles ($12), a Southern Breakfast All Day ($12), a Power House salad ($8.50) or a gluten-free selection. The new Lenox location also boasts a Batdorf & Bronson espresso bar to help get those shopping juices flowing. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks -- lots to crow about here!

No Slumber, Just Party at The Shed's Pajama Brunch

The spiffy jammies, slippers or cozy robe that clearly said, "buy me" on your holiday shopping list should see more than sheets or Santa coming down the chimney. They're begging to attend the Holiday Pajama Brunch Buffet that The Shed at Glenwood is hosting on Sunday, December 21 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The bountiful buffet is only $22 per person. Fried chicken with bourbon hot sauce and biscuits, maple-glazed bread pudding "French toast," jalapeño and cheddar grits, smoked brisket pajama hash and roasted vegetables are a few of the items filling plates. While away the afternoon with friends over pitchers of mimosas, poinsettias, Dark & Stormies or palomas. A signature bloody mary ($7) adds a spirited touch of red and green to selfies and group shots. Reserve your seat today by calling 404-835-4363. 

Falcons vs. Saints Tailgate Party and Backyard Games on December 21

Hold up on the reindeer games. At Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, a tailgate party, Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints football viewing and backyard games will be going strong on Sunday, December 21 beginning at 1 p.m. Hoisting Goose Island beer at the pre-game tailgate and during the game keeps your throwing arm limber for the cornhole, ring toss and KanJam competitions that kick off in the tavern's backyard when gridiron action ends. Winning teams take home an official Falcons smoker, a Bud Light cooler and a KanJam set. No cover or fee to play games.

Poncey-Highland Tacky Sweater Block Party Spans FLIP burger boutique and More

Give your LBD and navy blazer a night off. Out-of-fashion Christmas attire is the fashion statement of the evening at the Poncey-Highland Tacky Sweater Block Party on Saturday, December 20. Festivities commence at 8 p.m. in the Highland Ballroom lounge. Merrymakers can then set off to party and enjoy live entertainment at nearby FLIP burger boutique, Sweet Auburn BBQ and Cafe 640. Ticket covers party admission and a drink ticket to redeem at each of the four participating venues. Prizes for the tackiest? You bet, along with bragging rights, if you really want to tout wearing the tackiest sweater in Poncey-Highland. Read the nitty gritty and buy your $25 ticket here.

Celebrate the Season at Parma's Tacky Christmas Sweater Party on December 19

What? That old thing? Perfect! Bedazzle the crowd at the Parma Tacky Christmas Sweater Party rocking Buford on Friday, December 19 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Don your fa-la-la-loudest holiday knit-nack (used, new or DIY-adorned), and perchance you'll win Parma house cash. DJ holiday tunes and Fireball eggnog keep the festivities spinning. Antlers optional.

Last Day! Nominate a Special Someone for Marlow's Tavern Golden Giver Award

Do you know someone who embodies that holiday spirit year-round? Quick, nominate him or her for the Marlow's Tavern Golden Giver contest, and he or she might win a $100 Marlow's Tavern gift card. Nominations are being accepted through the end of today. If your nominee wins, you'll also be eligible to win a $100 gift card. The contest has nothing to do with decking the halls 365 days a year. It has everything to do with folks living beyond themselves to happily help others -- a community spirit Marlow's Tavern embraces. Enter your contest nominee's information here or via Twitter or Instagram by tagging your entry #goldengiver. You don't have to write a Dickens of a novel, just briefly explain why your giver deserves to win and upload a picture.

Asante Now Open in Downtown Atlanta!

The doors are open at Asante, celebrity chef Marvin Woods' captivating new restaurant in the Luckie Marietta District of downtown Atlanta. Asante's Coastal Soul menu maps a culinary tour that glides seamlessly from the west coast of Africa to Europe, Caribbean shores and the Americas -- geographic areas bound together by a common thread of cooking methods and healthy, seasonally driven ingredients. Asante is open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and offers a reasonably priced menu of plates and shareables, handcrafted cocktails, beer and wine.

Asante Opens Downtown, Bantam + Biddy Opens at Lenox Square and More in This Week's Dish!

Looking for a new place to bring your foodie family this holiday season? With several new restaurants opening this month, you now have even more options to explore. Asante brings a Coastal Soul menu to Atlanta's booming Downtown neighborhood. Be sure to try the pimento grilled culot steak, low country shrimp and grits and colombo dust covered diver scallops. Meanwhile, the newest Bantam + Biddy post is now open inside Lenox Square in Buckhead. We suggest the the gluten-free chicken tenders paired with a Power House salad loaded with mixed greens, roasted broccoli, tomato, radish, sunflower sprouts, organic almonds and a jB Farm egg. All that and much more in this week's Dish!