Joey Ward has been a Gunshow kitchen dude ever since chef Kevin Gillespie opened the Glenwood Park restaurant in 2013. While Ward is now Gunshow’s executive chef, he’s still a kitchen dude at heart, and he loves to share his creative culinary passions with restaurant guests, other restaurant chefs and farmers market-to-home-table shoppers and chefs. Ward leads the 9 a.m. chef demo on Saturday, August 20 at Morningside Farmers Market. Want more? Make reservations to sup on Ward’s innovative cuisine at Gunshow that evening.
The “King of Rock and Roll,” 20th century icon Elvis Presley, left this earth on August 16, 1977. Yes, we know. We’re all shook up, too, thinking back to the legacy of hit singles, albums and films this sideburn-studded dude cranked out during his hip-swiveling career. Relive the King’s glory days by visiting the “Elvis Room” at Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead. Visit the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling memorial whenever Johnny’s is open. It’s a heck of a lot more ATL Uber accessible than Graceland in Memphis. To really honor Elvis, order a cheeseburger (one of his favorite foods) and ask the DJ to spin “Jailhouse Rock” or “Hound Dog” – we’re pretty sure “Are You Lonesome Tonight” doesn’t cut it on Johnny’s rocking dancefloor.
For Ray’s Rio Bravo, a cupcake and candle don’t do justice to anniversary numero uno. Half-price house margaritas? Now you’re talking fiesta. Through August 31, Ray’s Rio Bravo guests can down 12-ounce house margaritas for $3.50 each – all day, every day. And how about some tacos to go with the toasting? Two-way tacos and a plate of three shredded chicken tacos, both priced at $9.95, top the list of anniversary menu specials. Chicken and steak sizzle in 2-way fajitas served over a bed of sautéed onions and peppers with lettuce, guac, pico, El Machino flour tortillas, rice and refried beans for $19.95. Those preferring Southern to Southwestern can delve into the Southern fried chicken and crispy salad fixings of the Church Lady fried chicken salad with cool buttermilk ranch dressing and a little fried jalapeño heat ($9.95) or gnaw on a half rack of baby back ribs, slow-smoked and glazed with house-made barbecue sauce and sided by rice and refried beans ($14.95). Bravo for this boatload of lunch and dinner specials, available in the dining room and bar – and let’s not forget those half-price house margaritas.
First dinner, then lunch, now 5Church Atlanta adds weekend brunch to its mouthwatering Midtown agenda. Brunchers get the added benefit of choosing morning-ish fare or lunch menu favorites. Settle in and share the cured and smoked fish platter, which also nets crunchy oatmeal crackers, Vidalia onion whipped cream cheese and lemon ($14). Preacher’s Breakfast blesses traditionalists with three eggs, stone-ground grits, house-made sausage and braised greens ($12). Those raising hands for lunchy options can hoist a 5Church lamb burger decked out with red onion marmalade, Gorgonzola fondue and arugula plus hand-cut fries ($14) or cut into the Southern fried steak with whipped Yukon gold potatoes, two eggs sunny and wild mushroom-black pepper gravy ($14). Sippers range from mimosas and sangria by the glass or carafe to bloody marys. Saturday and Sunday brunch hours 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and 5Church validates parking in the Colony Square deck.
Watch out Mr. Stay Puft, National S’mores Day is August 10, and we’re busting out the marshmallows, chocolate and grahams to make More S’mores, Please. These three lowly ingredients are s’more than hot in nachos or a skillet cookie cake and equally at home frozen in s’more ice cream. They’re elegant in no-bake s’more truffles, warm and gooey in three ingredient turnovers and diet savvy in gluten-free miniature pies. Hot days, sip them in milkshakes and segue to s’mores hot chocolate cocktails by the fire pit this fall. Send campers off with s’more party goodie bags and welcome them home with a two-tier camping cake complete with a graham cracker tent. Campfire optional, happy campers guaranteed.
Have fork, will travel. New Fork City stimulates appetites for delectably doughy treats and all kinds of good eats. Browsing this gobbler of a gallery on an empty stomach is living dangerously, kind of like shopping the grocery when hungry.
When you’re watching the tide roll in and watching it roll away again...in your daydreams... it’s time for lunch and the Georgia shrimp roll ($15) at 101 Steak. Fresh shrimp from Georgia’s coastal waters and lemon dill aїoli on a butter-grilled roll ease lunchers back to beach mode -- for the afternoon, anyway.
The chefs do it all, from fixing sides to mains to desserts,
and beverages are turned over to mixologists. Just buy tickets,
and show up hungry, thirsty and ready to chow down at the seventh annual Southern
Chefs Potluck for Wholesome
Wave Georgia taking place from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, September 11, on the
pastoral grounds of the Inn at Serenbe. Top Atlanta chefs, including Andreas
Müller of Revival, share side
dishes with guests at the family style event held under the Inn’s open-air
pavilion. The chefs' creations will complement main dishes provided by White Oak Pastures and
Jim N' Nicks Bar-B-Q. Mercedes O’Brien of Gunshow and
other Atlanta mixologists will shake, stir and pour libations, along with wines
and craft beers. New to the table of events this year is the VIP after party
where chefs and VIP ticket holders will segue to one of Serenbe’s residential
“Farmettes” for live music, cocktails and small bites from chefs not
participating in the general Potluck. Buy tickets online:
$150/individual; $300/VIP (one ticket for Potluck with VIP chef table seating
and VIP after party); $600 VIP Package (VIP privileges above, for two); or VIP
Overnight Package ($1500, VIP privileges for two plus one room for the night at
the Inn at Serenbe). Additional online service fee added at checkout. The Potluck
is one the biggest fundraising events of the year for Wholesome Wave Georgia,
whose mission is to increase access to fresh, healthy and locally grown food
for all Georgians. Money raised goes right back into the community, helping
low-income families eat more healthily and providing income for Georgia
farmers.
“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like,” advises The Southern Gentleman. When Southern-inspired food is your love but you find yourself drawn to lighter selections, especially during summer, culinary conflict arises. The Southern Gentleman diplomatically diffuses the mealtime dilemma with new selections that lean deliciously toward the light side. The gracious gastropub in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta is adding refreshing, modern renditions of traditional Southern fare, including smoked Carolina mountain trout, Georgia peach and heirloom tomato salad and wine-poached calamari. As on the regular menus, executive chef Matthew Ridgway draws upon local sources for garden-fresh produce and farm-fresh ingredients to compose lush green and chopped salads with fresh herbs and vinaigrettes, along with sides of marinated, grilled or charred vegetables. Items carry light price points, falling in the $6-$12 range so guests can simply order a salad or easily combine several sides for a veggie-laden lunch or supper. Strongholds like the “chicken fried” chicken salad sandwich, shrimp and grits and Dixie bacon carbonara unabashedly rule the menu. And because Ridgway’s motto is “everything in moderation,” he’s dishing out his version of a tried-and-true Southern specialty: buttermilk-marinated fried chicken and sawmill gravy.
Ormsby’s in West Midtown welcomes executive chef Nick Anderson to its friendly fold. Growing up in Marietta, teenage Nick decided he’d rather cook for his family than mow the lawn or wash the dishes. His choice of “chores” turned into one of his greatest pleasures and propelled him to graduate from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, and into culinary positions at several of Atlanta’s fine dining establishments including Spice and Canoe. He moved on to hold chef de cuisine roles at Tomo and Rathbun’s. At a holiday party, Anderson formed a friendship with two of Ormsby’s owners, Michael Goot and Leslie Battle, and their Westside restaurant became a favorite stop for Anderson, his wife and friends. Now, Anderson is thrilled to be a part of the Ormsby’s team and plans to add more local meat and produce to the menu offerings. He’s looking forward to inspiring the staff and welcoming guests when they drop by for a craft beer, his tempting pub fare and some bar game merriment.
Oenophiles, take heed and pick up the phone. Ray’s at Killer Creek is planning an exquisite Silver Oak Cellars Vintage Release dinner featuring five courses and wine pairings on Wednesday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. Jeff Flood, southeast regional manager for Silver Oak Cellars, will be on hand to chat with guests throughout the special evening. The dinner menu, created by Ray’s at Killer Creek executive chef Mike Fuller, starts with compressed Georgia peach and Georges Bank scallop crudo with basil foam paired with Twomey sauvignon blanc, 2015 followed by wood oven-roasted pork belly, cauliflower-goat cheese gratin and pickled onion served Twomey Russian River pinot noir, 2014. Guests will then be treated to magret duck prepared two ways: smoked breast with pickled summer white cherries and blood orange syrup joined by Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon, 2007 and five-spice confit with stir-fried cabbage, barrel-aged soy and toasted black sesame paired with Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon, 2012. Next up, dry-aged, Painted Hills beef served with caramelized foie gras and grilled, local chanterelles joined by Sonoma Valley cabernet sauvignon, 2011. Sweet Grass Dairy aged cow’s milk cheese, macerated strawberries and benne biscuit close out the night paired with Twomey Soda Canyon Ranch merlot, 2012. $135 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Space is limited and reservations secured by a credit card are required; call 770-649-0064.
Braselton celebrates its 100th birthday on Saturday, August 20, and Cotton Calf Kitchen is in a prime location to enjoy the festivities. Live music, games, fireworks and more will take place on the new Town Green right next to Braselton’s classic American steakhouse. That said, tables are sure to book up fast so plan ahead and make advance reservations on OpenTable or by calling 706-684-0401. Before or after dinner, toast the town with a spirited drink from the cash bar in the Cotton Calf Kitchen tent on the new Town Green.
Ray’s at Killer Creek pulls out the stopper to unleash a Whole Hog Whiskey Dinner, a.k.a. WhistlePig Whiskey Feast Head-to-Tail Dinner, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 20. WhistlePig master distiller Dave Pickerell and executive chef Mike Fuller have knocked noggins to curate a divinely swine-filled menu paired with the Vermont distillery’s small batch whiskies. Squeal over the night’s lineup: crispy ears with fried green heirloom tomatoes served with WhistlePig Straight Rye; chicharrón with creamed rice grits and pepper jam joined by WhistlePig Straight Rye 15 Year; “Bacon and Eggs” with Benton’s smoked pork belly lardons, grilled brioche, poached farm egg, red-eye reduction and house-made hot sauce with WhistlePig Old World Madeira Finish; Big Green Egg slow-roasted leg with hand-pressed corn maize, Silver Queen corn, avocado mousse and hot and sweet maple syrup served with Hillrock Solera aged bourbon; and baked apple and Georgia pecan cracklin’ with butter-caramel gelato paired with Hillrock Port Cask Finish. Cost is $85 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Reservations are required; call 770-649-0064 and have a credit card ready to buy tickets to this high-proof event.
Join Modern Luxury - The Atlantan for their annual To Live & Dine event, where luxurious living and delectable dining entwine at ADAC - Atlanta Decorative Arts Center on Monday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. Ooh and aah over exquisite, custom-designed tablescapes while dining on cuisine from popular restaurants such as 5Church Atlanta, The Southern Gentleman and Smokebelly BBQ. Purchase tickets online through August 12 for $50 per person (plus small service fee).
Unlimited food from top Atlanta restaurants, open bars, live entertainment by Yacht Rock Review, a wow-some wall of wine and unique silent auction items. All this good stuff and chef bands, too, when the fifth annual Eats & Beats shakes The Buckhead Theatre on Thursday, August 11 from 7-10 p.m. Gypsy Kitchen, Smokebelly BBQ, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill and The Southern Gentleman are a smattering of the more than 25 restaurants participating in this benefit for Children of Conservation and The Giving Kitchen. General admission is $85 per person and includes restaurant tastings, open bar and entertainment. VIP admission, $175 per person, allows for 6:30 p.m. entry, private VIP suite access with wine tastings, premium bar, additional restaurant offerings with wine pairings for each dish and access to the private balcony viewing the theatre. Buy tickets online.
Even if you came in short on making Team U.S.A. and heading to Rio, there’s still a place for you to rev team spirit and show off your amazing prowess right here in the ATL. Summer Olympics competitions are underway at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland. Highlight your sport date so you don’t miss out: Golden Tee golf, August 9; cornhole, August 10; ladder toss, August 11; putting challenge, August 15; Giant Jenga, August 16; Kan Jam, August 17; and Ping-Pong, August 18. Games begin at 10 p.m. Champs win prize packs from Boulevard Brewing Company, Brewery Ommegang, Orpheus Brewing, Terrapin Brewing Company, SweetWater Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada and Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits.
Would you rather slather, stack or spread Between the Bread? We master all these techniques on our Pinterest board saluting National Sandwich Month. Homemade pimento cheese sandwiches and a fried green tomato and bacon grilled cheese pay homage to the South. Branch out to a blackberry bacon grilled cheese, classic lobster roll, guacamole breakfast sandwich, banh mi with lemongrass pork or a spicy shrimp sandwich with chipotle avocado mayo. Garden girls and guys will plow into the ultimate veggie sandwich, the very vegan jalapeño pesto sandwich or the California with avocado, tomato, sprouts, pepper jack and chive spread. No more loafing around the kitchen. Start sandwiching.
Popeye the Foodie, a.k.a. Popeye The Foodie Dog, is a rescue mutt in the Los Angeles area that is doubly blessed to dine out at restaurants with his owners. He’s one lucky dog and lapping it all up. Or at least we think he does that after he poses for these adorable pictures.
Springer Mountain Chicken Under a Brick ($22) is a smash hit on the new menu at Gypsy Kitchen in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The dish is flat out delish with sherry vadouvan sauce, heirloom tomatoes, Moroccan couscous and fresh figs. Good thing this entrée is meant to share, otherwise, there would be some unhappy campers at the table.
Fantasy footballers, are you feeling a virtual draft coming on? The Blind Pig Parlour Bar is tossing out an August fantasy football special rallying everything you and your fantasy football associates need to conduct a seriously fun draft party. For $150, your group of 10-15 fans can hunker down in a private room for two hours of strategizing and completing player acquisitions. Wi-Fi and a 65-inch big screen TV are available for online drafts. Yes, it’s an intense process. Instead of nail biting over picks, gnaw on 100 wings chased by four pitchers of beer (Miller Lite, Bud Light or Coors Light). Start the process by calling and booking your draft party today. The Blind Pig Parlour Bar is tucked away behind Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead at 128 E. Andrews Drive. Book your draft party today by calling 404-931-1251.
Umlauts, double consonants, gothic letters. Perhaps the words on German wine labels are challenging to pronounce. The wines themselves are oh so easy to enjoy. Explore the wine regions and varietals of Germany during August with Stem Wine Bar sommelier Chris McNeill. Each Wednesday night tasting features six different German wines paired with small bites prepared by Stem owner/chef Doug Turbush. Events begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 each (plus small service fee). Twenty percent gratuity will be added at in-store checkout on event night. Buy tickets, advance sales only, by clicking the desired date: August 3, August 10,August 17, August 24 or August 31.
Feeling a little wilted lately? Fresh salads to go are on the ready at Bellina Alimentari in Ponce City Market. Incredibly cool news for Chastain concert goers and picnickers headed to Piedmont Park or the BeltLine...especially when one considers that HOT Atlanta temps have topped 90 degrees more than 50 days this summer. Build a meal around refreshing salads such as marinated artichokes, tuna pasta salad, chicken salad, local lady pea salad, roasted vegetables (chilled), cippoline onions in agrodolce, marinated peppers and farro salad giardiniera. Remember, the Market at Bellina is well stocked with imported Italian foods, Italian and locally cured charcuterie, cheeses and gracious plenty more to complete your idyllic dining scene. Bellina’s salads also win raves on the potluck and dinner party circuit.
Hallelujah! Eddie’s Attic in Decatur brings back the classic Gospel Brunch on Sunday, August 21. Otis Redding III, son of the late, great Otis Redding, joins Atlanta blues legend Mudcat and the Atlanta Horns to perform Redding’s smash hits including “Dock of the Bay,” “Hard to Handle” and “Dreams to Remember.” Come for the music and come hungry for grub from Kevin Gillespie’s nearby restaurant,Revival. Executive chef Andreas Müller and crew will serve up a buffet of Southern faves like fried catfish bites, green tomato casserole and succotash. Buffet is priced at $20 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; show begins at noon. For the show, general admission tickets are $20 each or purchase table seats in multiples of four for $20 per seat (tables filled day of show on first-come, first-served basis). Miss this brunch and you’re just wasting time.
The majority of metro Atlanta-area students are heading back to school this week and next. Adults, what about you? Keep on learning by attending the Simple Abundance cooking class 5Church Atlanta chef RJ Cooper is leading Monday, August 8 from 7-9 p.m. at The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown. The James Beard Award-winning chef will demonstrate how to prepare Mangalitsa ham with sourdough and peach mostarda; compressed watermelon with heirloom tomato water, pickled rinds and Humboldt Fog cheese; wreckfish with foraged mushrooms and Aussie truffle butter in paper; and cornmeal shortcake with bourbon pickled peaches and sweet corn ice cream. Simple Abundance class participants enjoy food and wine tastings, a chance to win yummy door prizes all the while knowing 100 percent of ticket proceeds benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Register online; $55 per person. More on our blog.
Old MacDonald had a farm, but nowhere does the song mention Farmyard Chowdowns like the outdoor dining fests at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple. Chowhounds of all ages will sing praises for Milton’s low country seafood boil, fried chicken, oysters, live music and lawn games at the 7 p.m. family friendly party on Sunday, August 7. Buy tickets online for $40 per person (plus tax and small service fee), including meal, music and lawn games. Alcohol not included. The two remaining 2016 Farmyard Chowdowns squeal in at 6 p.m. on September 11 (“Patriotic Edition”) and October 2.
Keeping it all in Decatur, Andreas Müller will have to walk a bit farther on Saturday, August 6, if he wants to clock mega Fitbit mileage. It’s less than a mile from Müller’s Revival home base to The Decatur Farmers Market, where he will lead the Saturday morning chef demo. Childhood access to homegrown veggies and fruits ignited a passion for cooking in this Sweden-born-gone-Southern chef. No doubt, the colorful array of field-fresh, locally grown produce will inspire his Saturday lesson. A Community Farmers Market, the Decatur Farmers Market fills the front lawn of First Baptist Church on the corner of Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Street Wednesday nights from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through December 21. Free parking.
Suck down a bevy of bivalves without blowing a wad of cash on National Oyster Day. Down the magnificent mollusks for half the moolah at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill on National Oyster Day, Friday, August 5. Join in the celebration and take advantage of half-priced oysters from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. this Friday at both locations of the local beach house (Canton Street and Buckhead). More wise pearls: enjoy this offer at either location every Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m. during oyster happy hour.
Heard you’ve been keeping a super taco recipe under wraps. Time for the big reveal. Tin Lizzy’s Cantina is holding its seventh annual Taco Contest August 1-31. This year, they’re picking 12 winning tacos -- one for each of the FlexMex taqueria locations in Georgia and South Carolina. Submit recipes online and align with a specific Tin Lizzy’s location for the competition. The Tin Lizzy’s team of amigos will choose one winning taco recipe at each of the 12 locations, and that tasty taco will occupy the menu until next year’s contest rolls around. Fittingly, Tin Lizzy’s will announce the lucky dozen on National Taco Day (October 4). Each restaurant -- Buckhead, Grant Park, Midtown, Perimeter, Emory Point, Mall of Georgia, Kennesaw, Duluth, downtown Atlanta and Augusta, as well as Tin Lizzy’s South Carolina locations in Columbia and Greenville -- will host a release party featuring its winning taco, available at that location only. Each winning chef also receives a $500 Tin Lizzy’s gold card.
Elliott refers to himself as a “semi-decent home bartender” and a content creator in Phoenix, Arizona. Look up @Apartment_Bartender and see what you think. Looks pretty darn professional to us.
Bellina Alimentari tolls the August school bell for all those interested in picking up new culinary skills beyond pasta making. All classes take place in the Ponce City Market restaurant and market Culinary Club area. Click on the class links to register.
Distill, your beating heart when experts from locally based Old 4th Distillery clarify the essence of the fine art of distilling. Build a bank of high proof knowledge by learning basic distilling techniques, sipping through a guided tasting and watching Corey Philips demo mixology. Tuesday, August 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; $28.
Add three Italian staple pasta dishes to your repertoire -- cacio e pepe, carbonara and red Sicilian pesto -- by attending Bellina’s Classic Italian Pasta Sauces chef demo/class on Wednesday, August 17 from 6:30-8 p.m.; $38. Spoons-on learning means tasting creations after class.
Lime sherbet is green. Arugula, however, might color green gelato and chocolate brown could be pure frozen chocolate bliss when chef Philip Meeker mans the churn during a Gelato Making Class ($35) on Tuesday, August 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. Make two flavors and take a pint home to share with family and friends.
Lobsterfest 101. Be nice. No clawing. Ray’s Restaurants has a direct line to succulent whole Maine lobsters for Lobsterfest, which is now available at all three locations -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek. Appease crustacean cravings with a 1.25 pound whole Maine lobster, choice of artisan field greens or Caesar salad and a side choice of Yukon Gold whipped potatoes or chef’s vegetable du jour for $29.95 (excludes tax, gratuity, drinks). The “Summertime at Ray’s” two-course dinner menu is available for those who prefer surf & turf ($29.95) or wild salmon ($24.95) to making the Maine thing their main thing.
Seems every week someone in our office mentions being nuts about “that coconut drink.” And everyone knows exactly what coconut elixir they’re referring to: the Re Del Cocco cocktail ($9) at Bellina Alimentari. Turns out the elixir is a little more complicated and contains ingredients more challenging to pronounce than straight up coconut: Encanto pisco, Don Ciccio & Figli Luna Amara, coconut crème, ginger, lime and mint. Maybe we’ll just stick with “that coconut drink.” And we’re definitely sticking with it.
Right before the back-to-school bell rings for most Atlantans,The Big Ketch Canton Street rolls out a backyard bash on the front yard grass on Sunday, July 31. The sociable Roswell seaside restaurant floats a family fun-filled Summer Lawn Party loaded with lawn games, live music and $4 mini lobster rolls to enthrall all ages. We don’t know if $1 grilled oysters offer pearls of wisdom, but they sure are tasty. Adults can gather liquid courage from $5 margaritas and mojitos -- to take on youngsters and drivers sipping lemonade, tea, soda and other alcohol-free (but no less spirited) beverages at the cash bar.
One year ago, Sandy Springs welcomed an old friend back to the fiesta when Ray’s Rio Bravo opened its doors. Tex-Mex fans, elated to see their friend return, wasted no time getting reacquainted over queso, margaritas and fresh-made tortillas from “El Machino” enfolding tacos and burritos. August marks anniversary “numero uno,” and Ray’s Rio Bravo founder Ray Schoenbaum and staff are excited about carrying the celebration throughout the month. During August, guests can dip into $1 cups of chili con queso or queso blanco.
Order a bottle or canned beer, and it will arrive in a commemorative koozie (supplies limited, one per customer per visit). On Wednesday, August 3, all guests will receive a complimentary mini birthday dessert to celebrate Ray’s Rio Bravo’s anniversary.
Croon, swoon or simply sit back and sip a small batch bourbon, fashionable cocktail or cold craft beer while listening to live music Friday and Saturday nights at The Southern Gentleman. Come in and enjoy a bite to eat before the music begins at 9 p.m. in the bar area of this Buckhead gastropub. The inaugural month lineup of music includes Americana, “Roots & Soul,” a modern day troubadour and more:
There’s no need to wait until dinner to dine at 5Church. The swanky new Midtown restaurant now serves lunch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. While exciting Atlanta palates with a progressive American dinner menu, chef RJ Cooper and 5Church partner/chef Jamie Lynch have been keeping their fingers on the city’s midday meal pulse. Their fresh takes on appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées will appeal to appetites large and small, adventurous and tame. Our crew is already hankering for the 5Church lamb burger sporting red onion marmalade, Gorgonzola fondue and arugula served on a house-made sesame bun along with hand-cut fries; Peach & Lord’s country ham flatbread with peach-heirloom tomato coulis, arugula and ricotta salata; oyster po’ boy with hand-cut fries; and Peruvian roasted chicken salad sandwich with hand-cut fries. For Midtown professionals and residents, High Museum and Woodruff Arts Center visitors, come noon, the coolest spot to lunch is 5Church. And baby, you can drive your car because 5Church validates parking for guests using the Colony Square deck.
Truthfully, you don’t stand a chance of standing up on that BOTE SUP if you fail to buy a raffle ticket at Ormsby’s before the July 30 drawing. Furthermore, all raffle proceeds go to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, which needs your support to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River Basin. How to? Through July 30, buy $5 raffle tickets for chances to win a high-quality BOTE standup paddle board. Additionally, Ormsby’s is donating $1 from every SweetWater brew sold, June through July, to the environmentally conscious organization. Cold brews, hip board, friendly bar. Summer doesn’t get much sweeter.
Did someone say tomatoes? Chef Joey Ward and the Gunshowcrew nailed first place for their tomato “sandwich” at the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival on July 17. The next best thing to tomatoes on sliced bread (or dining at Gunshow) is to marinate in kitchen wisdom and wizardry from Ward at the Ponce City Farmers Market chef demo on Tuesday, July 26. Chef demos are held in The Shed covered space at the 4-8 p.m. weekly market.
Is there a lean-on-me pantry staple that segues from picnic to potluck to tailgate more successfully than pasta? Hallelujah for Pastas to be Praised, a year-round mealtime savior. Show off summer’s fresh veggies in pasta with corn, zucchini and tomatoes or play up shrimp with tomatoes and spinach in a garlic butter sauce. Ever-flexible pasta salads please dill pickle lovers, BLT cravers and Caesar salad hailers alike. And then there’s the lasagna noodle, planking in Tricia Yearwood’s cowboy lasagna with pepperoni and green chili and chicken pasta or folding around family pleasing, easy-to-serve cheese rollups. Yep. We’re praising pasta. Can we get an amen out there in Pinterestland?
Squeal, we must! Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is unleashing the second Whole Hog Hootenanny in its summer series of smokin’ hot barbecue blowouts. Starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, gather on the patio and front lawn of the historic Crabapple restaurant to partake in an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of roast pig, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, beloved barbecue sides, sweet treats and more. Jump into live game fun and move those legs to live music between plates. Cash bar wrangles thirsts. Hog tie August 28 and September 25 on your calendar for the remaining 2016 Whole Hog Hootenanny events. Available online through Eventbrite, tickets for all-you-can-eat barbecue are $35 per person (plus service fee; includes gratuity).
For the best lobster rolls, go deep. Deep into cool Maine waters for lobsters and deep down to the bottom of the dinner menu at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in Marietta. Drift’s much-raved-about lobster roll floats among the sandwiches ($25). Catch one New England-style, served cold with lemon mayo, or bite into a decadently hot buttery roll. Either way, fries and slaw anchor the plate.
James Beard award-winning chef RJ Cooper is stepping out from newly opened 5Church Atlanta at 14th and Peachtree streets to lead the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) Simple Abundance class on Monday, August 8 from 7-9 p.m. at The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown. Hailing from its original Charlotte, North Carolina location and Charleston, South Carolina, 5Church made a wise choice selecting chef Cooper to lead its new Midtown Atlanta location. Over his years working with chefs Eric Ripert, Guenter Seeger and Gilbert LeCoze and growing through his own executive chef experiences, Cooper developed his unique progressive style, grounded in French cooking fundamentals and showcasing local ingredients. Class includes demonstration, wine tastings and a chance to win door prizes. Register online; $55 per person.
