Battered Up! Doors Fly Open at Chef Marc Taft’s FEED Fried Chicken + Such at The Battery Atlanta Aug. 30

Atlanta Braves fans, slide into your new home plate -- FEED Fried Chicken + Such -- opening Wednesday, Aug. 30 at The Battery Atlanta. Fast and casual FEED is the newest dining destination from Marc Taft, the chef and restaurateur behind Marietta’s Chicken and the Egg and Avalon’s Brine Seafood Shack. Taft’s signature fried chicken starts with antibiotic- and hormone-free Springer Mountain Farms chicken before frying its way into appeasing options such as the family filling Bucket o’ Chicken (four each of breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks), the grab-and-go Picnic Fried Chicken (three pieces served cold with two sides and a biscuit) and the Nashville Hot Sandwich (a spicy fried boneless breast, shredded lettuce, house pickles and Alabama white sauce on a buttered brioche bun), all available in heat levels ranging from the tame Southern Fried through Nashville-Ish Hot to the fiery Cluck’N Inferno. Southern sides rep Taft’s Alabama-born heritage and his grandma’s cast-iron skillet: all-day braised greens, Southern-style green beans, black-eyed peas, biscuits, house-made potato salad and Taft’s signature mac and cheese. A “For the Peeps” menu (crafted for kids 10 and under) features a pint-sized plate of fried chicken, chicken fingers, grilled cheese on Texas toast or mac and cheese and comes with fries, a simple salad or yogurt and a beverage. Grownups can take advantage of The Battery Atlanta’s convenient open-container policy to enjoy an adult beverage on the fly, and everyone’s good with the handcrafted milkshakes and soft-serve ice cream made with Atlanta’s own High Road Ice Cream. FEED and be fulfilled from 11 a.m. daily until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Atkins Park Va-Hi Dishes Half-Priced Wings during Falcons Preseason Games Plus BGE and Drink Specials at Porch Party Aug 30

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland brings on the wings, half-priced at that, during Atlanta Falcons preseason games. Watch the hot competition between the Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 26 and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 31 while munching those addicting Big Green Egg-smoked wings with spicy BBQ sauce or Atkins Park confit wings that are slow-fried in duck fat and tossed in sweet chili-garlic sauce or Atkins Park wing sauce (regularly $11). Both team up with veggies and buttermilk ranch or blue cheese dressing. Kickoff time is 7 p.m. A Summer Porch Party takes playtime outside on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Jump the midweek hump for Sierra Nevada beer features and Big Green Egg dinner specials joined by live music from Reverend Hylton with special guest Jenna Mobley at 8 p.m.

Taste and See -- Tyler See is Ormsby’s New Executive Chef

Tyler See is already at home at Ormsby’s and not solely due to his being an Atlanta native. See knows the Westside neighborhood tavern and its customers well, having served as sous chef before moving into Ormsby’s executive chef spot last month. His greatest culinary tip: simple, high-quality ingredients and uncomplicated recipes speak for themselves (perhaps that’s why he enjoys tending his veggie garden, foraging mushrooms, and camping and fishing). He sees staff training as key, especially identifying gifts and directing staff to make the most of their talents. Prior to embracing Ormsby’s, the Le Cordon Bleu-Atlanta graduate honed skills as sous chef at Bartaco, as BLT Steak’s event chef at W Atlanta-Downtown and while transforming Cosmo LavaLounge into Foxtrot Liquor Bar. Whether you’re an Ormsby’s regular or newcomer, stop by and find out what See’s up to in the kitchen. We guarantee it will go with that cold craft beer or handcrafted cocktail!

Southern Proper Hospitality Has Seat at the Table on Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies for 2017

Southern Proper Hospitality is first in the rankings for Georgia Food & Beverage industry leaders on the 2017 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States. The Atlanta-based company experienced a three-year growth rate of 735.42 percent with $43.1 million in revenues this past year. Overall, Southern Proper Hospitality sits in the 615^th spot for all industries combined. The entrepreneurial organization values innovation, creativity and attention to detail throughout its family of restaurants, which includes The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Smokebelly BBQ, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar, Gypsy Kitchen, The Southern Gentleman, Beni’s Cubano, and the friendly eatery that started it all, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina. Southern Proper Hospitality has helped shape the cultural fabric of Atlanta, providing “short term escapes” through distinct experiences that appeal to a diner’s sense of adventure while delivering a high-energy atmosphere, hospitality and exceptional, high-quality food.

According to Inc. magazine president and editor-in-chief Eric Schurenberg, achieving a spot on the Inc. 5000 list places Southern Proper Hospitality in an elite group that, over the years, has included Microsoft, Timberland, Vizio, Intuit, Chobani, Oracle and Zappos.com. These fast-growing private firms create companies, value and jobs. The accomplishments of Inc. 5000 honorees will be celebrated at the 36^th Annual Inc. 5000 Conference and Gala, Oct. 10-12, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California.

#Foodgram

Brittany Arnett, self-proclaimed “Toastess with the Mostest” drops pins around the world as she travels and eats her way around Australia, NYC and other locales for Toasted Table. Oh yes, and she’s the co-founder of Georgetown U’s Eating Society, dedicated to learning about different cultures through food.

What’s New on Pinterest

Peanut Butter Lovers know there are few things more comforting to a PB purist than having a jar of PB in one hand and a spoon in the other. If it happens to be a really big jar, spread the wealth around in these recipes. Easy PB protein bars require only four ingredients, and there are only three ingredients in flourless PB mug cake. Still some in the jar? Blend a PB espresso smoothie for an afternoon pick-me-up. Or, give everyone a spoon and their own chocolate PB pie jar. Lots more recipes, but we’ve scraped our jar clean.

What’s Your Beef? National Burger Day is Aug. 27

Humbly wrapped in paper or presented on china and white tablecloth, burgers are an American mainstay well worthy of a national day of honor. Use our restaurant roundup of the round patties to know where to go for the best in town on National Burger Day, Sunday, Aug. 27…otherwise, you’ll find yourself in a pickle deciding where to hoist a juicy one.

• At Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, the Park Burger is “Always Available” with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo. Swap out the certified Angus beef burger for a black bean veggie burger or grilled chicken breast and choose from a long list of add-on toppings for an additional $.50 to $1.
• Casual Brine Seafood Shack in Alpharetta’s Avalon tops a Georgia-grown, grass-fed beef burger with white cheddar, red onion, lettuce, Brine pickles and special sauce ($12.95).
• Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at The Avenue East Cobb reels in its signature Drift Burger stacked with American cheese and pickled grilled onion ($14). Add fried oysters for a real pearl of a burger for an additional $7.
• The Federal’s namesake -- The Federal Burger ($15) -- sustains Midtowners with its half-pound grass-fed beef double stack covered with American cheese and sided by potato salad, napa slaw or fries at lunch or grilled garnish and fries at dinner.
• The 5Church lamb burger, a flavorful favorite at 5Church Atlanta in Midtown, slides between the buns with red onion marmalade, Gorgonzola fondue and arugula and is joined by hand-cut fries ($15).
• HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Midtown and Brookhaven devotes an entire portion of the menu to its burgers. Choose your fave for the patty -- 100 percent Angus choice beef, grass-fed beef, turkey, lamb, veggie, chicken or salmon -- then go with themes such as Steak House, Southerner, Morningside, The Champion, Triple B and other tempters ($12-$15).
• In Brookhaven, Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub grinds meat daily for its quarter-pound patties served in a single ($7) or double ($11) stack.
• Classic Tavern Burgers are a Marlow’s Tavern favorite, especially the Royale with Cheese, which stacks perfectly seared wagyu beef with American cheese and dill pickle on a buttery sesame brioche bun ($14).
• Ormsby’s brings on the Bruno Burger, a half-pound of grass-fed ground beef, blackened chicken breast or fresh ground turkey topped with caramelized onions, mushrooms and provolone on an egg bun ($11). Vegetarians, the black bean burger at this Westside eatery is for you, doused with guacamole, tortilla chips and cheddar on an egg bun ($10). Burgers come with a choice of sides.
• Ray’s Restaurants’ guests adore the hickory BBQ bacon burger with its aged cheddar, smoked bacon, bibb lettuce, vine-ripened tomato, crispy onions, dill pickle and BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun. Dig in downtown at Ray’s in the City ($16), Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs ($15) and Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta ($15).
• At Seed Kitchen + Bar in East Cobb, Vermont white cheddar and merc sauce blanket caramelized onions and tomato on the half-pound Merchant Burger ($14.95), sided by salad, fries or a cup of soup at lunch and fries or salad at dinner.
• The Stem Burger at Stem Wine Bar features red wine-braised short rib, pork belly, Comte, tomato onion jam, thrice-cooked fries and aioli ($15). Complete the idyllic repast with a glass of red wine from the East Cobb wine bar’s tremendous selection. 
• Sublime Doughnuts goes rogue, opting for a scoop of strawberry rosé, white chocolate fudge or other flavors of Sublime’s homemade ice cream (in lieu of beef) on a Sublime doughnut with fresh toppings ($6). Available 24/7 at both the Midtown and Druid Hills locations.
• The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill Steak Burger Royale is a landlubber’s delight with a half-pound blend of rib-eye, tenderloin, New York strip steak and chuck joined by grilled onions, American cheese and pickles on a plain or whole wheat bun ($10.95 lunch, $11.95 dinner). Pile on bacon for $1 more at both the Buckhead and Canton Street locations.
• In Buckhead, Smokebelly BBQ’s Signature Burger builds upon the perfect mix of ground brisket and short rib, adding smoked Gouda, crispy bacon, fried onions, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles ($11.50).
• The Southern Gentleman, in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, makes its own signature steak blend for the mouthwatering TSG Burger before crowning it with Thomasville tome and red onion and fennel salad and serving with house-cut fries and a side of bacon jam ($13 lunch, $14 supper).

Now’s the Ripe Time for Milton’s Garden Dinner Aug. 27

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails continues its Garden Dinner Series with an evening al fresco on Sunday, Aug. 27. Indulge in chef Derek Dollar’s curated menu of hors d'oeuvre and libations followed by a four-course seated dinner with wine pairings served family style within Milton’s Acre, the restaurant’s one-acre garden. Tickets for the 7-9 p.m. dinner are $125 per person including wine, tax and gratuity. Purchase here. Can’t make this one? Pick another Garden Dinner date: Sept. 24, Oct. 1 or Oct. 15.

Ham It Up with Allan Benton during Ray’s at Killer Creek Benton’s & Bourbon Dinner Aug. 25

Squeal in pre-pork glee and grunt in post-bourbon contentment about a memorable night of eating at Ray’s at Killer Creek and meeting Allan Benton, straight from his smokehouse in Madisonville, Tennessee. There’s a whole lot of umami to enjoy at the Friday, Aug. 25 dinner: the smoky-salty-brown sugariness of slow-cured Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams paired with the long, sweet finish of bourbon from Kentucky’s award-winning, 200+-year-old Buffalo Trace Distillery. Executive chef Mike Fuller’s five-course Benton Ham-inspired menu opens with Benton’s 31-month cured ham, house-made cheese coin and blackberry jam paired with Ray’s Barrel Select Buffalo Trace Kentucky Mule Slushy. Courses proceed through Pearson’s peach-glazed belly and fresh burrata with Eagle Rare bourbon; smoked ham and lobster taco with red bean paste, avocado, radish and pea sprouts served with Rockhill Farms bourbon; dry-aged rib-eye with summer corn, butterbean and ham hock pot liquor and cast-iron corn bread paired with Ray’s Barrel Select Blanton’s; and conclude with homemade sugar cookie sandwich with buttermilk-strawberry ice cream joined by Ray’s Barrel Select Buffalo Trace Old-Fashioned. $70 per person (excludes tax and gratuity). Reservations required for the 6:30 p.m. dinner; call 770-649-0064.

Impulse Buy Leads to Esquire Article Praising KUDU Grill

Award-winning writer Jason Tesauro witnessed chef Kevin Gillespie  slinging hash over KUDU Grill coals at the Charleston Wine + Food festival, and his mouth fell open in awe. Open fire. Three grill levels. Endless possibilities. Sold! Impulse buy? Would buyer’s remorse set in? Hardly. Once home, Tesauro lit up and he’s not looked back. Read his Esquire magazine feature and share his excitement. One can practically taste the cheeseburgers, pizzas, paellas and vegetables (not one sprout lost) and picture themselves hanging out by the KUDU on the patio or at a South African campsite, chilling, grilling and catching a short KUDU history lesson.

Atlanta Les Dames d’Escoffier Hosts Dinner Celebrating Summer and Giving to Raise Scholarship Funds Aug. 24

Chefs need greens. And not just for salads and sides. They need scholarship monies to cover the costs of culinary education and honing skills. Atlanta’s own chapter members of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) work tirelessly in and out of the kitchen planning culinary education events and unique fundraisers to assist student chefs in reaching their goals. On Thursday, Aug. 24, The Cook’s Warehouse, Wüsthof USA and the Atlanta Chapter of LDEI are hosting a grand opening VIP cooking demonstration and dinner party at the newest location of The Cook’s Warehouse in Chamblee’s Peachtree Station. Wüsthof USA executive chef Mike Garaghty and Dame Gloria Smiley lead the 6:30-9 p.m. fundraising event. All proceeds benefit the LDEI Culinary Futures Scholarship that goes out to one female high school senior pursuing a degree in culinary arts, hospitality or a related field. Alliyah White-Amos, the 2017 Culinary Futures Scholarship recipient, will be on hand and working with chef Garaghty to help prepare this amazing meal. The evening’s delicacies include hickory-smoked picanha crostini with chimichurri aioli; chilled avocado soup with seared ancho lobster and crema; grilled Georgia peach and burrata on local baby greens with balsamic; chef Gloria Smiley’s butternut squash ravioli; espresso-rubbed lamb chops with minted sour cherry glaze and sweet corn succotash; and a dessert of chocolate decadence with raspberry coulis. $119 per person; reserve your seat here.

Henri’s Bakery Pops Out of the Oven at New Home on East Andrews in Buckhead

The fresh, modern look, spacious seating and generous parking afforded by a new location are the icing on the éclair for longtime fans of Henri’s Bakery & Café, a Buckhead institution for nearly 50 years. Customers can expect the same high-quality deli fare, pastries, cakes, pies and sweets along with newly added Batdorf & Bronson signature Dancing Goats coffee. An expansive banquette with individual seating along the back wall ups the seating while an expanded deli section eases hunger pangs with the streamlined ordering of soups, salads and sandwiches. Coming soon: Henri’s popular house-made doughnuts and a place to munch them -- an outdoor covered patio and an inviting indoor courtyard. “Henri’s new look is that of a fresh, modern bakery, but still with that old-time feel,” says owner Anthony DiNardo. Henri’s Bakery is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 404-237-0202 or visit henrisbakery.com.

Appetizing Aperture

National Cuban Sandwich Day presses in on Wednesday, Aug. 23. Cruise to Beni’s Cubano in Marietta for a classic Cuban of roasted pork, ham and Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard and garlic aioli on pressed Cuban bread with a choice of one side and one sauce ($10). Beni’s presses and serves these sammies seven days a week. You’ll be back.

Umi Executive Chef Fuyuhiko Ito Shows Off Knife Skills during Culinary Week at The Art Institute of Atlanta Aug. 23

Culinary students at The Art Institute of Atlanta will witness cutting-edge finesse when Fuyuhiko Ito, executive chef of Umi in Buckhead, leads a knife skills demonstration on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. Ito unpacks his blades as part of The Art Institute of Atlanta’s Culinary Week sessions showcasing industry chefs and providing an extra learning opportunity for students. The un-ticketed event, scheduled for room 100 at the Sandy Springs campus, is open to the public with limited seating available. For more information, contact Carole Carr at cccarr@edmc.edu. 

What’s New on Pinterest: Crabby Cravings

Everybody has a crabby day now and then -- forgive them and let it go. On the other hand (or claw), Crabby Cravingsare forces to be reckoned with --- in the kitchen. Spicy crab sushi rolls, cilantro-lime crab salad in avocado halves, three-minute crab dip and super-easy crab puffs are a good start. Crab, cream and carb cravings call for creamy crab and shrimp enchiladas, creamy tomato and crab fettuccine, mac and cheese or baked hot crab dip. Crabby because carbs are out? Cold crab salad, ginger and scallion crab and low-carb crab cakes with roasted red pepper sauce are oh so in.

#Foodgram: Handle the Heat

At Handle the Heat, Tessa Arias melds the science of baking and lots of chocolate into sinfully delicious recipes. Eyeballing decadent lava brownies, cookie butter brownie ice cream sandwiches, peanut butter cheesecake-stuffed chocolate cupcakes and chocolate pudding pie has us frantically tapping her blog link to abscond with the recipes

Appetizing Aperture: Willy's Poptail

Poptail. Say what? Turn to Willy’s Mexicana Grill on Howell Mill Road and the King of Pops to douse summer’s hottest days and nights with Poptails. The frozen pop multitasks, keeping that ‘rita ice cold and intense with flavor all the way to last lip-smacking buzz of a drop.

Ray’s Restaurants Features Special Pricing on Wines from Napa’s Chateau Montelena during August

A picture of Chateau Montelena Winery leads vintner voyeurs to swear they’re looking at a gothic English estate instead of the tasting room for one of Napa’s historic wineries, founded in 1882. Chateau Montelena’s handcrafted wines originate as a smaller crop of sustainably raised grapes grown in rocky soils before being fermented, aged and blended into concentrated, complex wines. Ray’s Restaurants -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek -- is featuring two Chateau Montelena wines at special prices during the month of August. Enjoy Chateau Montelena chardonnay, not usually available at Ray’s, priced at $18/eight-ounce glass or $55/bottle and Chateau Montelena cabernet sauvignon priced at $25/eight-ounce glass or $75/bottle, usually $105/bottle. Pair wines with fresh seafood and fine meats from Ray’s menus and you’re well on your way to blissful sipping and supping. 

Dine with Gratitude and Help The Giving Kitchen Aid Hospitality Workers in Need, Aug. 20-23

Dine out and show your support for The Giving Kitchen and the hospitality workers who provide the amazing meals, drinks and food services we enjoy in Atlanta. All you have to do is dine at participating restaurants over the Dining with Gratitude dates of Aug. 20-23. Each restaurant will donate 10 percent of sales to The Giving Kitchen to further the nonprofit’s ability to aid Atlanta-area restaurant and hospitality workers facing crisis situations. Can’t decide where to eat out? Fine options include Marlow’s Tavern locations in Vinings, Midtown, Emory, Northlake, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven and Dunwoody; The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead and on Canton Street; Gypsy Kitchen; Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails; Smokebelly BBQ; The Southern Gentleman and Tin Lizzy’s Cantina. Eat and give thanks for the hands that prepare, serve and clean up our abundance of ATL dining options.

Fly By the Southern Wing Showdown for Wings, Spirits and More at The Foundry at Puritan Mill Aug. 20

The Southern Wing Showdown alights at The Foundry at Puritan Mill for a second spicy year on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 20. Taste of Atlanta backs this gathering of 25 high-end eateries, which span the flight pattern from Nashville to Charleston. Chefs crack open Big Green Eggs to turn out winged wonders using Springer Mountain Farms antibiotic- and hormone-free chicken and savory sides. Spirits soar thanks to plentiful Southern libations and music from local band Battlefield Collective. General admission($30 advance, $40 at door if available) includes 2 p.m. entry, wing tastes, live entertainment, chef greet and eat and cash bar. VIP First Taster tickets, over-21 set only ($55 advance, $65 at door if available), gain early entrance at 1 p.m. plus entry into the Southern Spirits Lounge with café seating and an open bar for spirit and craft beer tastings. Online purchase service fees apply. Last year’s history shows tickets flying off the shelf so best pluck yours right away for the rain-or-shine event. Southern Wing Showdown benefits Open Hand and Second Helpings Atlanta. Wing tip, if you haven’t already done so, this is a good time to purchase Taste of Atlanta tickets for October’s gigantic gastro-fest.

Taco Crawl Munches through Midtown, Stops at Tin Lizzy’s, Taco Mac and Willy’s Mexicana Grill for Tacos and Drink Specials

We’re betting Midtown’s First Annual Taco Crawl won’t be the last! The inaugural tour steps out on Saturday, Aug. 19 beginning at noon and folds at 6 p.m. Search out the best tacos in the heart of Midtown while checking out new bars, enjoying drink specials and meeting like-minded, taco-toting new friends. Tour price includes four taco tickets to use at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, Taco Mac and Willy’s Mexicana Grill or any of the other participating bars and eateries on the Atlanta Bar Crawl signature crawl map, additional taco specials and exclusive drink specials on beer, margaritas, shots and more. Taco tourists will receive a voting card at their last stop to pass judgment on the “Best Tasting” and “Most Unique” tacos. Buy tickets, $25 per person, at Eventbrite.

Pork & Barrel Saturdays --Terminus City BBQ Lunch Stand Pops Up at American Spirit Whiskey Distillery on Saturdays this Fall

On Saturday, Aug. 12, chef Kevin Gillespie and his Terminus City BBQ crew rolled their lunch stand of scintillating smoked pork barbecue and all the accoutrements to the doors of American Spirit Whiskey’s Armour Drive distillery. The porky pop-up continues every Saturday throughout the fall, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Chow on a chopped whole hog BBQ sandwich with shaker slaw on a buttered toasted bun ($8) or pick up chopped whole hog barbecue to go ($19/lb.) and sides by the pint ($9). Walk on up and buy some ‘cue, no reservations needed, during distillery tour hours. Once a month, American Spirit will host a ticketed event, featuring a new release that will add even more spirit to afternoons filled with food, whiskey, cocktails, lawn games and college football viewings (once the season starts).

Chef Mike’s Big Green Egg-Cellent Adventure of a Grilling Demo Thrills Taste Buds Aug. 19

Are you intimidated by a Big Green Egg? Turn awe into awesome by conquering that Big Green Egg or just further your BGE prowess during an afternoon heady with sips, sizzles and grilling demonstrations at Ray’s at Killer Creek on Saturday, Aug. 19.  Executive chef Mike Fuller turns out a tantalizing tasting menu of four BGE-grilled courses of glazed pork belly salad; smoked shrimp steamed buns with jalapeño-pickled relish and sweet chili and herb slaw; low-and-slow cooked wagyu brisket with cast-iron mac and cheese and salsa verde; and grilled banana bread with caramel and sea salt ice cream. Demo, tasting menu, beverage of iced tea, soda or coffee and a choice of bloody mary, mimosa or 16-ounce draft beer are included in the $39 price (excludes tax and gratuity). Reservations required for the 1-3 p.m. event; call 770-649-0064. If you’re already booked, save Sept. 9 on your calendar, the date for the Alpharetta restaurant’s next BGE demo and tasting.

Elvis, Has it Been 40 Years? You’re Always on My Mind – and Available -- at the Elvis Room at Johnny’s Hideaway

Our “Burning Love” for all things Elvis leaves us “All Shook Up” this time each year when we remember Presley’s passing on Aug. 16, 1977. Do we “Viva Las Vegas” it or head for Graceland to honor the American icon? Heck, no need. The legacy of the “King of Rock and Roll” swivels on in the memorabilia-filled “Elvis Room” at Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead. Rock on over to the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling memorial that’s open and ready for your blue suede shoes to enter whenever Johnny’s Hideaway is open. Makes a nice pause, little darlin’, between bites of cheeseburgers, cocktail sippers and rushing like a dancing fool to the “Promised Land” – Johnny’s dance floor. 

What’s New on Pinterest: Hungry & Healthy

Hungry & Healthy paves an off-ramp from summer’s habits of grabbing ice cream here (triple scoops because you couldn’t decide on one flavor), ballpark food there (bring on the loaded dogs) and fast food on the road to vacation destinations. Play around with roasted veggies, turn sweet potatoes into waffle breakfast sandwiches or a one-skillet meal with cheese, chicken and kale. One-pan Italian sausage and veggies yield clean eating (and one pan to clean). Pizza has its place: a cauliflower pizza crust base, portobello mushroom pizza or fruity watermelon pizza. Paleo pleasers include spicy tuna rolls, chicken lime lettuce wraps or a spaghetti squash casserole that’s protein packed with ground turkey. Go for a whirl and whip up smoothies to soothe after-school hungries in a flash.

Reserve Serves Three “Rs” at Aria: Reservations, Requests and Reminders

The new Reserve reservation system at award-winning Aria makes locking in a time and table for dinner a cinch. Select your preferred dining time and enter the number of guests on the easy-to-read screen. Instantly, you’re almost done by adding name, email and mobile number. There’s even a place to include special requests…say, that proposal-perfect special table in the corner or one by the door so your dear aunt can enter and exit with ease. For those prone to forgetfulness (or who need an excuse to bow out and head to dinner), Reserve texts a reminder to your mobile phone. Think of Reserve as a prelude to Aria’s impeccable service and chef/owner Gerry Klaskala’s incredible cuisine. Still prefer person-to-person? Simply call Aria at 404-233-7673. Stay in the know by signing up for Aria news and events.

#Foodgram: Hosting Brunch

So you volunteered to host brunch and now butterflies are soaring in your tummy? HostingBrunch is your saving grace, a picturesque go-to for what to cook, how to decorate and how to host brunch. After your fabulous fête (be it grand or humble), tag your success #HostingBrunch and perhaps you’ll make their spread.

Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern Captures KUDU Grills

Three-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and teacher Andrew Zimmern prowls for unique tastes and brilliant edible ideas to star on his Travel Channel “Bizarre Foods” shows. We’ve caught a video of him in an out-of-the-bizarre-box moment, showing off grilling skills in That Moment When Andrew Zimmern Uses a KUDU At Home. The multitasking KUDU Grill handily manages rack of lamb (which Zimmern admits can be daunting to grill) alongside eggplant and leeks. Zimmern pulls the swift cooking veggies, converting them into a Mediterranean salad while the lamb sizzles its way to succulent perfection. Who knows what Zimmern will grill, sauté, sear, fry, boil, steam, roast or smoke next on his open-fire KUDU. The intuitive and straightforward cooking process is simple to master, and the grill packs and sets up effortlessly so you can take it with you to barbecues, tailgate parties or into your own backyard.

Appetizing Aperture: Lousiana BBQ Shrimp Lettuce Wraps at Atkins Park

Skip the taco shell and go green with small plates of Louisiana BBQ shrimp lettuce wraps ($11) at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland. Tender shrimp are all fired up to tuck in with lemon, red bell pepper and onions in these refreshing wraps. Have another and throw in a cold Abita beer while you’re at it, please.

Chef Mike’s Italian Summer Adventures Feed Storico Fresco Dish Ideas and Instagram Journal

Storico Fresco Alimentari e Ristorante’s co-owner and culinary director Mike Patrick goes straight to the motherland to find authentic inspiration for the menu at his Buckhead restaurant and market. He’s back from a summer excursion to Italy, his head loaded with ideas, recipes and techniques destined for Storico Fresco’s kitchen. Delve into the trip’s memorable meals and edible explorations by following Patrick’s well-documented Instagram photo journal. His research cuts through the Eternal City of Rome, ventures out to the Tuscan coastal town of Ponte Rosso for a beach cookout of baby crabs and tomatoes tossed with strozzapreti and baby clams and revels in a Michelin-starred meal in Rimini that’s capped by “a mind bender” of cuttlefish cappuccino topped with squid ink dust. Wish you could have tagged along? Turn sighs into seats at Storico Fresco to enjoy tasting menu selections as well as prepared foods influenced by Patrick’s travels. Bring friends and gather around the table for a true Italian dining experience at lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Shop the market Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. No airline ticket needed, but reservations are recommended, call (404) 500-2181 or save your spot on OpenTable.

Peaches and Pigs Take Over Downtown Atlanta during PeachFest Aug. 13

PeachFest, a hyper-local food fest, roots its way into downtown Atlanta this Sunday, Aug. 13 to promote the various varieties of peaches and heritage pigs raised responsibly by Georgia family farmers. More than 85 winemakers, distillers, chefs, food artisans, brewers, bartenders and farmers will educate and inspire guests with culinary experiences at the not-for-profit event. From 4-7 p.m., watch and learn as chefs create classic peach (and paleo) dishes and roast, smoke and grill heritage breed pork at the festival along Broad Street, NW and Poplar Street, NW. Of course you can eat and drink (it would be the pits not to). Sample peach-infused boozy punches, peach craft brews and premium wines. All-inclusive tickets start at $60 ($100 VIP ticket includes 3 p.m. entry and exclusive tasting of cellared wines). Can’t swing by? Donations hungrily appreciated. Proceeds from tickets and a silent auction support the growth of producers in Georgia and beyond through Piggy Bank. What a peachy way to celebrate National Peach Month!

Go Back to S’cool with Sweet Charlie’s PB&J, Savings and Rewards

You won’t find Sweet Charlie’s PB&J in a lunchbox. The Buckhead ice cream shop salutes the back-to-school crowd with this frozen confection destined for head-of-the-class status. Sweet Charlie’s syllabus shows several other specials to chillax the homework load. Students can subtract $2 off their purchase, be it a PB&J roll or any other Sweet Charlie’s treat, over the dates of Monday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 18. To rev up school spirit and some good-humored competition, Sweet Charlie’s has created a school spirit board. Add a star next to your school’s name during each shop visit (school write-ins welcomed). The school sporting the most stars when the competition closes Nov. 1 wins a holiday party catered by Sweet Charlie’s. And, in this case, brain freeze can be a good incentive to work hard because all A’s on a report card merits a free ice cream through Sweet Charlie’s Good Grades Reward Program (must show report card to redeem, limit one per student). Yes, school buses, and Sweet Charlie’s, are on a roll.

Fantasy Football Commissioners Score More by Booking Draft Parties at Taco Mac

Taco Mac asks, “Does anyone else feel a draft coming on?” An ice-cold draft in a glass? A draft of fall football weather inching down the field? Fantasy football draft picks? Commissioners, step up and set the fantasy football season ball in motion. Book a fantasy football draft party at Taco Mac and score a special league commissioner swag package from Taco Mac and Miller Lite. Take home a league championship ring to give to the season winner, a Taco Mac hat, $10 off $25 offers for each week of the season and plenty more. To book, call your preferred BFF (best fantasy football) Taco Mac location or complete the request form at http://fantasydraft.tacomac.com/. Book early; commissioner packages available while supplies last. From wings to beer to views, Taco Mac has everything your league needs to set the 2017 season in motion.

Find Tacos, Tequila and Talented Musician John Thrasher at Jefe’s Live Music Wednesdays

Guitar tunes go with tacos like guac with tortilla chips. Have all this and more on Wednesday nights at Jefe’s Tequila & Tacos in Town Brookhaven. John Thrasher fills the cantina with his acoustic guitar and vocals on Aug. 9 beginning at 6 p.m. Atlanta couples wholeheartedly say, “I do!” to booking Thrasher and the five star-rated Atlanta Wedding Band for their wedding parties. Additionally, he fronts his own original music projects -- treat yourself to an earful here. Taco tip, Jefe’s long list of tacos come in soft tortillas for munch that doesn’t crunch when you’re tuned into the music! Margaritas and beer make an ideal backup band.

What’s New on Pinterest: How 'Bout That Hummus

How ‘Bout That Hummus? The smooth chameleon of dips and spreads adapts to the theme du jour. Mediterranean purists can scoop classic, Kalamata olive, lemon garlic or Jerusalem hummus. Dabblers, turn your attention to magenta-hued vegan beet, caramelized onion or roasted poblano sweet corn. Contrast sugar and spice by whipping batches of addicting chocolate chip cookie dough or banana bread hummus as well as batches of Buffalo, turmeric sweet potato or smoky chipotle pumpkin hummus. Out of pasta sauce? Hmmmmm. Hummus saves face, again.

#Foodgram: Dennis the Prescott

Homemade is the way to go for Dennis the Prescott. Feed the desires of your heart and appetite with recipes from his new “Eat Delicious” cookbook. Feasting eyes on his photos leads to another temptation…clicking over to order his cookbook. Kindle it this morning for instant gratification and ideas for tonight’s dinner.

Appetizing Aperture: Sweet Charlie's Banana Pudding

Prince of the potluck, sweetheart of the church buffet, banana pudding rules the Southern dessert table. And, Banana Pudding is the newest signature ice cream at Sweet Charlie’s in Buckhead courting Nilla Wafers, toasted banana and crowned by a dollop of whipped cream.

Star Grazing

Celebs continue to gravitate to Umi for chef Fuyuhiko Ito’s incredible sushi, nigiri, sashimi and signature rolls. Samuel L. Jackson (“Star Wars,” “The Incredibles”) was spotted dining at Umi on July 20. The King of Cool has appeared in more than 100 films and holds the rare distinction of being eaten by both a shark and a dinosaur in his occupation. At Umi, Jackson played diner, not dinner, with four other guests and enjoyed himself so much he returned for a second visit on July 22.