Restaurant Gift Card Deals Make Holiday Gifting a Snap

Easiest way to slice “Bah, humbug!” from your holiday shopping vocabulary? Buy restaurant gift cards! Atlanta’s best restaurants are cutting generous deals that are kind to gift-givers’ wallets while putting a sparkle in the eyes of those who receive. Perfectly acceptable to put some gift cards in your own stocking for a relaxing post-holiday meal.
5Church Atlanta, Midtown’s hotspot for first-class modern American cuisine, adds a 20 percent bonus for every $50 gift card purchased Nov. 24-Dec. 30.
  Gift that someone special with a reason to try Bulla Gastrobar, Midtown’s hottest new spot for contemporary Spanish fare. For every purchase of a $100 gift card between now and Dec. 31, receive an additional gift card for $20. The $20 gift card must be redeemed by Mar. 31, 2018. 
The Federal unwraps the gift of free brunch. For every $200 gift card purchased, the Midtown bistro will throw in a $20 gift card for use at a weekend brunch. Bonus gift card expires in 12 months.
Give the gift of gusto! this holiday season. Guests who purchase a gusto! T-shirt for $20 walk away with a $20 gusto! gift card to enjoy the restaurant’s menu of grilled chicken, portabella or shrimp served with other flavorful ingredients on mixed greens, brown rice or flatbread wraps.
Place a $50 gift card to HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern under the tree and receive a free gift card worth $10. Purchase a $100 gift card and get a $20 gift card free. Offer good at both the Midtown and Brookhaven locations.
Upscale steakhouse American Cut and rooftop lounge The Regent Cocktail Club are throwing in a $20 promotional gift card with every $100 gift card purchase. Available online using promo code LDVGIFT and in these LDV Atlanta establishments in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta through Dec. 31; promotional cards valid Jan. 2-March 31, 2018.

Here’s an offer worth popping open the Champagne to celebrate. Purchase a $50 gift card at any Marlow’s Tavern location and receive a complimentary bottle of Michelle Brut. Purchase a $100 gift card and receive the complimentary bottle plus a bonus $20 gift card. With taverns throughout metro Atlanta, Marlow’s is the perfect gift for every local on the list.

Through January 31, 2018, all three Ray’s Restaurants -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek -- are doling out a 20 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $50-$950 and a 25 percent bonus on gift card purchases of $1,000 or more. Use the cards at any Ray’s location (cannot be applied toward private or semi-private events). Bonus cards valid Feb. 1-Sept. 30, 2018. Read more details and purchase cards here or at any Ray’s location.
Gift cards taste sweeter at Seed Kitchen & Bar, Stem Wine Bar and Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in East Cobb. Purchase a $100 gift card at any of Doug Turbush’s exemplary restaurants through Dec. 30 and receive an additional $20. Use cards at any of the three restaurants; gift cards do not expire.

Southern Fried Hospitality is offering a $20 bonus gift card for every $100 gift card purchase at Chicken and the Egg, Brine Seafood Shack and FEED Fried Chicken and Such. Gift cards are redeemable at all three restaurants.

Instead of adding a bonus amount, these Southern Proper Hospitality Group restaurants are giving a 20 percent discount off gift card purchases of $100 or more: Beni’s Cubano, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar, Gypsy Kitchen, The Southern Gentleman, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails and Smokebelly BBQ.

For a creamy and delicious holiday treat, roll into Sweet Charlie’s in Buckhead. Guests who purchase a $25 gift card will be rewarded with a free hand-rolled ice cream. Sweet!

Wing it this holiday season by giving friends, associates and fellow sports fans Taco Mac gift cards. Through Dec. 31, Taco Mac tosses you a $10 bonus card with every $50 gift card purchase. Gift cards may not be used to purchase additional gift cards. Additionally, guests buying $1000 or more in gift cards also will receive a 10 percent bulk purchase discount on top of the $10 per $50 bonus.
  Tin Lizzy’s Cantina helps share the love for its FlexMex gourmet soft tacos, skillets and quesadillas with 20 percent off the purchase of $100 or more in Tin Lizzy’s gift cards. Gift cards cannot be used same day of purchase to receive the discount.

#Foodgram: Chitra Agrawal's Vibrant India

Chitra Agrawal, owner of Brooklyn Delhi condiments, curries favor with Indian food fans @ChitraAgrawal. Her 2017 cookbook “Vibrant India” educates readers on Indian cooking and spices up any holiday gift list.

Chef Kevin Gillespie’s Beardsmas Holiday Gift-Giving Extravaganza is Underway

Atlanta’s red-bearded celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie and his spritely elves are busy cooking up a fresh batch of chef-inspired gift experiences so you won’t have to box up another shirt/tie/scarf. Well, maybe throw in an apron. Shop redbeardmerch.com, a stress-reducing, one-stop online store for all of these creative gifts, cookbooks and more merry merchandise.

New for Beardsmas 2017: 

• Buford Highway dine-around with Kevin Gillespie and Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward playing tour guides ($199)
• Whole Hog BBQ lesson with Terminus City BBQ has the recipient pulling an all-nighter with executive chef Andreas Müller while learning the smoky magic behind Terminus City’s whole hog chopped barbecue. Next day, invite 10 friends to join in sampling the results ($5,000).
• Gunshow field trip led by Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward. Meet local producers while visiting Ward’s favorite farms, breweries, distilleries and coffee roasters ($150).

 

Returning Favorites:

• In-home dinner by chef Gillespie (starts at $15,000)
• 2018 Hired Guns season tickets ($1,200, includes two tickets to each of six guest chef dinners)
• Gunshow mixology classes ($65 per class or $240 for a season pass to all four classes)
• Shop the Peachtree Road Farmers Market field trip with Gillespie, limited to 15 attendees, includes autographed “Fire in My Belly” cookbook ($99)

 

Wrap-able Beardsmas Gift Packs:

• Chef starter kit of high-end, quality kitchen tools curated by chefs Gillespie and Ward
• Red Beard Essential Seasonings Set including Gillespie’s brand-new Good Ass Ham Sugar – a sugar and spice mix for perfectly glazed ham
• Pack of three Gunshow enamel lapel pins
• Gillespie’s coffee and cocoa sets
• Defend Southern Food Purpose shirt and lapel pin set (each purchase includes a donation to Atlanta Community Food Bank)

Score UGA-GT Football Action -- Pre, During and Post-- at Marlow’s Tavern Midtown Game Day Block Party Nov. 25

This Saturday, Dawgs and Yellow Jackets will swarm to Bobby Dodd Stadium to bark and buzz over a cherished “clean old-fashioned hate” gridiron tradition. Tailgating for the Thanksgiving weekend showdown kicks off at 11 a.m. at nearby Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown where chews, brews and giveaways are the game plan at a block party complete with food specials and beer tents from SweetWater Brewing Company and Terrapin Beer Co. Who knows if the Nov. 25 game will go into overtime, but it’s a sure bet this party will -- Marlow’s is open until midnight! Free covered parking is available for Marlow’s guests in the adjacent deck.

Flying Away to Thanksgiving Day? Carve Time for HBF Eateries at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

If your turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie are preceded or followed by a trip through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, plan on landing at a Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF) restaurant to grab a bite to eat or toast making it to the right concourse on time. Look for HBF fast-casual eateries, chef-driven restaurants offering top-notch cuisine, wine, beer and cocktails, and sports bars where fans on the fly can catch those Thanksgiving weekend games. On Concourse A, find Boar’s Head, Piece of Cake, LowCountry New Southern Cuisine, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Great Wraps, P.F. Chang’s, Chick-fi-A, TAP, Atlanta Hawks Bar & Grill, Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Gordon Biersch, Varasano’s Pizzeria and Goldberg’s Deli. Arby’s, The Bar, Freshen’s Yogurt, Nathan’s, Qdoba Mexican Grill and Villa Pizza provide quick sustenance on Concourse E. Honing in on a couple of full-service options, Cat Cora’s Kitchen is open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, and focuses on using fresh and organic ingredients for its innovative tapas and intriguing cocktails. Varasano’s Pizzeria makes and flash-bakes brick oven-style pizzas to order from 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and tames nerves with craft cocktails, beer or wine (more details here). Board the plane, buckle in and rest up during your flight with a satisfying HBF meal and drink under your belt.

Royal Sips Grace Holiday Season -- Louis XIII Special at Ray’s on the River

Cognac connoisseurs, adorn the holidays with regal sips at Ray’s on the River -- the LOUIS XIII Cognac perfect pour. For more than a century, LOUIS XIII has been synonymous with refinement and French taste and sophistication, captivating Europe’s royal courts and becoming a fixture at prestigious hotels. Treat yourself and that special someone to the luxury of sipping a world-renowned legacy, available in 0.5 ounce ($90), 1 ounce ($180) and 1.5 ounce ($270) pours. Don’t put off what you can sip today; this special is available all day, every day -- but only through the holiday season.

What’s New on Pinterest

Okay, put down the spoon. We know you’ve been dipping into the peanut butter (a.k.a. PB) jar but save some of the smooth and crunchy spread for Peanutty Perfection recipes during National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. Add PB cheesecake cookie bars, Nutter Butter PB cake, secretly skinny PB biscotti and white chocolate PB fudge to the Thanksgiving dessert sideboard. The kids will love PB puppy truffles, and Fido will go bonkers over PB and pumpkin balls. Rise and shine to PB&J French toast sticks, PB waffles with PB syrup and PB&J doughnuts. Plant peanuts in every meal and prepare a big bowl of raw super sprouts pad thai with spicy peanut sauce for lunch or dinner.

#Foodgram

What’s for brunch in London? A culinary gallery of hearty British and enticing global delights at IG Brunch Club. Pull up the screen, pour some tea (or a mimosa) and let the brunching begin.

Appetizing Aperture

Bold, fresh and ready in a flash, the tzatziki lemon artichoke bowl at gusto! brightens any day with vibrant colors and flavors. Price runs from $8.95-$10.95 (depending on chicken, portobella or shrimp topper) for the wealth of jasmine brown rice, grilled portobella mushrooms, artichokes, cherry tomatoes, baby kale and Israeli cous cous tossed in a lemon vinaigrette and topped with homemade tzatziki with fresh dill and za’atar spices and sweet pickled onion garnish. Dig in! FYI, the gusto! Ponce location rewards flannel shirt wearers with a BOGO special on Fridays!

Star Grazing

Atlanta-bound stars continue to alight at Umi. Celebrity A-lister Kate Hudson dined at Buckhead’s much-acclaimed Japanese restaurant on Nov. 6, enjoying a variety of items such as edamame, miso soup, Madai carpaccio, salmon yuzuviche, spicy tuna crispy rice, yellowtail jalapeño, hamachi caviar, Hinomaru nigiri, Kobe beef nigiri, sake aioli nigiri, Otoro caviar nigiri, lobster Toban-yaki and black cod misoyaki. Her group also sipped on Ketel One vodka cosmopolitans and a bottle of Dassai sake.

Southern Proper Harvests Fresh Fall Menus at The Big Ketch, The Southern Gentleman, Gypsy Kitchen and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails

Four Southern Proper Hospitality favorites -- The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, The Southern Gentleman, Gypsy Kitchen and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails -- are warming guests and the colder days ahead with new seasonal dishes and culinary comforts.

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead and on Canton Street in Roswell is now featuring Gulf grouper and Scottish salmon. At both neighborhood beach houses, guests can enjoy seasonal specialties like lobster Cobb salad ($19.95); seafood pot pie with lobster, shrimp and scallops ($26.95) and Grouper Louisiane of blackened Gulf grouper, jumbo lump crab meat with creole BBQ sauce, mashed potatoes and grilled green beans ($29.95)

At The Southern Gentleman in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, chef Danilo “Q” Myers infuses the Southern-inspired gastropub’s menu with lighter fare and larger plates meant for sharing including a “for the table” menu section, a decadent burger and three new entrées. A family style farmhouse terrine board boasts house-made rabbit rillettes, pork and chicken liver terrine, pastrami, bresaola, local cheese, seasonal preserves, pickled okra and drunken cherry tomatoes ($24). Southern chop chop salad of gem lettuce, shaved roasted vegetables and bacon lardons ($10) satisfies salad cravers, and seafood lovers can devour scallop risotto with pan-seared scallops, smoked tomato risotto, saffron-spiked “flat” empanada, torn herbs and pepper jelly ($30).

Gypsy Kitchen in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta calls on chef Gary Finzer for small plates packing big taste sensations and expanded charcuterie and tapas selections. Additions include seared tuna tataki with Moroccan spices and warm gigante beans ($15); queso frito of pan-seared Caña de Cabra goat cheese with Basque cider apple purée and arugula ($12); and charred vegetable paella “fried rice” with spring onions, zucchini, eggplant, red peppers and sofrito ($20). Add a fried farm egg for $2.

In historic Crabapple, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails picks ingredients from its on-site garden for contemporary Southern “seed-to-fork” sensibility. New fall dishes include bacon-wrapped Prime meatloaf made of ground veal, wagyu beef and Kurobuta pork served with smoked Gouda mashed potatoes, grilled broccolini and tangy meatloaf glaze ($23); and charred broccoli, cauliflower and red pears with sweet potato purée, Asher Blue cheese, pickled red onion, candied pecans and sherry maple vinaigrette ($19).

Break for Spirited Brunches on Saturday. It’s Allowed. Really.

Sure, Sunday brunch is divine. Settling in for brunch on Saturday has its own merits. Reward yourself with a brunch boost after that Saturday morning workout. Meet friends for brunch before football viewing. Brunch sustains those shopping adventures, matinees and afternoon outings. And, restaurants are usually less crowded for Saturday brunch translating to a leisurely, laid-back meal. So sit back and order a mimosa, bloody mary or your favorite adult beverage. Spirited bevs before 12:30 p.m.? Always an opportunity at these mouthwatering Saturday brunch spots.

Before browsing the 5Church Atlanta brunch menu, order mimosas and sangria by the glass or carafe and build salad in a glass at the bloody mary bar (counts, right?). Go wild over the wild mushroom omelet ($14), beefy bistro steak “a la Brasa” with chimichurri, french fries and two eggs any style ($23), open-faced salmon croquette buttermilk biscuits ($16), the famed 5Church lamb burger ($14) and lots more. Walking distance to Woodruff Arts Center and just up Peachtree from the Fox Theatre, 5Church serves brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Stroll into Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland for a please-all brunch menu featuring specialties such as Big Green Egg-smoked beef brisket and eggs ($14), fried chicken pancake sandwich ($12), salmon cakes and eggs ($12), fried green tomato Benedict ($9) and more. Hearty skillets -- chorizo, Cajun shrimp and andouille, Southwestern or vegetarian -- come with crispy potatoes and two sunny-side eggs ($9-$12). Chase the day with beer, wine or a handcrafted cocktail. Brunch service begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Fun-loving brunch seekers, swing by Bulla Gastrobar in the heart of Midtown for imaginative cocktails, shareable Spanish fare and communal tables for big groups and sociable folk. Doors open at 11 a.m. Feast on the energy and small plates like crispy calamari, patatas bravas, Serrano ham croquettes with fig jelly ($6-$16), cured meats and cheeses ($6.50-$15), egg-centric specialties of Huevos ‘Bulla,’ Bulla Benedict, garbanzo frito and potato tortilla traditional Spanish omelet ($6-$12). Hazelnut waffles and other sweets ($9-$12) and plates of paella braised short ribs, pollo al chilindron and “Bulla” burgers round out the offerings.

The Federal blesses Midtown with both American steakhouse and French brasserie fare. For brunch, this means chopped chicken liver, black bread and cornichons ($10), beignets with café au lait sauce ($8), avocado toast with smoked salmon, soft boiled egg and shaved shallots ($12), the double-stack Federal burger ($16), the Southern breakfast of three eggs, Anson Mills grits, Patak bacon, pimento cheese and a biscuit ($15) or the Texas breakfast featuring a six-ounce steak, three eggs, home fries and Texas toast ($16). Brunch sippers include classics and innovations such as the grapefruit margarita, spiked Arnold Palmer or chai white Russian ($10). Brunch hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Food 101 in Sandy Springs offers an extensive brunch menu featuring modern morning and midday classics including snacks to share, starters of fried cheese grits with smoked pineapple aioli, White Lily biscuits and sausage gravy and breakfast bruschetta ($7-10); “Stuff with Eggs” including lobster scramble, crab and shrimp cake Benedict, steak and eggs and a smoked turkey and mushroom omelet ($12-$20); a skillet pancake, Belgian waffle or Simply French toast ($10-$11) to satisfy any sweet tooth. Low country-style shrimp and grits, “Skinny Brunch” with organic tomatoes, grilled asparagus, leeks, fresh herbs and soft poached eggs or “Fatboy Brunch” with buttermilk fried chicken, White Lily biscuit, scrambled eggs, home fries and sausage gravy ($13-$17) are just a few signature temptations. Brunch starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern reaches out to Midtown and Town Brookhaven brunchers with a bubbly brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday featuring bottomless mimosas for $17. Wake up with a Wake and Bake pizza, Hangover Helper, steak and eggs, Million Dollar omelet, breakfast tacos, pork belly and eggs, Nashville hot chicken and waffles, grilled cheese with cauliflower and celery root soup and other sunny specialties ($10-$16). The BASE salad is loaded with good stuff ($13), and guests can add shrimp, grilled chicken, steak or salmon for $4-$8. Or, “build your own breakfast” pulling from HOBNOB’s list of breakfast traditions like buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon, sausage, stone-ground grits, two eggs any style and fresh fruit. Weekend brunch hours are 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at both HOBNOB locations.

Midtown Takorea and Ssam Bar fuses TexMex, Southern and Korean flavors with flair, leading to shrimp and creamy jack grits in smoky bacon red sauce with fried egg and Korean fried chicken and sweet red bean waffles with sesame maple syrup (or solo waffle); chilaquiles with chicken, pulled pork or pork belly; pork belly Benedict, sesame spinach and chicken omelet with spinach banchan, marinated chicken and jack cheese; churro bread pudding French toast or adzuki bean pancakes. ($8-$14). Drink specials include a $4 mimosa, bloody mary or glass of sangria. Convenient to Georgia Tech, the Fox Theatre, Atlanta Botanical Garden and more. Opens Saturday at 11:30 a.m., Sunday at noon.

Beni’s Cubano Brings Taste of Old World Havana to The Hub at Peachtree Center

Downtowners, steal away to Cuba for lunch and arrive back in time for that afternoon conference call. Beni’s Cubano makes a quick jaunt possible, thanks to the opening of its newest location in The Hub at Peachtree Center. This is the second location of the fast-casual restaurant from Southern Proper Hospitality (The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar, Gypsy Kitchen, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, Smokebelly BBQ, The Southern Gentleman and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails), which launched its first Beni’s location this summer at The Avenue East Cobb in Marietta. Promising a taste of Cuba without the travel expenses, Beni’s Cubano executive chef Cesar Velazquez packs the menu with innovative takes on classic Cuban dishes. Highlights include the classic Cuban sandwich with mojo-roasted pork, ham and Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard and garlic aioli; vaca frita melt with grilled short rib, melted provolone, grilled onions and peppers and garlic aioli; mojo grilled chicken served with choice of yellow or white rice, black beans and sweet plantains; house salads with an option to add grilled chicken, puerco asado or vaca frita toppers; and yucca fries or mariquitas (crispy spiced plantain chips) with a choice of two dipping sauces. Caffeine fiends rejoice, Beni’s serves classic Cuban coffee all day. The Peachtree Center location is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays.

Give Thanks for Atlanta’s Thanksgiving Dining and Takeout Options

Can we get an “Amen!” for Atlanta’s culinary pros, eager to host our gaggle of guests or take the hassle out of homeward-bound meal planning and preparation? All-you-can-eat buffets and top-notch takeout abound at exceptional eateries, leaving you to focus on enjoying a memorable meal with loved ones. Now that’s important. And so are early reservations. Head over to Atlanta Food News to get the rundown from 5Church Atlanta, Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar, Chicken and the Egg, Food 101, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Ray’s Restaurants, Bantam + Biddy, Revival, Bulla Gastrobar, Storico Fresco Alimentari, Johnny’s Hideaway, Beni’s Cubano, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, The Blind Pig Parlour Bar, Gypsy Kitchen, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, Smokebelly BBQ and The Southern Gentleman.

Tip Toward HOBNOB and Jefe’s at Town Brookhaven’s First Pub Crawl Nov. 18

Pre-empt the rush of turkey trots and jingly jogs with a good old-fashioned Pub Crawl under your belt. Town Brookhaven’s first pub crawl will spill out on the sidewalks, Saturday, Nov. 18 from 4-8 p.m. Pick up a passport at headquarters on the green space then “crawl” to participating restaurants where your passport credentials grant access to the discounted drinks and bites around the “town.” Check into the allocated number of eateries and watering holes for a chance to win raffle prizes. HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern and Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila are two must-visit hot spots. HOBNOB is offering half off any appetizer (limit one per passport) and half price for any draft beer or craft cocktail (limit two per passport). At Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila, enjoy $3 Trailer on Fire tacos (Baja chicken, Jefe’s hot sauce, queso, lettuce and pico de gallo in a flour tortilla), $8 Fuma de Pina margaritas (house-smoked pineapple-infused El Jimador Silver tequila, fresh lime and agave) and $3 Dos XX draft beer. Crawlers will need tickets to obtain passports; $15 each plus small service fee.

Gunshow’s Ward and Gillespie, Umi’s Fuyuhiko and Lisa Ito Wine and Dine Guests at Out of the Kitchen Atlanta for CURE Childhood Cancer Nov. 16

Holiday meal prepping, baking, gift making, entertaining …face it, the holidays can be kitchen intensive. Step out before prepping for a fine dining experience -- the inaugural Out of the Kitchen Atlanta gourmet dining event presented by The St. Regis Atlanta. Sixteen of Atlanta’s top chefs -- including chefs Kevin Gillespie and Joey Ward of Gunshow and chefs Fuyuhiko and Lisa Ito of Umi -- will create a three-course menu tableside followed by a dessert extravaganza on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. Spirits will soar, boosted by flowing wine and “Atlanta Eats” host Steak Shapiro. Come casually chic (hold off on the holiday sweaters and formal wear) for a memorable evening benefitting CURE Childhood Cancer. Buy tickets and purchase sponsorships online, $400-$10,000.

What’s New on Pinterest

We’re thankful for friendships 365 days a year. And so we pause, as we enter the season of Thanksgiving, to express our gratitude in our favorite food-centric way through Friendsgiving Festivities. We’re talking good old-fashioned hospitality, centered around unpretentious yet delicious eats involving brining (look out, turkeys), wining and dining. Try siding a Cajun turkey with easy holiday slaw with apples and pomegranate, crispy Brussels sprouts with bacon and garlic, grandma’s corn casserole, roasted butternut soup with pears along with “thankful” rolls and no-knead Dutch oven crusty bread. We’re all for toasting friends with bourbon butterbeer, cinnamon maple whiskey sours, Crock-Pot mulled wine and homemade hot apple cider. Getting together for morning coffee? Crock-Pot apple pie breakfast and one-minute cinnamon rolls in mugs deserve a place at the table.

#Foodgram

The Art of Plating demonstrates frames can be round and food artistry can rival any painted masterpiece. Fines herbes sorbet with mara des bois strawberry and elderflower, clear pumpkin pie, and a composition of orange, blood orange, orange Madeleine, mandarin curd and orange honeycomb could easily and deliciously grace any art gallery.

Appetizing Aperture

Atlanta is buzzing about the imaginative cocktails crossing the bar at Bulla Gastropub in Midtown. Case in point is November’s featured cocktail -- the Mariposa Negra ($11). DIYers, Bulla is sharing the recipe as an early holiday gift to you! In a shaker, combine 1.5 ounces Old Forester 100, 1 ounce Butterfly Pea Powder syrup, ¾ ounce lemon juice and ½ ounce St-Germain. Shake vigorously and strain into cocktail glass. Cheers!

Picture Pets, PJs, Ugly Sweaters with Santa on Photo Theme Nights at Cumberland and Perimeter Malls

Santa draws the line through same-old, same-old cookie-cutter photos during the most festive and photogenic time of year. This season, everyone gets in the Santa act during photo theme nights with the jolly old elf at Cumberland Mall and Perimeter Mall. Strike a pose…no one says you have to limit yourself to one theme night.
 

• Pet Night – 5-9 p.m. Mondays (through Dec. 11): Bring four-legged friends to pose with Santa.
• Grandparents’ Night – Friday, Nov. 10: Create a special memory with Maw-Maw and Pop-Pop.
• Holiday PJ Night – Friday, Nov. 17 and Dec. 8: Have a picture taken in festive holiday-themed pajamas.
• Ugly Sweater Night – Friday, Dec. 1: Santa loves tacky holiday sweaters- -- the more reindeer and candy canes, the better!
• Christmas Carolers – Friday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 17: Enjoy rousing renditions of favorite holiday songs.

Because waiting in long lines wins a “Bah! Humbug,” both malls allow booking Santa visit times in advance online at both CumberlandMall.com and PerimeterMall.com.  

October Harvest for a Cure Raises $383K+ for Multiple Sclerosis

The fourth annual Harvest for a Cure, which took place Oct. 19 at Mason Fine Art, has harvested a bounty of funds and hope for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thanks go to all the generous donors, Atlanta chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and contributors of exquisite raffle prizes. The culinary nirvana-for-a-cause event cooked up $383,335 to support the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society and its efforts to help research, treat and end the debilitating disease globally. Roy A. Rangel, president of the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society, credits the incredibly committed group of sponsors, volunteers and guests with the accomplishment of raising almost $30,000 more than last year. “Our chef chair Gerry Klaskala and his extraordinarily talented and generous team of chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers and mixologists once again created a delicious experience our donors will not soon forget,” commends Rangel. Elaine Carlos, an event co-chair, wholeheartedly agrees. Her husband was diagnosed with MS at age 28. A cure can’t come soon enough.

Atlanta Chefs Host Fire Aid ATL Benefitting Fire-Ravished Napa and Sonoma Nov. 12

Recent raging fires have caused damage and heartache in California’s beautiful Napa and Sonoma wine producing regions. Reaching out with compassion from the East Coast, Atlanta friends of the wine community are pitching in to help by hosting Fire Aid, a fundraiser for the Napa Valley Community Foundation and the Sonoma County Resilience Fund at Local Three on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. More than a dozen of Atlanta’s best chefs, including Gerry Klaskala of Aria and Mike Patrick of Storico Fresco Alimentari, will lay out an epic smorgasbord alongside an array of the best wines from Northern California and beyond. Atlanta’s own DJ Yvonne Monet provides musical entertainment, and silent and live auctions offer up exciting items including trips, highly rated wines and a picnic for 30 guests on the L3 patio. Tickets are $250 per person and include food stations, passed dishes and wines. Purchase tickets here. Free parking.

gusto! BOGO Flannel Fridays Warm Up Winter

On Fridays, wear your flannel shirt to gusto! on Ponce for a BOGO menu special. The warm and fuzzy BOGO promo was such a hit last year that the Ponce gusto! pack is pulling out the Flannel Fridays promo again for the colder days ahead. Plaid, solid, sleeves rolled up, sleeves pulled down, it doesn’t matter. Just wear a flannel shirt and receive a BOGO (maximum value $8.95) from the gusto! menu of grilled chicken, portobella or shrimp served with other fresh and flavorful ingredients on mixed greens, brown rice (or half and half) or flatbread wraps. Treat a friend to Friday lunch, dinner or a late-night meal, on the house…just remember to pop on your flannel shirt before popping inside. Offer valid only at the 782 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE location. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Hooyah! Bulla Gastropub Thanks Veterans with Complimentary Sangria or Dessert Nov. 11

They serve. They sacrifice. America’s military veterans have continually placed protecting our nation, our freedoms and freedoms around the globe ahead of their own interests. As a token of gratitude for all they do, Bulla Gastropub is offering a free glass of sangria or a dreamy dessert to all veterans and active military personnel who present their military ID on Saturday, Nov. 11. Enjoy Saturday brunch or dinner sharing laughter, Spanish cuisine served as shareable tapas or larger plates, and creative cocktails with friends in Bulla’s energetic and casual communal setting. Bulla, at 60 11^th Street, NE in Midtown, is open from 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturdays. Veterans, relax and let Bulla serve you.

Eureka! Chef Kevin Gillespie and Yukon Cornelius are a Red Hot, Red-Bearded Duo at Center for Puppetry Arts “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Showing Nov. 11

True, Santa sports a white beard, but red beards are where it’s at when renowned chef Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow, Revival, Terminus City BBQ and Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” drops into Midtown’s Center for Puppetry Arts on Saturday, Nov. 11. The jovial red-bearded chef appears dressed as his doppelgänger Yukon Cornelius for photo ops with his “twin” puppet and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” showgoers from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Gillespie will serve samplings of his signature Warm Embrace hot cocoa, and guests will have the opportunity to buy cans of the hot chocolate mix to take home. Never too early to pick up some stocking stuffers and hostess gifts! This red-hot event is included with paid admission to the 11 a.m. performance or 1 p.m. performance.

Seed Kitchen & Bar 6th Anniversary Calls for Special Three-Course Dinner Menu benefitting Share Our Strength

A giving spirit shines brightly at six-year-old Seed Kitchen & Bar in East Cobb. Not only is owner/chef Doug Turbush creating a special three-course, prix fixe dinner menu for guests to enjoy through Nov. 9, the restaurant is donating a portion of dinner proceeds to Share Our Strength. For $39.95 per person, guests have a choice of three options for three courses. First-course options are Jonah crab toast with brioche, avocado, lime, radish and cured egg yolk; burrata with pickled baby beets, orange toasted hazelnuts, sherry vinaigrette and baguette; or sunchoke veloute of sourdough, mushrooms, truffle and chives. Entrée choices include pan-roasted Steelhead trout with celery root purée, blistered shishito peppers, sunchokes and red wine butter; Maple Leaf Farms duck breast with kabocha squash purée, rainbow chard, confit leg and cider glaze; or balsamic-braised lamb shank with whipped feta, puffed farro, pickled beets and pan jus. Dessert brings forth decadence: maple custard with Chantilly cream and Georgia pecan biscotti; rum raisin bread pudding with crème fraîche ice cream and salted caramel; or chocolate peanut butter parfait with roasted banana ice cream and peanut brittle. Celebrate twofold -- relishing a delicious meal and helping Share Our Strength alleviate childhood hunger in America. Make reservations on OpenTable or by calling 678-214-6888.

Taco Mac Coca-Cola Rivalry Cup Promo Ends with One of Biggest Rivalry Games -- UGA vs. Auburn Nov. 11

This Saturday’s UGA Bulldog vs. Auburn Tiger showdown signals the end zone for the spirited Coca-Cola Rivalry Cup promotion at Taco Mac. The season-long Coke Freestyle cup giveaway draws to a close with special happenings for fans hunkering down to watch the gridiron action on Saturday, Nov. 11. Every guest who dines at Taco Mac’s Prado, Cumberland, McDonough, Windward or Lindbergh locations during game time will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win autographed sports memorabilia and other coveted prizes. Drawings will take place during the game’s fourth quarter. Catch that star: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and former UGA Bulldog Chris Conley will be at Taco Mac in The Prado, Sandy Springs to sign Coke Rivalry Cups and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar footballs while a DJ keeps the beat during the game. Collecting those Coca-Cola Rivalry Cups? Purchase a Coke Freestyle beverage and receive your beverage in a 32-ounce cup featuring C.J. Uzomah and Cameron Artis-Payne, while supplies last (not available at North Carolina, Tennessee or Stockbridge locations).

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Baby, it’s getting cold outside. Brrrring on Healthy Soups! chases chills with pots of liquid gold -- creamy sweet potato and coconut soup, easy Thai shrimp soup, skinny broccoli cheddar soup or lemon chicken orzo soup. Detox after Halloween indulgences by stocking up on “Flush the Fat Away” or “Cleansing Detox” soup. Take stock in thick and hearty soups of kale, white bean and sausage, Crock-Pot jalapeño, chicken and sweet corn or Crock-Pot minestrone. Bowls, spoons, crusty bread and you’re all set. Plus, everyone knows soup tastes even better the next day so go ahead and make a big batch.

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During Halloween week, it seems appropriate to feature something off the wall…like culinary levitations. Italy-based Kitchen Suspension rises to the occasion, sending kitchen mainstays soaring. Flying saucers, anyone?

Appetizing Aperture

Colder nights send red meat cravings soaring. Ray’s Restaurants comes to the rescue, offering succulent Certified Angus Beef prime 14-ounce New York Strip at all three locations -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek. The center-cut, 28-day aged steak is brushed with whole butter and charbroiled for tenderness and flavor and is served a la carte and topped with a crispy onion ring and red wine demi-glace ($42). 

Twelve Eighty Dining Plays Pitch-Perfect Prelude to Woodruff Arts Center Visit

Enhance an afternoon exploring High Museum of Art exhibits or a stunning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert with another kind of art appreciation -- savoring the fine culinary arts of Twelve Eighty in the heart of Midtown’s Woodruff Arts Center. John C. Metz, executive chef, CEO and co-founder of Sterling Spoon Culinary Management (which operates Twelve Eighty), along with chef de cuisine Andreas Georgakopoulos, source the best local ingredients for a seasonal menu that makes Twelve Eighty a memorable dining destination for arts aficionados and foodies alike. Fall menu showstoppers include starters of roasted beet and burrata ($10) or shrimp and andouille skillet with Logan Turnpike grits ($11); lunch sandwiches like “High Museum” pastrami with house-made slaw, Gruyère cheese and Thousand Island dressing on marble rye ($13.50) or roasted Golden Farms organic turkey topped with pepper Jack, Applewood-smoked bacon, sun-dried tomato aioli and arugula on ciabatta bread ($12). Among dinner’s all-star cast are seared jumbo sea scallops with spaghetti squash, tiny green beans, candied pecans, cranberry fresh sage and blood orange beurre blanc ($25.50); 24-hour braised boneless short rib with creamy Gorgonzola polenta, shaved asparagus, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, carrots and rich, demi-glace jus ($23); and an autumnal side of cumin-roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash ($4). View lunch, dinner, lounge menus and more here and find upcoming events at facebook.com/TwelveEighty. Open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

Clucking about Maryn McKenna “BIG CHICKEN” Book Party with White Oak Pastures Nov. 15

Maryn McKenna’s newly released book --  “BIG CHICKEN – The Incredible Story of How Antibiotics Created Modern Agriculture and Changed the Way the World Eats” -- is poised to ruffle some feathers in a healthy way. The acclaimed journalist reveals chicken’s rise from backyard bird to an antibiotic-laced industrial commodity impacting human health around the world. As economics, politics and cultural forces nest, companies, activists, farmers and chefs are pecking out a path to a better way. Meet McKenna at a book signing party on Wednesday, Nov. 15 on the patio at Miller Union. Find out how sustainably raised pastured poultry can make all the difference in taste and good health while enjoying appetizers made with White Oak Pastures poultry as well as red or white wine. A copy of the book is included in the $30 ticket price. Limited number of tickets available; buy tickets online.