Cornhole For A Cause? Sign Me Up!

Beaches, backyards, bars...they've even been spotted entertaining athletes between competitions at sporting events. The cornhole craze has made its way to the back parking lot of Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland for a cornhole tournament from 2 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 2. Live music from Homefront and SweetWater Brewery beer set the pace. Registration fees for the two-man teams are $25 per person/single or $50/team of two. Participants will receive one complimentary SweetWater beer with registration, and the Georgia Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training "wins" 100 percent of the proceeds. First place wins $400 and other prizes include a Krups Kegerator, restaurant and bar gift certificates, a SweetWater cornhole set and SweetWater Brewery tour passes. Call 404-876-7249 or stop by the restaurant to pre-register with the manager on duty.

Atkins Park Tavern - Virginia Highland: 794 North Highland; 404 -876-7249.

May the Best Burger Win

Everyone loves a good burger. Combine eating delicious burgers and helping out a great cause, and you get Battle of the Burgers. Enjoy live music while sampling bites from Atkins Park Tavern, the New York Butcher Shoppe and other Atlanta restaurants. This year's event on Saturday, October 1 is at John Howell Park in Virginia-Highland. All proceeds support Embraced in its mission to collect and share gently used medical equipment locally and globally.

If you feel the need to burn some calories before chomping on some patties, register for the "Burger-Eating 5K Run" that starts at 9 a.m. Otherwise, show up from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. to get your fill of beer and burgers. Make sure you stick around and see who wins the "Judge's Choice, Best Burger" and to cast your vote for "People's Choice, Best Burger." Last year, Atkins Park Tavern delighted vegetarians with their meatless entry, taking home "People's Choice" in the division. Could they repeat this year? You'll have to come and see for yourself!

Pig Out at The Iberian Pig's Two Year Anniversary Celebration

They say pigs can’t fly, but The Iberian Pig has certainly soared to the top of the Decatur restaurant scene since it was opened by the Castellucci restaurant family two years ago. In honor of two years in business, The Iberian Pig is inviting Decatur residents and visitors to partake in their two-year anniversary and appreciation celebration beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 26th.

Tune into your Latin side with live music by a Spanish trio and Tyson Bittrich and take in the artistic work of Hense as he unveils his new mural at 7 p.m. Enjoy food and drink specials all night like $3 Sherry Cañas -- a small Spanish snack and sherry; $6 glasses of sangria, cava and craft cocktails; and $5 "Haute" dogs. Suckling pigs will be slow roasted all day and carved in the dining room as tapas ($10). Call ahead if you want to reserve one solely for your table; $280 covers pig, salad and sides for 8-12 people and a bottle of wine.

Chefs will cut into Jamon Iberico de Bellota, aged for 48 months and procured when the bistro opened two years ago; it's the rarest and highest quality Jamon Iberico available! Try some at $18 per ounce. Experience the true flavor of Spain, paella, served for the first time at The Iberian Pig and priced at $16 for two and $32 for 4 people. Although reservations are suggested, go ahead and pop in if you're in the neighborhood.

The Iberian Pig: On the square in Decatur at 121 Sycamore Street; 404-371-8800.

Time's Running Out for New York Butcher Shoppe's September Specials

Can the last days of September really already be here?  Better hurry to New York Butcher Shoppe to take advantage of their monthly features!  Let's start with September's Certified Angus Beef and Wagyu beef specials and early week specials and then move on to New York Butcher Shoppe's Wine Club.  Visit your nearby New York Butcher Shoppe for Certified Angus Beef strips at $11.99 per pound and Wagyu sirloin steaks, priced at a mouthwatering $12.99 a pound.  Sought-after Wagyu beef is known for the tenderness, flavor and juiciness incurred by unsaturated fat marbling. Tailgaters, grab some NYBS award-winning chili at $8.99 each and get a free eight-ounce container of pimento cheese dip to use as an appetizer or chili topper.   Homemade shepherd's pie at $6.99 each comes to the rescue of many a weeknight menu planner.  And for this week's early week specials, look for boneless chicken breasts for $2.99 per pound (limit three pounds) available from Monday to Wednesday. Nice to pick up high-quality meats and top-notch wines in the same stop, and New York Butcher Shoppe has both -- and a Wine Club.  The first Wednesday of each month, NYBS chooses and gives two wines with tasting notes to Wine Club members.  Members also receive a 10 percent discount on all wine purchases.  Wine Club membership is $29.99 per month with a three-month minimum. For even more savings, buy five months and get one month free! This month's two featured wines for Wine Club members are Costamolino Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, 2008, a white blend of 90 percent Vermentino and 10 percent other Sardinian grapes, and youthful red San Polo Rubio IGT, Toscano 2009 made from Sangiovese Grosso.  New York Butcher Shoppe: Dunwoody at 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328. Sandy Springs at4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704. Alpharetta at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road; 678-624-0047.

Fadó Has All Your Rugby World Cup Needs Covered!

According to the Rugby Football Union, the IRB Rugby World Cup is the third-biggest sporting event on the planet, right up there with the Olympics and FIFA World Cup Soccer. The matches are underway in New Zealand, continuing through the final on October 23. Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant has your back with a full game-viewing lineup posted on the Fadó website sports page. The Buckhead pub will even show matches that air at 3:30 a.m. Atlanta time for ardent fans and insomniacs! Who needs sleep when you can cheer with friends over food and drink at Fadó? If you do need sleep, come back for the replays!

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant: 273 Buckhead Avenue; 404-841-0066.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

Current craving: this scrumptious plate of White Oak Pastures chicken (and all the fixings, of course) served up from Jim 'n Nick's BBQ at the recent grand opening party for the farm's new poultry abattoir!

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

Anyone who's used a trotline to fish or go crabbing knows you have to bait the hooks. The Trot Line (@TheTrotLine) uses intriguing nuggets of Southern culture unearthed right here in Atlanta to bait and hook readers into coming back for more.  Contributors on Twitter and The Trot Line blog include writers, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, foodies and more who immerse themselves in our local Southern culture.  Bless their hearts!  Fill up your tall, sweet tea and link in for a visit.

Get Ready to Fall for Aqua blue's New Menu

Mark your calendars! This Friday marks the first day of fall and Aqua blue is unveiling its new menu in honor of the season. Starters of handcrafted flatbread, seared pork dumplings, Colorado lamb sliders with tomato-bacon jam, caramelized cipollini onion and gorgonzola, and new sushi rolls replace spring rolls and other light fare. Crowd pleasing mains include roasted chicken with Parmesan farro, carrots, celery, caramelized onion, Brussels leaves, Meyer lemon and thyme-scented wild mushroom jus; Niman Ranch pork chop with habanero sauce, Swiss chard and loaded red bliss potato; soy-glazed Georgia mountain trout with shiitake mushrooms, baby corn, zucchini, snow peas and carrots with teriyaki sauce; the "AB House" burger topped with fontina cheese, caramelized onion and oven-dried tomato; and thyme-seared ahi tuna with chickpeas and basil ratatouille. Even crisp salads hint of fall -- the Aqua blue house salad tops field greens with Granny Smith apples, asparagus, toasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and sweet herb dressing. These seasonal dishes will have you declaring your love for autumn in no time!

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Dine Out For No Kid Hungry with Marlow's Tavern and Aqua blue

Love it when someone has a dinner idea for every night of the week... and adding a way to nourish others in the process ups the yum factor.  Join Americans across the country in dining out in the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry through Saturday, September 24.  More than a thousand restaurants nationwide are participating in Share Our Strength's fundraiser to help alleviate childhood hunger in our nation by 2015.   Here in the metro area, Aqua blue in Roswell and all Marlow's Tavern locations are among the fabulous and friendly restaurants on the 75+ list.  They'll ask guests to donate $1 or more toward the cause.  In return, guests will receive one $5 bounce-back card to use on their next purchase at the restaurant.

Get Ready to Get "Smashed" in Alpharetta

Smashburger's newest Atlanta-area addition is on its way and will be landing in Alpharetta on Wednesday, September 28. The restaurant will open its doors at 5530 Windward Parkway for lunch and dinner to offer sizzling burgers, sandwiches, fries and more. This is the third of 20 plus Atlanta-area Smashburgers that local franchisee Phil Wilkins is slated to open over the next seven years.

Named for the cooking method used to create the perfect burger, Smashburgers are 100-percent—fresh, never frozen, Certified Angus Beef smashed on a flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor. For all Georgia locations, guests can indulge in the Atlanta burger that includes peach BBQ sauce, Wicked® Pimina cheese, grilled jalapenos and vidalia coleslaw all on an egg bun (pictured above). Along with its savory burgers, Smashburger also serves marinated Smashchicken sandwiches, Smashdogs, Smashsalads and Smashsides. Kids of all ages can enjoy Häagen-Dazs shakes and root beer floats, while beer and wine are available for adults. Check out another Atlanta-area location's menu to gear up your taste buds.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Ribs & Whiskey is Back at Marlow’s Tavern

It’s that time again!  The Ribs & Whiskey specials you’ve come to know and love are back at Marlow’s Tavern starting tomorrow!  From September 20 through October 24, all eight Marlow’s locations will be offering a spectacularly saucy menu that involves a secret, Maker’s Mark Whiskey sauce!  In addition, there are tasty, rib ticklin’ cocktails to perfectly compliment your meal.  You can view the full menu here.

Marlow's Tavern:  Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033; East Cobb at 1311 Johnson Ferry Road (across from the movie theatre and next to Kohl's department store), 770-977-7747; and Cumming at 410 Peachtree Parkway, 770-886-3666

Spice Market, Skylines & Spirits - Oh My!

Relish the pleasant fall temps and admire the Atlanta city skyline at dusk; September is the last month -- and maybe the best month -- to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden for a Thursday night Cocktails in the Garden. This month's theme is "Skylines & Spirits." Step out to enjoy the crisp, autumn evening air in the company of fabulous food, drinks, and friends on September 22, when Midtown's own Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown provides the complimentary light bites. The “spirits" will be available to purchase at the full cash bar. If you can tear yourself away from the tasty appetizers and tantalizing cocktails, groove into the evening to the sounds of Lethal Rhythms Atlanta DJs. The event is from 6-10 p.m. Admission is free for Garden members; $18.95 for everyone else. Guest passes accepted. Don’t miss one of this year’s last chances to attend Cocktails in the Garden!

Our Appetizing Aperture Of The Week

Chef Drew Belline's Backyard Honey Gelato Cone With Fennel Pollen

Honey, this amazing gelato cone from Chef Drew Belline of Decatur's No. 246 is truly the bee's knees!

New York Butcher Shoppe Sponsors Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival

In a deal sealed over grill and flames, New York Butcher Shoppe is sponsoring the Backyard Division cooking competition in this year's Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival on Saturday, October 1. Sure, there's a pro league, but New York Butcher Shoppe's heart is into helping aspiring BBQ pitmasters grill to their greatest potential with top-quality meats. New York Butcher Shoppe is providing all of the meat and a $25 gift card for each of the 20 teams that may make up the Backyard Division. They're even judging teams for the most creative name and will pick up the $200 entrance fee for their winning choice. 


The New York Butcher Shoppe also is providing the meat for the "Anything Butt" competition on Friday, September 30. For more information on the festival and competition, visit the event website. The New York Butcher Shoppe has three locations in Alpharetta, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, and they're on Facebook, too.


New York Butcher Shoppe: Dunwoody at 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328. Sandy Springs at 4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704. Alpharetta at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road; 678-624-0047.

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

Wow!  That confession almost says it all about this proud Southern Belle!  Like Margaret Mitchell's Melly, Kate S. rejoices in all things "sweetly southern."  Besides cupcakes and silver, she has a penchant for story telling and junk store shopping.  

Her tweets (@sthrnbellesimpl) are a delightful pop of Southern culture on a smart phone, and her Southern Belle Simple blog tells more of the story, y'all.  

Marlow's Tavern & Special Olympics Georgia Set the Gold Standard for Teamwork

With eight locations around metro Atlanta, Marlow's Tavern is all about being a part of the community and satisfying their neighbors with the "Best of the Best" in American tavern fare. Fittingly, for the past 14 years, Marlow's has been dedicated to helping some of the "Best of the Best" in Georgia sports -- Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA). Each year, Marlow's Tavern hosts a golf tournament for SOGA, and each time Marlow's opens a new location, SOGA benefits from the opening night fundraiser. All together, these events have brought in close to $300,000 for Special Olympics Georgia. Marlow's was recognized as a SOGA sponsor in the organization's August e-newsletter. Read it and be inspired to help this very special program. Golfers -- be a part of the fun; the Marlow's Tavern Golf Classic is October 10 at Horseshoe Bend Country Club and is followed by a reception at Aqua blue in Roswell.

Dionysian Delights Every Wednesday in September at Fleming's

What better way to make it past hump day and on to the weekend than by indulging in some savory sips of wine at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar! On every "Winesday" (translation Wednesday) in September, guests can delight in 25 percent off any bottle from the new Fleming's 100 and/or complimentary corkage of their own wine. The gift that keeps on giving, guests who take advantage of either of these offers will receive a special Fleming’s card good for 25 percent off any of the Fleming’s 100 bottles or for complimentary corkage on a future visit before December 30.

Gluten-Free Has Never Tasted So Good: Head to No. 246 for National Celiac Disease Awareness Day (and Beyond!)

Anyone cutting gluten out of their diet knows how tricky it can be, especially when dining out!  Luckily, No. 246 in Decatur has made things a little easier, because they offer gluten-free pasta every day by request.  They can provide gluten-free versions of any of the pasta dishes on their menu, and because they are a locally driven restaurant, these noodle options rotate regularly depending on what ingredients are available.  Since, today is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day (Learn more about it here.), celebrate with a heaping helping of gluten-free pasta at No. 246.  Even better, you can get gluten-free spaghetti at Monday night Spaghetti Suppers, held from 5 - 10 p.m. each Monday through September 26.  Monday's Spaghetti Suppers are $24 per person for four courses, including a "Toast" appetizer, salad, spaghetti with one of three toppings and gelato for dessert.

"Like" No. 246 on Facebook and follow them on Twitter (@no_246).

No. 246:  129 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue; 678-399-8246.

Retail Therapy Reigns Supreme at Spice Market Next Wednesday

Next Wednesday, September 21, Spice Market (located inside the W Atlanta-Midtown) is hosting the ultimate Ladies Night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Think cocktails, nibbles and a discount card for The W Hotels Store. It's a great time to get the girls together to try one or both of the night’s two signature cocktails at $5 apiece and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvre while swooning over the new W Hotels Store exclusive Global Glam fall/winter line that will be on display at the restaurant. Ladies Night attendees will receive a discount card good for 20 percent off a purchase in the store, which is also located inside the hotel and will remain open until 10 p.m. that night. The W Hotels Store has everything from jewelry and apparel to travel gear and home furnishings. It's also a great place to find holiday gifts, and let's face it, who wouldn't want to combine sipping, snacking and shopping?!

Say “So Long Summer” with RA Sushi on September 15

Just because summer's almost over doesn't mean the fun has to end. RA Sushi is throwing a "So Long Summer" party from 7 p.m. until close on Thursday, September 15. Forget about your summertime blues, you'll be too busy enjoying all the outrageous specials and music from DJ Krillz to care!

There are plenty of food specials for guests to sample including a Sunset Roll ($6), Seaside Roll ($7), Grilled Beef Skewers ($8), Bonfire Shrimp ($9), Summer School Chicken Nuggets ($6) and Kaisen Ceviche ($11). Feeling a little parched? Check out the all-day drink specials include Long Island Iced Tea ($5), Endless Summer Night ($5), Summer Sake Sangria ($5), Kirin/Kirin Light and Sake ($5), Bud Light ($3) and Miller Lite ($3).

Summer is on the way out, but outstanding food and drinks are always in at RA Sushi in Midtown. Get more details and RSVP on Facebook.

RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.