Atlanta’s long and winding roads, a.k.a. Roswell and Peachtree, lead to an evening crammed full with food from top restaurants, open bars, popular Yacht Rock Review playing The Beatles covers, chef bands and a unique silent auction when Eats & Beats infiltrates The Buckhead Theatre on Thursday, August 13. One ticket is all that’s needed to enjoy savories from The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, Smokebelly BBQ and a host of Atlanta restaurants, cocktails, wine, beer and entertainment. Can’t buy me love, but guests can spring for vacations, chef dinners, art by gorillas and chimpanzees and other silent auction items because event proceeds benefit Children of Conservation and The Giving Kitchen. Purchase tickets for the 7-10 p.m. event in advance for $75 each ($85 at door). VIP ticket ($150) adds privileges.
Put on your
best German attire and head on over to Der Biergarten in the Luckie Marietta District this
Saturday, August 15, for Atlanta’s 8th Schlager Party! Beer specials include
Sapten Marzen and Weihenstephan Hefe for $9 per liter. Prizes will be given out
for best costume, so throw on the lederhosen!
Ray’s on the River and Tin Lizzy’s Cantina offer totally different dining experiences yet both share an intense desire to serve their communities -- contributions noticed by their peers. The two restaurants are finalists in the 2015 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) “Distinguished Service” awards category. All award finalists are peer nominated, and winners are decided by the GRACE Academy, which consists of all past GRACE nominees and current Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) members. Award winners will be announced at the GRACE Awards Galaon November 1. And while we’re saying “GRACE,” shout out to The Giving Kitchen, an Industry Partner of the Year finalist!
TomorrowWorld, America’s largest 21+ music festival, is coming to Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia over the weekend of September 25-27, and this year the victuals will be stars along with the music. TomorrowWorld is partnering with Red Beard Restaurants, created and owned by celebrated chef, author and “Top Chef” finalist Kevin Gillespie, to serve an assortment of exclusive dining experiences at Tomorrow’s Table. The festival’s first sit-down restaurant experience offers Main Stage views for seated diners and takeaway picnic baskets for those wanting to beat it back to their own spots. Each day’s meals sing to the beat of one of Gillespie’s culinary creations -- Terminus City whole hog, chicken or smoked mushroom barbecue on Friday; global fare from Gunshow on Saturday; and Southern traditions and trimmings from Revival on Sunday.
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is taking its anniversary to the nines. The historic Crabapple restaurant is celebrating anniversary number nine with $9 specials through August 31. Toast Milton’s and its seed-to-table fare with a Blushing Belle cocktail of strawberry-infused vodka and prosecco priced at $9. Another favorite, small plates of lobster and corn fritters with Creole mustard butter sauce and basil aioli are also $9 each.
How about some live music this summer with that Butcher’s Cut burger, fry side sampler and N2 shake? FLIP burger boutique in Buckhead now offers live music on Friday and Saturday nights as well as Sunday afternoons that segue into evenings. Calendar shows who’s playing when, and be sure to follow FLIP on Facebook for updates!
Javier Viera now rides herd on the culinary activity at Cotton Calf Kitchen, Braselton’s new classic American steakhouse opening soon. Viera, a Buford resident and former executive chef at Communitas Hospitality (G’s Midtown, 10th & Piedmont, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern), is thrilled to spend less time idling in traffic and more time pouring his creative energy and experience into the Cotton Calf Kitchen menu of small plates, tapas and signature steaks. The son of a baker and pastry chef, Viera grew up passionate about cooking. He entered the hospitality highway as a busboy in Connecticut and moved forward into his first executive chef job at age 23. Backtracking from his time at Communitas Hospitality in Midtown, Viera served as executive chef of Divan Restaurant in Atlanta and Chart House in Dobbs Ferry, New York, was a corporate trainer at Morton’s Steakhouse in Manhattan and was director of operations for the opening parties of Trump Towers.
Before you hold your nose, open your mind to Seoul Food and a bit of fermented cabbage fusion. Pungent kimchi jars new life into Mexican, American and global classics that have become a bit ordinary. Douse fries, mac and cheese, hot dogs or pork belly pizza with kimchi. Pack some pickles to perk up banh mi sandwiches. Bulgogi and Korean barbecue knock burritos, nachos, tacos and sandwiches into new realms. Besides, it’s too much fun to say, “bibimbap soba.”
Diners turn to Zagat to find the best restaurants in cities around the globe. Zagat’s Instagram album hones in on the food itself. Spicing up the views and savory samosas at Masti, the colorful, casual Indian spot in Druid Hills.
Forking into a small plate of wild-caught shrimp and lemon risotto with mascarpone and mellow Parmigiano Reggiano ($11) at Article 14 is like savoring a postcard from a friend’s coastal vacation. Each bite invokes images of ocean breezes and sunny citrus, and the overall message is just the right size to digest on a hot summer night.
History bears witness that the annual Southern Chefs Potluck at Serenbe sells out in advance. Tip: buy tickets ASAP to the 3-6 p.m. Sunday, September 13 throwdown on the pastoral grounds of the Inn at Serenbe. White Oak Pastures is providing meats for the main dishes, top Atlanta chefs will knock out the sides. Homemade pickles, relishes and desserts will complete the groaning board of good eats, along with a bevy of beverages including local craft beers, wines and mixologist-made cocktails. Sliding their sides into the prolific potluck: Joey Ward of Gunshow, Andreas Müller of new Revival, Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, and Virginia Willis, author of “Lighten Up, Y’all.” Keep a hand free for bidding on one-of-a-kind chef experiences at the live auction. Wholesome Wave Georgia benefits from this sixth-annual fundraiser, presented this year by Bond Intelligent Care. Buy tickets here, $150 per person (plus small service fee).
Chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson of award-winning The Cecil and Minton's in the Harlem neighborhood of NYC shares his mix of West African and Caribbean cuisine during a Gunshow Hired Guns dining event Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12. For his Hired Guns series, Kevin Gillespie invites innovative chefs from around the nation to share their talents with Atlanta diners. The Dish is right on target with details for this month’s event and upcoming Hired Guns dates -- including the number to call for reservations: 404-380-1886.
A Monday or Tuesday night supper at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails flavors the rest of your week with Southern graciousness. Executive chef Derek Dollar starts a new tradition at the historic Crabapple restaurant, presenting two special dishes each Monday and Tuesday night for $18. On Meatloaf Monday, beef up your week with Chef Derek’s “Black & Bleu” meatloaf accompanied by tangy buttermilk mashed potatoes, garlic broccolini and caramelized onion gravy. Pickle Fried Chicken Tuesday plates half a chicken, pickle-brined and crispy, with jalapeño honey, cracked mustard coleslaw and white cheddar-bacon mac. Could become your weekly saving grace through October 20.
We’re giving you a couple of weeks to break in your dancing shoes for a special dance party at Johnny’s Hideaway, Atlanta’s original nightspot for big kids, on Monday, August 24 from 7-10 p.m. Owner Chris Dauria is donating 20 percent of gross sales from the evening to The Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency assistance grants to members of Atlanta's restaurant community facing unanticipated hardship. Dance to DJ spins and enjoy food and drink favorites from the menu while helping a good cause. Since the night’s all about helping those in the hospitality industry, those “in the biz” will enjoy the specials of hospitality night, which include $3 beer, $5 cocktails and half-priced appetizers.
The Farmer Fund, an Atlanta nonprofit founded this year to assist metro Atlanta farmers recovering from natural disasters, is hosting a launch party on Monday, August 10 from 6-9 p.m. at The Cathedral of St. Philip. Guests stay cool as cucumbers at the indoor event while enjoying food from local restaurants and beers from local breweries. Joey Ward of Gunshow and Jenni Harris of White Oak Pastures will be at the event, and Patric Bell-Good from MAX’s Wine Dive is helping out with victuals. A chef-emceed live auction, Hedley & Bennett apron fashion show, live music from the Darnell Boys and a reveal of The Farmer Fund 2016 calendar featuring chefs and farmers wearing only Hedley & Bennett aprons keep the party buzzing more than bees in a pollinator garden. Tickets cost $65 (plus small service fee) and cover food, beer and one copy of the limited-edition Farmer Fund 2016 calendar. Additional calendars will be available for $20 each.
Attend “Hail to the V” and discover what drives the women in Atlanta’s thriving restaurant industry -- servers, staffers, chefs and owners -- as they face unique challenges. Hosted by the hospitality networking group ATL industree, the afternoon of cocktails and conversations at Gypsy Kitchen promises story sharing, candid discussion and opportunities to connect with some of the city’s most accomplished women. Femme-cee Mara Davis of ATL Eats leads a panel of speakers including Mercedes O’Brien, beverage director of Gunshow; Asha Gomez, owner and executive chef of Spice to Table; Shireen Herrington, general manager of The Optimist – Rocket Farm Restaurants; Jenny Levison, owner and executive chef of Souper Jenny, Juicy Jenny and Café Jonah; and Chrysta Poulos, creative director – pastry at Rocket Farm Restaurants. Tickets to the 2-5 p.m. event on Monday, August 10 are $15 for industry folks, $30 for non-industry when you use the code “MLPRVIP.” For every ticket sold, $5 will be donated to The Farmer Fund, a nonprofit safety net for metro-Atlanta farmers facing hardships from natural disasters. Want to support The Farmer Fund even more? Read on and segue to The Farmer Fund Launch Party taking place that night at The Cathedral of St. Philip.
Siphon novel ideas, such as how to cheese foam your burger, off the pages of the ultimate guide to playing with food.FLIP burger boutique creative director Richard Blais will sign copies of his James Beard Award-nominated cookbook “Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate” on Sunday, August 9 from 1-3 p.m. at FLIP burger boutique in Buckhead. Bookless? Buy one there for $30. Tell mom that if Blais, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, restaurateur and television celebrity, can toy with his food, you can, too.
The steamy love affair began when the mythological Greek goddess Aphrodite rose from the sea on an oyster shell. Now oyster lovers slurp down nearly two billion pounds of the briny bivalves each year. Many of these slippery guys come out of their shells during oyster happy hour at The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill. Every Monday through Friday from 4-6:30 p.m., Buckhead’s local beach house shaves half off the price of a dozen raw oysters on the half shell. On National Oyster Day, Wednesday, August 5, the half-price deal extends from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and chef-crafted oyster specials spread mollusk mania across the day’s menu.
Frankly, there's no faster way to extinguish summer heat than to pop an ice pop into your mouth. Why let your brain freeze on boxed grocery versions? Come along as we Cool Down with Popsicles. Chunky peanut butter cup pudding or s'mores pops are "cool" with all ages. Soothing creamy avocado chocolate pops, Thai iced tea and mint watermelon lemonade kiss parched throats goodbye. And, the soiree set will approve of mango margarita, blueberry mojito or popsicles with sparkling wine.
Stay abreast of food trends and ways to break out of the same-old-same-old meal rut. Learn to "live deliciously" @tastingtable or sign up for daily prompts at tastingtable.com.
