Nicky’s Week – The Fun Begins at RA Sushi

RA Sushi, Midtown's favorite spot for sushi, sashimi, fusion and fun-loving lounge action, will join the other 24 RA Sushi's across the nation for Nicky's Week, May 30-June 5.  This is the sixth year the restaurants have designated a week where proceeds from the sales of various beverages and menu items will go straight to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  

Nicky's Week was developed in memory of longtime St. Jude patient and 13-year-old Nicky Mailliard of Scottsdale, Ariz., who lost a long fight against brain cancer in 2005. Nicky was the nephew of one of RA Sushi's founders.  Since its start, yearly Nicky's Weeks have brought more than $500,000 to St. Jude's.  Guests who chow on edamame, tootsy maki, shrimp nigiri, pork gyoza, tuna tataki and chicken yakitori, and those who tilt back FIJI, Red Bull and Sugar Free Red Bull, The Republic of Tea, and other select beverages will be helping St. Jude's provide healthcare and continue research to help children from across the U.S. and around the world fight cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 

It’s Follow Friday – Meet Our Tweep of the Week @ksolo22

For Kisha Solomon (@ksolo22), the essence of living the good life is doing something you love. She's made this a serious pursuit...yet not so serious that she can't have a little fun along the way. The witty and wisecracking ksolo22 writes about food, travel, art, cultural events, recipes and (drum roll), craft beer. What a line up! Read all on her blog BonVivant Online or skim the Twitter short version.

Party like it's 1965 with the Atlanta Classics Bar Tour!

Atkins Park circa 1922

You remember all those boring field trips to ancient, historical, dusty places when you were a kid? History, who needs it, right? You’re all about the present, man! Well, listen up, because we’re about to show you that history can be fun!

Pubs and taverns have long been American gathering places, from the days of our nation's founding fathers to the celebratory toasts of victories. History and beer mugs come together again over Memorial Day weekend at the 2nd Annual Virginia Highland's Classic Bar Tour from 1 - 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 29. Gallivant through the in-town neighborhood's oldest and wisest bars at this event sponsored by Miller High Life and benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You’ll get the chance to really soak in history when you’re having fun at Atkins Park Tavern (originally a 1922 deli; tavern in 1983), George's Restaurant and Bar (1961), Limerick Junction Irish Pub (1988), Manuel's Tavern (1956) and Moe's & Joe's Tavern (1947)!

You can visit each for food, adult beverages, prizes and a historic peek at Atlanta's oldest neighborhood bar scene along North Highland Avenue. Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $20 at the door and cover admission, t-shirt and drink refills at a discounted price at participating bars. Stops also will offer menu specials priced the same as they were back in the 1960s.

See? Knowledge is power. And fun. Now to make it even more fun, we have TWO SETS of tickets to give away. Woohoo! To win, email a picture of yourself at any of the fine establishments taking part in this event and we’ll pick two at random. We’ll show your smiling mug on our site and send you packing to the Bar Tour with free tickets!

I'll take my cocktails in the garden please

Looking for a reason to make it out to the Atlanta Botanical Garden? Have no fear, Atlanta Dish is here to provide such reasons. Pacci Ristorante will be at the Atlanta Botanical Garden for Thursday Night Canopy & Cocktails. Enjoy an evening of complimentary Italian bites and light appetizers from Pacci while enjoying the Atlanta views from the Canopy Walk.

So pick up a cocktail at the full cash bar and relax under the mesmerizing spell of falling water in Cascades Garden or DJ tunes from 6 - 10 p.m. tonight, May 27. Just consider it a head start to your Memorial Day weekend. Guests $15; free for Garden members.

Sex and the City 2 + $5 Martinis = Perfect Girls' Night Out!

We may be in the Big Peach instead of the Big Apple, but that doesn’t mean your inner Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte can’t come out to celebrate the release of the newest Sex and the City movie tonight! Heading to the movie theatre? Steer your stilettos to Ray’s Killer Creek tonight for a martini for just $5 to make the evening even more fabulous!
Stay traditional like Charlotte with a Cosmo (White Cranberry, Absolut Citron, Triple Sec) or be sensible like Miranda with The Big Apple (Absolut, Apple Schnapps). Commit like Carrie to new concoctions like the Mr. Big (Absolut, Olive Juice, Blue Cheese Olives), Sex and the City (Absolut, Peach Schnapps, Orange & Cranberry), or Blue City Lights (Absolut, Blue Curacao, Pineapple). Feeling flirty like Samantha? Indulge in a Flirtini (Absolut, Champagne, Pineapple) or Tartini (Absolut Raspberry, Chambord, Cranberry & Lime).
What better way to kick off a chic evening out with your girls to see the summer’s first big movie? Like many summer romances, these martini deals are fleeting, so make sure to stop by before this Sunday!

Grocery Shop with A Gourmet!

Still haven't had a chance to meet Woodfire Grill Executive Chef/Partner and "Top Chef" star Kevin Gillespie in person? Well, now is your chance!!

This week, he's giving a cooking demo at the Apron's Cooking School in Publix at Alpharetta Commons. Gillespie will share how to make a savory and sweet summer supper at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 28. His menu is made up of four simple courses: sweet corn soup with almond butter, watermelon and lime zest; yogurt-marinated skirt steak with roasted garlic and cilantro puree; skillet-roasted green onion, carrots and small tomatoes with green chili sauce; and strawberry and banana pudding.

For those trekking OTP just for Kevin, Publix at Alpharetta Commons is located at 4305 State Bridge Road. Grab your grocery cart and your camera and go wild!

Bar Hop for a Good Cause!

Looking for things to fill up your long weekend? At the very least, you can fill up your glass to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Saturday, May 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Atlanta Classics Bar Tour. Guests can gallivant through Virginia-Highland's oldest bars -- Atkins Park Tavern (originally a 1922 deli; tavern in 1983), George's Restaurant and Bar (1961), Limerick Junction Irish Pub (1988), Manuel's Tavern (1956) and Moe's & Joe's Tavern (1947) -- to get discounted adult beverages and menu specials priced the same as they were back in the 1960s. Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $20 at the door and include admission, a Classic Bar Tour mug, t-shirt and drink refills at a discounted price at participating bars.

Morton’s The Steakhouse Wins Over Wine-Lovers With a New By-The-Glass Menu

Wine-lovers rejoice! Morton's The Steakhouse is now offering a new Wine by the Glass menu at both the Buckhead and downtown Atlanta locations. The menu pours it on with a selection of 27 wines that complement the existing award-winning variety of more than 200 bottles. Spring/Summer 2010 selections by the glass include: the 25th release of 2010 Vintner's Hall of Fame inductee Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon "Le Cigare Volant" (This California vintage is offered as a special label "Morton's Cuvee."); a single vineyard Pinot Noir from Tony Soter's Willamette estate; and a rich Chardonnay from Dan Goldfield at Dutton Goldfield (Russian River).

Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535.

Morton's The Steakhouse - Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

Sara Moulton Wows Crowds at Cook’s Warehouse

The culinarian’s calendar is always full in this town. After hearing reports about Sara Moulton’s recent classes at Cook’s Warehouse, we’re slapping our wrists for missing the event!
Current Good Morning America Food Editor and former Gourmet magazine chef Sara taught a class in each of Cook’s Warehouse’s three stores featuring recipes from her great new cookbook Sara Moulton's Everyday Family Dinners. We hear reports that she was gracious and fun! If you missed the class, there’s still a limited supply of freshly autographed copies of her book available at Cook’s Warehouse.

It’s Follow Friday – meet our Tweep of the Week @pointsnorthedit

Monthly Points North magazine has kept stylish Atlanta Northsiders informed about what's happening on their side of town since 2000. Readers can now find much of that information elegantly presented on the Points North website.

Dining, entertainment, travel, recipes, styles and human interest stories are all fair game. No time to read it all? Sign up for shorter Twitter updates!

Farm to Table to Kid: Be a Participant

Saturday, Alton Brown of the Food Network, Yael Lehman of The Food Trust, and Anthony Geraci of the Baltimore City School Farm to School Program will tackle the topic of increasing access to healthy foods in schools and low-income communities and you can participate.

Georgia Organics has organized three ways for you to join the conversation:

1. There's a Viewing Party at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market this Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pick up some information, tune in to the discussion and submit questions for the speakers LIVE on-site. More information here.

2. Tune in from your home and watch the webcast. Submit your questions online during the discussion. Watch the webcast live here.

3. Submit your questions now to be asked during the Q & A session on how we can truly fulfill Georgia Organics' goal of GOOD FOOD FOR ALL. Email webcast@georgiaorganics.org

A tour just for champagne?

Are you a lover of champagne? If the answer is yes, then tomorrow is your lucky day, because it's time for Tour de Champagne. The event will be taking place at 103 West on Friday, May 21 from 7 - 10 p.m. and will help get your weekend started out on a positive note.

Tour de Champagne will feature a selection of prestigious champagnes along with treats from some of Atlanta's most talented chefs. Chef Keira Mortiz of Pacci Ristorante will be among the chefs providing their delectable cuisines. For the champagne and truffle lovers, LW Chocolatier will be there to provide you with your chocolate fix.

In addition to the tasting tour, there will be a silent auction benefiting Angel Flight of Georgia -- a volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation for medical treatments that are not available locally and for other compassionate purposes for the benefit of the community. Tickets can be purchased online for $140 or at the door (if available) for $160.

103 West is located at 103 West Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-5993.

This Weather was Made for Chilling & Grilling

Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia-Highland is the perfect place to celebrate this beautiful sunny weather and get some good summertime grub prepared on the Big Green Egg. Every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant offers a Big Green Egg "Chill & Grill" patio cookout with a menu that changes weekly. Check out tonight's cookout and prepare to be dazzled by Sous Chef Justin Carr's seasonal selections. On the menu this evening: a BLT salad with crisp confit belly, local spring lettuce and tomato vinaigrette ($8); a spicy shrimp sandwich with charred cippoline onions and apples on crusty bread ($10); and tender BBQ chicken with corn on the cob ($12). Beer and wine pairings chosen for this evening include Brewery Ommegang Rare Vos, Full Sail Brewing Session Lager and Man Chardonnay.

Sneak a peek at the cookout fare each Monday when Atkins Park posts the week's Chill & Grill menu on their website and Facebook Fan Page. Atkins Park Tavern is located at 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

Coffee Talk

LW Chocolatier, the boutique chocolate shop in Buckhead, is adding even more European style to its selection by offering assorted coffees, espressos, cappuccinos and lattes. With LW’s newly-added patio seating and beverage offerings, you can get a taste of Europe right in the heart of Buckhead. Add a few truffles to your espresso and some prime people-watching and you've got yourself an excellent afternoon break! Even better, all coffee drinks range $2 to $5 in price. Did I mention the chocolates? Do yourself a favor and try the dark chocolate Dulce de Leche; you won't regret it.

Don’t Forget About the First Ever Atlanta Beer Week

The exciting inaugural Atlanta Beer Week began yesterday and will run through Saturday, May 22. You don't want to miss more than 50 of Atlanta’s top beer spots -- bars, restaurants, brewpubs and breweries -- joining together to host about 100 beer-related events, tastings, dinners and special beer releases. We know two popular Atlanta Beer Week participants quite well, and we frequent them as often as possible: Shaun’s, the neighborly bistro in historic Inman Park, and Ormsby’s, a “good place to be” on Atlanta’s Westside.

Shaun Doty of Shaun’s has tipped The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he’s adding 30 American, Belgian, British, German and Japanese craft beers to his menu for the event. He’s planning a different seasonal three-course menu each night for $29 plus suggested beer pairings. Read more on the AJC’s Drink blog. Ormsby’s boasts a generous variety of craft beers, dedicating a page to the beer list on its website. During Atlanta Beer Week, the tavern will tap into a cask of Terrapin Monk’s Revenge at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18 and a cask of SweetWater Four Drink Minimum with Breakfast (a BSP quad brewed with coffee) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 20. Wednesday night, May 19, the Schmaltz Brewery traveling freak show starts at 8:30 p.m. -- watch their man swallow a sword and hammer nails into his face. Yikes! On Friday, May 21 Ormsby’s will tap the only remaining Atlanta keg of New Belgium’s La Folie. The Flemish sour ale will flow all day.

Sign up online to stay afloat with Atlanta Beer Week brew news via Facebook and Twitter.

Ormsby’s: 1170 Howell Mill Road, NW; 404-968-2033.
Shaun’s: 1029 Edgewood Avenue, NE; 404-577-4358.

Save Atlanta Farmers Markets!

We had intended this post to be an excited update about Chef Gerry Klaskala doing a chef demo (we do love those!) at the Piedmont Park Green Market tomorrow. My, how things change in a few days! Atlanta Dish received word yesterday that our farmers markets are in need of our help as the city evaluates their policies regarding the markets – specifically, there aren’t any currently. If current city event rules were applied to Atlanta farmers markets, it would create expenses that most markets cannot afford since most of them are a labor of love run by volunteers.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t and don’t want to imagine an Atlanta without our farmers markets. The Atlanta City Government is generally supportive of the markets which is much appreciated, but they do need to hear our voices against these extended policies that would financially cripple or close down the markets. To find out more about the policies involved and about how you can contact the mayor to let him know how important these farmers markets are, please visit the Facebook event page!

It's Follow Friday - Meet Our Tweep of the Week @intownfriends

It’s springtime and there are few things we’d rather be doing than spending time outside, Terrapin Beer in hand, along with great tastings from local restaurants like Atkins Park, Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, South City Kitchen, The Original El Taco and at least 20 other Atlanta restaurants! Good thing that A Taste of the Highlands is here this weekend! The 8th annual event returns to John Howell Park tomorrow from 2 to 5 p.m. and it’s all for a great cause – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Live music from Lexi Street Band and Blue Remedy will keep you happy and smiling while you sample the best the neighborhood has to offer! Follow them on Twitter to get the latest updates on the event, as well as the other fundraisers they do throughout the year. Bonus – if you buy your ticket online before noon today, you can save $10!

Race Across America Sunday

Warren Bruno makes everything fun! This year he is the co-crew chief for the Georgia Chain Gang - a group of cyclists raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This Sunday the group cycles from Atkins Park in the Highlands to Atkins Park in Smyrna and back. Oh yeah, and they'll stop by Ormsby's too. Trust me when I say this ride will be fun, and delicious.

The ride starts at 8:30 on May 16 and costs $30 per person. A great event for a great cause!

Reserve your spot at Toulouse's monthly wine tasting

Fellow wine lovers I have good news, great news actually. Toulouse Restaurant is having their monthly wine tasting on Sunday, May 16. I have been to a previous wine tasting and it was time well spent. I recommend it to all.

The bistro will be featuring reserve wines and you'll be able to learn the subtle nuances that make it special. There will be 15 reserve wines, as well as light appetizers for the 6:30 p.m. tasting. The cost of the wine tasting is $40 per person. If you have any reservations about going then I recommend you reconsider and reserve your spot for this months reserve wine tasting. Reservations are encouraged so reserve your spot now at 404.351.9533.

Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533.

How To Throw A Party Morton's-Style

Thinking of throwing a party over Memorial Day Weekend? Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead is hosting the perfect event for you! On Thursday, May 13, from 6 - 7:30 p.m., Morton's is hosting a Summer Soiree How-To complete with cocktail making demonstrations and recipes for summertime appetizers.

Learn how to make breezy cocktails like the Cool as a Cucumber cocktail, Guava Caipirissima and Port Sangria. Complementary appetizers such as tuna tartar canapes, mini crab cakes and sirloin rolls will also be demonstrated. And, of course, complimentary bites and sips of everything will be available throughout the demonstration. After all, you can't serve something at a party that you've never tried, right?

The event is $45 per person and seats are limited so be sure to make a reservation to attend!