Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

There's still a little time left to enjoy National Pepper Month! One of our favorite pepper dishes is the shishito peppers from Midtown's RA Sushi, sautéed perfectly in an Asian seasoning.

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

Mystery. Intrigue. Whodunnit. Foodies are trying to figure out who is the genius with the biting humor behind blogster and twitterer Ruth Bourdain.

"No Reservations" Host Anthony Bourdain is addicted to her commentary. "Hilarious" says Ruth Reichl, former Gourmet magazine editor-in-chief. What say you?  Follow her witty tweets (@ruthbourdain) and read more parody on her blog.  

Throwdown Before the Showdown at Marlow's Tavern's Midtown Block Party on Nov. 26

On Saturday, November 26, an epic battle of "clean, old-fashioned hate" between UGA and Georgia Tech will be fought on the field of Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. These collegiate rivals have knocked it out on the football field 100 times since their first game in 1902! Dawgs and Yellow Jackets, show your team spirit at Marlow's Tavern's Midtown Block Party beginning at noon on game day and going way past the last touchdown with plenty of drink specials, giveaways and a fired-up DJ. The party lineup features outdoor grilling, tailgating fare, a mobile bar and four big-screen HDTVs with audio. Trucks from Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Company and Athens' own Terrapin Beer Company will be key block-party players.

Marlow's Tavern Midtown: 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323.

Refuel at Truffles Grill This Weekend

You're already gearing up for Black Friday, but have you planned where you're going to refuel to keep the shopping momentum going? Luckily, Truffles Grill is right in the thick of all the retail action (think Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and all the fabulous Buckhead boutiques) and takes the guesswork out of grabbing a bite. The best part: the restaurant has just released new menu items like seared sesame tuna wonton, ham and brie on a croissant and chile relleno risotto. Or, if you're saving your super shopper skills for the weekend, try out Truffles' newly launched Sunday brunch menu, available from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Sunday morning treats ($5 - $16) include homemade sour cream coffee cake; French toast with applewood bacon and brown sugar pecan apples; egg sandwich with applewood bacon and cheese on a croissant served with shoestring fries; huevos rancheros that tops a black bean cake with poached eggs, tasso ham, sautéed spinach and fire-roasted tomato salsa; and a trio of Benedicts -- eggs Benedict, steak Benedict, and Low Country Benedict. Truffles Grill is located at 3345 Lenox Road; 404-364-9050.

Book Your Favorite Rockin' Room For A Private Party

It happens every year. The grateful calm of Thanksgiving gives way to Black Friday retail frenzy. Then low and behold, the holiday party and gifting season is here. Whether or not you are an advance planner, Atlanta restaurants are ready to help out with warm and friendly seasonal settings, large and small spreads, private dining options and generous gift card promotions.

In Virginia Highland, lively Atkins Park Tavern has historical charm -- and a room upstairs ready to host 30 guests for a sit-down dinner or 50 guests for cocktails. To reserve, call 404-876-7249.

Fabulous global cuisine, personalized menus and lots of space are yours in Roswell at Aqua blue. A semi-private back room accommodates 60 guests, and up to 200 guests can party in the main bar. Available for bookings seven days a week for lunch and dinner; call 770-643-8886.

Marietta’s Chicken and the Egg serves up modern farmstead fare and can throw a Southern dinner party with ease. Host an intimate chef’s table for up to 28 guests in a separate corner of the restaurant -- guests will love the chef’s table menu of Chicken and the Egg specialties. Contact Elizabeth Taft at 678-388-8813.

Across Midtown and into Vinings, Fifth Group Restaurants gives a wide variety of options for private and group dining. At 7th and Cypress streets in the heart of Midtown, Ecco offers seasonal, European-inspired dining seven nights a week. For an evening of contemporary Southern fare, book South City Kitchen Vinings. More Fifth Group possibilities include South City Kitchen Midtown, La Tavola Trattoria and The Original El Taco. Bold American and Studio 887 offer off- and on-premise upscale catering for other event options. For group party planning assistance, call 678-302-3264. For more information, visit the company’s private dining page.

In Dunwoody, special occasions call for Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Book your party by Thursday, December 1 and receive a $50 gift card for every $500 you spend. Thrifty gifters, receive a $20 bonus card for every $100 gift card purchased from now until December 31 (bonus card valid on food and beverage only, January 1 through February 10). Call 770-698-8112.

The Westside party “junction” is JCT. Kitchen & Bar at Howell Mill and Huff roads in Atlanta’s Westside Urban Market. Up to 200 guests can celebrate on its 2,000-square-foot skyline terrace that looks out over the historic neighborhood; up to 165 people can dine downstairs in the main dining room. Discuss private event options with Valerie Mosley, 678-536-6506.

Don’t overlook your lunch spot when looking for a dinner party venue. Market Street Café in Buckhead can seat up to 125 people for dinner inside and 75 guests on the patio. Need more? Rent the whole place after 4 p.m. weekdays and anytime on weekends. For private event information, contact Sabrina Rosenberg or Lauren Hradek at 770-643-5990.

Reindeer games in West Midtown’s White Provision complex? Not quite, but Ormsby’s lounge space with its comfy couches, cocktail tables and game room access is ideal for up to 40 grownups. Better snatch it up by calling Leslie Battle at 404-968-2033.

Wildly fun RA Sushi in Midtown can seat up to 10 guests in its semi-private dining space and host up to 100 guests in its upstairs area. Call 404-267-0114.

From downtown to the Chattahoochee to Alpharetta, Ray’s Restaurants provides three unique party settings and a variety of menu options. Ray’s on the River (770-955-1187) can accommodate parties of up to 200 guests. Ray’s at Killer Creek in Alpharetta (770-649-0064) has several different room options and accommodates parties of up to 300 people. For intimate gatherings in town, look into private and semi-private spaces for up to 45 people at Ray’s in the City (404-524-9224).

The Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel epitomizes Atlanta with its modern design and Southern hospitality. Host guest lists from 30 to 400 in the hotel’s three ballrooms. Up to 300 guests can sip cocktails and admire the skyline view at Rooftop 866, the chic rooftop bar adjacent to the hotel. Briza, the hotel’s signature restaurant, also can be reserved for private events seating up to 110 guests or 200 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvre. Call 678-412-2400.

Here’s a smashing gift idea! At Smashburger, receive $5 Smashbucks for every $25 gift card purchased through December 31. Smashbucks expire on January 31. There are three metro-Atlanta locations with a fourth opening in Kennesaw on November 30.

Go for a glamorous midday or evening event at the W Atlanta-Midtown Hotel’s Spice Market restaurant. Spice Market’s Pond Room, Trellis Room and main dining room are three options, and the entire restaurant space accommodates up to 200 for a seated dinner and 350 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvre. For private event information, contact Cristina Perry at 404-724-2550.

Atlanta’s trend-setting farm-to-table restaurant, Woodfire Grill, houses multiple private dining spaces from "The Mezzanine," seating 50 or divisible into three private rooms; “The Loft," a cozy upstairs hideaway for up to 16 people; and a covered patio where up to 75 guests can gather for cocktails or 30 can sit down for dinner. Call Rick Blumberg at 404-347-9055 for more information.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

This week's aperture comes all the way from Charleston's Tristan! Executive Chef Nate Whiting's inventive style is evident in this grilled beef rib loin dish with poached eggs, molten smoked potato fritter and malt steak sauce.

Lots To Gobble Up for Atlanta Diners This Thanksgiving

Decision time. One, nail down those Thanksgiving meal plans (and be thankful for so many choices). Two, what to do about braving Black Friday, even as it edges into Thanksgiving Thursday. Tough choices, but remember, Atlanta restaurants are ready to come to your rescue with order-ahead meals, dining-out reservations and spreads...and plenty of places for bargainistas to take refuge on Black Friday.  

The night before the relatives arrive, both locations of Atkins Park Tavern will be holding a Thanksgiving Eve Party to usher in the holiday! Then enjoy Big Green Egg smoked turkey breast with caramelized apples, sage stuffing and cider gravy, along with braised pork shoulder with roasted root vegetables and bourbon glaze at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland starting at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna opens doors at 4 p.m. to serve deep-fried Creole turkey breast and Dr. Pepper spiral glazed ham for the main course joined by Southern sides of pimento cheese deviled eggs and pickled beet and squash casserole with a cracker topping. At both restaurants, the meal is $20 for adults, $15 for young adults and $8 for children 10 and under (tax and gratuity are not included). And yes, there will be desserts. Reservations are recommended; call Virginia Highland at 404 -876-7249 or Smyrna at 770-435-1887.

At Midtown-fave Briza, seasonal American cuisine with Southern inspiration tops the tables on the day's Thanksgiving turkey plate along with fall squash soup and pie served until 8 p.m. Or, take advantage of the lounge and bar area's all-day menu. Reservations are recommended; call 678-412-2402.

Head north to Marietta for a traditional Southern meal at Chicken and the Egg, where the menu offers a choice of entrée, three sides and a dessert. Served 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; $18 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under (tax and gratuity are not included). Reservations are recommended; call 678-388-8813.

Ease into the kitchen and simultaneously enjoy your company by including the New York Butcher Shoppe in Dunwoody or Sandy Springs on your guest list. Turn over your own casserole dishes, and they'll fill them with your choice of sides to serve 8 to 10 people. Sides include green bean, squash or broccoli casseroles, Grandma Mary's potatoes au gratin, mashed regular or sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, sausage or bacon/egg casserole, roasted veggies or roasted baby dill carrots, and an array of salads including tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella, Caesar, Greek pasta or broccoli.  There's even cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. Talking turkey, theirs are $2.99 a pound and come in three sizes to feed 6-8, 9-12 or 13-16 people -- and they'll brine your turkey for you. Fresh Tanglewood Farms free-range, all-natural turkeys are raised in North Carolina and packed fresh, not frozen or deep chilled. These are the same turkeys featured by four- and five-star restaurants and private clubs! Contact your nearby shop via email or phone:  Dunwoody at 770-399-6328 or Sandy Springs at 404-303-0704.

"RA Retail Therapy" at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant reveals food and drink deals extended from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on the busiest shopping day of the year, November 25. You have time to rack in some retail action first -- RA Sushi's doors open and specials begin at 11 a.m. Shop the menu of more than 35 sushi, appetizer, and tapas selections, plus a wide variety of beer, wine and signature cocktails ranging from $2 to $7.

Two Ray's Restaurants locations will dish up Thanksgiving feasts. Spoon some of this, more of that from the extensive Thanksgiving buffet at Ray's on the River at the perimeter top end. $39.95 for adults and $19.95 for children 5-10; available from 10 a.m. until the last seating at 7:45 p.m. For reservations, call 770-955-1187. A few miles north at Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta, savor a Thanksgiving meal of roasted turkey, house-made dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and succotash. The by-the-plate cost is $27 or choose the three-course option with soup or salad anddessert is $36. For reservations, call 770-649-0064.

Southerners seeking kitchen relief can turn to South City Kitchen Midtown and South City KitchenVinings, where doors will be open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. A special three-course menu offers guests their choice of one appetizer, entrée and dessert, priced at $39.95 for adults and $19.98 for children 12 and under (tax and gratuity are not included). Reservations are recommended. If you prefer a Thanksgiving meal at home, order a complete dinner to go for eight people for $200. Included are a boneless, roasted turkey breast, collard greens, buttermilk whipped potatoes, cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, house-made biscuits and corn muffins and a whole pumpkin or pecan pie with whipped cream for dessert. Orders must be received by Monday, November 21 for pick up on Wednesday, November 23. For reservations or to-go orders, call Midtown at 404-873-7358 or Vinings at 770-435-0700.  

The pilgrims ventured west, but you can head towards a Southeast Asian-inspired Thanksgiving meal at Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown for $39 per person (tax and gratuity are not included). The menu is available from 5 - 9 p.m.  For reservations, call 404-724-2550.

Home chefs saying "yes" to impressing guests with their own poultry prowess can order an American Standard Bronze turkey from White Oak Pastures (WOP). Raised in an open-pasture lifestyle, WOP's Free Range Pastured Turkeys are very different from the hybrid industrial turkeys filling freezer cases during the holidays. No antibiotics, no added hormones, pure taste. Three sizes:  $75 small (8-12 pounds), $100 medium (12-16 pounds), $125 large (17+ pounds). Shipping costs are calculated per mile per pound. Order online or by calling 229-641-2081.

Falcons and the Egg: Chef Marc Taft Takes Over the Local Chef Stand November 20

Chef /Owner Marc Taft takes wing from Marietta's Chicken and the Egg to the Georgia Dome for the Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans game kicking off at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, November 20. Find Taft inside 2View Restaurant located in the Dome's east end zone on the executive concourse (near the suites). 

Try out the game-day favorites he'll be preparing -- smoked chicken nachos with bacon, pimento cheese fondu and green tomato and Vidalia onion salsa, and beer-brined turkey wings with celery and garlic/buttermilk ranch dipping sauce. Screens show turf action so you won't miss a beat while you eat!

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

We did our own investigative reporting on WSB Anchor/Reporter Jovita Moore. Turns out you can learn quite a bit by following her tweets and taking a look at her "favorites." Who else can you think of that keeps the Atlanta Police Foundation, Georgia Highway Safety, the FBI -- and TargetStyle and Clark Howard all on speed-tweet?  To keep up with more, by way of Moore, follow her on Twitter (@JovitaMoore).  Get more news and even more Moore on WSB's website.

Come on in to Chepe's in Johns Creek

Starting today, Johns Creek-ers can quell a case of the queso attacks by high tailing it to the new Chepe’s Mexican Grill in the Old Alabama Square shopping center at the corner of Old Alabama and Haynes Bridge roads. Once you open the menu, you’ll want to stay for much more of Chepe’s “Always Friendly, Always Fresh,” generously portioned Mexican favorites. Prices are easy to swallow: appetizers ($4 - $9), soups and salads ($5 - $8) and entrées ($5 - $15). Look forward to two kinds of salsa made throughout the day to welcome you with house-made chips, daily specials such as “Wing It Wednesday” with half-off those famous Mexican wings, and a full bar pouring everything from fresh juices and fruit smoothies to signature margaritas made
to order, homemade sangria, beer and more. The three Atlanta amigos behind Chepe’s are passionate about keeping it family friendly and community oriented. Chepe’s covers the suburban calendar by offering call-ahead-to-go ordering, catering options and margarita machines. Open daily for lunch and dinner. More on Facebook. With five Atlanta-area locations to choose from, hurry in and see why Chepe's was named a Reader's Choice favorite for Best Taco and Best Mexican Restaurant in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Chepe’s Mexican Grill – Johns Creek: 3005 Old Alabama Road; 770-521-2321.

Tis' The Season For New Menu Items At Marlow's

Cooler weather is trending, meaning sweaters and jackets on the outside and a hot and filling new menu from Marlow's Tavern to warm you on the inside. Baked lump crab bread, for starters, sounds extremely enticing with its creamy blend of lump crab, spinach, mozzarella, provolone, chives, citrus aioli and basil oil on toasty ciabatta. Two hands or a fork and knife are required for the "Everything AND the Kitchen Sink" burger. More succulent proteins include the grilled turkey meatloaf and pan-roasted root veggies; grilled center-cut filet; pecan-crusted trout with roasted spaghetti squash; grilled Atlantic salmon; pecan-crusted chicken salad with crumbled gorgonzola, applewood-smoked bacon and a tomato and honey pecan vinaigrette. New starters and mains range from $11 - $19.50. And, Marlow's desserts ($6) do sweetly sustain one. Choose from fried apple pie, classic crème brûlée with a seasonal twist and chocolate banana bread pudding. Packing more heat than an Irish coffee are Marlow's strong wintry mixes of Blue Berry Buck with Hanger One Blue Berry; River Boat Sour incorporating Leopold's Sour Apple Whiskey; Boulevardier with Wathen's Kentucky Bourbon Single Barrel, Aperol liquor and Cocchi Vermouth; and a Tupelo Honey martini that hints of Deep South sunsets. There are eight Marlow's Taverns to choose from; find the location near you online.

Enjoy Perfect Pairings at Double Zero Napoletana's Wine Dinner

Keep the turkey on the back burner for another week or two -- Double Zero Napoletana has an Italian wine dinner for you on Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m. Fosco Amorosso of Tricana Wines will join guests to discuss the night’s small production Italian wine selections that will be paired with the five-course fall dinner. 

On the menu:  butternut squash fritters on a bed of caramelized onions and garnished with watercress, lemon honey and black pepper and paired with Montesel Prosecco 2010; grilled prawns seasoned with Italian herbs and Calabrian chilies, dressed with a red pepper coulis and served with Alexandri Sauvignon Blanc 2010; lamb cheeks served over butternut squash purée with roasted chanterelle mushrooms, caramelized artichoke hearts and finished with a mint foam paired with Cairel Nebbiolo d’Alba 2008; braised beef short rib and smoked sweet potato purée finished with a pan sauce demi, crispy sage and shallots and served with Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino 2004; and house-made zucchini cake accompanied by carrot mascarpone gelato. Cost is $99 per person, and vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. For reservations, call 404-991-3666 or e-mail admin@doublezeroatl.com.

A Smashing Good Time in Kennesaw

On Wednesday, November 30, the fourth Atlanta-area location of Smashburger will arrive in Kennesaw at 440 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway, giving Cobb County residents and visitors a chance to sink their teeth into the restaurant's "better burger." Smashburger's signature method of "smashing" burgers on a flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor is one we've come to know and love. Their 100 percent Certified Angus Beef Atlanta Smashburger and Atlanta Smashdog -- both topped with Wicked Pimena cheese and Vidalia coleslaw -- are sure to be smash hits in Kennesaw, too. Local beer, wine, hand-spun Häagen-Dazs shakes and IBC® root beer floats in frosted mugs complete the dining experience.

If you just can't wait that long to get "smashed," visit one of Atlanta's other three Smashburger locations in Buckhead, Johns Creek or Alpharetta in the meantime.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

Tacos Mexicanos, anyone? We can't wait to dive into this delicious dinner when Chepe's newest location opens at the Old Alabama Square shopping center in Johns Creek on Wednesday, November 16!

From Piedmont Park to the Georgia Dome... Catch Chef Janine Falvo Around Town This Weekend

Janine Falvo seems to be everywhere these days! While "Top Chef:  Texas" had her skedaddling out west, Briza's executive chef spends the majority of her time creating Southern-influenced, whimsical dishes that are drawing happy diners in at the Midtown restaurant. On Saturday, November 12, she won't have to travel far when she journeys the few blocks from Briza's turf adjacent to the Atlanta Renaissance Midtown Hotel to the Piedmont Park Green Market. Falvo will lead the Green Market chef's demo from 11 a.m. until noon on the patio. Market opens at 9 a.m. for shopping; fill your shopping bags with seasonal good stuff then get some prep and serving tips from Falvo.    

On Sunday, Falvo will be at the Georgia Dome, heading up the local chef stand while the Falcons take on the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. While the Falcons battle it out on the field, Falvo will be stirring things up inside 2View Restaurant located in the Dome's east end zone on the executive concourse (near the suites). Chat with Falvo and savor her dishes without missing a minute of the action on the field.

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

Grace Bonney founded Design*Sponge in 2004. These days, global readership tops 75,000 blog readers daily and 315,000+ Twitter followers. The New York Times calls it "Martha Stewart Living for the Millennials." With multiple daily updates on design, decorating, DIY, entertaining, travel, how-to videos and beyond, it's easy to see why followers are so absorbed. Follow her on Twitter(@designsponge) and soak in more on her Design*Sponge blog.  

Every Day I'm Trufflin'

Guests are euphoric about November's new $5 cocktail and appetizer promotion at Truffles Grill in Buckhead. Six Absolut martinis and an "Absolut-ly Your Way" cocktail are offered for $5 each -- all day, every day -- in the bar or dining area. That's not all, there's more! From 4 -7 p.m. daily, a $5 appetizer menu draws guests to the bar for baked brie in puff pastry, black bean cake, coconut shrimp, jumbo lump crab cake, fresh mushroom crostini or spinach and artichoke dip. Drop a $5, $10, $20 or more -- small prices for one big, happy setting.

Truffles Grill: 3345 Lenox Road; 404-364-9050.

Five After Five in the City

As if you needed one more reason to let rush hour pass before heading home after work, Ray's in the City is now offering $5 cocktails and appetizer specials starting at 5 p.m. every weekday in November to help keep you out of traffic - and sane! As part of the Downtown Dining District's "Five After Five" program, guests can sip on cocktails like a skinny margarita, sake mojito or blood orange old fashioned while nibbling on small plates such as Maytag blue cheese chips, crispy calamari, Ray's BBQ shrimp and select sushi rolls. Settle into a seat in the lounge area at Ray's in the City (240 Peachtree Street, NW) and say goodbye to road rage.

It's Open House Season - Come Visit New York Butcher Shoppe

I just love going to open houses. It's legitimized snooping. You can check out everything you've wondered about and there's usually food and drink involved too!

This week's open houses at the two locations of the New York Butcher Shoppe are no exception. You'll get to snoop to your heart's content, finding out that they carry a lot more than the best steaks around! Come by the Dunwoody location on Wednesday, November 9 or to the Sandy Springs location on Thursday, November 10 (5 - 8 p.m.) and sample chef-prepared holiday menu items and party appetizers, discuss menu options and get advice on holiday party and catering opportunities. As a bonus, order your turkey and sides while you're there, and New York Butcher Shoppe will give you 20 percent off your chef-prepared sides. See you there!

New York Butcher Shoppe - Dunwoody: 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328.

New York Butcher Shoppe - Sandy Springs: 4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704.

Cocktails and Ra Sushi Make The Perfect Pear

North Georgia apples fall close to trees. In Midtown, "The Perfect Pears" fall into RA Sushi's cocktail glasses. The Pear Martini and Asian Pear Smash are two seasonal cocktails, $8 each, that both begin with the crisp pear taste of Absolut Pears vodka and pear nectar. 

For kicks, the Pear Martini shakes in St. Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and a splash of Prosecco. The Asian Pear Smash muddles in falernum for spice, shiso leaf and fresh lemon juice and splashes in some nose-tickling soda. Try one or both of these "Perfect Pairs" before the last pear falls... November 30 to be exact.

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