What's New on Pinterest? Palatable Pins for Dear Old Dad

Dad may not know what that Pinterest thing is, but he’ll love the ideas we’ve racked up on our board dedicated to Dear Old Dad himself. Treat the early rising dad to breakfast in bed with bacon-filled pancakes or chocolate swirl buns. We’ve got pins piled high that lead to sweet and savory recipes and links to gifts and cocktail shakers for the not-so-foodie father, too.  

Eat it and Tweep: Old Vinings Inn is Not Too Old to Tweet

Built in the 1880s, Old Vinings Inn is one of the oldest sites in quaint Vinings. Old age doesn't stop this charming place from coming alive alive with bands, The Attic Bar, special dinners, weddings, meetings and more! Keep up with it all on Twitter (@Old_Vinings_Inn).

Sample Tweet:  This Weekend at the Vinings Inn -eepurl.com/ztvy9

Appetizing Aperture

Watermelons are rolling into RA Sushi Bar Restaurant for their refreshing cocktail and entrée pairing ($18). Watermelon kiwi shrimp piles shrimp atop layers of watermelon, kiwi, orange slices and lychee ($10). For the ultimate match try the watermelon margarita, an exotic fusion of Patron Silver tequila and Cointreau orange liqueur with fresh watermelon, lime juice and just a dash of Grand Marnier ($8).

Atlantans are Saying "Yes, Please!" to Pastured Poultry

Atlanta restaurants are never too chicken to try something new, and this week is no exception. Pastured Poultry Week is upon us, and ATL’s hottest spots are cooking up dishes that will make mouths water from June 10-16. Diners have the chance to taste the difference that pastured poultry offers, including enhanced flavor, health and environmental benefits. The entire city, including restaurants like Seven Lamps and No. 246, is clucking with excitement! Check out the list of participating restaurants and learn more about pastured poultry at Compassion in World Farming. 

Munch and Mingle at People's Fest on June 22

Eat, drink and be merry with the peoples on June 22! People's Fest is throwing a party in the heart of Atlanta to celebrate all things delicious. Munch and mingle the night away with peace of mind that your $25 ticket is benefiting City of Refuge, a non-profit company that directly helps the Atlanta community. Ford Fry’s got the food and Marc Broussard’s got the music. All People’s Fest needs now is, well, the people! 

Set Sail for Heavy Seas Beer Dinner at The Optimist on June 11

Time for beer lovers to hop aboard an adventure! The Optimist is setting sail with a five-course dinner and Heavy Seas beer pairing on Tuesday, June 11 beginning at 6:30 pm. Come on deck for cocktails in the Oyster Bar then cruise into the dining room where co-captains Executive Chef Adam Evans and a Heavy Seas expert will guide you through the various beers selected from this Halethorpe, Md. craft brewery. On the beer tasting horizon that night are Riptide White IPA, Small Craft Warning uber pils, Gold Golden ale, Loose Cannon American IPA and Holy Sheet uber abbey ale. Portage for dinner and pairings is $50 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Reservations: 404-477-6260.

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland hosts Cornhole ATL Summer League beginning June 11

Feeling a little cornfused about where to perfect your cornhole toss this summer? Set your sights on Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland for the third year of the Cornhole ATL Summer League. Kicking off on Tuesday night, June 11, the seven-week season features intense playoffs, prizes, specials, t-shirts and plenty of complimentary Newcastle Brown ale after games. Warm up your tossin' arm and register at cornholeatl.com.

Feed Your Mind (And Stomach) With Father's Day Ideas

Digging for ways to show the old man you care on Father’s Day? Well, look no longer! There are plenty of ways to celebrate, no matter what dad dabbles in. Any grill master will love preparing his favorite meats with John Wayne rubs and charcoals from Fire & Flavor. But, if he’s more into cold brews, treat him to a day at Der Biergarten. He’ll be all smiles with a Stein Club membership. Don’t worry, ensuring dad doesn’t go hungry is easy since RA Sushi Bar, Old Vinings Inn and Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar are cooking up manly specials for dad all day.

John C. Metz, Jr. is Good as Gold

www.ifmaworld.com

Great service, delicious food and industry advancement must run in the family of John C. Metz, Jr. As the CEO, executive chef and co-founder of Sterling Hospitality, Metz was named winner of the Gold Plate Award by the International Foodservice Manufactures Association (IFMA). This award was much deserved, as he is also the mastermind behind the concepts of Marlow's Tavern and Aqua Blue. Metz followed in the footsteps of his father as he took his turn being chosen as one of eight operator executives to receive the prestigious IFMA Silver Plate Award, one of the most honored awards in the foodservice industry. Congrats, Metz men!  

Chow Down on Dad-elicious Ideas for Father's Day Plus More in this Week's Dish!

Join Atlanta restaurants in celebrating dear old dad this Father’s Day! Preparations have been made to celebrate more than just a day of dad, with dinners featuring creative cuisines that are paired perfectly with wines and frothy brews. Get those creative juices flowing and explore all the festivities Atlanta has to offer, from cornhole competing to sundae sampling, in this week’s Dish!

Chill Out at the Slow Food Ice Cream Social June 8

 

Scoopers, they have. Spoons, however, are a bring-your-own necessity to taste all of the frozen concoctions at Slow Food Atlanta's 7th Annual Ice Cream Social coming up Saturday, June 8 from noon-2:30 p.m. at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. Professionals and amateurs will churn 'til they burn to crank out classic, wild or wacky flavors for tasting, including the likes of Bantam + Biddy, The Optimist, Seven Lamps and Woodfire Grill. Tickets are $15 each ($5 for ages 5 to 10 and free for the under-5-year set). Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Chapter of Slow Food International and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market.

Farm-to-Table-to-Ray's on the River Wine Dinner on June 6

 

Kick off your weekend early by idling away a Thursday evening on the event lawn at Ray's on the River. You know you want to give in to the Chattahoochee River's lull and an ideal mix of farm-to-table foods thoughtfully paired with global wines. The June 6 event begins with a 6:30 p.m. reception offering a selection of local charcuterie, Basque olive mix, Marcona almonds and grouper fritters with pimento aioli along with Piper Sonoma Select Cuvée. Grapefruit vinaigrette tops a cool salad of local greens with pickled vegetables and goat cheese fritters joined by Whitehaven sauvignon blanc. Smoked Georgia shrimp ceviche paired with Chamisal Stainless chardonnay follows. The third course brings out cedar-planked king salmon with roasted sweet fingerling potatoes, watermelon, local feta, cucumber and dill paired with Anne Amie Cuvée A pinot noir. A fourth course plates Coca-Cola braised short rib, Sweet Grass Dairy Georgia Gouda, Logan Turnpike Mill grit cake, charred Vidalia spring onions and Ashland Farms herb salad and pours Simi cabernet sauvignon. This riverside respite costs $65 per person ($60 per person for Dining Club member), not including tax or gratuity. Credit card required to hold reservations; 770-955-1187.

Party with the People's on Saturday, June 22

Nothing says summer more than an evening filled with food and drinks, live music and a good, old-fashion cook-off, right? People's Food Truck couldn't agree more! Start the warm season off the right way by partying with them on Saturday, June 22 as they celebrate the launch of their food truck. Ford Fry will be cooking, Marc Broussard will be rocking the stage and Chef Shaun Doty will be stirring up some friendly competition.  People's Fest tickets start at just $25 and benefit City of Refuge.

Eat it and Tweep: Vidalia Onion Tweets Tell How to Enter Flavors of Summer Recipe Contest

Even though Vidalia onions are tearless, missing the Flavors of Summer recipe contest will leave you feeling down. Don't miss your chance to enter by connecting on Twitter (@VidaliaOnions1) to peel back the exciting contest details. A winner from each of four categories will receive a cash prize of $1,000, and the grand prize is an outdoor entertaining package from Sears valued at $5,000.

Sample Tweet: Meet our Flavors of Summer bloggers! They come to you with great recipes, decorating tips and more. You won't want... http://fb.me/Nc7W4fzN

Appetizing Aperture

Who says Nutella is just for lunch box sandwiches and lemon meringue comes in a frozen pie? At Little Cake Bakery  these flavors lend themselves quite nicely to their summer cupcake menu. Come in and satisfy your sweet tooth with the chocolate goodness of the Nutella mocha or the zesty lemon meringue! 

Sit Rooftop at SkyLounge for Patio Launch Party on May 31

  

Tomorrow, the sun sets around 8:45 p.m. and the view from the patio launch party at SkyLounge, atop the Glenn Hotel, is a breathtaking one. ABC.com honors SkyLounge as one of the "Top 23 Rooftop Bars in the World." Sink into one of the low, cushioned couches on the 11th floor patio of this historic building. The shimmering ATL skyline and the lush greens of Centennial Olympic Park make the perfect scenery. Backing up the view are party-exclusive cocktails crafted with Patron Tequila or Ultimat Vodka, DJ tunes and giveaways from 7-9 p.m. You may not want to come down off the roof!

We're Betting on Kevin Gillespie as Atlanta's Burger King!

Atlanta is playing host to an epic burger throw down that benefits the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation  and Atlanta Legal Aid Society . The First Annual Burger Battle and Beer Tasting has recruited Atlanta’s very own Kevin Gillespie to compete for the title of best burger on Thursday, June 6. We’re rooting for you, Kevin! 

You know you're a Southerner if ...

... you put peanuts in your Co-Cola! Relive those childhood memories, or learn something new, by watching  JCT. Kitchen & Bar Pastry Chef Taria Camerino's insatiable quest to capture the sweet and salty contrast of this summery treat. Her recipe for Virginia peanut pie with Coke reduction is captured in a video on the Coca-Cola Journey-Stories web page. Just watching it will set your mouth hankering. And luckily, you can head over to JCT. and order up a slice!

Chill Out with Cool Cocktails on Pinterest

Take a vacation from the summer heat! Cool-off with one of our favorite drinks from the Cool Cocktails Pinterest board. Fill a Mason jar with blueberry-infused vodka lemonade, and freeze up a batch of blackberry prosecco popsicles for a party on the deck. Feeling marooned in your cubicle?  RA Sushi's mango mojito and bikini martinis and the limoncello martini at Ray's in the City could be your lifesavers. Bottoms up!

Time for Takeoff at Seven Lamps with Beer Flight Dinner on June 3

 

 

Sonny and Cher. Simon and Garfunkel. Beer and brats. Some pairs are just meant to be together. That's why Seven Lamps in the Shops Around Lenox is planning a reunion tour for the classic duo on Monday, June 3 with a beer dinner featuring flights of beer and cocktails, brats and dessert. The cheddar dogs are served family style, so help yourself to these wood-roasted brats with fermented cabbage, pickled mustard seeds, pepperonade and bread and bitter pickles on toasted lobster rolls. Your beer flight includes a light cocktail topped with beer plus spicy Belgian-style FU Man Brew, crisp Eyepatch IPA and Blind Pirate Double IPA. Dessert rolls out chocolate macaroons with peanut butter ice cream and bacon-roasted peanuts to go with a Drafty Kilt cocktail based on a full-bodied scotch ale. $60 per person. To purchase your ticket, call 404-467-8950.