#Foodgram: Pastry Inspiration

View Pastry Inspiration as the Louvre gallery of the most beautiful, and edible, pastry art from around the world. Browsing inspires thinking outside the box (of brownie mix) and studying the online pastry school of videos and recipes at pastryinspirationschool.com.

Chef Marc Taft’s FEED - Fried Chicken & Such to Fill Home Plates Near SunTrust Park in 2017

Alabama boy Marc Taft grew up loving the Atlanta Braves on TV and grandma’s juicy fried chicken. Braves fans, drumstick drumroll, please. Taft, chef and restaurateur behind Marietta’s popular Chicken and the Egg, is bringing his signature dish, some Southern sides and a full bar to The Battery Atlanta, the new live-work-play development adjacent to SunTrust Park. FEED – Fried Chicken & Such will debut in March 2017, a month before the Braves’ first pitch in their new park. Buckets of chicken, fried chicken tenders and Nashville hot chicken are on the roster, along with other made-from-scratch Southern favorites like North Carolina catfish, Texas-style country fried steak, meatloaf, braised greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans and fried green tomatoes. Grilled chicken and salads drive home lighter options. Soft serve ice cream, milk shakes, pies and fresh-baked treats are out of the ballpark as desserts. FEED will offer fast counter service on game days as well as a more relaxed dining area for lunch and dinner the rest of the year. Bar beverages can be taken outside restaurant walls thanks to The Battery Atlanta’s open-container policy. FEED, at 900 Battery Avenue, SE, is sure to become a favorite roost on game days and any other day Southern food cravings call.

Appetizing Aperture: Storico Fresco's Tortelloni

Storico Fresco Alimentari e Ristorante tortelloni ($19) tucks ricotta, walnut, spinach and mushroom filling under its cute pasta folds. Sit down and savor these tender pillows in the restaurant or buy some in the alimentari (market) to take home. Italian foods are adored and devoured gifts. Storico Fresco owners Mike Patrick and Pietro Gianni recommend picking out items for gift baskets, giving one of the 15 different varieties of olive oil or a bottle of aged balsamic vinegar, gift cards, and of course, fresh pasta and sauces.

Corso Coffee and The Ferrari Club of Atlanta Rev Up “Cappuccinos and Ferraris” on Dec. 17

Superlative Italian coffee. Super speedy Italian cars. Rev up for both (with no fears of getting a speeding ticket) on Saturday, Dec. 17 when Corso Coffee in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta and The Ferrari Club of Atlanta present “Cappuccinos and Ferraris.” From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., view an exclusive selection of Ferraris on display throughout The Shops Buckhead Atlanta while sipping a delicious Corso cappuccino. Sorry, no test drives, caffeinated or decaffeinated. A guy or gal can wish.

2017 Predictions: Chefs and Farmers Tighten the Knot, Cocktails on Tap…and Lasagna Cupcakes

Reading tea leaves? Nope. We’re going straight to those in the know, Atlanta’s trendsetting chefs, for insider predictions on the culinary keen for 2017.
 
 - Red Beard Restaurants chef/owner Kevin Gillespie sees chefs zeroing in on the thing they do exceptionally well, scaling restaurants down in size, serving one thing or offering a very limited menu.

 - Executive chef Matthew Ridgway of Gypsy Kitchen agrees, predicting smaller restaurants “focused on a simpler ‘bistronomy’ style of cooking that puts the emphasis on the food and flavor.”

 - Doug Turbush (Seed Kitchen & Bar, Stem Wine Bar, Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar), like many in the industry, is keeping an eye on skyrocketing meat prices and sees chefs moo-ving toward alternative cuts and “the creative use of vegetables.”

 - Southern Fried Hospitality’s Marc Taft also is looking at alternatives to protein, “maybe mixing mushrooms with beef for burgers” and also predicts “vegetables will take center stage.”

 - Dolce Italian chef Paolo Dorigato sees a sprouting love affair with fresh vegetables and less reliance on meat leading toward more seasonal vegetables and fewer proteins to create something good, accessible and reasonably priced.

 - The emphasis on locally sourced veggies will tighten bonds between farmers, chefs and diners. Ormsby’s chef Nick Anderson believes “farmers markets are going to blow up, becoming even more popular as farmers come to markets to supply demand.”

 - Bellina Alimentari creative director Alice Fabi agrees. “The relationship between the chef and the farmer is becoming crucial, with both parties working creatively and efficiently together. Chefs become storytellers, going to the source of ingredients and interpreting what is in season directly from farm to table.” 

 - Revival chef Andreas Müller sees restaurants sourcing products from their own farms and smaller local farms growing greens and vegetables for one restaurant only.

 - Takeout windows and home delivery are booming as weeknight options for time-starved hungry diners. Gypsy Kitchen’s Ridgway predicts more chefs plow into this growing consumer need “using really good ingredients alongside an increasing mix of ethnic ingredients.”

 - As food delivery grows, Southern Fried Hospitality’s Taft says chefs “need to create food that travels well and be able to capture the art of presentation in the foods that are delivered.”

 - Jamie Lynch of 5Church thinks chef-inspired meal kits are going to take off. “People can put together some of their favorite chefs’ dishes at home. There are a couple of kits I’d like to grab for myself, just to see how they do it!”

 - HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern director of operations Mark Nelson foresees growth in walk-up ordering and delivery as well as a return to more casual restaurant environments and a more technologically wired customer who may order drinks or food through smartphone technology.

 - Johnny’s Hideaway owner Chris Dauria also predicts an uptick in mobile device ordering “but not at the Hideaway!”

 - Ormsby’s Anderson says “Asian restaurants are going to start doing American takeovers, like Korean barbecue doing Southern barbecue ribs.”

 - American Cut executive chef John Adamson is excited about “an emergence of ultra-regionalized ethnic food.”

 - On the cocktail front, Marlow’s Tavern’s Rick Blumberg sees more wine and cocktails on tap in our imbibing futures, plus cocktails enhanced with fortified wine. “I think we will continue to see more sherry, Madeira and port cocktails.”

 - Ben Yabrow of Himitsu says guests are moving toward more refreshing drinks rather than the boozy and stirred variety. He says, “It’s exciting to see more people putting their faith in the bartender's judgment.” 

 - Sublime Doughnuts founder Kamal Grant predicts a growing hunger for spicy and savory/sweet combinations, saying “Thanks to the popularity of Sriracha, Americans’ tolerance for heat has increased, and they want more.” Here’s where lasagna cupcakes and doughnuts filled with salad, vegetables or meat enter the scene in traditional sweets made in a savory style.

Nominate Giving Spirits for Marlow’s Tavern’s Golden Giver 2016 Awards and Marlow’s Might Give Both of You $100

Holiday time, and the giving is easy. But what about the other 10 or 11 months of the year? You probably know someone who lives life helping others year round. Nominate that someone as a Marlow’s Tavern 2016 Golden Giver, and he or she could win a $100 gift certificate from Marlow’s Tavern. And if your person wins, you’ll be eligible for a $100 gift card, too. Go ahead and toot your nominee’s horn on the entry form. Briefly mention why that person is deserving and upload a picture, too. You also can enter on Twitter or Instagram by tagging your entry with #goldengiver. Contest runs through Dec. 21, 2016.

Spin Along with Santas and Elves in 11th Annual Santa Ride in Honor of Warren Bruno Dec. 15

Indoor spin class can’t compare to cruising 10 miles through in-town Atlanta neighborhoods amid a jingle-belling bicycling herd of Santas, elves and some tacky holiday sweaters. The more the merrier in this Santa Ride annual fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Be at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland at 5 p.m. and ready to roll out at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15. Party with biker buddies at Atkins Park after the ride. Prize for the best costume. Brake for details on our blog.

Application Deadline for No Kid Hungry Society is Dec. 15

Apply to be in the No Kid Hungry Atlanta Society Class of 2017! No Kid Hungry Atlanta Society members work to help raise funds with support and coaching from Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry representatives. It’s not all work though, as the group comes together to enjoy curated culinary events such as cooking classes with top chefs, networking events at popular bars and lunch with community and professional leaders. Prospective members will learn more about the hidden epidemic of hunger in America and how Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry are working to end hunger. Learn more and apply online by Dec. 15. This year’s class will be celebrated at Atlanta’s 29^th Annual Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry in April 2017.

Telling It Straight Up -- HOBNOB Bourbon Tasting is Dec. 14

Add bourbon appreciation to your skill set by participating in Wednesday night’s Bourbon Tasting at Midtown’s HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern. Experts will introduce guests to 10-15 bourbons – by nose, taste and flavorful backgrounds. After the 6:30-8 p.m. tasting, you’ll be the best of bourbon buddies. Buy tickets online for the Dec. 14 event, $39 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Our blog spills the details, including the tip about taster guests saving 10 percent on dinner tabs that night.

Marlow’s Tavern Hits the Spot in Brookhaven, Opens Dec. 13

Marlow’s Tavern throws open its doors to Brookhaven today, Dec. 13. Inside vibe features the same mix of hospitality, chef-driven American favorites and creative cocktails that have made Marlow’s Atlanta’s favorite neighborhood tavern – along with a spacious outdoor patio, contemporary bar design and comfy dining room. The new location, in the mixed-use community of Brookleigh Marketplace at 3575 Durden Drive, is open for lunch and dinner daily. Stop in for seasonal tavern favorites such as Scallion-Crusted Salmon, Porterhouse Pork Chop, Grilled Chicken Pappardelle and the Naked Chicken Burger, in addition to Marlow’s popular salads, sandwiches, burgers and other dishes. Fresh ingredients all the way!

Ho, Ho, Hold on to Those Handlebars for 11th Annual Santa Ride in Honor of Warren Bruno Dec. 15

Wear one of those blinky red Rudolph noses, strap elf ears on your bike helmet and don some festive apparel before setting off on this social cycling cruise through the Highlands, Inman Park, downtown Atlanta, Midtown, Ansley Park and Piedmont Park. On Thursday, Dec. 15, the 11th annual Santa Ride in honor of the late Warren Bruno wheels out from the avid cyclist’s beloved Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland and spins through 10 miles of Bruno’s favorite neighborhoods. Costume contest and cups o’ cheer are all part of this holiday season tradition. Best costume (voted on by Santa Ride participants) will be crowned with the coveted Warren Bruno holiday bike. Congregate at Atkins Park at 5 p.m. and set out to “sleigh” the streets at 6 p.m. Relax and be jolly – this is not a race – but it is a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Consider donating at least $25; 100 percent of proceeds go toward efforts to fight and cure the cancer that eventually took the life of cheer-champ Warren Bruno.

Proof Wednesday Nights are Spirited: HOBNOB Bourbon Tasting Dec. 14

Whisk away to HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern on Wednesday, Dec. 14 for an exclusive and edifying evening of Bourbon Tasting from 6:30-8 p.m. Sniff, swirl and savor 10-15 local bourbons while absorbing barrels of information from straight shooting bourbon experts about the types, crafting and pairing of these Southern spirits. Heady stuff, especially when considering complimentary appetizers and cool swag giveaways share the evening protocol. Hang around for dinner and receive a 10 percent discount on your dinner tab. This opportunity is open to a limited number of guests. Buy tickets online, $39 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

#Foodgram: Delish

“Come for the food, stay for the fun.” Isn’t this what getting together to cook and eat is all about? Delish pretty much captures the mindset in food photos that will make you look, laugh and wish you could put a fork in them for lunch.

Rize Artisan Pizza + Salads Heats Up Poncey-Highland with App Contest and Week of Grand Opening Specials Dec. 12-16

Poncey-Highlanders know Rize Artisan Pizza + Salads has been open and pleasing palates with mouthwatering chef-driven, global American fare for several weeks, but perhaps its opening flew under your restaurant radar. No worries. Rize is throwing a weeklong grand opening celebration crammed with deals and specials Monday, Dec. 12 through Friday, Dec. 16. First things first: download the Rize app for a chance to win a $100 Live Nation gift card. Feel good and full on Dine to Donate Monday, knowing 25 percent of all proceeds will go to Create Your Dreams Foundation. Tuesday night, kids eat free with any adult entrée purchase. Ladies Night Wednesday treats the gals to $5 small plates and $5 sangria specials from 5 p.m. until close. On Thursday’s Hometown Heroes Day, all members of law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, doctors, and active and veteran military personnel will receive a free classic pizza with any purchase when they show their ID or badge. Limit one freebie per person. Friday night is Date Night -- buy a sangria, beer or wine and receive a free small plate after 5 p.m. Limit one per person. Share a photo of you and your date on Instagram tagged #rizedatenight for the chance to win a $100 Marriott gift card.

Rize is open Sunday–Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Complimentary self-parking (up to two hours with validation) is available in the parking deck behind the property, and valet is available Friday and Saturday nights from 5-11 p.m. 

What’s New on Pinterest: Peppermint Palooza

Canes, crushed or Starlight mints. Peppermint Palooza is worth its stripes for all of you hooked on candy canes and Starlight mints. Crush those mints to sprinkle on lollipop-ish peppermint crunch Oreo cookie balls or to dust on a tray of peppermint bark. Pretty and pretty easy peppermint shortbread bar cookies, no-bake white chocolate peppermint cheesecake and chocolate chip-mint Greek yogurt pops are cool Yule beauties. For an afternoon coffee and chocolate pick me up, throw together mocha peppermint scones or dark chocolate peppermint fudge to go with Crock-Pot peppermint latte. And when the tykes are tucked in, curl up for sweet dreams of homemade peppermint marshmallow pillows floating atop spiked peppermint eggnog punch. To all, a good night.

Santa’s Booked, but Atlanta Restaurants Have Seats Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Santa sightings, Christmas tree forests springing up on corners and mega mall jams (reason to shop small) are sure signs that Christmas is drawing near. No doubt you’re a little like Santa, checking lists twice for gifts to procure, not-to-miss holiday happenings and finding a place to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas with a special dinner. Santa helpers that we are, we’re here with a list of Atlanta restaurants open on Saturday, Dec. 24 and Sunday, Dec. 25.

Enjoy an elegant Christmas Eve dinner at Aria in Buckhead before heading out to a candlelight service or to view Christmas lights. Gerry Klaskala’s acclaimed restaurant opens at 5 p.m. Dec. 24.
 
Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland stays open late Christmas Eve night for those waiting up for Santa (or frustrated by DIY assembly directions). Coals glowing in the Big Green Egg will rival the lights on your big green tree when the neighborhood gathering spot opens at 4 p.m. on Christmas Day. The special prix fix dinner menu stars BGE smoked turkey breast with caramelized apple and sage stuffing and cider gravy; bourbon glazed ham and roasted root vegetables; a crispy onion and roasted mushroom-decked green bean casserole; roasted garlic mashed potatoes; cranberry Grand Marnier compote; sweet potato biscuits; and sugarplum choices of peppermint cheesecake or Southern pecan pie for dessert. Reservations recommended, call 404-876-7249. Priced at $28 for adults, $18 for young adults and $10 for the under 10 set.

Down the street in Poncey-Highland, Rize Artisan Pizza + Salads will be open Christmas Eve and serving from its regular menu of artisan pizzas, healthy salads and global American fare from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
 
5Church Atlanta in Midtown will be open Christmas Eve and serving from their regular menu. Closing time will be determined by the amount of merriment filling its dining room and bar.

Your Christmas cheer headquarters is Ormsby’s. The Westside restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve and serving as usual, although closing time is flexible. Ormsby’s will be closed on Christmas Day.

After a Christmas Eve stroll in Piedmont Park or taking in Garden Lights Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, stop by HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Midtown and warm up with favorite dishes and drinks from the regular menu. Park the sleigh at HOBNOB on Christmas Day to celebrate the holiday from 3-9 p.m.

During Christmas Week Dec. 18-24, enjoy a special three-course holiday dinner at Aqua blue.  The $39 per person prix fixe menu includes seafood gumbo or house salad; grilled ahi tuna with scallops and shrimp or grilled New York strip with coconut shrimp; and warm chocolate cake or New York-style chocolate cheesecake. Call 770-643-8886 for reservations.

Take a break from last minute holiday shopping at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta and head to Gypsy Kitchen, which will be operating during regular hours on Christmas Eve.

Across the Chattahoochee River in East Cobb, sister restaurants Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar on Johnson Ferry Road and Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at The Avenue Marietta will all be open as usual and offering their regular menus on Christmas Eve.
 
Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar in Alpharetta will be open and featuring a prix fix menu on Dec. 24. The staff is taking Christmas Day off and hopes you’ll be enjoying the day with friends and family as well.

Those hitting the road to visit friends and family in Winston Salem, North Carolina, can treat the bunch to brunch with Santa at The Katharine Brasserie + Bar on Thursday, Dec. 22, Friday, Dec. 23 or Saturday, Dec. 24 from 8-11 a.m. 

“Meet Your Neighbors” with Terminus City and Three Taverns Brewery Dec. 18

Three Taverns Brewery and Kevin Gillespie's Terminus City, the brewers and ‘cuers in your neighborhood, say “come on by and meet your neighbors” at the Decatur craft brewery on Sunday, Dec. 18 from 5-8 p.m. Andreas Müller, executive chef of Revival and Terminus City's pitmaster, will be on hand chopping up and serving Gillespie’s mouthwatering whole-hog BBQ pork sliders, potato salad and coleslaw while you enjoy live music and Three Taverns beer. Grab tickets for $25, which includes music, brewery tours, a take-home dual branded beer glass and food from Terminus City. A percentage of the proceeds will go to support (D.E.A.M) Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry.

Appetizing Aperture: Dolce's Grilled Octopus Antipasti

Wrap your ever-loving arms, all eight of them, around plates of grilled octopus antipasti at Dolce in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. Tender bites swim in a “seas”-oned mix of farro, chickpeas, celery and pistachio romesco ($16).

The Federal Now Serves Weekday Breakfast, Lunch and Weekend Brunch

Add The Federal, Shaun Doty’s new Midtown restaurant, to your stomping grounds for weekday breakfast, offered from 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30-2 p.m. Rev up morning meetings over bowls of steel cut oats; organic yogurt with walnuts, dried fruits and chia seed sour cherry jam; protein scramble with a choice of cheddar or goat cheese, roast chicken and fresh fruit; chicken and waffles with bourbon-barrel vanilla butter and Steen’s cane syrup; and avocado toast with smoked trout, soft-boiled egg and sunflower sprouts. Powerfully hungry? Go for the three-egg brisket skillet or a big ol’ Texas breakfast of steak, three eggs and thick sliced toast. Lunchers can build a meal of starters such as Sardinian flatbread, chopped chicken liver on toast, oxtail French onion soup with Gruyere cheese and deviled eggs with bourbon-smoked paprika. Lunch entrées include blue crabcake; steak frites with sunflower sprout salad; and smoked trout with Anson Mill grits, turnips, greens and Patak bacon butter. Choose a hearty steak salad with hen mushrooms, Asher blue cheese and confit tomato or opt for a more simple salad with mustard vinaigrette. Sandwich selections include The Federal burger, veggie, fried chicken, Iowa prosciutto and tenderloin steak and are served with a choice of potato salad, Napa slaw or fries. Roast pork or roast beef brisket sandwiches with topping choices of cheese, broccoli raab with garlic pickles, pickled banana peppers and roasted bell peppers are offered from 11:30 a.m. until the meat’s all gone.

Weekend brunch joins the picture from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. starting Saturday, Dec. 10. Sip a bloody mary verde, spiked sweet iced tea, peach Bellini, grapefruit margarita, fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice or a fresh-pressed juice of the day while contemplating chow. Perhaps you’ll share a big plate of seasonal fruits, fresh ricotta toast and beignets with café au lait sauce. Big day? Fill your tank with aforementioned winners such as steel cut oats, chicken and waffles, avocado or chopped chicken liver toast, fried chicken biscuits, brisket skillet or the protein-packed Southern or Texas breakfasts. Don’t forget about evenings…do dinner at The Federal Tuesday through Sunday; the staff has Monday nights off.

Bring Food Items for ACFB, Leave the White Elephant Gifts at Home -- Hand in Hand Holiday Party Dec. 8

Grab some non-perishable staples for the Atlanta Community Food Bank food drive and saunter your way into Hand in Hand’s holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 8. Enjoy holiday cheer from the open bar from 8-10 p.m. and hum along (there’ll be no hum-bugging) to holiday tunes from DJ Moon all night long. Could be your lucky night to take home a raffle prize from this Virginia-Highland pub.