Omnivore Atlanta

Cakes & Ale, the Decatur spot run by chef Billy Allin, will be hosting its second monthly Sunday supper this Sun., July 5. The theme this month will be “dueling BBQ.” Price is $26 per person and children under 12 eat for half price. See the menu below, and call the restaurant at 404-377-7994 to reserve.

Sunday, July 5
Dueling BBQ

Pimento cheese, celery, crackers

Northern Alabama white chicken BBQ

& Western North Carolina Pulled Pork

Yeast rolls

Succotash

Slaw

Sliced tomatoes

Onion rings

Star pops

Bookmark to:

A dozen years, hundreds of beers: The Brick Store Pub

As might be expected, the Brick Store Pub is giving you a present on their anniversary. Twenty-seven presents, in fact. In an attempt to outshine its 11th Anniversary celebration from last year that featured 11 special kegs over 11 days, this year the Brick Store will tap 14 kegs over the first 11 days (one a night, plus 2 on Fridays and Saturdays) starting with today’s 2006 Lagavulin barrel-aged J.W. Lees, and including limited, rare, and oak-aged beers from America’s best breweries (and a couple from Belgium, as well). But that’s only the warm up for Day 12, on Saturday, June 27, when a special treat will be tapped every hour from noon until midnight. That’s 13 kegs in all; sort of beer cake with 12 keg candles and one to grow on.

Among the offerings during the lead up are a 2006 Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster barrel-aged in a Jack Daniels cask for 9 months, aka Big Sloppy Monster (6/18); one of the first kegs of the new Duck-Rabbitor Doppelbock (6/21); Sweetwater Double IPA aged on first-run Bordeaux oak (6/23); a wooden cask of t’Smisje Kerst Belgian strong dark ale (6/20); and a firkin of Avery Maharaja (6/25). The run on the 27th includes no less than 5 kegs of Allagash Brewing Company’s top-notch Belgian-style ales (Interlude, Victor, Victoria, Hugh Malone, and the new Confluence), interspersed with three different Oskar Blues beers (Dale’s Pale Ale, Gordon, and 10 Fidy) aged in whiskey barrels from Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey distillers. Start toughening up your liver. (more…)

Bookmark to:

Aspen Signature Steak, Brunch buffet. $18.95 adult, $9.95 children. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 3625 Dallas Hwy. 770-419-1744. www.sedgwickrestaurantgroup.com.

Bistro VG, A three course dinner. $29, or $40 with wine pairings. 5 p.m-9 p.m. 70 West Crossville Road. 770-993-1156. www.sedgwickrestaurantgroup.com.

Fire of Brazil, Dinner menu enhanced with exotic meats (ostrich, kangaroo, alligator, etc.). $41.50 adults, $13.25 children. 4 p.m.-9:30 p.m. 118 Perimeter Center West. 770-551-9652. www.fireofbrazil.com.

Food 101, Special Father’s Day menu. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 1397 North Highland Avenue. 404-347-9747. www.101concepts.com.

Luciano’s, Brunch buffet. $19.95 adults, 9.95 children 6-12, under 6 free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 10990 State Bridge Rd. and 6555 Sugarloaf Parkway. 678-242-1890 and 770-225-1727. www.lucianositaly.com

Morton’s The Steakhouse, A four-course dinner. $65. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. 3379 Peachtree Rd. 404-816-6535. www.mortons.com.

NEO at The Mansion on Peachtree, A four-course dinner. $60 or $75 with beer pairings. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 3376 Peachtree Rd. 404-995-7545. www.mansiononpeachtree.com.

Oceanaire Seafood Room, Special Father’s Day menu. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. 1100 Peachtree St. 404-475-2277.www.theoceanaire.com.

Pampas Steakhouse, Special brunch features and menu features. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. 10970-A State Bridge Rd. 678-339-0029. www.pampassteakhouse.com.

Park 75 Restaurant at Four Seasons Atlanta, A five-course tasting menu. $42. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 75 Fourteenth St. 404-253-3858. www.fourseasons.com/atlanta.

Parks Edge, Special $3 bloody marys, mimosas, and bellini’s. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 913 Bemina Ave. 404-584-7275. www.parksedgeatl.com.

The Pecan, Buffet. $55 adult, $45 senior, $25 children, unlimited mimosas for $10. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 3725 Main St. 404-762-8444. www.thepecanrestaurant.com.

Ray’s in the City, Brunch buffet. $23.95. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 240 Peachtree St. 404-524-9224. www.raysrestaurants.com.

Ray’s Killer Creek, Brunch buffet. $23.95. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 1700 Mansell Rd. 770-649-0064. www.raysrestaurants.com.

Ray’s on the River, Brunch buffet. $23.95 adult, $11.95 children, 4 and under free. 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 6700 Powers Ferry Rd. 770-955-1187. www.raysrestaurants.com.

Real Men Cook For Charity Atlanta, A festival where more than 100 men cook for nearly 3,000 guests. $20 adults, $10 children. 3 p.m.-6 p.m. 65 MLK Jr. Drive. 404-344-8496. www.realmencook.com.

South City Kitchen, Special brunch menu. 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 1144 Crescent Ave. 404-873-7358. www.southcitykitchen.com.

Spice Market, A three course dinner. $30. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 188 14th St. 404-549-5450. www.spicemarketatlanta.com.

STATS, Dads eat free with the purchase of one entrée of equal or greater value. 11 a.m.-12 a.m. 300 Marietta St. 404-885-1472. www.statsatl.com.

The Sun Dial Restaurant, A three course brunch and manly activities on the view level including a putting green and Sweetwater Beer tasting. $40. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 210 Peachtree St. 404-589-7506. www.sundialrestaurant.com.

Straits, Brunch on the newly designed patio. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 793 Juniper St. 404-877-1283. www.straitsrestaurants.com.

Village Tavern, Brunch buffet. $19.95 adults, $10.95 children. 9 a.m-3 p.m. 11555 Rainwater Dr. 770-777-6490. www.villagetavern.com.

Bookmark to:

Beer me: The eager throng at the EABF

The East Atlanta Beer Festival may be a victim of its own success. A sellout crowd swapped sweat in the narrow confines of the backyard of the defunct John B. Gordon School on Metropolitan Avenue on Saturday. Why don’t they just tear that building down already and make more room for the festival? Fueled by beer samples from over 60 breweries, most attendees did not seem to mind the crush, but I once again was unwilling to dive into the deepest corners of the fest, thus missing out on offerings from Flying Dog, Brooklyn, Unibroue, and perhaps others. Not that I haven’t had most of these beers, but a festival offers the chance to revisit old favorites, or make side-by-side comparisons that are more difficult in other settings.

I also enjoy the opportunity to try things that I may have written off before and give them a second chance. Or as is often the case, reaffirm what I already knew. Either way, one should not discount the value of a retry, since many things can affect the perception of a beer at any given time, including the freshness of the sample, a tired palate, the opinion of others, and experience with a given style. Our tastes change, and it is no different with our tastes in beverages. It’s easy to go on a hophead kick for months, seeking out bigger and bigger beers before taste fatigue sets in and those well-crafted, balanced German lagers start to taste pretty good again. (more…)

Bookmark to:

The recently opened 5 Seasons Restaurant and Brewpub will be hosting its first beer dinner on Thurs., June 4, in conjuction with Hop City Craft Beer and Wine and Matt Simpson, the Beer Sommelier. The 5-course dinner will feature beers from Georgia craft breweries Terrapin, Sweetwater, Atlanta Brewing Company, and 5 Seasons, as well as a special surprise treat from another Georgia brewer. 5 Seasons Chef Philip Rainwater will be preparing the accompanying dishes that will include an heirloom tomato salad, pan-roasted skatewing, and all-natural beef filet. The cost is $60 per person. Click here for all the details.

Bookmark to:

The third annual “Taste of Sandy Springs” festival will take place this Saturday in Atlanta’s newest city, featuring samplings from local restaurants, live music, and a silent auction. All proceeds will go to community charities. Restaurant participants include Eclipse di Luna, Wildfire, and The Flying Biscuit Cafe. Children 10 and under are admitted free.

(Photo courtesy of City of Sandy Springs)

Bookmark to:

A vegan bake sale to benefit a very worthy cause, CatSnip, will be held 12 noon-4 p.m. Sunday, June 21, in front of Criminal Records in Little Five Points. This is part of a worldwide event. Be there or Nubs and the Baby will scratch your eyes out.

Bookmark to:

Decisions, decisions: Taco Mac is tapping special beers all month.

New beers are popping up all over this month, from new-to-Georgia breweries, to special casks and limited edition releases, to spring and summer seasonals from local and national breweries. It can be a bit overwhelming. I suggest you you just take it One Beer at a Time.

Bell’s Weather. Monday marks the Georgia debut of beers from Bell’s Brewery, and a number of local bars have events to mark the occasion. The Brick Store Pub will have a rare cask of HopSlam, the brewery’s much-drooled over double IPA, which will not be part of the regular Georgia portfolio until next year’s release in January. There will also be a keg of Special Double Cream Stout. Starting Tuesday, Taco Mac will be tapping Bell’s Amber Ale, Pale Ale, Porter, and Oberon, with a sixtel of HopSlam and Expedition Stout at the Kennesaw location. Check with your neighborhood store to see what is pouring. The Porter Beer Bar in L5P will host a Bell’s Beer Dinner on Tues., May 26. Check their website for details. Look for a full story on Bell’s next week.

More, more, more. Speaking of Taco Mac, there’s enough new stuff rolling out at their stores to keep you half-lit well into June. This weekend was the debut of Terrapin’s 30 Strong Ale, brewed especially for Taco Mac’s 30th anniversary. Thirty years is a long time in the restaurant business, and Taco Mac certainly deserves a special toast for turning its little Va-High pub into a beer bar empire. I remember experiencing some of my first world-class beers at that original store back in the early 80s when I didn’t know a hefeweizen from a doppelbock. Terrapin’s 30 Strong has a ridiculous 30 ingredients that includes 19 kinds of malt, 8 varieties of hops, water, and yeast, and is aged on oak spirals. It clocks in at 8.8% ABV. Now that’s extreme! (more…)

Bookmark to:

The eco-friendly campus at New Belgium Brewing Company

Fat Tire Amber Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO is due in stores the first of next week. It will be available in 22-oz. bombers to start, with 6-packs and draft to follow shortly. Fat Tire has myriad fans, and it has propelled the company into the number 3 spot in the nation among craft brewers (behind Boston Beer Company and Sierra Nevada). I find it to be a decent enough beer; it is balanced and has a nutty, toasted malt character that makes it a good choice with food. New Belgium also turns out some other good beers, which will no doubt make their way to Georgia soon (look for the 1554 Belgian Black, Abbey-style Dubbel, Trippel, and if we are lucky, La Folie Flanders Red).

For me, though, the best thing about this company is their commitment to the environment. I don’t think there is another brewery in the world that takes sustainability as seriously as the folks at New Belgium. Their brewery is a model of efficiency. It runs almost entirely on wind power with the remainder from gas generated on- and off-site. The buildings utilize passive solar power and evaporative cooling, and were built using downed timber. The boilers are the most energy-efficient available, and their recycling efforts have reduced landfill diversion to only 15 percent, not including spent grain and yeast, which are also recycled. The company’s employees, who are also its owners, are deeply involved in the effort to reduce waste and save energy, and each receive a bicycle on their 1-year anniversary at the company. The parking lot at the brewery has as many bikes as cars. They also sponsor a number of green-focused events and donate 1% of their revenue to environmental non-profits. That’s commitment I will drink to. For more information on New Belgium’s efforts at environmental stewardship, check out this summary and their 2007 Sustainability Report. (more…)

Bookmark to:

4th & Swift, A three-course brunch menu. $39. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 621 North Ave. 678-904-0160. www.4thandswift.com.

Atlanta Grill, Mother’s Day brunch. $29-$59. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 181 Peachtree St. 404-221-6550. www.ritzcarlton.com.

Café di Sol, Brunch with a complimentary drink for mothers. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 640 N. Highland Ave. 404-724-0711. www.cafedisol.com.

Cassis, Brunch, music and kids’ entertainment. $30-$60. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 3300 Peachtree Road. 404-364-3933. www.grandatlanta.hyatt.com.

Craft Atlanta, A three-course menu. $65. 3376 Peachtree Road. 404-995-7580. www.craftatlanta.com.

Ecco, Mother’s Day brunch. 40 Seventh St. 404-347-9555. www.fifthgroup.com. (more…)

Bookmark to:

After a year’s hiatus, the Big Gay Supper Club is resuming its monthly dinners. The next will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at the Spice Market at the W Midtown (188 14th St.) Consult the club’s website for more information.

Bookmark to:

Dogwood Restaurant chef Shane Touhy will be preparing a five-course meal at New York’s James Beard House next Saturday, April 18.

Lucky for us, the restaurant will present the same menu here this Tuesday, April 14. That’s the day before your tax return is due, so ease the misery with Touhy’s great food and wine pairings from Swanson Vineyards of Rutherford, Calif.

The menu, limited to 60 reservations, costs $95 per person, including wine. I want the third course in particular: charred rare venison tartare on toasted brioche, sunny-side-up quail egg, caramelized shallot jam and smoked blackberry-merlot reduction.

Call 404-835-1410 for a table.

(UPDATE: Another impostor’s comment was deleted 4/12 – CB)

Bookmark to:

A selection of special Easter brunches happening in Atlanta this weekend:

103 West- Bruch with live entertainment, face painting and an appearance from the Easter Bunny. Kids under 6 eat free. $25-$60. 103West Paces Ferry Road. 404-233-5993 www.buckheadliferestaurants.com/103west.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens- Tea service. $35-$50. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 1345 Piedmont Ave. 404-876-5859. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

Aqua Blue- Easter buffet. $10-$30. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road. 770-643-8886. www.aquablueatl.com.

Callaway Gardens- A variety of brunch menus for adults and kids, an Easter Egg Hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny. April 11-12. $28. 17800 US Hwy 27, Pine Mountain. 706-663-2281. www.callawaygardens.com.
(more…)

Bookmark to:

On the case: Kraig Torres stocks his beer store, Hop City, for its April 2 opening

The Westside is looking more and more like a beer Mecca. Hop City, a craft beer and wine specialty store, will open this week across the alley from the soon-to-open 5 Seasons Westside in the Brickworks complex on Marietta St. Along with beer and wine, Hop City will also stock beer-making supplies, a rarity in Atlanta.

Owner Kraig Torres will host a Grand Opening party on Thursday April 2 at 5 Seasons that will feature nine craft brewers, including local favorites Terrapin, 5 Seasons, Sweetwater, and Atlanta Brewing Company. There will be free beer samples, food and live music from 6-9 p.m.

Torres is the self-proclaimed “beer guy” in the operation, with his general manager, Doug Schaller, handling the wine side of the aisle. Torres will stock about 1,000 varieties of beer, along with about 800 wines. The store will have a 12-door cooler for beer, as well as a chiller on hand to prep those large, single bottles of American craft beer and Belgians.

(more…)

Bookmark to:

War documentaries are perhaps best made by outsiders who are able to show the nobility and suffering on both sides of the conflict. Anat Baron brings such neutrality to Beer Wars: Brewed in America, a documentary film that explores the goings-on behind the scenes of the world’s largest and smallest breweries as they struggle to win the minds and palates of America’s 115 million beer drinkers. Anat is allergic to alcohol, so she’s never tasted the beers that are at the center of the conflict.

“I think that [not drinking] has helped me in making the film because I don’t cast judgment over one or the other group,” Baron says. “I am certainly the last person to tell you what to drink or what not to drink, but beyond that, the actual war does exist in the business of beer, and that is more what the film is focused on; it is far less about the two different types of consumers, and whether Bud drinkers think beer geeks are elitist.”

Baron’s 90-minute film will air simultaneously in 440 theaters across the nation on April 16 and will be followed by a 30-minute live discussion with a panel of brewers and beer experts hosted by know-it-all pundit Ben Stein. The panel will be answering questions generated in advance from the live audience. “They have a digital network in the theaters that can accept satellite feed,” Baron says. “It’s just a really cool idea, I think, that all these people across America are going to be watching something happen simultaneously. I wanted to get people talking, and this seemed like a better way to do that than the traditional way of rolling out a few theaters at a time.” (more…)

Bookmark to:

Green beer is for tourists and frat boys. Please show some respect; after all this is a religious holiday. Here’s a list of places to enjoy some authentic Irish spirit this St. Patrick’s Day, along with beer brewed with the same love that the Irish pour into every thing they do.

In Decatur you can bar hop between festivities at several local watering holes. The Grange Public House, which took over the location of The Angel on West Ponce, is run by the Irish ex-pat Comer family and has a homey, authentic vibe. The beer selection is above average and the menu has plenty of Irish favorites. On Tuesday they will have live music starting at 3 p.m., as well as Irish dancers at 8 p.m. The Guinness girls will be on hand starting at 8:30 with Guinness giveways. The Brick Store Pub will have the usual properly poured pints of Guinness Stout, live Irish music, and traditional Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew and shepherd’s pie. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. Finally, mosey down the street to Twain’s where brewer Jordan Fleetwood will be serving a cask of cream stout aged on Jameson-soaked oak chips. The folks at Twain’s know their corned beef (it’s the home of the Atlanta chapter of the New York Corned Beef Society after all), so if you haven’t had your fill, Twain’s will also be serving corned beef and cabbage. (more…)

Bookmark to:

THE NOSE KNOWS: Tastiest lie ever told (Photo by Edward Adams)

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Disney’s Pinocchio, local school children were invited to eat Pinocchio’s nose — a 70-foot Italian Sub sandwich at the Center for Puppetry Arts. The massive sandwich was provided by Carlyle’s Corporate Catering. When cut, the sub provided over 300 sandwiches for kids and the event attendees.

The promotion was part of the Center for Puppetry Art’s “Pinocchio Day” celebration. Today’s event featured the unveiling of a platinum Pinocchio marionette provided by Disney and a Pinocchio puppet-making class.

Bookmark to:

Rx for Beer Blahs: Mama

Take two and call me in the morning

Oskar Blues Brewery, makers of Dale’s Pale Ale and Ten Fidy Imperial Stout, have released a Czech-style pilsner called Mama’s Little Yella Pils that should prove popular this summer. The Lyons, Colorado-based Oskar Blues has made a name for itself as one of the first craft breweries to sell their beer in cans rather than bottles. Cans are easily recyclable, more easily handled, require less energy to produce, and can be taken many places where glass bottles are not allowed, such as the park, the beach, or the pool.

Mama’s Little Yella Pils is modeled after the classic pilsner from the Czechoslovakian region of Pilsen that inspired the original Budweiser. A generous amount of pale malts and German specialty malts give this interpretation a firm, grainy body, while the Saaz hops provide a fresh, floral aroma and a crisp, dry finish. The modest 5.3% ABV keeps it in the realm of an everyday quaffer. Yella Pils is available now in 6-packs of bright yellow cans. Unfortunately, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau rejected their tagline on the can, “Take two and call me in the morning.” Don’t ask me why.

Firkin Saturdays at the Brick Store Pub

The Brick Store Pub will be tapping a fresh cask of real ale every Saturday at noon, just in time for sidewalk season. The first offering this past Saturday was the Russian Imperial Stout from Thornbridge Hall Country House Brewing Company, an amazingly rich, smoky stout with a dark-fruit tang and notes of chickory and bittersweet chocolate. If you weren’t there, you missed it, since the firkins only last a couple of days and this was the only one shipped to Georgia. Coming soon will be Gwatkins Yarlington Mill Cider, the CAMRA Gold Medal Champion Cider of Great Britain in 2002. (more…)

Bookmark to:

The Atlanta Community Food Bank will be holding their Supper Club benefit this month at JCT Kitchen and Bar.

On Tuesday, Mar. 10, 20% of the evening’s proceeds will go straight to help feed the community. To get more information about the Supper Club or to make reservations, call 404-355-2252 or go to www.jctkitchen.com. 1198 Howell Mill Road.

Bookmark to:

Panchero’s, a Mexican chain that has just opened its first Atlanta location, is offering $1 burritos today:

Panchero’s Mexican Grill, which just opened up downtown, is running a $1 burrito special from 2-7 pm today.  They are located at 400 W. Peachtree St., Suite 2, Atlanta, 30308.  They are at the corner of Ivan Allen and W.Peachtree just passed the downtown W Hotel and in the same strip as Mellow Mushroom.  There is 1-hour free parking in the lot behind the Mellow Mushroom.

The concept is similar to Chipotle, Moe’s, etc.

Bookmark to:

Well, sort of:

What: IHOP’s National Pancake Day Celebration Benefiting Children’s Miracle Network.

IHOP Restaurants nationwide will offer guests a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes in an effort to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network on National Pancake Day.  With a goal to raise $1 million, funds will benefit children’s hospitals and other charities throughout the U.S.  Also known as Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day has been celebrated for centuries in England, with a tradition and lore all its own.*

Why: For every delicious short stack of pancakes served on National Pancake Day, IHOP guests are invited to make a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

When: Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Where: At participating IHOP restaurants in the Atlanta area.

Find an IHOP near you.

Bookmark to:

Here’s a good reason to hit Manuel’s Tavern (602 N. Highland Ave., 404-525-3447 ) this Friday night. The tavern is hosting a tribute to Iraq Veterans Against the War, 7-10 p.m.

So plan to grab a burger and a beer and hang out at Atlanta’s original gastro pub with members of the event’s sponsoring organizations: Coalition for Student Career Alternatives, Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition, Georgia Veterans Alliance, Grandmothers for Peace, Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Association for Black Veterans, Unitarian Universalist Peace Network, Unitarian Universalist Veterans Alliance, Veterans For Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Vietnam Veterans of America.

That’s a lot of pinko, anti-American, flag-burning hippies in one place! For more information, e-mail georgiavets@yahoo.com.

Bookmark to:

Coming all the way from Farmville, N.C., Duck Rabbit Brewery is teaming with Woodfire Grill to create a three course meal with beer pairings.

On March 3 executive Chef Kein Gillespie will create dishes to be paired with the Duck Rabbit brand.  The dinner costs $45 per person. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road. 404-347-9055.

Bookmark to:

Here’s a look at what’s going down in Atlanta to celebrate Mardi Gras:

COPELAND’S CHEESECAKE BISTRO—The Atlantic Station location is offering half-priced preselected appetizers, and New Orleans-style specialty drinks, including New Orleans Iced Tea and hurricanes. Mardi Gras beads and King Cake will complete the evening on Feb. 23 and 24. 265 18th St. Ste. 4130 .404-815-8800. www.copelandscheesecakebistro.com

FRONT PAGE NEWS—Little Five Points celebrates Fat Tuesdays with its 2nd Annual Music and Food Festival on Feb. 21. There will be five bands performing and New Orleans-style food and drink. The headliner is Kingsized, featured foods are Jambalaya, Crawfish and beans and rice and drinks of choice are SoCo Hurricanes and Abita Amber beer. Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the gate (which open at 2 p.m.). 351 A Moreland Ave. 404-475-7777 go to www.L5PMardiGras.com for more information.

KOZMO GASTRO PUB—From Grand Opening to Mardi Gras, this pub is celebrating with King Cake and Kozmopolitans on Feb. 21. 11890 Douglas Road, Ste. 105. 678-526-6094. www.kozmogastropub.com

MARLOW’S TAVERN—Saturday, Feb. 21, the Vinings location is having a Ball for Mardi Gras. There will be festive food including shrimp etouffee, jambalaya and more. There will also be Southern Comfort drink and hurricanes to wet the palatte. To top it off, New Orleans-style jazz and funk will set the mood from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. 2355 Cumberland Parkway, Ste. 10. 770-432-2526 www.marlowstavern.com

PARISH—On Sat. Feb 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Orleans food and music. For a cost of $35 in advance and $40 at the door, folks can munch on as much crawfish and oysters they can stand; drink as much as they want; all while listening to Charlie Wooten’s Zydefunk. This music mixes washboard and accordion sounds with blues and jazz. A portion of the proceeds goes to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank. For more information and reservations call 404-681-4434. 240 North Highland Ave. www.PARISHatl.com

SOUTH CITY KITCHEN—Cooking up a hurricane with the “Taste of the Low Country.” New Orleans-style food will be on the menu from Feb. 25-March 7. Choices range from buttermilk fried oysters, to grilled marinated quail with sweet potato fries. Call for reservations at either locations: 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358, or 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700. www.southcitykitchen.com

Bookmark to:

Brewhouse Cafe in Little Five Points is taking a reality approach to self-defense. Tonight, restaurant and bar staff in the Atlanta community are invited to come out to the Fight for your Life seminar from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The head instructor of the Pretty Bandage Fight School, Stephen Scarborough, will lead instruction using self defense techniques. Admission is free and done in conjunction with Atlantans Together Against Crime; but donations are accepted ($5 preferably) to benefit the cause.

The event is also open to others not in the restuarant and bar field, but space is limited. Afterward there is a discounted dinner and drinks for restaurant workers. Dress comfortably to work out, and bring pen and paper for note taking. 501 Moreland Ave. N.E.

Bookmark to: