DINING OUT ON EASTER IS EGGS-ACTLY WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND! 

 

Hop-fully you saved last week's Dish crammed with a whole bunch of places to dine on Easter Sunday, April 4 and a place to fill up the basket to boot.  If you blinked and missed it, a short refresher is below.  Egg-stra details are on the Atlanta Dish blog at www.atlantadish.blogspot.com.

In Roswell, Aqua blue will serve a bountiful Easter brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  A few of the delicious items on the spread are carved leg of lamb, blackened fish with lobster sauce, roasted turkey with giblet gravy, fresh sushi and made-to-order omelets.  $29.95 adults, $9.95 children ages four to 12 and free for children under age four.  Imbibe in bottomless mimosas for just $15. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886)   

The staff at La Tavola Trattoria, in the heart of Virginia Highland, will rise and shine an hour earlier than usual, opening doors for Easter brunch from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Salads, bruschetta, a meat and cheese antipasti platter, chicken sausage, smoked salmon crostini and ricotta and lemon ravioli balance sweeter tastes such as challah French toast.  (992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430)  

The hunt for food and frolicking ends in Midtown at Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge.  Executive Chef Keira Moritz has a full buffet spread with deviled eggs, crab fondue, cheese grits, pesto squash casserole, pastries and much, much more from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.  $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages six to 12 and free for children under the age of six.  Upstairs, AltoRex Rooftop Lounge will host a family egg hunt from 5 - 7 p.m. followed by an adults-only version from 9 - 11 p.m.  Gift certificates, AltoRex cocktail party packages, drink tickets and appetizer tickets fill "adult" eggs.  (866 West Peachtree Street, NW, adjacent to the Hotel Palomar; 678-412-2402)  

Enjoy a traditional Southern Easter menu at both South City Kitchen locations.  Chocolate muffins, fried green tomatoes and sautéed chicken livers make way for a hearty country frittata, peach "French toast" pudding, Southern-style eggs Benedict and crab hash as well as buttermilk fried chicken and pan-fried mountain trout.  South City Kitchen Vinings will serve the Easter menu from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700); South City Kitchen Midtown will serve the special brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  (1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358)  

On Atlanta's north side, Ray's Restaurants will have two locations open on Easter.  From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Ray's on the River will offer a holiday brunch; $35 for adults and $17 for children 10 and under (6700 Powers Ferry Road, NW; 770-955-1187).  Ray's Killer Creek will serve a special Easter brunch from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; $30 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under.  (1700 Mansell Road; 770-649-0064)  

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food spices up the Easter weekend menu with border-style breakfast tacos, brunch quesadillas, classic huevos rancheros and chilaquiles, and a kids menu featuring egg tacos and quesadillas served with fruit cups. Adults, add a little kick to your hop with a Bloody Mary, Salty Juanita, Chispas and Gran Mimosa.  Brunch and regular menus available during weekend brunch, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  (Buckhead:  1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.  Sandy Springs:  1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260.)   

A picture-perfect Easter Sunday is yours when the family brunches at Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery near Dahlonega.  Seafood gumbo, seared scarlet snapper, Southern fried chicken, maple-glazed ham and leg of lamb with mint Dijon sauce are a few of the delicious offerings.  Seatings are at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; $30 for adults, $15 for kids ages six to 12 and free for kids five and under (plus tax and gratuity).  (180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega.  Meal reservations are a must: 706-867-9862.)

WOLF MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS & WINERY FOLLOWS EASTER WITH SUNDAY BLUEGRASS BRUNCHES

April Sundays, fresh with spring's promise of new beginnings, are meant to be experienced over Executive Chef Tommy Chantharath's mouthwatering brunch at Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery.  Soak up the beauty of nature on Easter Sunday, April 4, over an elegant Easter brunch.  Then, start those toes a tapping on the following three Sundays as Wolf Mountain celebrates the awakening of the vines with live bluegrass music during brunch.  Brunch is $30 per person (plus tax and gratuity), and wine by the glass or bottle also is available at an additional cost.   Two seatings each Sunday:  12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.  If your Sundays are booked, you can still thrill over the view at lunch in The Vineyard Café each Thursday through Saturday from 12 - 3 p.m. and at weekly wine tastings offered Thursday through Sunday from 12 - 5 p.m.   Reservations are required for all food service events; call 706-867-9862.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery: 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega; 706-867-9862.

For divine Easter chocolates and Easter dinner hostess gifts, we're filling our baskets at LW Chocolatier.  For more than 60 years, their rich chocolate delights have been made from carefully selected ingredients, handcrafted and hand-decorated in the European tradition and sold around the world.  Stop here for elegant gifts and exquisite bunnies, chicks and eggs filled with dulce de leche, strawberry, lemon, orange and other fillings ($4 to $50).  Open Monday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m. 

LW Chocolatier: One Buckhead Plaza, 3060 Peachtree Road, NW, Suite 40; 404-467-8503.

2010 VISIONARY DINNER GALA ON MARCH 31 GROWS GREEN FOR ENERGY-MINDED SOUTHFACE

If you're green-minded, the 2010 Visionary Dinner Gala on Wednesday, March 31 at the Georgia Aquarium is for you!  Plant funds and grow awareness for green job training, affordable housing, clean energy and high-performance building practices at the 5 - 10 p.m. event.  We know of three green-conscious culinary whizzes heating up the evening:   Chef Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Sous Chef E.J. Hodgkinson from Woodfire Grill and Mary Moore of The Cook's Warehouse.  These three will join other star chefs to prepare a five-course feast featuring fresh, local items and ingredients from Whole Foods Market.  Network, learn about profitable new ideas for greening the world, and listen to inspiring Jigar Shah of the Carbon War Room.  Leave filled with good food, wine and visions of improving our world for future generations.

DISH READERS -- RAISE A GLASS TO DISCOUNTS OFF TICKETS TO WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE'S "TOAST OF THE TOWN" ATLANTA AT THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK, THEN TAKE ME TO RA SUSHI FOR THE NEW TOMAHAWK CHOP ROLL AT A SLICED PRICE
RA Sushi:  1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

IS KEVIN GILLESPIE AS COLORFUL ON CANVAS AS HE IS IN REAL LIFE?  FIND OUT WHEN ARTIST CHRISTOPHER M. DEBUTS SERIES OF CHEF PAINTINGS

 

As spoon and spice are to a chef, brush and paint are to contemporary artist Christopher M.  The San Diego artist does more than dabble in oils, he dabs and blends to create sought-after paintings of chefs, restaurant staff and foods.  Whet your appetite for culinary art by "The Painter of Chefs" at receptions marking his second one-man show at Vinings Gallery from 6 - 9 p.m. on Friday, April 9 and 1 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 10.  Christopher will debut a series of paintings of great chefs of the world including paintings of Atlanta's own Top Chef chef-testant and Woodfire Grill Executive Chef/Co-owner Kevin Gillespie.  On Saturday, he'll paint an original oil painting at the gallery.  Christopher met with Gillespie in February to begin his painting process.  "Every chef brings a unique element to the entire culinary experience, and I enjoyed capturing Kevin's own artistic process and fantastic energy on canvas," he relates.  Here you have two gents, energized by good food, good wine and good friends, applying their artistic talents with delicious results!  Dine at Woodfire Grill nightly, and stop in to see Christopher M.'s show at Vinings Gallery through May 15.

10 YEARS AND STILL TOPS:  ARIA RANKS THIRD FOR "TOP FOOD" IN ZAGAT'S 2010 ATLANTA DINING SURVEY 

Ten years young, Aria continues to charm Atlantans and ATL visitors who know they must visit this Buckhead culinary landmark while in town.  If you live here, you can't help but know of Aria's excellence and seasonal menu driven by Owner/Chef Gerry Klaskala.   Zagat spreads the word on this gem far and wide, having just released the results of its latest Atlanta Restaurants survey, and Aria is once again in the top three for Top Food and received first place for Desserts, thanks to Pastry Chef Kathryn King.   Aria has been in Zagat's top five since the restaurant's inception in the spring of 2000.   You'll also find Aria rated highly in Zagat categories of American, Business Dining, Décor, Outdoor, Most Popular, People Watching, Romantic, Rooms and Service categories in the latest Zagat survey.  Additionally, Aria is one of only five Atlanta restaurants earning five stars from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- an honor affirmed last month by dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman.

YELPER HOBNOBS WITH PRETZELS AND FRIENDS

 

 

Well, I went to Hobnob three times in less than a week.  That should pretty much say it all, but I'll elaborate a bit more for 'ya.

First trip was a reservation for 8 people on a Friday night, which is a large group to fit into this small space, but they made it happen.  Everyone ordered drinks, apps and entrees and I heard not a single complaint.  Everyone LOVED the pretzels with cheese and the pot roast was really tender.  I had the mac & cheese of course, which was not my favorite, but was pretty good--it's a little fry for my taste.

Next trip---I took my bf back the next day for lunch because I was craving those pretzels!! We ate the pretzels and saved the cheese and basically dunked our burgers in it...yeah, I know--heart attack waiting to happen, but that cheese is just awesome.

Third trip--the next Friday night.  Well, the service was awesome as usual. Everyone is super friendly and prompt--even when the place is slammed.  But, I'll have to admit that I was a little disappointed this time.  The damned pretzels that haunted me all week weren't as delicious as I remembered.  I think maybe they had been sitting out under a heat lamp for a while-they just weren't crispy like the first 2 times.   Otherwise, our meal was great.  

Will definitely go back again...in fact....what am I doing for lunch today???

Hobnob:  1551 Piedmont Avenue, NE; 404-968-2288.