ABOUT THE DISH
Looking for the latest restaurant openings, weekly wine tastings and drink specials or other culinary happenings? Whatever makes your mouth water, Melissa Libby & Associates will point you in the right direction.
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If "The Price is Right," One Lucky Person Might Be Joining Kevin Gillespie On A Fall Fine Food And Wine Cruise
Celebrity Chef Kevin Gillespie has Woodfire Grill and "Top Chef" under his toque, yet he continues to keep us all on our toes as to future adventures. Check your local listings for time and station and tune into the television game show "The Price is Right" on April 4 to watch a lucky contestant vie for a special prize that involves Gillespie. Up for grabs is an exotic Fine Food and Wine Cruise sailing away to French Polynesia, September 29 - October 6, with a 'Wine, Dine and Jazz at Sea" party on board. Aboard the intimate cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin, Washington winery DeLille Cellars collaborates on wines, Woodfire Grill Executive Chef Gillespie adds to the "dine" element, and a Grammy-nominated jazz ensemble from Cjazz performs for guests' listening pleasure. Gillespie, who incidentally is a Celebrity Chef Ambassador for the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, will be attending to the preparation of special culinary events during the cruise and hosting a variety of cooking demonstrations and classes. He also will be celebrating his 30th birthday while on the eight-day cruise of a lifetime. You may not be a contestant on "The Price is Right," but you can still register for the super-inclusive package at www.finefoodandwinecruise.com. Early booking rates start at $3,700 per person. For more information, call 800-218-6031 or email info@foodandwinecruise.com.
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Smashburger Fresh Mex Burger And Fresh Mex Chicken Sandwich Max Out Mexi
To top the new Smashburger Fresh Mex Burger, one really needs a sombrero. Smashburger, who's always building a better burger, employs a cushy Mexican roll. It excels in absorbing the juicy runoff from a 100 percent Certified Angus Beef burger dressed with a juxtaposition of cool avocado, chopped cilantro, onions, lettuce, tomato and sour cream against pepper jack cheese and spicy chipotle mayo, and served with a wedge of lime. A marinated chicken sandwich has equal olé with the same toppings. The choice beef and chicken chomper comes to the ATL from the sleepy California border town of San Diego, where it was created for locals who love their regional Fresh Mex combinations. Hold your siesta until after you partake in this flavorful fiesta because the visiting dynamic duo heads out of town on April 29. Maybe the peachy Atlanta Smashburger will pay an exchange visit to San Diego. We'll have to wait and see.
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Hippity Hop, Easter Brunch Is On Its Way - Easter Sunday Is April 8
Peeps, chocolate eggs and jelly beans are a great start to Easter morning, but that sugar crash can lead to midday meltdowns. To really celebrate the day, fill tummies with yummies at some of the egg-straordinary Easter brunch and dinner options around Atlanta. The Dish basket was full of ideas last week - click here to take another look. South City Kitchen - Vinings and South City Kitchen - Midtown have finalized the three-course prix fixe menu to be offered at both locations from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Easter Sunday. See the complete big-as-the-South menu on Facebook -- a beauty for only $29 per adult and $14.50 for kids under 12 (plus tax and gratuity). South City Kitchen - Midtown reservations: 404-873-7358 or OpenTable; South City Kitchen - Vinings reservations: 770-435-0700 or OpenTable. Marlow's Tavern in Duluth, Kennesaw, Midtown, East Cobb, Northlake and Vinings will be serving Easter brunch as well. Hours and specials vary by location. For more information, visit www.marlowstavern.com.
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Plan Ahead For Dads And Grads With Gift Card Bonus At Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Graduation and Father's Day are two beefy events on the spring timeline, and dinner at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is a tremendous way to honor the dads and grads in your life. The Dunwoody restaurant is throwing in a $20 promotional bonus card with each $100 gift card purchased between April 1 and June 7. One for you, one for them -- or re-gift the extra $20 purchasing power. Gift cards can be used in the restaurant, bar or for a special event at any Fleming's location; bonus cards are for dining room use only. Those near and dear will want to head to Atlanta's top-end perimeter location, and there are locations nationwide to accommodate recipients farther afield. Here's the link so you can buy now and mark this off your spring to-do list.
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AJC "Top 50" And Beyond Includes Five Of Our Faves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Chief Dining Critic John Kessler looked back to see that he hadn't compiled a "Top 50" list since 2004. He notes that the passing years have brought a rewarding variety of foods and atmospheres to Atlanta. Aria (pictured), Ecco and Woodfire Grill all made his "Top 50." Coming oh-so-close on his blog were JCT. Kitchen & Bar and La Tavola Trattoria. Visit the links above to sample his thoughts, and while you're there, play with the interactive map to locate these winning spots.
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Here's An Easily Agreed Upon Pre-Nup: Host Those Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties At Spice Market
When "save the date" cards camouflage your refrigerator, Spice Market, located inside the W Atlanta-Midtown, can save the night with stress-free packages for one-stop bachelor/bachelorette party planning. The packages accommodate six or more party-goers and include two different menu tiers featuring shareable portions sized for the whole table. For $25 per person, guests will receive two appetizers, two entrées and an assortment of house-made cookies for dessert. For $35 per person, guests will receive a glass of champagne, plus their choice of three appetizers, three entrées and two desserts. Each guest receives complimentary valet for the first three hours.
Extend the evening with celebrity-style access to Whiskey Park, a glamorous bar and lounge located on the third floor of the W Atlanta-Midtown. Guests will be seated at a VIP table and will receive a complimentary bottle of champagne for every bottle of liquor purchased (two bottle minimum for VIP table). Non-table options are negotiable. Party reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance and specifically request the bachelor/bachelorette party package. Contact Damien Whitman at damien.whitman@whotels.com or John Pak at john.pak@whotels.com. Guests also may book a room at the W Atlanta-Midtown and stay the night.
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Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food Adds Handcrafted Teas And Lemonades For Warm Weather Hydration
Parched throats and pollinated taste buds can only mean that spring is entrenched in Atlanta and hotter days are ahead. Ever the hydration station, Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food comes to the rescue with new non-alcoholic refreshers that are handcrafted with fresh fruit. Each drink is available for $3.75, and refills are $1. Mango Passion Lemonade shakes up lemonade and Julio's fresh mango passion fruit. Strawberry Guava Lemonade is a hand-shaken blend of real strawberries, guava nectar and lemonade. Cherry Limeade sparkles with sweet cherry and tart lime. Real raspberries sweeten Julio's freshly brewed tea for Raspberry Iced Tea, and an addition of lemonade transforms the brew into a Raspberry Palmer. Go ahead and order a tall one, it will make your day.
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Eat It And Tweep: Watch Your Salt Intake Because You Can't Get Enough Of Salted & Styled
Libbie Summers and Chia Chong are tweeters behind Salted & Styled in Savannah, Ga. Midwesterner Summers is a creator/writer/culinary producer and is the writer behind "The Whole Hog Cookbook." Creator/photographer Chia Chong hails from Malaysia and resides in Savannah, where she earned her B.F.A. in Photography at Savannah College of Art and Design. Each day brings "food-inspired living" for these two as they notice and expand on one item at a time. Get the gist on Twitter (@SaltedandStyled). There are more words and photos to devour on the Salted & Styled blog.
Sample Tweet: Shooting backyard chicken farmers all day today for a future piece. Organic Quirky is the new black.
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Appetizing Aperture
And the New England Country Soup Southeast Soup Challenge grand-prize winner is (drumroll, please) Felice's mushroom and barley soup with rye croutons simmered up by Felice Bogus of Raleigh, N.C. Funny, her husband Robert won the "Best Presentation" prize for his Gulf Coast fish chowder with caramelized orange scallops. Congrats to a "souper-douper" couple.
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