Atlanta's Rising Stars Shine At StarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue On June 13 At The Goat Farm

image via www.starchefs.com

Acquaint yourself with Atlanta's culinary up-and-comers at the 38^th StarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue tasting gala and awards ceremony, taking place on Wednesday, June 13 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at The Goat Farm Arts Center. Alma Cocina Chef Chad Clevenger is one of the event host chefs, and Rising Star recipient Adam Evans of JCT. Kitchen & Bar and now of The Optimist will prepare wood-fired Virginia clams with crispy pork belly and croutons for the tasting. Woodfire Grill Pastry Chef Chrysta Poulus and Taria Camerino, owner of Sugar-Coated Radical and pastry chef at The Optimist, also will be honored as Rising Stars. Guests will be able to see the work of acclaimed local artist David Baerwalde. Use the discount code RSATL12 at checkout to shave $10 off the price of each $85 ticket when you purchase tickets online. StarChefs.com, "the magazine for industry insiders" covers chefs, recipes, jobs and more.

Pastured Poultry Week Focuses On Helping Georgia Top The Pecking Order for Pastured Poultry Production And Consumption

Chef Shaun Doty demonstrates how to get the most out of a pastured chicken

Price Saver Alert: Attack Of The Killer Tomato Ticket Prices Go Up June 15

You'd throw over-ripe tomatoes at us if we didn't advise you to save some money by purchasing your tickets for the July 22 Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival before the June 15 price increase. Ticket prices will go up from $55 for Georgia Organics members and $60 for non-members to $70 all around. Save now and spend more on juicy 'maters this summer. JCT. Kitchen & Bar hosts this annual "war" between the chefs as they partner with local farmers to put their best tomato dishes forward. Mixologists do likewise to stir up signature cocktails. This year, Garden & Gun Deputy Editor Dave Mezz, Esquire restaurant features writer John Mariani and actor David Miller, who played Mason Dixon in the original "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" movie, will judge, as will you - if you purchase your ticket and save the date. 

Hurray For The "Red, White And Brew" Menu And Grilling Contest At Marlow's Tavern 

Chow down on the flavors of an Americana summer by choosing the "Red, White and Brew" menu offered at Marlow's Tavern locations through July 23. All eight locations of the neighborhood tavern (another American tradition) are plating up dishes and filling glasses with beverages that scream summer in the good old U.S.A. Start things off with a light beer and cheese soup, Firecracker deviled eggs or a watermelon, feta and arugula salad ($3-$9). Patriotic proteins include the Red, White and Bleu burger decorated with red pepper, Vidalia onion and Maytag blue cheese and served with American fries; Backyard blackened swordfish with Red, White and Blue potato salad; honey-glazed grilled chicken with chili-slathered corn-on-the-cob; and grilled skirt steak "hot-off-the-grill" with summer squash and jumbo Vidalia onion rings ($11-$18). Banana cream pie in a glass with house-made bourbon caramel is an all-star ending ($6). The "Brew" menu plays it cool with a "Summertime" watermelon margarita or Tommy's Favorite Sangria ($8) or a "red" Rogue American Ale, "white" Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy or "blue" Sweetwater Blue ($5-$5.50).

Those whose talents shine on the grills of summer will want to enter the third annual Marlow's Tavern Grilling Recipe Contest running concurrently with the "Red, White and Brew" menu through July 23. Enter your favorite recipe online or at one of the tavern locations. Executive Chef John C. Metz will review all entries and announce a winner in August. First prize wins a Big Green Egg. Second prize wins a $50 Marlow's Tavern gift card and third prize is a Marlow's Tavern "Red, White and Brew" limited-edition t-shirt. 

Kevin Gillespie Fixes A Pig And Its Parts at Head-To-Tail Dinner Benefitting Wholesome Wave Georgia - But Will He Show His Pig Tat?

From snout to tail, let no pig part go to waste at the first of three Head-to-Tail dinners at H. Harper Station on Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. Woodfire Grill Executive Chef Kevin Gillespie is one of the three chefs that the Reynoldstown restaurant's Chef Joseph Ward has invited into his kitchen for the evening. First, however, Ward charged them with creating a menu that uses as much of the pig as possible. Gillespie has a wild boar/pig tattoo on his left arm, homage to growing up in the South and fitting for this proponent of farm-to-table eating. A portion of Head-to-Tail proceeds will go to Wholesome Wave Georgia to increase EBT dollars at local markets while assuring farmers a fair market price. Buy a seat at the chef's table for $100 to enjoy the meal paired with wines chosen by H. Harper Station Owner and Mixologist Jerry Slater. For reservations, call 678-732-0415. 

RA Sushi Rolls Out Big Plans For June 18:  Complimentary Tootsy Maki For International Sushi Day And Summer Menu With New Appetizers, Shareable Plates And Cocktails

Somebody has to go first, so we'll begin with the new selection of yums appearing on the menu at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown on Monday, June 18. For starters, RA Sushi Executive Chef Tai Obata is adding clam udon, sake-steamed clams served over udon noodles in a sake cream broth ($13.25) and edamame and spinach dip served warm with wonton chips ($5.25). Five new plates have been added especially for sharing ($9.25-$12.75). Holy Shishito Chicken is Asian-breaded chicken lightly fried and sautéed in a chili-sesame sauce, tossed with fried shishito peppers, onions, and green and red peppers. Drunken Clams ($12.75) and Drunken Black Mussels ($9.25) are steamed in sake and sautéed in garlic and seasoned soy sauce. Bonfire Shrimp pack heat, tossed in a chili sauce with fried shishito peppers ($11.75) while grilled salmon with garlicky green beans provides a lighter option, drizzled with spicy yuzu sauce. Always popular Asian chicken wings ($7.25) now come in three flavor options:  sesame garlic, black pepper teriyaki and chili ponzu. New crispy Asian tacos come in five different flavors including spicy tuna, steamed chicken with Asian veggies, spicy salmon, "RA"ckin' shrimp and crispy white fish ($7.50-$9.25).

RA Sushi upholds its creative cocktail reputation with five new drinks ($8-$9). Strawberry purée joins Svedka Citron and Nigori sake in the Strawberry Saketini, and the Coconut Moshi Mojito muddles Cruzan Estate Light Rum with summer's fresh lime, fresh mint and coconut flavors. Waist watchers can sip three new skinny cocktails:  the Cucumber Collins, Kiwi-berry Kiss and Lycheetini.

Prized Copper River Salmon Completes Arduous Alaskan Journey At Ray's Restaurants  

Ray's Restaurants. Atlantans have come to count on the three restaurants - Ray's on the River, Ray's in the City and Ray's at Killer Creek - to satisfy their cravings for the succulent fish that's naturally loaded with omega-3 oils. Copper River salmon runs are managed for long-term sustainability by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Copper River King, the most sought after of the Pacific salmon species, run through the end of June, followed by Sockeye in July and Coho in August and September. Catch more info at copperriversalmon.org. Lucky you, no need to swim 300 miles in the cold Copper River to catch this highly prized fish. 

Market Street Café Fills New Thursday Happy Hour Menu With Mediterranean Small Plates

Turn the corner on the work week by capping Thursdays with happy hours starting at 4 p.m. on the patio at Market Street Café in Buckhead's Prominence Building. The new Mediterranean-inspired small plate menu is well suited to Atlanta's hot afternoons and warm evenings. Bruschetta selections change weekly. Antipasto brings an assortment of serrano ham, mortadella, chorizo, marinated olives and manchego cheese with herbed flatbread chips. More options include fried calamari, garlic prawns, albondigas (Spanish meatballs in a spicy tomato stew served with toasted baguettes), stuffed piquillo peppers filled with grilled summer veggies and goat cheese, bacon-wrapped dates and spanikopita. Prices range from $5-$12, so go ahead and bring a group and try them all. You know you want to.

Join Georgia Organics And Get $125 In Coupons To Spend At Area Restaurants And Markets

Join or renew your membership to Georgia Organics between June 15 and July 11, and you'll be rewarded with not only supporting an organization that connects organic food from Georgia farms to Georgia families but you'll also receive the Get the Good Food for All Coupon Book. This money-saver valued at $125 boasts $5 discounts to restaurants and businesses such as Chicken and the Egg, Alma Cocina and South City Kitchen Vinings. Simply join online and take your membership confirmation email to customer service at an Atlanta-area Whole Foods Market to receive the coupon book. Supporting quality food in Georgia and saving money at your favorite restaurants - it's a no brainer!  

Be Prepared For Father's Day (Even If Dad Is Not A Boy Scout)

What's New On Pinterest: Ways to Show Your Pops He's Tops

Eat It And Tweep:  Food Network Editor Gravitates Toward Good Food, Bad Music

Sample Tweet: love Bees Knees recipe @sassyradish http://ow.ly/b9BqL it's my fave cocktail; I always order it at @DutchKillsbar. now craving one!

Appetizing Aperture