In This Issue

Fifth Group Restaurants is Among Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame Finalists

Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails Holds Last BBQ & Blues

JCT. Kitchen & Bar Wine Dinner

Seven Lamps Five-Course Wine Dinner

Five Courses Plus French Wines at The Mill Kitchen & Bar

Vinings Restaurant Week

#foodgram: @ariannebar

Appetizing Aperture: Ray's in the City

What's New on Pinterest? It's Fall Y'all

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.

up-to-date on new and ongoing restaurant events around Atlanta!

Fifth Group Restaurants is Among Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame

Member of the Year Finalists

Fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and red pepper coulis at South City Kitchen Midtown has spoken to Southern heritage and big city sophistication since the restaurant first welcomed guests in 1993. In 1996, Bold American Events opened on the other side of downtown Atlanta in a 100-year-old renovated Westside factory...before trendy became a Westside adjective. Over the years, Fifth Group Restaurants has added more in-town dining destinations: La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, South City Kitchen Vinings, The Original El Taco, Alma Cocina and Lure. With such draw, no wonder that the restaurant group is an Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame Member of the Year finalist. The 15^th annual Hospitality Hall of Fame celebration will take place on November 12 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. In addition to honoring Atlanta's hospitality industry greats, this year's event will mark the yearend celebration of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau's (ACVB) 100^th anniversary! The ACVB, Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Georgia World Congress Center trio back this prestigious event. Fill a table with 10 guests for $1,250 or purchase individual tickets for $125 each by emailing Ellie Westman Chin at ewestmanchin@atlanta.net.

Oktoberfest Flows at Der Biergarten

Beginning September 21

World Cup soccer has its cups and kickoffs, but then, so does Oktoberfest at Der Biergarten on Marietta Street in downtown Atlanta. Saturday, September 21 marks the official kickoff of the brew-ha-ha, marked by the tapping of the keg, pilsners on the patio, giant pretzels and live music. The autumnal party continues every weekend through October 5. Along with pilsners come perks: "Munich on Marietta Street" guests enjoy three hours of validated parking at the Hilton Garden Inn garage across the street.

Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails Throws Down Last BBQ & Blues Sunday of the Season

on September 22

Plan ahead for this event - Chef Derek Dollar does. He starts smoking things up three days beforehand so there will be a gracious plenty of homemade barbecue to go around. The last BBQ & Blues Sunday shindig of 2013 twangs at 5 p.m. on September 22 at Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple. Speak up now and they'll hold plates ($18-$21) for you and your friends. Otherwise, you may miss the pig and be left squealing in dismay.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar Harvests Five

Farmstead-Inspired Courses with Wine on September 23

Farm, field, sea fare and wine are in the works at JCT. Kitchen & Bar on Monday, September 23 at 6 p.m. Chef E. J. Hodgkinson reigns all these good Southern things into an extravaganza of five courses paired with wines from Germany, France and Oregon. The menu features olive oil-poached tomatoes, Bavarian sweet corn, shaved celery, radish and Chioggia beets served with 2003 Schloss Schӧnborn Pfaffenberg Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau; poached royal red shrimp paired with 2012 Rousseau Fr�res Touraine Noble Jou� Rose, Loire Valley; grilled mackerel with compressed watermelon, Castelvetrano olives, arugula pur�e and sweet lemon wine accompanied by NV Ulysse Collin Champagne; squab with charred okra, chanterelles, brown butter, apple cider emulsion, squab and foie gras sausage and grit tuile paired with 2010 Aberrant Cellars Confero Pinot Noir; and an end note of preserved summer berries, lavender semifreddo and ginger snaps paired with Pitaud Pineau des Charentes. Menu and wines are subject to change. $95 per person, including tax and gratuity. Communal table has room for 24 guests; reserve your seat by calling 404-355-2252.

Explore Biodynamic, Organic Italian Wines at Seven Lamps Five-Course Dinner on September 24

How do biodynamic, sustainably farmed and organic wines fit into your vino vocabulary? Kristine Lassor, Republic National Distributing Company level three national sommelier, will be at Seven Lamps on Tuesday, September 24 at 7 p.m. to answer that question during a five-course dinner with wine pairings. Expect Lassor to relay experiences from her recent trip to Italy. Chef Drew Van Leuvan's menu includes smoked Bramlett Farms trout mousse paired with Gianni Gagliardo Fallegro Favorita; stone fruits, avocado, salsa verde and fior di latte paired with Tessari Soave Classico "Grisela" Veneto; wood-roasted duck breast, red wine risotto and Black Mission fig paired with Gianni Gagliardo Dolcetto d'Alba; slow-roasted beef tri-tip, dinosaur kale cannelloni with blackberry mustard and chanterelles paired with Travaglini Gattinara Nebbiolo; and caramelia cremeux, cherries, cocoa nibs and Maldon sea salt paired with Villa M Brachetto. $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating. Reservations required; call 404-467-8950.

Wednesday Night Wow in Roswell -- Five Courses Plus Five French Wines at The Mill Kitchen & Bar on September 25

Taste wines from all of the major wine regions of France paired with a five-course menu at The Mill Kitchen & Bar in Roswell on Wednesday, September 25. The Mill's chef Ben Castro, professional wine writer and certified sommelier Joe Herrig and manager and certified sommelier Ryan Bayliss have linked up to organize this midweek gastronomic treat. $60 a person or $100 per couple. Call 770-817-9345 to make reservations.

Vinings Restaurant Week Spans October 5-13

Our fall food tour of metro-Atlanta restaurant weeks continues as we look forward to Vinings Restaurant Week, October 5-13. Two Southern-flavored destinations on our list are the historically charming Old Vinings Inn on Paces Mill Road in the heart of Vinings and the "Smynings" sophistication of South City Kitchen Vinings off Cumberland Parkway. Look for more details on their prix fixe menus to come.

#foodgram

Wine, cocktails, parties and pups. You must be flicking through the Instagram album of Arianne Fielder (@ariannebar), head mixologist at Article 14.Not only is the proof in the cocktails, it's evident in snapshots of a full and fun life!

Appetizing Aperture

Downtown Atlanta is getting ready to undergo $577 million in public and private investment. Ray's in the City has already put some fresh takes of its own into play. The newly renovated exterior calls out a visual "come on in." Brightly hued and tightly rolled sushi rolls, such as the one shown, are bite-sized powerhouses of protein - ideal for a stay-alert lunch or after-hours pick-me-up, especially when accompanied by an icy libation.

What's New on Pinterest?

You know It's Fall Y'all when the scent of cinnamon brooms greets you just inside the grocery store and team flags and collegiately-colored mums cheer on from front doors. Autumnal dishes are falling like leaves on our Pinterest board, from sweet homemade pecan pumpkin butter and slow cooker apple dapple pudding to chowders, sliders and buffet spread ideas. Start raking them in!