In This Issue

The Optimist Sails to 6th Annual Oyster Cook-Off

What's New on Pinterest? Thanksgiving Traditions

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!

Purity Vodka Tasting at Article 14 on

November 7 is Clearly a Worthwhile Event

Before ultra-premium Purity Vodka leaves its home of Ellinge Castle in the south of Sweden, the crystal-clear spirit undergoes 34 distillations and gives up 90 percent of its original liquid. Master blender Thomas Kuuttanen oversees the process that renders a full-bodied, award-winning vodka. Discover the distinct difference when Article 14 and Kuuttanen present Purity Vodka on Thursday, November 7 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Article 14 mixologist Arianne Fielder will create two special Purity Vodka cocktails, and the kitchen will back her handiwork with heavy appetizers for guests to enjoy. Plan ahead for holiday gift giving and bring along a bottle or two of Purity Vodka for Kuuttanen to sign. There's no charge to attend, but vodka aficionados should call 404-443-8432 to reserve a spot as space is limited. Open to guests ages 21 and over.

Barks & Beers at Der Biergarten

Bark-toberfest? In a November way. From 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, Der Biergarten in Downtown's Luckie Marietta District is hosting a Barks & Beers afternoon of $5 Weihenstephan Hefeweizen to benefit the Atlanta Humane Society. Slip that leash on Buddy and Bella and bring them along to complete the picture. Pupless? The Atlanta Humane Society will be there with dogs and puppies for adoption by those serious about adding a canine friend to their household. Human distractions include beer pong, shuffleboard and foosball, plus live music from 6-9 p.m. It's enough to set your tail a-wagging.

These Folks Will Brew Your Cask Off at SweetWater Cask Ale Festival on November 9

It's guaranteed to be one "ale" of a good time. Teams from Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, Ormsby's, Marlow's Tavern and South City Kitchen Vinings will channel their inner brews into creating unique casks of ales at the Brew Your Cask Off Cask Ale Festival hosted by SweetWater Brewery on Saturday, November 9. In all, more than 90 restaurants and retailers will tap into the ale-mentary process. These brewmaster wannabes are not left totally to their own intuitions, SweetWater brewmasters will draft a little divine guidance of their own. The party is on from 6-10 p.m. under the big tents in front of SweetWater Brewery. Buy tickets for $35 each in advance online or $40 each day of and enjoy unlimited cask samples (tasting glass swag alert), brewery tours and the rockin' sounds of The Vegabonds. Must be at least 21 to attend. Boost your cask-ale cred beforehand at www.cask-ale.co.uk.

The Optimist Sails to The Hangout in Gulf Shores for 6th Annual Oyster Cook-Off on November 9

Cool breezes, sunny skies, no crowds. Fall is a phenomenal time to visit Gulf Shores, Ala. As we're raking leaves, Gulf-goers are raking in bushels of fresh oysters. Thankfully, The Hangout cracked open a way to share all of these good things, creating its first Oyster Cook-Off six years ago. This year's eat-fest, presented by Alabama Gulf Seafood and hosted by The Hangout on Saturday, November 9, shows how far the popularity has spread with celebrity chefs coming in from as far afield as Hawaii. The Optimist joins more than 70 notable chefs and restaurants from the Southeast and beyond participating in the event. Chefs will create their own "Rockefeller," "Cajun" or "raw" oyster dishes as they compete for more than $10,000 in prizes. Beginning at 11 a.m., oyster connoisseurs can ante up tasting tickets ($2 each or $30 for a book of 20) to sample the fixins. An Absolut bloody mary buffet, live music, cooking demos, football viewing, oyster-shucking contests, games and prizes keep the party flowing. Friday, November 8 pre-party runs from 7:30-11 p.m. for early comers.

Atlanta Restaurants Honor U.S. Military with Veterans Day Deals on November 11

The men and women of the U.S. Armed Services work tirelessly and selflessly for the freedoms we so often take for granted as we go about our daily routines. As small, but delicious, tokens of gratitude, Atlanta restaurants are offering these heroes special discounts on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11. Marlow's Tavern in Midtown is offering 50 percent off the price of an entr�e to all those who present their U.S. military ID. All Legacy Restaurants are also taking 50 percent off entr�es for anybody with a U.S. military ID. Visit Article 14, Der Biergarten, Game-X, Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria, STATS and Glenn's Kitchen or SkyLounge at The Glenn Hotel to capture these half-off savings. And the rest of us? We can show veterans our appreciation by cheering them on when the Georgia Veterans Day Parade steps off from Peachtree Street near Ralph McGill at 11:11 a.m. on Saturday, November 9 and ends up in Centennial Olympic Park around lunchtime. That's only a short distance from the Legacy Restaurants mentioned above, including Game-X with more than 60 of today's best games and interactives.

#foodgram

Zoom into @eatdrinkrepeat to keep up with food goings on around the ATL. Be on the lookout for the shot of Chris Watkins' "This is the Way We Roll" roll, the winner in RA Sushi Bar Restaurant's October sushi-making for charity event. Watkins' masterpiece graces the restaurant's November menu, and sales proceeds will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That's just the way he rolls.

Appetizing Aperture

Seven Lamps turns the spotlight on that iconic American beer, PBR (the monogram for Pabst Blue Ribbon) and provides a collapsible koozie to keep it comfortably cool while you sip away. The dynamic duo is yours for only $3.

What's New on Pinterest?

Thanksgiving traditions. It's never too early to start or too late to re-evaluate. Keep what works and be thankful for new ideas, such as those we've found and stuffed onto our Thanksgiving Traditions Pinterest board. For instance, why give the turkey all the glory? Add some bacon. First-time host? Follow our posts.