In This Issue

Sweet Dee's Bakeshop at Old Town Tucker Christmas on Main Street

Kevin Gillespie Leads High Museum Dialogue Gallery Talk on December 5

Fourth Annual Nikolaustag Celebration at Der Biergarten

Nikolai's Roof to Wow Guests with New Look

Vidalia Onions Appear at Georgia Grown Christmas Showcase

#foodgram: @foodandwinemag

Appetizing Aperture: 10th & Piedmont's Chicken & Waffles

What's New on Pinterest? Living in a Cookie Cutter World

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!

Be Happier for Helping and Attending a "Happy Hour for Hope" at Old Vinings Inn on

December 4

Ever notice how helping someone else adds a smile to your face and puts a spring in your step? Watch it happen. On Wednesday, December 4, Old Vinings Inn is hosting a "Happy Hour for Hope" where guests can share holiday cheer while extending helping hands to area families experiencing difficult times. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, a bag of canned goods for MUST Ministries' food pantry and/or a $10 donation to The Attic Bar at Old Vinings Inn beginning at 6 p.m. In return, enjoy an array of complimentary appetizers to go along with your favorite libations. Spread the word and encourage coworkers to participate in the giving and receiving. Voilà! Instant holiday party.

Sweet Dee's Bakeshop Takes Sweets to the Street for December 5 Old Town Tucker

Christmas on Main Street

Christmas on Main Street, sponsored by the Old Town Tucker Merchants Association, transforms downtown Tucker into a ho-ho-holiday block party with music, food, children's craft activities, lighting of the Great Tree and a Santa sighting on Thursday, December 5. Sweet Dee's Bakeshop will be among the vendor stalls lining Main Street from 5-9 p.m. and will be selling peppermint bark, mini cupcakes and small stocking stuffer items. Want more of the Sweet Dee life? Sweet Dee's Bakeshop itself is right in the thick of things at 2316 Main Street. Inside the cheerful little shop, the display case boasts an array of baked goods, cupcakes and full-sized cakes, and fragrant hot coffees are superior hand warmers in a cup. Ice cream stands for a delicious North Pole-ish frozen treat.

Kevin Gillespie Leads High Museum

Dialogue Gallery Talk on December 5

Gunshow owner, chef, Fire in My Belly cookbook author and Bravo "Top Chef" star Kevin Gillespie is cutting out of his Glenwood Park restaurant and heading over to the High Museum of Art from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5. No, he's not painting a canvas with barbecue sauce. The tattooed chef joins Dr. Pegah Zamani, Southern Polytechnic State University professor of architecture, to lead an informal gallery talk called Dialogue from 6:15-7 p.m. The two will lead a group of guests to their favorite High Museum pieces. Dialogue is part of the High's Thirsty Thursdays program encompassing extended hours, a DJ and a bar -- all for half-price admission after 4 p.m. Let's think this through. Rush hour traffic jam or cultural jam at the High. Go with the Dialogue.

Fourth Annual Nikolaustag Celebration Rocks Der Biergarten on December 9

St. Nicholas became known for his good deeds way back in the fourth century. He's the one who first filled those stockings drying by the fire that we copycat today. Der Biergarten honors his love for bringing joy to others with a big happy Nikolaustag party of its own on Monday, December 9 from 5-9 p.m. The family friendly celebration decks Der Biergarten halls with 9,984 ornaments, 72 nutcrackers, 48 stockings, 26 Christmas trees then brings in music, entertainment, games, giveaways and a kid-friendly Santa. Adults, your holiday cheer specials include $8 liters of draft Krombacher pilsner and Warsteiner dunkle and $5 glühwein. Stein Club members save 50 percent off their individual tabs. Der Biergarten's proximity to Centennial Olympic Park puts Nikolaustag on the post-ice skating rink radar, and those at the Georgia Aquarium Festival of the SEAson can head right over when the aquarium closes at 5 p.m.

Famed Nikolai's Roof to Wow Guests with

New Look and Menu

Famous for its panoramic view, award-winning menu and impeccable dining staff, Nikolai's Roof, located on the 30^th floor of the Hilton Atlanta, reopens in January following a $1 million renovation. The iconic 7,500 square-foot restaurant boasts a more contemporary design to accentuate the ambiance and view, and chef Stephanie Alderete delivers an updated menu with fresh, vibrant ingredients while retaining the Russian influences of the restaurant's signature dishes. Nikolai's Roof has been wowing diners and garnering awards for more than 35 years. Awards include Wine Spectator's 2012 Best of Award Excellence; DiRoNA - 2012 Distinguished Restaurants of North America and Open Table's 2012 Most Romantic and Best View.

Santa, Are those Vidalia Onions in Your Sack? Might be - Vidalia Onions Appear at Georgia Grown Christmas Showcase at Atlanta State Farmers Market December 13-14

Visions of Vidalias? Huh? Everyone knows the real Vidalia onion season stretches from late April through mid September. Ah, but consider the multitude of delicious goods made right here in Georgia from sweet Georgia-grown Vidalia onions. They'll be among the other Georgia-grown treasures -- along with chef demos, Christmas trees, carolers harking and heralding plus a Santa meet and greet -- at this weekend's first Georgia Grown Christmas Showcase filling the expo center at the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park. On Friday, December 13, the event welcomes restaurants, retailers, distributors and others in the food service industry. Shoppers, look for Vidalias at the holiday market on Saturday, December 14. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Free admission.

#foodgram

Test kitchen marvels such as blow torch touch-ups. Restaurant stalking. Photo links to party peeks and fast party food fixes. For an all-access Food & Wine pass, snap to @foodandwinemag.

Appetizing Aperture

Chicken and waffles are all the rage, affording a bit of sweetness, saltiness and crispy satisfaction in every bite. 10^th & Piedmont skewers their own ingenious version of marinated chicken dipped in applewood smoked bacon waffle batter and served with North Georgia sorghum syrup, hot sauce and stone-ground grits ($10). Find it on the weekend brunch menu near other specialties such as the Hair of the Dog, The Champion, the Feel Good Plate . . . right above the bellinis, mimosas and other brunch-y cocktails.

What's New on Pinterest?

We're rolling in dough and with good reason. The first week of December is National Cookie Cutter Week, established in the 1990s for the Cookie Cutter Collector's Club. And, cookie exchange season is sprinting in faster than a gingerbread man dodging a hungry fox. We're Living in a Cookie Cutter World -- roll with us on Pinterest.