Whet that Dry Spell at JCT. Kitchen & Bar Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner on May 27

Marlow's Tavern and Ormsby's Patty Up for Yelp's Burger Binge Week May 26-30

Don't flip out but May is National Burger Month, and Yelp's Burger Binge Week is closing out the meaty month over the dates of May 26-30. Hamburger humor? What's black and blue and read on the menu at Marlow's Tavern locations? Marlow's black and blue burger -- a Yelp Burger Week must-eat at the tavern's inside-the-perimeter locations of Sandy Springs, Emory Point, Midtown and Vinings (and yes, you can order one at other Marlow's locations). A brioche bun cushions this beefy eater boasting Gorgonzola cheese, applewood smoked bacon and shredded romaine, served with your choice of sides for $11. Ormsby's on Atlanta's Westside takes a different tactic, highlighting their six-ounce New Zealand lamb burger served on pita bread with pickled red onions, tzatziki sauce, hummus and feta cheese at $10. Bocce, backgammon, beer and a burger, anyone?

Gunshow Hired Guns Guest Chef Series Draws James Beard Winner Chris Shepherd from Underbelly on May 27-28

Looks like a linebacker (he's not), cooks like he won Food & Wine's 2013 Best New Chef award (he did) as well as being named 2014 James Beard Best Chef: Southwest (that, too). Underbelly owner/executive chef Chris Shepherd travels east from Houston to Gunshow where he will be the next Hired Guns guest chef on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28. The Texas mega-town's diverse immigrant population -- Vietnamese, Hispanic, Korean and Indian -- inspires this devout locavore and the Asian-leaning new American Creole on Underbelly's menu. Seize your chance to savor Shepherd's flavorful flair alongside Gunshow's featured dinner items. Save a seat: 404-380-1886. Forward-thinking foodies will note other upcoming Southern guest chefs in the buzz-worthy series are chef Mike Isabella of Graffiato in Washington, D.C. on June 17-18, chef John Currence of City Grocery in Oxford, Miss. on July 15-16, chef Tandy Wilson from Nashville's City House on August 12-13 and chef Jeremiah Bacon from Charleston's The MacIntosh and Oak Steakhouse on September 30-October 1. More on our blog.

When the Road Forks, Take It to the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, May 29-June 1

It's all about Southern spoonfuls this weekend as more than 100 award-winning regional chefs plus sommeliers, beverage brainiacs and food followers converge on Midtown for the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. The culinary camaraderie of dinners, classes, demos and sipping and sampling begins on Thursday, May 29 and keeps on cooking through Sunday, June 1. Use the event schedule to plan your weekend and buy tickets online. We've started our daily shortlist:

On Thursday, May 29, JCT. Kitchen & Bar hosts an oyster roast/fish fry/Floribama-flavored Pig Out Coastal-style dinner.

Tasting Tents open up at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 30 and continue on Saturday and Sunday. We're heading to the Ray's Restaurants tent for chef Mike Fuller's Parmesan scallops with lobster risotto. Friday finds Shaun Doty of Bantam & Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy chatting up Bantam & Brew, a bird- and beer-based cooking demo presented by Stella Artois. That night, Gerry Klaskala of Aria and Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow will serve up their favorites at the About South dinner at the Atlanta History Center.

On Saturday, May 31, Orpheus Brewery and Shaun Doty contribute to the Connoisseur's Breakfast that's all about "Fast Casual."

Sunday, June 1 wraps up the festival with Ford Fry and his team of Adam Evans (The Optimist), E.J. Hodgkinson (JCT. Kitchen & Bar), Andrew Isabella (No. 246) and Joe Schafer (King + Duke) taking on Empire Breakfasts. Also on Sunday, Kevin Gillespie talks up a spell on Hillbilly (Appalachian) Cuisine with its locally foraged and grown ingredients, and Jason Pellet of Orpheus Brewery taps topics in the Southern craft brewers class.

California's Roth Estate Fills Glasses at Old Vinings Inn Spring Wine Dinner  

on May 29

Wrap your palate around full-flavored Roth Estate wines originating in Alexander Valley and Sonoma Coast vineyards when Old Vinings Inn hosts its spring wine dinner on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. Chef Don Diem plans five distinct courses, each paired with a unique Roth Estate wine varietal. An amuse of scallops crudo paired with the winery's 2011 sauvignon blanc starts things off before a procession of smoked quail and praline crumble with corn and pea shoots paired with a 2010 Sonoma Coast pinot noir; cedar plank wild salmon and warm fava bean ragout paired with 2009 Alexander Valley merlot; veal roulade and oxtail duxelle with wilted spinach and a Roth reduction accompanied by a 2010 Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon; and finally a raspberry mascarpone semifreddo with bittersweet chocolate ganache paired with 2011 Alexander Valley Heritage red blend. $85 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Make reservations online.

The Optimist Turns Two, Oyster Bar Throws Renovation Bash on May 31

This one's easy enough to remember. The Optimist turns two and the party starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. Shell out $4 for cans of Yuengling, Miller High Life or Sierra Nevada Summerfest beer, $3 for a pour of Cisco Whale's Tale beer from the keg or pick up a fun "Punch on the Run" fish house punch in a pouch for $8. Conquer the putting green by nailing a hole in one to win prizes. Gringo Star and Nathan Nelson bring live music to the mix beginning at 7 p.m. No need to bring a present because the best present is you!

Have a Ball at Adopt a Golden Atlanta 2014 Golden Open on Monday, June 2

Golf or tennis? Adopt a Golden Atlanta 2014 Golden Open tosses both options your way on Monday, June 2. Chase your preference on the greens or courts of the Marietta Country Club. A golf scramble doles out prizes to three winning teams and to individuals for closest to the pin, long drive and hole in one. Registration and practice opens at 8 a.m.; continental breakfast and shotgun start follow at 9 a.m. and a 19th hole cookout, awards, raffle and silent auction await at 2 p.m. Sign up online. Tennis breeds may prefer the AGA tennis benefit, a round robin format awarding prizes to first, second and third places. A noon lunch also nets an awards presentation, silent auction and a raffle. Register here. If it looks like you'll be in the dog house on June 2 and can't make it, you can always pitch in and make a donation.

What's Your Lunar Cycle? Tin Lizzy's Cantina Sponsors June 13 Atlanta Moon Ride, Hosts Packet Pickup Party on June 12

Quit waxing and waning. Hop on your bike and spin along in the second-annual Atlanta Moon Ride on Friday night, June 13. Tin Lizzy's Cantina in Buckhead is the official packet pickup location for this 6.5-mile night bike ride through some of Atlanta's most scenic neighborhoods. The ride benefits Bert's Big Adventure. Brake at the Buckhead cantina to pick up your ride packet and join the party with drink specials on June 12. Ride sets off Friday night at 10 p.m. from Park Tavern bordering Piedmont Park. Thinking about signing up? All Tin Lizzy's locations are in as sponsors, boding well for Tin Lizzy's lovers who register online and use the code "tinlizzys" for a $5 registration discount. Gear up for the ride with a bike head lamp, handlebar bling, costumes - the sky's the limit!

#foodgram

Chop out childhood cancer with chopsticks as the 10th annual Nicky's Week continues through Sunday, May 31 at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital -- that's $1.2 million since the event began in 2005. Read about Nicky Mailliard, the inspiring boy behind Nicky's Week and pick up the menu here.

What's New on Pinterest

Who knew? National Doughnut Day originated with The Salvation Army back in 1938 and has since rolled onto the first Friday of June each year. Our Get Glazed Pinterest board pays homage to these tender golden rings and zeroes in on the double-decker doughnut with doughnut-hole studs at King + Duke in Buckhead. What a royal sugar rush!