From southern Andalusian coasts to northern Catalonian borders, Gypsy Kitchen embraces a Spanish culinary heritage privy to Moorish, Basque, Galician, Moroccan and even some Indian influences. Southern Proper Hospitality's latest addition to our city's culturally diverse dining options opens Tuesday, October 14 on the second floor of the Buckhead Atlanta development at 3035 Peachtree Road. Executive chef Randy Lewis transports guests on an enticing tour of Spain via his broad menu of shareable snacks (picas), small plates (platos pequeños) and larger entrées (raciones) for communal table sharing. Old World wines, foreign label and domestic craft brews and a spicy cocktail program complete the meal experience.

 

Picas might include house-cured Spanish olives, za'atar-roasted Marcona almonds and things on toast such as tomato fresca or roasted sweet onions with Cabrales blue cheese and honey. House-cured chorizo, lardo, jamón serrano, jamón iberico and a variety of artisanal cheeses including Mahón-Menorca, manchego, caña de Cabra and Valdeón are customary Spanish options. Confit octopus with potato, paprika, garlic chips and parsley or kataifi-wrapped shrimp with chorizo are two appetizer choices. For the table, share plates of spice-roasted root vegetables with couscous Casablanca; serrano-wrapped N.C. trout with fava bean and Spanish olive salsa; confit chicken thigh with tikka masala saffron sauce, a cauliflower couscous and a cauliflower­-almond purée; or a lamb kefta tagine with sunny-side up egg, tomato and Moroccan spices. More? Larger plates of Majorcan-style branzino or bone-in beef rib-eye with roasted red peppers, feta, capers and preserved lemons keep Spain, the main.

 

Harvest for a Cure to Reap Funds for MS

with Help from Atlanta Chefs and Sommeliers

on October 23

Two weeks down, two to go as Ormsby's continues to tap into some of the world's most exceptional beers during their October Clear the Cellar event. Atlanta's beloved Westside tavern is dedicating six taps to unique and rare craft beers from around the United States and abroad, rotating options throughout the month until each keg runs dry. Beers to discover include: 2007 Rodenbach, Timmerman's Pumpkin lambic, Allagash James Bean, Stone Vertical Epic 12/12/12, Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast stout), Stone Smoked Old Guardian and Lost Abbey Angel's Share. Come on over and help them clean house, glass by glass.

During September, many Atlanta restaurants participated in the Share Our Strength "Dine Out for No Kid Hungry" fundraising campaign to wipe out childhood hunger in the U.S. Dollar counts are in! Ted's Montana Grill exceeded their goal of $200,000 (taking into account all 45 restaurant locations nationwide). Even more restaurants participated, generating quite a healthy haul to provide good nutrition to children and grow a healthier nation. Thanks, Atlanta! 

With the announcement that Christopher Grossman is coming aboard as chef de cuisine, Atlas restaurant is already flexing its culinary muscles. The highly anticipated Buckhead restaurant will open in The St. Regis Atlanta in January 2015. Tavistock Group and consulting chef and restaurateur Gerry Klaskala (Aria executive chef/owner, Canoe founder) are thrilled to announce Grossman as the new restaurant's culinary helmsman. Their man is no stranger to the Atlanta fine dining scene, serving as chef de cuisine at Aria for four years before heading west to Napa's much-acclaimed The French Laundry. Past years of working under James Beard-nominated chef Craig Common at the Common Grill in Chelsea, Michigan, holding senior positions at Otsego Club and Resort and cooking alongside rising chef Jeremy Grandon at Jeremy Restaurant have added to Grossman's depth and breadth of expertise. Atlantans and visitors, get ready. Grossman, with his superlative skills and fresh approach to American cuisine and European muse, is poised to establish Atlas as one of the South's premier destination restaurants. 

Der Biergarten sweats the tall stuff: an ice-cold Oktoberfest beer-of-the-week is $9 per liter glass through October 30. Each Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the bar-meister taps a new keg, elevating it to this honor. This week it's Weihenstephan followed by Spaten over October 17-23. A $20 souvenir Oktoberfest mug includes the first pour and refills are only $8! Add Der Biergarten's authentic German music and food and oom-pah-pah the afternoon and evening away.  

When Jack- and Jill-O'-Lanterns say "More Pumpkin, Please," we come through. Pumpkin spice puppy chow is a fall party treat, as are chai-spiced pumpkin bars, homemade pumpkin pretzels and chocolate pumpkin truffles. Treat the family to pumpkin French toast or pumpkin spice pancakes for breakfast and creamy pumpkin pasta bake or black bean pumpkin soup for heartwarming fall suppers. Save room for pie? Don't mind if we do.