Holiday Pajama Brunch Buffet at The Shed at Glenwood -- No Slumber, Just Party

 

The spiffy jammies, slippers or cozy robe that clearly said, "buy me" on your holiday shopping list should see more than sheets or Santa coming down the chimney. They're begging to attend the Holiday Pajama Brunch Buffet that The Shed at Glenwood is hosting on Sunday, December 21 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The bountiful buffet is only $22 per person. Fried chicken with bourbon hot sauce and biscuits, maple-glazed bread pudding "French toast," jalapeño and cheddar grits, smoked brisket pajama hash and roasted vegetables are a few of the items filling plates. While away the afternoon with friends over pitchers of mimosas, poinsettias, Dark & Stormies or palomas. A signature bloody mary ($7) adds a spirited touch of red and green to selfies and group shots. Reserve your seat today by calling 404-835-4363. 

  

Visitors and shoppers will have a piri piri holiday season when they dine at the newest Bantam + Biddy location in Lenox Square. Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere's casual, all-natural eatery is now open on the mall level near Neiman Marcus, and a patio is part of the picture. Atlantans can look forward to savoring the same menu they love at the Ansley Mall, Crescent Avenue and Avalon restaurants: regional fare prepared from seasonal, organic vegetables and locally raised pastured poultry (accompanied by piri piri, wasakaka, beer mustard or sweet BBQ sauces) and White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef. Sure, you can order a vegetable plate ($12.50), chicken and cheddar waffles ($12), a Southern Breakfast All Day ($12), a Power House salad ($8.50) or a gluten-free selection. The new Lenox location also boasts a Batdorf & Bronson espresso bar to help get those shopping juices flowing. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks -- lots to crow about here!

There are desire in your heart and jingle in your pocket, but you can't wrangle a notion of what to give foodie friends and family. Maybe you're looking too far and wide. Dote and delight with gifts from your own backyard -- ATL and GA.

 

Turn to Chef Kevin Gillespie and his General Store to pick up jolly jolts for coffee-fiend friends. His own "Red Beard's Delight" blend coffee out of Jittery Joe's in Athens is $14 a canister. Add a mug ($10), Gunshow T-shirt ($25) or any of the other novel ideas. Procure a signed copy of Gillespie's new cookbook, "Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes from Around the World" ($30), for your porcine-partial friends (to be released and shipped on March 31, 2015). 

 

White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, offers incredible one-of-a-kind holiday gifts through its convenient online store. The shop transports farm-fresh meats in Gift Pack and Samplers from farm to front door. Meatier than four calling birds, the "Holiday Gift Box Four" ($300) packs a pastured duck, pastured goose, grass-fed tenderloin roast, grass-fed prime rib roast, a medium pastured turkey and a pastured guinea hen. Browse the online shop for other farm-inspired items like Campessino whole bean coffee ($11), grass-fed beef tallow candle in vanilla scent ($4.99), White Oak Pastures clothing and Madeline Smiles handmade grass-fed jewelry.  

 

Whole Foods Market locations are well stocked with thoughtful host gifts such as prepared foods, Georgia wines, regionally produced cheeses and other locally produced products. It's easy to fill a basket with healthy stocking stuffers here.

 

The Pig & The Pearl keeps bottles of chef Todd Richards' spunky barbecue sauces handy -- just the right size and shape to stuff stockings. Depending on your recipient, buy Hot, Hotter or Bourbon Hot Sauce at the Atlantic Station restaurant for $8 a bottle; three for $21. 

 

No one will turn you down when you hand them brews from Midtown's Orpheus Brewing, and these beers will be a hit at your own party. Flagship beers Atalanta and Lyric Ale are now available in cans decorated with commissioned designs from Atlanta artists Brandon Sadler and Peter Ferrari. Buy six-packs at local retailers and package stores. 

 

Gift card deals throw in something extra for the giftee or the gifter! At Aqua blue, receive a $25 bonus card with purchase of a $100 gift card.

 

The golden egg at Bantam + Biddy is an additional $10 gift card with every $50 gift card purchased through December 31 at all locations. The same deal flies at Chick-a-Biddy.

 

If Midtown's their hometown or hangout spot, consider Communitas Hospitality gift cards, good at 10^th& Piedmont, G's Midtown and HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern and receive an extra $20 with each $100 of gift cards purchased. Buy here. Cards cannot be used the day of purchase and expire on March 23, 2015.  

 

FLIP burger boutique flips an extra $10 gift card your way with each $50 gift card purchase or an extra $20 with $100. Bonus cards expire on March 15, 2015 and are not valid on the day of purchase.  

 

Hearth Pizza Tavern tosses in an additional $10 gift card with each $50 gift card purchased through January 1, 2015.

 

In Buford, Parma Tavern bestows an extra $10 gift card with each $50 gift card purchased through January 1.  

 

The Pig & The Pearl shells out an additional $20 when you buy $100 in gift cards through December 31.

 

Neighborly Marlow's Tavern hands out an additional $20 gift card with each $100 gift card purchased through December 31. 

 

Roll into RA Sushi through December 31 to receive a $10 bonus card with every $50 gift card purchase. Bonus gift cards are valid from January 2 to March 31, 2015.  

 

Ray's Restaurants is giving out a special gift ($25 value; while supplies last) with all in-restaurant gift card purchases of $100 or more at Ray's on the River, Ray's at Killer Creek and Ray's in the City. Through the end of January, the restaurant group also is offering a 20 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $25-$975 and a 25 percent bonus on all gift card purchases of $1,000 or more.   

 

Ted's Montana Grill gift cards earn their stripes as stocking stuffers, and you'll receive 15 percent off when you purchase $500 or more. 

 

The Shed at Glenwood adds $20 in gift cards with a $100 purchase now through the end of the year.  

 

Go with the pho at Tin Drum Asiacafe. Purchase a $25 gift card and receive a free entrée. Offer is valid now through December 28 at all Atlanta-area locations. 

 

Tin Lizzy's sends glad tidings of more FlexMex your way. Purchase a $100 gift card and get an additional $20 gift card. Offer is available only with a $20 minimum gift card purchase at a Tin Lizzy's location now through December 31. Redeem bonus cards January 1 through February 28, 2015.

Christmas and the new year are darting in faster than Blitzen and his buds. Are you ready? Our list of Atlanta-area restaurants planning holiday menus and celebrations rivals Santa's lengthy checklist. Follow St. Nick's lead and visit our blog for the who/what/where on everything from take-out to traditional to tropical. "Yule" be glad you made reservations for any of these events when it's time to eat or toast in the new year.

 

Restaurants are our specialty. We adore wining and dining at some of the best restaurants in our city and beyond -- and keeping our readers in the know. Don't write us off though when it comes to dabbling in the kitchen. We have our own stash of recipes and traditions that sing holiday-time to us, and we're happy to share. Find them all on our blog. Eat, drink and be merry, from our kitchen (and bar) to yours.

 

• Alex: Turtle Cookies
• Amy: Grandma's Easy Cheese Potatoes
• Brandon:Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
• Emily: Tea Time Tassies
• Erin: Texas Sheet Cake 
• Gretchen: Spinach Balls
• Mandy: Banana Gingerbread Muffins
• Melissa: Gretchen's Awesome, Amazing, Addictive Sugar Cookies
• Tuan: Family Time Cocktail
• Audrey: Gooey Dessert Bars
• Nicole: Apple Cheese Casserole

All is merry and bright at Melissa Libby and Associates this yuletide season. Our radiant faces reflect the good cheer, reflections and laughter we enjoyed (not to mention Aria's exquisite cuisine) during our holiday party at Aria. Thanks, Atlanta, for a fabulous 2014 and all the best for 2015! 

Atlanta is nirvana for grab-and-go delights, magnificent meals and global fare. Next time you experience an edible OMG moment, share a pic and some words with a like-minded community, @bestfoodatlanta, using the tag #myfab5. Travelers can scope out options in various cities using the app. 

Christmas Cravings run the gamut from party food to breakfast dishes to gifts for Merry Christmas wishes. Our Pinterest board is decked out with how to stack tomatoes, basil and cheese into caprese appetizers, gift squat jars of cinnamon honey butter, arrange cheese, crackers and sausages into a Christmas tree appetizer and shape a protein-filled crescent roll breakfast ring for brunches or breakfast. For fun, stick and dip Oreos to make snowman pops. We're craving gifts, too, and are not shy about posting pics of picks!