Food

Nowadays, it seems every day is a national holiday. Whether it’s National Wiggle Your Toes Day on the 6th or National Tell a Joke Day on the 16th, there’s a lot to celebrate throughout the month of August.

How I love guacamole, especially when it’s made fresh at the table, as it was for us on a visit to Babalu Tapas & Tacos. Is there anything better than this creamy avocado-based dip with crunchy tortilla chips?

Hattie B’s flew its Nashville coop and landed in Atlanta. The beloved hot chicken joint recently opened in the old Little Five Points Laundry off Moreland Avenue, and has had customers lining up ever since.

Mission + Market’s brunch service has been open for a few weeks and it has already received praise from Atlanta foodies and landed a spot on Eater’s Hottest Brunches in Atlanta list.

Irby’s Tavern pays tribute to the founder of Buckhead. Henry Irby hung a buck’s head in his tavern, which was just down the street from this new upscale sports bar.

Although we have about 287 restaurants within two miles of our house, we suffer brain block when deciding where to go. Recently my husband remembered Endive Publik House, a cozy restaurant that’s only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday for dinner.

When you hear “daiquiri,” a super sweet, fruity, blended concoction in a martini glass may come to mind. Though a $14 daiquiri may tempt you as temperatures rise, replicating a restaurant-quality daiquiri at home may be easier than you think.

I wasn’t exactly surprised when Sweetwater announced they were producing a new line of brews intended to mimic the olfactory experience of opening a bag of marijuana. So when I was invited to an exclusive industry tasting recently, I was curious and couldn’t say no.

Never got around to planting that garden this year? No worries, there are plenty of local farmers markets in and around Atlanta to visit for fresh produce and more.

One in five Georgia children don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Those fears worsen during summer months as schools aren’t there to provide free and reduced-price breakfast and lunches.

Let the barbeque chill for a while – these no-grill dessert kebobs can heat up any 4^th of July celebration on their own. These simple, festive skewers will be a hit with kids and adults.

I didn’t think I liked rum cake until I tried it at Irie Mon Cafe. We’d finished our lunch of delicious jerk chicken for me and curry vegetables for my vegetarian friend Melissa, and she couldn’t resist the tasty, moist cake.

The chicken was tender, the salmon perfectly spiced and oh, that bread. Baked specially for Zunzi’s by Holeman & Finch, the parbaked bread is the perfect foundation for the five heaping sandwiches at this new restaurant on Howell Mill. We tried them all and our favorite was the Godfather.

Chai Yo Modern Thai, from the family that owns Nan, Tamarind Seed and Tuk Tuk, is now open in Buckhead, serving lunch and dinner.

Barbecue has been a long-time favorite among southern states, but there is a notable rich history for this comfort food all across America. Discover the stories behind this beloved food at the Atlanta History Center’s newest exhibition, “Barbecue Nation.” Marinate on the history, tradition and culture that center around how barbecue made its claim to fame. The exhibition features artifacts, images and oral histories from across the country.

Growing up, every Sunday was “dodo” day, a weekly tradition where we sat around the table eating bagels followed by, you guessed it, donuts (Atkins would not approve). Sadly this tradition has tapered off over the years, but my love for those hot, delicious circles hasn’t.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and if you’re like me, you’re in need of a cocktail to celebrate. One of my favorite go-to recipes is Bobby Flay’s Watermelon Tequila Cocktail.

Americans eat three billion pizzas a year, about 100 acres each day. Let’s celebrate one of our country’s most beloved foods with National Pizza Party Day on May 18.

Imagine a road trip across the South, indulging in some of the best food and drink along the way … all for $100. No, the dollar has not dropped, but Atlanta Food & Wine’s Tasting Tent lineup just did.

Warm weather is finally here in Atlanta. You know what that means – it’s time to brunch on the patio. One of my favorite Midtown patios can be found at The Lawrence. And now that its new spring menu has launched, you can bet I’ll be here all summer.

The Garden & Gun Club sits just steps away from the entrance of SunTrust Park in the Battery Atlanta. With some of the finest cocktails and the South’s favorite dishes, this cozy social establishment is an expression of the Garden & Gun magazine and falls nothing short of their Southern lifestyle.

Prepare your taste buds! Atlanta’s Taste of the Nation, benefitting No Kid Hungry, takes place on Thursday, May 3. Returning for its 30th year, the city’s top chefs and mixologists will unite for a premier culinary tasting event, donating their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger.

I’m all for prolonging celebrations. Buckhead Diner turned 30 last November, but is still offering a Thirty for 30 special, a three-course dinner for $30.

Have a budding chef? Help them whip up tasty food during a cooking class at Maggiano’s Little Italy. Our class, led by Executive Chef Thomas Wenning, started with a kid-friendly buffet featuring pasta Alfredo, chicken fingers and freshly baked bread.

The newest restaurant to the Buckhead food scene, Mission + Market, is now open! Have you checked it out? Chef Ian Winslade’s West Coast-inspired eatery draws inspiration from global influences across the world. You’ll find items like seared steelhead trout with pea scented rice grits and wild mushroom polenta with bone marrow beef jus on the spring menu. Our mouths are watering.

Luckily, I have zero allergies or food restrictions. But I would still buy treats from MadeGood. Their granola bars and vanilla crispy squares have none of the eight most common allergens. They are organic and contain the nutrients of a full serving of vegetables.

Enjoy live music and a three-course meal at Watershed for Easter Sunday Jazz Brunch. Fleming’s also has a three-course menu for brunch, including one for children.

Sampling dishes and learning from the best chefs and mixologists in the South – no wonder it’s my favorite festival of the year. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 16, for the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, which takes place May 31 to June 3.

Bagels, pastries, buns – you name it, people are crazy for the baked goods from H&F Bread Co. Soon there will be more to love as it completes an expansion, adding 16,000 square feet to its 50,000-square-foot facility on the Westside.

Nights at The Battery Atlanta will get even livelier with the opening of Punch Bowl Social at the end of the month. This new 25,000-square-foot entertainment destination includes a bar with craft beverages and a restaurant with dishes from Chef Hugh Acheson of Empire State South. Between bites and sips, try your hand at games that include shuffleboard, skeeball, ping pong, bowling and video games.