Gunshow Team Launches Gunpowder Finishing Salt with Beautiful Briny Sea

For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

Laura Fryer

Blue Hominy Public Relations

404-906-7079

laura@bluehominy.com

Gunshow Team Launches Gunpowder Finishing Salt with Beautiful Briny Sea

Chefs Kevin Gillespie and Joey Ward Team with Atlanta-Based Company on High-Powered Seasoning

ATLANTA (September 29, 2015) – Finishing touches are critical, particularly in the restaurant business.  Atlanta chef, restaurateur, speaker and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie knows this well, which is one reason he and Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward decided to take aim at hitting new heights in flavor with Gunpowder Finishing Salt.  A spice blend crafted in partnership with Atlanta-based Beautiful Briny Sea, a company that creates finishing salts and sugars for seasoning, the blend includes Hawaiian volcanic salt with chipotle, black pepper, garlic, onion, sumac and more, the tangy spice mix has a mineral clean finish with smoky, residual heat.

“Joey and I wanted to create the ultimate umami flavor bomb,” Gillespie says. “Beautiful Briny Sea offered us free reign of their entire ‘spice library’ to experiment, and we think the result amps up any dish without changing the flavor. It goes especially well with grilled meats, fried foods, barbecue or any foods lacking deliciousness." 

Gillespie and Ward had another reason for partnering with the local artisan dry goods company – it is part of their restaurant company's mission. "Red Beard Restaurants was founded with the idea to support other local businesses. Beautiful Briny Sea is a growing Atlanta company working to create great products and represent the South, and we want to play a part in that," Ward says. "Plus, the ‘Gunpowder’ we created with them is just all-around delicious; it will make your tongue wag." 

Gunpowder Finishing Salt is sold in a 5-oz. gold tin reminiscent of a BB pellet container for $15. It is available in the restaurant and online.

Gunshow is located at 924 Garrett Street. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests may park in the Glenwood Park parking lot and on the street. For more information, visit gunshowatl.com or call 404-380-1886.

About Red Beard Restaurants

Red Beard Restaurants is the parent company that oversees Atlanta chef, restaurateur, speaker and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie’s food and beverage ventures, including his restaurants Gunshow and Revival, his BBQ pop-up Terminus City and all of his merchandise. The management company allows Gillespie to set comprehensive standards to ensure smart expansion, offer more internal growth opportunities for his team members and provide consulting services to other food and beverage start-ups. With the 2015 establishment of Red Beard Restaurants, Gillespie is able to continue his day-to-day interactions with diners while also pursuing his creative visions and impacting the culinary landscape of the South. The company’s offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, call 404-380-1886 or visit redbeardrestaurants.com.

About Beautiful Briny Sea

Beautiful Briny Sea is an artisan dry goods company located in Atlanta’s historic Grant Park. Products are 100% handmade using locally grown herbs, foraged mushrooms and organic spices sourced from growers and purveyors guided by methods of sustainability. Beautiful Briny Sea’s salt blends, sugar blends, and gift sets can be found from coast to coast in gourmet groceries, mom and pop stores, galleries, pop-up shops as well as many local restaurants and farmer’s markets. For a catalog of products, please see here.

beautifulbrinysea.com

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Revival Hosts Bacon Explosion on Oct. 24 to Celebrate Pure Pork Awesomeness

For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

REVIVAL HOSTS BACON EXPLOSION ON OCT. 24 TO
CELEBRATE PURE PORK AWESOMENESS

Kevin Gillespie’s Decatur Restaurant Partners With
BBQ Addicts’ Jason Day for a Swine-Filled Shindig

ATLANTA (September 30, 2015) –On Saturday, Oct. 24, Atlanta chef, restaurateur, speaker and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie is teaming up with BBQ Addicts’ Jason Day to pay respect to the pig with a Bacon Explosion event at Gillespie’s newest restaurant, Revival. From noon to 3 p.m., guests can savor the bacon-wrapped, bacon-stuffed barbecue sausage dish that puts all others to shame.

“It’s no secret that I love working with pork, and Bacon Explosion is the ultimate tribute to pork,” says Gillespie. “Guests are in for a real treat when they try Jason’s original version of this indulgent dish.”

The porcine party will take place on Revival’s front porch and in the Decatur restaurant's front yard, where Day will be cooking the original version of his infamous Bacon Explosion - a pound of basket-weaved bacon wrapped around two pounds of juicy sausage filled with a pound of fried bacon crumbles. Gillespie will serve additional snacks and all will be paired with craft beers from Atlanta’s own Wild Heaven brewery. A variety of Angry Orchard hard ciders, a great pairing for pork, will also be served while George Norman & Friends entertains with live music.

This isn’t the first time Gillespie has partnered with Day; the two met in 2013 while filming The Bacon Show on Tasted.com and discovered their mutual passion for pork. Gillespie’s own version of the Bacon Explosion dish appears in his second cookbook,“Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes From Around the World,” where he credits Day for creating the original recipe.

“Pure Pork Awesomeness,” the follow-up to Gillespie’s successful cookbook debut “Fire in My Belly,” is organized like the pig itself - by cuts - and offers not just recipes but tips on buying the best-tasting pork available, differences among heritage breeds of pigs and what to do with new cuts like “rib-eye of pork.”Readers will come to agree with Gillespie that whether it's pork chop one day, pulled pork another or cured bacon the next, pig offers a completely different taste with each creation.

Tickets for this event are $30 per person, which includes food and two drinks, or $50 per person for food, two drinks and a copy of Gillespie’s “Pure Pork Awesomeness”cookbook. Attendance is limited to 100 people. To purchase tickets, visit Xorbia.

Revival offers a proper version of the traditional Sunday dinner served family-style and executed with precise techniques. The restaurant is located at 129 Church Street in Decatur and serves dinner Monday – Thursday from 5-9 p.m., Friday – Saturday from 5-10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not required and can be made online or by calling the restaurant at 470-225-6770. Additional information can be found at revivaldecatur.com. For more updates, follow Revival on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

In addition to creating the Bacon Explosion, Jason Day is also the founder of the Burnt Finger BBQ competition team and author of the cookbook “BBQ Makes Everything Better.” For more information on the BBQ Addicts’ adventures, visit their blog or Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds.

About Red Beard Restaurants

Red Beard Restaurants is the parent company that oversees Atlanta chef, restaurateur, speaker and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie’s food and beverage ventures, including his restaurants Gunshow and Revival, his BBQ pop-up Terminus City and all of his merchandise. The management company allows Gillespie to set comprehensive standards to ensure smart expansion, offer more internal growth opportunities for his team members and provide consulting services to other food and beverage start-ups. With the 2015 establishment of Red Beard Restaurants, Gillespie is able to continue his day-to-day interactions with diners while also pursuing his creative visions and impacting the culinary landscape of the South. The company’s offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, call 404-380-1886 or visit redbeardrestaurants.com.

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Kevin Gillespie’s Red Beard Restaurants Partnering with Garnish & Gather for Month of October

For more information:

 Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

KEVIN GILLESPIE’S RED BEARD RESTAURANTS PARTNERING

WITH GARNISH & GATHER FOR MONTH OF OCTOBER

Atlanta’s Organic Dinner Kit Delivery Service Features Recipes from Gunshow and Revival Chefs for Restaurant-Quality Meals at Home

ATLANTA (September 22, 2015) – October is Red Beard Month at Garnish & Gather.  For one month only, four Red Beard Restaurants’ chefs are providing dinner recipes that customers can prepare in 30 minutes or less at home thanks to the meal delivery service’s local, farm-fresh ingredients and chef-created cooking instructions. As part of Garnish & Gather’s "Be the Chef" series, cookbook author and chef/owner Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow and Revival and his team are helping customers transform their home dinners into restaurant-worthy meals.

“The concept behind Garnish & Gather is one that is close to my heart,” says Gillespie. “I was inspired to open my second restaurant, Revival, because of the family-style dining experiences I had at my grandmother’s house as a child. I wanted to encourage that tradition of gathering together at the table and spending time with loved ones just as Garnish & Gather does.”

The delivery service aims to connect more people with wholesome, locally grown foods, teach creative cooking techniques and give people their time back by making dinner simple again. Garnish & Gather's dinner kits include all the raw ingredients needed to create a home-cooked meal. Atlantans can choose from a weekly menu of five new chef-created recipes, and the resulting kits are ready to be picked up or delivered to a home/office location the following Monday. Dinner kits will keep for four to five days in the refrigerator.

The schedule of Red Beard Month recipes and ordering dates is as follows:

Week of Oct. 5: Stuffed Swedish sausage gratin with apple, onion and cheese from Revival executive chef Andreas Müller

*  Orders must be placed between Sept. 24 and Sept. 30

Week of Oct. 12: Pasta puttanesca with spaghetti squash from Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward

*  Orders must be placed between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7

Week of Oct. 19: Roasted chicken with sage and lemon caper sauce, fingerling potatoes, snow peas and shitake mushrooms from Revival executive sous chef Rémi Granger

*  Orders must be placed between Oct. 8 and Oct. 14

Week of Oct. 26: Korean barbecued pork bulgogi from Gunshow and Revival owner/chef Kevin Gillespie

*  Orders must be placed between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21

Garnish & Gather will also be selling these meals at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market during the month of October.

“Working with Red Beard Restaurants is a natural fit for us,” says Garnish & Gather’s vice president of community Danielle Moore, who fosters relationships with local farmers and happily tests recipes to match the local harvest. “Chef Kevin empowers his chefs to use their creativity, and we try to do the same thing for our home chefs - empower them to fall in love with cooking creatively.”

For additional information on Garnish & Gather or to register for dinner delivery, visit garnishandgather.com.

About Red Beard Restaurants

Red Beard Restaurants is the parent company that oversees Atlanta chef, restaurateur, speaker and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie’s food and beverage ventures, including his restaurants Gunshow and Revival, his BBQ pop-up Terminus City and all of his merchandise. The management company allows Gillespie to set comprehensive standards to ensure smart expansion, offer more internal growth opportunities for his team members and provide consulting services to other food and beverage start-ups. With the 2015 establishment of Red Beard Restaurants, Gillespie is able to continue his day-to-day interactions with diners while also pursuing his creative visions and impacting the culinary landscape of the South. The company’s offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, call 404-380-1886 or visit redbeardrestaurants.com.

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Take the Stress Out of Holiday Party Planning

        

    For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF HOLIDAY PARTY PLANNING

Atlanta’s Best Restaurants Give the Gift of Private Dining and Event Options

ATLANTA (Sept. 23, 2015) – Planning your company holiday party or family get-together doesn’t have to turn you into a Grinch. Give yourself the gift of great food and drinks, impeccable service and just the right atmosphere by calling now to reserve your event space at one of Atlanta’s best restaurants. Many of the city’s favorite establishments offer private dining and event options wrapped up for you below:

Casual Fun and Games:

10th & Piedmont, located at Midtown’s most popular intersection, is an ideal spot for large group events and corporate buyouts.  The restaurant boasts a killer view of the Atlanta skyline and a multicultural menu of shareable small plates with a strong Southern influence. 991 Piedmont Ave.; 404-602-5510; 10thp.com.

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland serves up an animated environment that makes it just the right spot for a pleasant evening. An upstairs room can accommodate 30 guests for a sit-down dinner or 50 guests for a cocktail reception. 794 North Highland Ave.;  404-876-7249; atkinspark.com.

                                                                                                                                                

The Ansley Mall (1544 Piedmont Ave.) and Lenox Square (3393 Peachtree Road NE) locations of Bantam + Biddy feature inviting patios perfect for small- to mid-sized private parties. With its menu of fresh, Southern, locally sourced entrees such as rotisserie chicken, sandwiches and sides, Bantam + Biddy is ideal for casual lunch or dinner events. The Ansley Mall restaurant is also available for buyouts; info@bantamandbiddy.com or bantamandbiddy.com.

Book early and get a deal at FLIP burger boutique. The restaurant is available for large parties and buyouts. Book a party of 10 or more before November 1 and receive 10 percent off the total bill. Must book through stephanie.shaw@flipburgerboutique.com. 

Company holiday parties and events don't get more fun than Game-X, with lots of great team-building opportunities and an atmosphere that both relaxes and energizes. Game-X can accommodate small and large groups comfortably. The wide variety of interactive, multiplayer games will create thrilling, challenging face-offs between coworkers and friends. It's a retreat like no other. 275 Baker St.;  404-525-0728; gamexatl.com/plan-your-event/.

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern sets a casual environment perfect for large groups. Enjoy a mouthwatering menu of appetizers, gourmet pizzas, burgers and other favorites in the laid-back dining room, or kick back with a high-gravity craft beer on the welcoming patio. 1551 Piedmont Ave. NE; 404-968-2288; hobnobatlanta.com.

In Midtown, MAX's Wine Dive is the destination for gourmet comfort food served in a rock-and-roll atmosphere.  Holiday groups are welcome for full-restaurant buyouts.  77 12^th St. NE; 404-249-0445; maxswinedive.com/atlanta-12th-street/.

Located on the Westside under the White Provisions building, Ormsby’s feels like one of the city’s best-kept secrets. But it’s a leading destination for gatherings and celebrations of all sizes and stripes, thanks to a variety of games (shuffleboard, darts, bocce ball, board games and pool) perfect for socializing. With a wide selection of craft beers and a menu of classic and creative gastropub favorites, it’s a casual crowd-pleaser. 1170 Howell Mill Road; 404-968-2033; ormsbysatlanta.com.

Dressed Up and Someplace to Go:

In Roswell, Aqua blue has banquet facilities and menus ideal for large events of up to 300 guests. The patio, with updated furniture, colorful landscaping and heaters is also perfect for large parties. Hosting a more intimate gathering? Try the Wine Room for seated groups of 40 or standing receptions of up to 70. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road;  770-643-8886; aquablueatl.com.

Aria in Buckhead offers an exquisitely chic yet comfortable atmosphere and an avant-garde menu of fine American cuisine made with high-quality seasonal ingredients. Larger parties can buy out the restaurant for a private lunch or dinner in an elegantly attractive space.  490 East Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-7673; aria-atl.com.

Located at the intersection of 14th and Peachtree Streets in Midtown, Article 14 puts a refreshingly accessible spin on “refined dining.” With a menu that emphasizes a chef-driven approach to familiar entrées (along with a few surprises) and a compelling beer, wine and spirits list, it’s the ideal spot for a holiday gathering a few notches above the ordinary. Article 14 is available for semi-private events and a full buyout. 1180 Peachtree St.; 404-443-8432; article14.com.

Opening soon at Ponce City Market, Bellina Alimentari will feature two private event spaces for holiday parties. The Dough Room is perfect for intimate, family-style dinners of up to 12 people. Bellina’s bar may be reserved in conjunction with the Dough Room for cocktail events of 35-40 people. These areas are available Monday - Thursday beginning at 5:00 p.m. There is no room fee, but food and beverage minimums must be met. 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE; 404-330-9933; bellina-alimentari.com.

Gunshow, the signature restaurant of celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie, offers a truly one-of-a-kind buyout experience as the chefs serve rotating selections from an exclusive menu tableside. The Glenwood Park dining room seats up to 75 guests, with standing receptions for 100. 924 Garrett St.; 404-380-1886; gunshowatl.com.

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple provides a charming setting for your social gathering or corporate event. Milton’s can accommodate parties of eight to 200 guests, and each event can be specially tailored by request. Banquet menus are priced at $35, $45 and $55. Enjoy 20% off luncheons throughout November and December. 800 Mayfield Road; 770-817-0161; miltonscuisine.com.

Throughout Buckhead, Southern Proper Hospitality is the MVP of holiday dining, with several different venues and menus for gracious soirees.  Early birds earn the rewards, with Gypsy Kitchen and The Southern Gentleman giving $100 gift cards for events booked before Oct. 15. At The Big Ketch, Smokebelly and The Blind Pig, you have until the end of October to book and receive the $100 gift.  A minimum spend of $500 applies for all. sphospitality.com.

Booking your holiday party at Ray’s on the River (6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187), Ray’s in the City (240 Peachtree St.; 404-524-9224) or Ray’s at Killer Creek  (1700 Mansell Road; 770-649-0064) comes with a fun stocking stuffer: a $100 Ray’s Restaurant dining card. Parties must be booked with a signed contract by Sept. 30, 2015 and held between Nov. 27 and Dec. 30, 2015. Parties must spend a minimum of $1,500 in food and beverage to qualify for the dining cards, which will be mailed in January. raysrestaurants.com.

Kevin Gillespie's ode to Southern dining, Revival in Decatur has several private dining options ranging from an intimate family dinner for up to 12 guests, to day and evening meeting spaces for 20-25 or corporate-style events of up to 100.  129 Church St.; 470-225-6770; j.r@redbeardrestaurants.com or revivaldecatur.com. 

Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar's 125-seat private dining area is perfect for medium- to large-sized parties to gather and share small plates of house-made meats and cheeses and indulgent desserts, along with handcrafted cocktails, local microbrews and an impressive wine list. The restaurant can also cater larger events inside the Loews Atlanta Hotel's 40,000 square-foot event space, including the 4,800 square-foot outdoor Terrace and the 11,070 square-foot Ellington Ballroom. 1065 Peachtree St. NE in the Loews Atlanta Hotel; 404-745-5000; saltwoodatlanta.com.

Seed Kitchen & Bar, located in the Merchant’s Walk retail center in Marietta, serves up stylish yet accessible (and affordable) modern comfort food with knowledgeable but unpretentious service. Seed can accommodate private parties of up to 25 guests and semi-private events for 10-25 guests. The patio, weather permitting, can host groups of up to 30. 1311 Johnson Ferry Road; 678-214-6888; eatatseed.com. Next door, sister restaurant Stem Wine Bar is available for full buyouts. 678-214-6888; stemwinebar.com

For something a little different, book your event at Umi and treat your party to Atlanta’s best sushi and modern Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is available for lunchtime buyouts and can accommodate parties of 12-15 people at night. Umi offers custom event menus, which can be paired with wine. Lunch events can host 40-100 guests, perfect for corporate client or staff events. 3050 Peachtree Road; 404-841-0040;  umiatlanta.com.

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Marlow’s Tavern and Sterling Spoon Tee Up for 17th Annual Golf Classic Sept. 21

For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

MARLOW’S TAVERN AND STERLING SPOON TEE UP FOR 17^TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC SEPT. 21

Fundraiser for Special Olympics Georgia Will Help Push 17-Year Total Raised Over $600,000

ATLANTA (September 16, 2015) – Getting into the swing of fall has never been more fun or philanthropic thanks to Marlow’s Tavern and Sterling Spoon Culinary Management, who host their 17^th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, Sept. 21.  The only detail golfers need worry about in this action-packed day of course competition, contests on the green, prizes and gourmet tavern fare is their score. Of course, individual results pale in comparison to the end result: driving up much-needed funds for Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA).

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been working with Marlow’s Tavern and Sterling Spoon for 17 years,” says Susan Skolnick, director of development for Special Olympics Georgia. “While they support us throughout the year, the golf tournament is like the grand finale at a fireworks celebration –it never fails to take our breath away. We’re so grateful for this partnership and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

Last year alone, the annual Golf Classic collected approximately $70,000 for SOGA. Coupled with other events throughout the year, the restaurant company has raised more than a half-million dollars for SOGA since the partnership’s inception.

“Seeing smiles light the faces of so many athletes is a gift,” says John C. Metz, executive chef and co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern, Sterling Spoon and co-founder of Aqua blue. “They constantly remind me of the true meaning of hard work and dedication. Being able to see the impact of our fundraising efforts inspires us all to keep working at it.  Special Olympics of Georgia not only shapes the lives of these athletes but enriches the lives of our employees and our guests, as well."

The Country Club of Roswell, located at 2500 Club Springs Drive in Roswell, will once again provide the greens. Steve Martin of Artlite is this year’s event chair. Nineteenth hole sponsor Aqua blue is hosting an after-party open to all.  Admission is $50 per person, which includes dinner, an awards ceremony, a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction and casino night. All proceeds benefit SOGA. Reservations for the party will be taken in advance, but walk-ins are also welcome. Aqua blue is located at 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.   

To make a donation, find out about available sponsorship levels or make a reservation for the after-party at Aqua blue, contact Susan Skolnick at 770-414-9390 x111 or Susan.Skolnick@specialolympicsga.org.

About Aqua blue Restaurant & Bar

For more than 14 years, Aqua blue has brought chef-driven, global cuisine to Atlanta’s northern suburbs. The menu boasts the freshest, seasonal ingredients from around the world served in an elegant and exciting atmosphere, giving diners more than just a meal but an unforgettable dining experience. Aqua blue is located in Roswell at 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road. The restaurant serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner daily from 4 to 10 p.m. For more information about Aqua blue, call 770-643-8886 or visit aquablueatl.com.

About Marlow’s Tavern

Marlow’s Tavern was established in November of 2004 with the opening of its first location in Alpharetta, Ga., and has continued to grow over the years, adding several Atlanta-area restaurants and three locations in Orlando, Fla. In 2013, Nation’s Restaurant News named Marlow’s Tavern one of its “NRN 50 Breakout Brands” for the year. The neighborhood restaurant concept is open for lunch and dinner daily, offering guests classic American tavern fare with an upscale twist. For more information and location addresses, visit marlowstavern.com.   

About Sterling Spoon Culinary Management

Sterling Spoon Culinary Management combines talented chefs, dedicated employees and outstanding culinary and financial management to provide corporate café and on-site contract management clients extraordinary food and hospitality with an innovative retail restaurant approach.

Founded by culinary-trained chefs, Sterling Spoon focuses on fresh, delicious offerings with a contemporary twist. The company’s goal is two-fold: to exceed clients’ objectives at all times and to offer clients a high-quality, affordable breakfast and lunch experience to their employees and visitors daily at their place of business. For more information, visit sterlingspoon.com.

About Special Olympics Georgia

Special Olympics Georgia provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 25 Olympic-type sports for 26,702 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. The goal is to help bring people with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected, and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens. For more information, visit SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

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Harvest for a Cure Event Gathers Hope for a World Free of Multiple Sclerosis

For more information:

 Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

HARVEST FOR A CURE EVENT GATHERS HOPE

FOR A WORLD FREE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Gourmet Food, Wine and Art Gala on Oct. 22 Unites Top Atlanta Chefs, Sommeliers and

Private Wine Collectors to Benefit Georgia Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society

ATLANTA (September 8, 2015) – On Oct. 22, the second annual Harvest for a Cure event will take place at the Westside Cultural Arts Center from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to benefit the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, an organization that supports research to help treat and end MS globally. Attendees will experience an extravaganza of gourmet food, vintage wines and acclaimed art in an effort to fund critical research initiatives and advocate for change.

“By raising their glasses at Harvest for a Cure, guests will also be raising the funds necessary to take us one step closer to a world free of multiple sclerosis,” says Roy A. Rangel, president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “We are thrilled to host this event for the second year and are confident that it will be even more successful than last year’s sold-out event.”

This one-of-a-kind evening features many of Atlanta’s most talented chefs and sommeliers working together to pair culinary creations with wines from the personal cellars of top local wine collectors.  Guests will sample delicious food and drinks while surrounded by stunning art, including works from renowned local artist Ross Rossin.

Participating chefs:

• Gerry Klaskala of Aria
• Christopher Grossman of Atlas
• Matthew Basford of Canoe
• Todd Ginsberg of Yalla
• E.J. Hodgkinson of King + Duke
• Pano Karatassos of Kyma
• Chris Hall of Local Three
• Angus Brown of Lusca and Octopus Bar
• Derek Dollar of Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails
• Ian Winslade of Murphy’s and Paces & Vine
• Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s
• Peter Kaiser of Twist
• Matt Swickerath of Valenza
• Todd Richards of White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails

Sommeliers include:

• Andrés Loaiza of Aria
• Caleb Hopkins of Atlas
• Jordan Smelt of Cakes & Ale
• Matt Bradford of Canoe and Canoe's Cellar Door
• Silvio Garcia of Cherokee Town and Country Club
• Eric Crane of Empire Distributors
• Kristine Lassor of National Distributing Company
• Perrine Prieur of Perrine's Wine Shop
• Michael O'Connor of Quality Wine & Spirits
• Joon Lim of Rathbun's
• Linda Torres of The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead
• Sarah Pierre of The Shed at Glenwood and Three Parks Wine
• Phillip Cooper of Vin25

New this year, two mixologists - Miles Macquarrie from Kimball House and Mercedes O'Brien from Gunshow and Revival - will serve cocktails created especially for the evening.  Harvest for a Cure attendees will also enjoy live jazz music from local musician Theresa Hightower and a silent auction featuring a donated print from Rossin, whose large scale, oil-on-canvas paintings can be found on the walls of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, The High Museum of Art and The Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as in the private collections of Queen Elizabeth II,  Morgan Freeman and Andrew Young, among others.

Sponsorships are available starting at $2,500. Tickets to the event are $250 per person and available online beginning Oct 1. All funds raised during Harvest for a Cure will help improve the lives of people living with MS by sponsoring local programs and services and accelerating worldwide research projects to help put an end to the debilitating disease. The Westside Cultural Arts Center is located at 760 10th Street, NW. For additional information, visit www.mswineevent.org.

About Multiple Sclerosis:

Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and the body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving closer to a world free of MS. Learn more at nationalmssociety.org.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter:

The National MS Society helps people affected by MS through a 50-state network of chapters. The Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, and provides programs and services that address challenges of individuals and families living with MS, helping them move forward in their lives. The Georgia Chapter helps improve the lives of people living with MS by raising millions of dollars annually through annual fundraising events including Bike MS, Walk MS and The Harvest for the Cure event. For more information or to learn how to help end the disabling disease of MS, please visit MSgeorgia.org.

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Chef Derek Dollar to Oversee Kitchen at New Roswell Location of The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill

For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

CHEF DEREK DOLLAR TO OVERSEE KITCHEN AT NEW ROSWELL LOCATION

OF THE BIG KETCH SALTWATER GRILL

Fresh Seafood Restaurant’s Second Outpost to Benefit from Area Chef Favorite

ATLANTA (Sept. 14, 2015)–Even though the final days of summer are slipping away, The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill is assuring Roswell residents that the freshest seafood available will soon be making waves. The popular Buckhead restaurant is opening its second location at 1105 Canton Street this fall to bring a “beach chic” dining experience to Downtown Roswell. Chef Derek Dollar, who also leads the kitchen at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in Crabapple, will lend his gourmet touch to the menu.

“With a lighter approach to cuisine, we’re looking to bring fresh seafood options to Canton Street,” says Dollar. “There are some great chef-driven restaurants on the corridor already, and I’m proud to be a part of this dining destination.”

Dollar, who will continue to helm the seed-to-fork menu at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, has plans to enhance The Big Ketch’s already popular menu of fresh seafood with new items unique to the Roswell location. These include spicy conch fritters, a variety of specialty oysters, grouper Reuben, Charleston curry seafood bowl, and jerked pork chops with caramelized pineapple. Guest favorites from the Buckhead location, like basil-Blue Moon mussels and the already famous grouper sandwich, will also be available.

The Big Ketch and Milton's are owned and operated by Southern Proper Hospitality Group, which also operates Buckhead restaurants Smokebelly BBQ, Gypsy Kitchen and The Southern Gentleman.   This innovative company's newest restaurant in Roswell will feature two separate dining rooms and a bar area, as well as an outdoor patio. The Big Ketch Roswell is scheduled to open in October 2015 and will serve lunch and dinner.

About The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill

Who doesn't love a day at the beach? That's the spirit behind The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill – fresh, casual seafood, prepared with a gourmet touch. Atlanta's local beach house first opened its doors in Buckhead at 3279 Roswell Road in October 2010 and is known for sourcing the highest quality seafood and offering friendly service in a relaxing atmosphere. For more information, visit www.thebigketch.com. Follow The Big Ketch on Facebook and Twitter for additional updates.

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Marlow’s Tavern Gets Saucy This Fall With Ribs & Whiskey

Bourbon Bread Pudding / David Danzig

For more information:

 Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

MARLOW’S TAVERN GETS SAUCY THIS FALL WITH RIBS & WHISKEY

Seasonal Specials Coming to the Menu September 15

ATLANTA (Sept. 14, 2015) – As the weather begins to cool down in Atlanta, Marlow's Tavern is heating up with its sixth annual Ribs & Whiskey menu of saucy food and drink specials.  Starting Tuesday, September 15 through Monday, October 19, diners can go whole hog with barbecue, ribs, handcrafted cocktails and featured drinks.

"We look forward to bringing this celebration menu back each year because it signals the start of fall and the return of some truly delicious barbecue," says John C. Metz, executive chef and co-founder of Marlow's Tavern. "Personally, I'm a big fan of grilling during these cooler months; especially as I'm tailgating at Penn State or in the infield at NASCAR."

For fellow tailgaters and home grillers, Metz recommends starting with the very best steak, ribs and brisket. Then, preheat the grill until it is blistering hot; that's the only way to sear in the juices. As for seasoning, Metz says salt and pepper are your friends. "An ice-cold beer by your side always helps the grilling experience, too!  But really, the best way to enjoy some delicious barbecue right now is to come into Marlow's and let our chefs do the work for you."    

This year's Ribs & Whiskey celebration features four delicious sauces served tableside - Jack Daniel's glaze, hoisin barbecue, Marlow's chipotle barbecue and East Carolina barbecue.  Each gives a sweet, spicy, smoky or tangy zip to the perfectly seasoned ribs.  Guests will find an assortment of seasonal fare on the menu, including:

Kickin’ Chicken Verde Soup–Tender chicken, fresh cilantro, roasted poblanos, tomatillos, fall sweet corn and chili cream

Daily Smoke-House Flatbread– Slow-roasted pulled pork, basted with our secret sauce and the best ingredients the farm has to offer

A Pig With Buns – Slow-roasted pulled pork with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey glaze, house-made pimento cheese, dill pickles and crispy tobacco onions on a buttery onion roll with Granny Smith apple-cabbage slaw

BBQ Blazed Cobb Salad– Barbecue chicken, crisp field greens, Roma tomato, applewood-smoked bacon, sweet corn, slivered red onions and barbecue Gorgonzola dressing

Drunken Chicken – Prestige Farms chicken blazed with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, tiny green bean casserole, shitake mushroom, caramelized onion, applewood-smoked bacon, house-made Mornay sauce and crispy tobacco onions with sweet corn and jalapeño muffins

The Saucy Catch - North Atlantic salmon blazed with East Carolina barbecue sauce, tiny green bean casserole, shitake mushroom, caramelized onion, applewood-smoked bacon, house-made Mornay sauce and crispy tobacco onions with sweet corn and jalapeño muffins

Slow-Cooked Smithfield James River St. Louis-Style Ribs – Served with Granny Smith apple-cabbage slaw, Southern fried mac and pimento cheese and house-made sweet corn and jalapeño muffin.

Bourbon Bread Pudding – Crème-brûlée-soaked Cuban bread and a splash of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey for sippin’

Plenty of boozy cocktails and liquid refreshments serve as the perfect complement:

R&W S’weet Tea – Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, fresh lemon, agave nectar, topped with a shot of Shock Top beer and a kick of orange

Triple Crown - Old Forester Bourbon, Combier Orange, Dolin Rouge Vermouth, fresh lime and Fee Bros. Cranberry

Garden & Gun - Medley Brothers Bourbon, Imbue Petal & Thorn, Jack Rudy Grenadine and Bittermens Burlesque

Villa Wolf Pinot Gris, Pfalz, Germany ’10– Bright, fresh, tropical fruits with good depth, medium to full body with good length and satisfying crackle

Marqués de la Concordia Rioja, Spain ‘10 – Ripe berry fruits, medium bodied and complex with a well-rounded finish and lingering berry zest

Rosenblum Zinfandel, Paso Robles ‘10 - A heady combo of mulberry, rhubarb and plum complements the rich, dark fruit scent of fresh raspberry and black cherry with the perfect long finish

Tommy’s Red Sangria – Tommy’s secret recipe created on the boat in South Florida featuring Savida Sangria, the freshest seasonal fruit and agave nectar. Red and white options available all year long

Pabst Blue Ribbon WI ABV 4.7% – Brewed in America and served tall just like you like it, this classic beer for those with the classiest of taste, “tastes so good when it hits your lips”

Sweetwater "Sweet Georgia Brown" ABV 5.8% - A river of deep caramel and chocolate malts meandering through undercut currents of hops

Boulevard Smokestack Double-Wide IPA ABV 8.5% – From the heart of America, brewed in the smokestack with double the hop, double the body, caramel, toffee-like malt and amber brown with intense floral and pronounced citrus hop aroma 

The Ribs & Whiskey menu is available at all neighborhood taverns. For more information, visit the Marlow’s Tavern Facebook page or website.

About Marlow’s Tavern

Marlow’s Tavern was established in November of 2004 with the opening of its first location in Alpharetta, Ga., and has continued to grow over the years, adding several Atlanta-area restaurants and three locations in Orlando, Fla. In 2013, Nation’s Restaurant News named Marlow’s Tavern one of its “NRN 50 Breakout Brands” for the year. The neighborhood restaurant concept is open for lunch and dinner daily, offering guests classic American tavern fare with an upscale twist. For more information and location addresses, visit marlowstavern.com.   

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Ray’s in the City Welcomes Back Dean Berthelot as Executive Chef

For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

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emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

RAY’S IN THE CITY WELCOMES BACK DEAN BERTHELOT AS EXECUTIVE CHEF

Downtown Restaurant's Founding Chef Returns to the Kitchen He Started

ATLANTA (September 10, 2015) – Dean Berthelot's new toque already feels very comfortable and familiar, and that's because he's returning to the restaurant he helped open as a shining star on the Downtown Atlanta restaurant scene 12 years ago.  Ray's Restaurants is proud to announce that Berthelot has returned to helm the kitchen as executive chef of Ray's in the City.   

"Dean was an integral part of shaping the menu and fine dining experience at Ray's in the City, and we are so happy to have him back with us," says Ray's Restaurants founder Ray Schoenbaum. "We know he will pick up right where he left off, delighting guests and bringing out the best in our menu and our team."  

A Louisiana native, Berthelot began his culinary career in 1991 as an apprentice to an award-winning French chef at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, parlaying that into a permanent position at the hotel's fine dining restaurant, Begue’s.  In 1995, Berthelot accepted his first executive chef position at New Orleans’ House of Blues, opening six restaurants for the company.

He moved to Atlanta in 2001 with The Cheesecake Factory but made his way to Ray’s on the River in 2003 as executive sous chef.  Later that year, Schoenbaum tapped the chef to lead his new downtown restaurant, Ray’s in the City. Berthelot left in 2010 to serve as executive chef for the four Google facilities located around Atlanta.  Five years later, he now returns to lead the culinary team at Ray’s in the City once again, with a mission to take the dining experience to new heights.

"Being a chef and working in a world-class restaurant like Ray's in the City is a privilege," says Berthelot. "I feel blessed for the opportunity to turn my cooking hobby into a career and to share my passion with our guests every day." 

Berthelot is also passionate about his wife of over 20 years, his two teenage daughters, two cats and two dogs - including a very special Chihuahua named "Cocoa Bean," his beloved LSU sports teams and the New Orleans Saints. 

About Ray’s Restaurants

Ray’s Restaurants include Ray’s on the River, Ray’s in the City, Ray’s at Killer Creek and Ray's Rio Bravo. Ray’s on the River is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch and is located at 6700 Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs; 770-955-1187. Ray’s in the City is open for lunch and dinner and is located at 240 Peachtree Street NW in Downtown Atlanta; 404-524-9224. Ray’s at Killer Creek is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch and is located at 1700 Mansell Road in Alpharetta; 770-649-0064. Ray's Rio Bravo is open for lunch and dinner and is located at 6450 Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs; 770-612-2829. For more information, visit raysrestaurants.com.

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MAX’s Dives into New Comfort Cuisine and Cocktails

For more information:

Emily Connolly or Morgan Dyches

Melissa Libby & Associates

404-816-3068

emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

MAX’S DIVES INTO NEW COMFORT CUISINE AND COCKTAILS

Midtown Restaurant Raises the Bar for Neighborhood Gathering Places

ATLANTA (September 8, 2015) – At the end of a long day, all one needs is a little Southern-style comfort and a stiff drink. Pleasing the requests of his “divers,” MAX’s Wine Dive Executive Chef Patric Bell-Good provides just that with a tasteful mix of elevated bar classics, comfort food and cocktails.

“Many of our guests spend their work week expecting the unexpected to happen at their jobs,” Bell-Good says. “Our new menu gives them something they can count on and look forward to at the end of a long day."

In addition to popular bar classics like nacho mama’s oysters and pulled pork stuffed peppers, MAX’s is serving up a new wave of favorites including The Dive burger, Buffalo chicken salad and Brussels sprouts Caesar salad.

The comfort extends to Saturday and Sunday brunch, with new soon-to-be-classic brunch items such as:

·         pimento mac and cheese with cavatappi pasta

·         dirty eggs - two eggs any style cooked in bacon fat with jalapeño cheese grits or home fries, pecan wood-smoked bacon, biscuit

·         chicken and waffle - Belgian waffle with jalapeño buttermilk-marinated chicken, maple syrup

While the MAX’s Wine Dive team is raising the neighborhood bar on casual dining pleasure, it’s also widened it thanks to a new liquor license. “Since opening our doors in Atlanta, we’ve had numerous requests to add cocktails to the menu,” general manager Holly Baldwin says. “Given nightly $4 well drinks, we expect to be mixing it up more frequently with our regulars and new guests.”

Baldwin also hopes to create quite a stir with craft cocktail specials, which include the Stiletto Manhattan (Crown Royal, Disaronno, dry vermouth, orange bitters) and Lady Liz (gin, St. Germaine and Champagne). Wine and beer drinkers need not worry. MAX’s Wine Dive continues to offer an impressive menu of wines available by the glass, in addition to locally crafted beer options such as Sweetwater, Orpheus, Red Hare and Jekyll Brewing.

Located at 77 12^th St. NE, MAX’s Wine Dive is famous for bringing “gourmet comfort food” to guests alongside an expertly curated selection of wines from around the world, some of which cannot be found anywhere else, all served in a casual, rock-n-roll atmosphere. For reservations, visit MAX’s Wine Dive’s reservation page or call 404.249.0445. For more information, visit http://www.maxswinedive.com/atlanta-12th-street/.

MAX’s Wine Dive

MAX’s Wine Dive is famous for bringing “gourmet comfort food” to guests alongside an expertly curated selection of wines from around the world, some of which cannot be found anywhere else, all served in a casual, rock-n-roll atmosphere. For more than seven years, the MAX’s Wine Dive concept has garnered numerous accolades and awards including, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s “The Nation’s 10 Best Brunches” in 2013, Travel + Leisure’s “Best Wine Bars” in 2012, OpenTable Diner’s Choice for “Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in the U.S.,” “5 Best American Fried Chicken Joints” according to FOX News in 2014, “12 Restaurants on the Rise” in 2014 for Food Business News and Southern Living Magazine’s “The South’s Best Fried Chicken.” MAX’s Wine Dive’s chefs have appeared on Food Network, the Cooking Channel, and a multitude of local networks.

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