Empire State South Dishing Up Asian Eats Monday 6/24

Empire State South is hosting a late-night Japanese kitchen invasion at ESS next Monday night, featuring chefs from throughout Atlanta as well as Nashville. Chefs will set up on their bocce court and will dish up tasty Asian eats. Food may run out, but you can booze it up until closing time.

Each $12 food ticket gets you one plate from one chef's table so buy one or buy several to share.

All proceeds benefit The Giving Kitchen, which supports metro Atlanta restaurant industry employees affected by medical emergencies and other sudden hardships.

This sounds like a blast...too bad I don't get to go out late anymore (but let's be honest, when was the last time I ate at 10:30? Good Lord, I'm getting old!)

CWPR Restaurant Week Starts This Weekend!

It's too hot to cook, am I right? That's why it's fortuitous timing that you can hang up your sweaty apron and head out for a cheap multi-course meal at some of your favorite Atlanta restaurants starting Saturday. CWPR Restaurant Week kicks off this Saturday, June 22 and runs through next Saturday, June 29. Whereas most restaurant weeks are neighborhood-specific, CWPR's restaurant week highlights 19 different restaurants around the metro area so no matter where you live, you can join in the fun. Lunch and dinner deals range from $15 to $35.

Participating Restaurants

The Albert – Inman Park

Bone Lick BBQ - West Midtown

Cucina Asellina – Midtown

Cypress Street Pint and Plate – Midtown

D.B.A. Barbecue – Virginia-Highland

Diesel Filling Station – Virginia Highland

The Drafting Table - Old Fourth Ward

Eddie's Attic - Decatur

Genki Noodles and Sushi – Buckhead, Virginia Highland, The Prado in Sandy Springs

Park Bar - Downtown

Pizzeria Vesuvius - Old Fourth Ward

P’cheen – Old Fourth Ward

The Real Chow Baby Ponce – Poncey-Highland, West Midtown, Mall of Georgia

Sidebar - Downtown

STK – Midtown

Look out for more info and menus on the CWPR Restaurant Week's Facebook page and via Twitter at @CWPR_RestoWeek.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is Back July 21

The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is one of the best food events of the year in my humble opinion. Tomatoes taste so darn good at this time of year, so you have to eat up while you can. And at this event, they're available in many a form including cocktail and dessert from some of the best chefs around.

Hosted by Ford Fry, the event will include chefs such as:

• Jay Swift of 4th & Swift
• Brett Ashcraft of Abattoir
• Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina
• Andy Carson and Carla Tomasko of Bacchanalia
• Lance Gummere of Bantam + Biddy
• Bruce Logue of BoccaLupo
• Asha Gomez of Cardamom Hill
• Ryan Smith of Empire State South
• Dan Latham and Cameron Thompson of Farm Burger
• Todd Immel of Floataway Café 
• Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow
• E.J. Hodgkinson of JCT. Kitchen & Bar
• Taria Camerino of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, King + Duke, No. 246 and The Optimist
• Joe Schafer of King + Duke
• Brent Banda of La Tavola Trattoria
• Chris Hall of Local Three
• Steven Satterfield of Miller Union
• Drew Belline of No. 246
• Adam Evans of The Optimist and Oyster Bar at The Optimist
• Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak, Krog Bar and KR SteakBar
• Ron Eyester of Rosebud and The Family Dog
• Scott Serpas of Serpas True Food
• Drew Van Leuvan of Seven Lamps
• Tyler Williams of Woodfire Grill

There's a bevy of booze on offer as well with mixologists participating from the likes of cocktail emporiums like Abattoir, Empire State South, Leon's Full Service, Paper Plane, Ration & Dram and Sound Table.

Tickets are now on sale for $55 per person and $50 for Georgia Organics members and can be purchased online through Xorbia. Starting Monday, July 1, all ticket prices will increase to $70 per person. A total of 1,400 tickets are available for attendees. Last year’s festival brought in close to $26,000 for Georgia Organics.

As before, the festival will be held at JCT and will spread out across the pedestrian bridge to the other side of Westside Provisions. The only downside to this event is that it is typically hotter than hell, but for this much tomatoey goodness, it's worth it. Just come scantily clad...better to avoid unsightly tomato stains that way anyway!

High-profile judges including Garden & Gun Deputy Editor Dave Mezz, Food & Wine Associate Food Editor Daniel Gritzer, Esquire restaurant features writer John Mariani and James Beard Award-winning authors Matt and Ted Lee, are choosing the best dish, best beverage and best table decorations during the event. Food writer, stylist and photographer Angie Mosier and registered dietician, author and food journalist Carolyn O’Neil are returning as co-masters of ceremonies, and guests can enjoy live performances from The Spazmatics and local chef band Five Bone Rack. Special guest David Miller, the actor who played Mason Dixon in the original “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” movie, is returning this year to present the awards to winners.

For more information, visit killertomatofest.com.