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NeoCell, the number one collagen brand in the world, worked with the Delicious Living Magazine to create the Collagen-Boost cookbook full of recipes for raw, low-FODMAP, paleo, and allergen-friendly diets. In this cookbook, you’ll learn all about buying collagen and how to add it to your favorite foods.

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I don’t normally write about music, but when I learned that Lilac Wine will be playing every Thursday night at Venkman’s starting at 7:30 pm, I had to share the news. I heard them play at a Grillin’ and Chillin’ event and became transfixed not only by their song choices, but by the creative arrangements and vocal ranges that seemed to flow so freely from their talented fingers/voices. Lilac Wine is a local Atlanta trio made up of Rob Henson, founding member and bassist, Grant Reynolds, first-call guitarist, singer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, and Larissa Mia as the vocalist. Admission to Lilac Wine is free and dinner reservations can be made online or by calling (470) 225-6162.

Every Saturday in August is French Beignet day at Gluten Free Cutie. An order of four, made fresh to order and topped with powdered sugar, is $4 and they are served warm. Go and check them out for a special treat, but get there early because they are bound to go fast! 

Lovies BBQ is serving up legit pulled meats, sides, and salads in the heart of Buckhead. Made from scratch sides include potato salad, baked beans, brunswick stew, collards, green beans with a white pepper kick and more. Their pulled pork and chicken, ribs and brisket are cooked low and slow and are delicious. Stay away from anything that goes in the fryer like the Brussels sprouts and wings. Honestly, there are so many gluten-free options to choose from that placing an order takes time. And they serve breakfast and brunch and offer catering too. They are located behind the Naan Stop where Lenox dead ends into Piedmont.

Ordering groceries has never been easier with Prime Now. Prime members in Atlanta can have fresh organic produce, meat and seafood from Sprouts Farmers Market delivered right to the door with one ($7.99 ) and free two-hour delivery. Delivery from Sprouts Farmers Market is available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Prime Now. Download the Prime Now mobile app or shop online.

Don’t you just love it when restaurants celebrate an anniversary by throwing a big party? Well, it just so happens that Table & Main is celebrating their 6th Anniversary with a party in their back parking lot on August 13 from 4 – 10 p.m. A $25 ticket gets you access to live music and an all-you-can-eat Low Country Boil prepared by Chef Woolery Back and Meating Street BBQ’s Brian Keenan. Tickets can be purchases at the gate or online.

Speaking of Table & Main, here is this month’s paleo friendly options for Wednesday nights. Paleo cuisine doesn’t contain gluten or dairy and is vegetable and meat centric.

• Aug-16 | Sonoma Valley duck breast, peaches, charred peppers, log-grown shiitake, lamb quarters
• Aug-23 | Gulf red snapper, shrimp, tomato broth, squash and zucchini ribbons, sweet onions

What’s gluten-free at The Federal? While this new-ish restaurant from Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere isn’t as gluten-free friendly as Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, there is a decent selection of gluten-free cuisine:

Breakfast:

• Protein scramble $12
• Brisket skillet hash $16
• Texas breakfast (without the toast) $16

Lunch:

• Deviled eggs $5
• Simple salad $8
• Steak salad (without the hen mushrooms) $16
• Any of the sandwiches (without the bread) $12
• Steak frites $25

Dinner: (entrees change often)

• All steaks are gluten free $48-$72
• Steak frites $25
• Sauteed hen mushrooms (side item) $8
• Potato salad (side item) $8
• Antipasto $18

Brunch

• Big bowl of fresh fruit $12
• Southern breakfast (without the biscuit) $15
• Brisket skillet hash $16
• Texas breakfast (without the toast) $16

Atlanta’s first cidery, Urban Tree Cider, in now offering 12 ounce bottles of its core ciders. Original, Classic and Barrel-Aged are available for consumption and sale in Atlanta at: Argosy, Hop City, Porter Beer Bar, Truck and Tap, the Indigo Hotel and outside of the city at: Fortify Pi and U-Joint. The tasting room does not sell the new size, but still has both the 750 milliliter and growler available for purchase on premise. And their seasonal cherry cider is available during tasting room hours too. Think I will be ordering an “East Lake” cocktail that combines vodka, simple syrup, mint and cherry cider very soon. 

Located inside the Four Season Hotel in downtown Atlanta is Park 75, one of my favorite places to dine in Atlanta. Yes, the restaurant is gorgeous, the flowers are always fresh, the cuisine is inventive, but it is their ability and desire to safely accommodate diners with food allergies/intolerance that has won my heart and keeps me coming back year after year.

I have been dining at Park 75 for almost a decade and the service and free-from food options continue to expand and make my heart swell with gratitude. The gluten-free and allergen-free breads (free of the top eight allergens) from local bakery Pure Knead are used to prepare tea sandwiches, french toast, toast, and much more. Local and sustainable is the key to their cuisine with a supply of honey, herbs and other produce growing on the 5th Floor Terrace Garden and Apiaries.

Their Sunday brunch and Tea Service are outstanding. Recently my family and I were guests at both and ate ourselves into a food coma. They are willing and more than capable to fill requests on the fly for pancakes, waffles, and french toast, which sets them apart from other restaurants, in general, and has catapulted them to the top of my dining destinations list.

The Sunday brunch reminds me of Las Vegas because there is an overwhelming selection of offerings that encompass the entire perimeter of the dining level and include: eggs to order, frittatas, breakfast meats and potatoes, salads, seafood, hot tapas, a carving station, soup, and of course an array of desserts. The Henry’s Eggs and the Shepherd’s Pie were my favorites. And the menu is always changing, so it isn’t the same experience twice.  

I took my daughter to Park 75 for her first afternoon tea for her birthday. When those three tiered trays arrived, I watched as her eyes widened. She really didn’t know where to start and loved the added touch of a special birthday cake. My tea was entirely gluten free and included housemade scones with peach jam, lemon curd and vanilla Chantilly cream, smoked salmon, cucumber and chicken salad tea sandwiches on Pure Knead bread and french macaroons, chocolate dipped strawberries, truffles, and a slice of their flourless chocolate cake for dessert. And you can specify the type of sandwiches that will work for you from a list of options.

You can tell their employees love their jobs because the service is excellent and the atmosphere is relaxed with a welcoming vibe.

Make a reservation and experience the wonder that is Park 75 at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review; however I did receive free meals. In no way did this influence my opinions and views, which are derived from my personal experience.

Burger chain Johnny Rockets is now offering Udi’s gluten-free buns for their burgers at all U.S. locations. I thought all of the Johnny locations had closed in Georgia, but there are still two open, one in Phipps Plaza and the other in downtown Atlanta.

Springer Mountain Southern Wing Showdown presented by Taste of Atlanta is just around the corner on August 20th. Buy tickets on July 29th, National Wing Day, and save $5 using code ‘wingday’ when checking out on Freshtix. And enter for a chance to win a lightly used Big Green Egg by posting photos to social media (between July 29th and August 20th) eating your favorite wings with the hashtag #JustWingItATL and tag @SouthernWingShowdown. Good luck and happy clucking!

The Melting Pot is now offering Enjoy Life Foods’ vegan chocolate for dessert fondue. The chocolate is slowly making its way to all of its locations, so they are recommending you request it when making a reservation to ensure its available.

Dantanna’s is celebrating National Tequila Day with its “Maestro Monday” event July 24th. All three locations (Buckhead, Sandy Springs, and Downtown) will offer a tequila sampler all week including Avion Silver, Don Julio Silver and Dantanna’s Maestro Blend tequila for $12.

Kaiser’s Chophouse, a collaboration from Chef Peter Kaiser and Chef Kevin Rathbun, in Sandy Springs serves up gluten-free cuisine with a smile. The majority of their menu can be modified to be gluten free and they have a dedicated fryer. There is plenty of fresh seafood (hot and cold) on the menu and the crab cakes are gluten-free too, which is definitely a rare find in Atlanta because of gluten-y bread crumbs. Can’t wait to dig into a plate of crab cakes with a side of hand-cut french fries topped with garlic-pepper dust.

Mediterranea recently added two additional vegan options to the lunch menu. Panko-crusted artichoke white bean croquettes on a bed of bitter radicchio, with sweet oranges and briny Moroccan olives in a tahini dressing. The croquettes can also be served on a grain bowl with avocado, tomatoes, and micro greens. Lunch is served Tuesdays through Fridays 11:30am-2:30pm.

Moonbird Coffee in Chamblee is now selling Sally’s Gluten Free Bakery items! And they offer soy and almond milk too. Moonbird Coffee is located inside of Southbound Restaurant on the top floor.

Osteria Mattone is opening its doors for dinner service on July 17th. Stop by every Monday from 5:00-9:30 p.m. for a meal featuring regional Italian cuisine with a heavy focus on Roman fare. And there is gluten-free pasta! Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the restaurant.

Poke Bar Dice & Mix recently opened a new location in Duluth on Medlock Bridge Road in the same plaza as the Regal Theater. The fast-casual restaurant allows customers to create bowls with their choice of fish and seafood such as tuna and salmon and mix-ins like as seaweed and pineapple. The sauces contain soy, so bring gluten-free soy sauce or top your creation with sesame oil and sesame.

Congrats to East Cobb restaurant Seed Kitchen & Bar being recognized as a 2017 Top 25 Small Business by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber applauds Seed for excellence in entrepreneurship and industry and its contributions to the vitality of the community. Chef and owner Doug Turbush and his family are longtime East Cobbers. He feels “there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the people of East Cobb making lifelong memories right here in our restaurant.” Turbush and his team are honored and grateful to be recognized, and they give an appreciative shout-out to the Cobb Chamber for its work to support Cobb County businesses and community.

According to TonetoAtl, Buckhead’s Sophie’s Uptown has been listed for sale. The popular bakery which has been in business for about ten years is up for grabs due to owner David York’s planned relocation out of state. The 2,200 square foot shop is located just off Peachtree Road on Pharr Road, and is open for breakfast and lunch and also offers assorted bakery items. Sophie’s Uptown donates 25% of their sales to local animal rescue and adoption organizations and their charitable involvement has helped them thrive in an otherwise off the beaten path location.

All of the desserts on True Food Kitchen’s new Summer menu are gluten free and vegan. The flourless chocolate cake has long been a favorite of mine, but I think a slice of Key Lime Pie with coconut chantilly is in order.

• Flourless Chocolate Cake caramel, vanilla ice cream, cocoa nibs
• Chia Seed Pudding banana, toasted coconut
• Sea Buckthorn Sorbet, luxardo cherry
• Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream

Have a safe and tasty weekend!

Sprouts Farmers Market opened a new store in Woodstock on Towne Lake Parkway and the Atlanta Food Bloggers Society was on hand to take it all in. This grand opening marks the introduction of a new and larger floor plan with increased offerings of fresh produce, meat and seafood, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, deli, dairy products, frozen foods, natural body care and household items. With a focus on offering fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices, they threw out all the stops by also hosting a patriotic-themed cooking demo taught by the lovely Marisa Moore, registered dietitian.

It was standing room only as the crowd waited for Marisa to show us how to add red, white and blue dazzling colors to drinks, salad and dessert that are sure to become crowd pleasers. Marisa made ruby red raspberry sparkling lemonade, watermelon, blackberry and feta salad and berries and cream. We sampled these healthful recipes that are very easy and inexpensive to make.

Add Sprouts organic red beet powder (find in supplements) to Sprouts sparkling lemonade and top with lemons and frozen raspberries for a tangy and refreshing drink. The watermelon, blackberry and feta salad was dressed with lime juice, raw honey and fresh mint. If you want to omit the feta, which is salty, add a pinch of kosher salt before drizzling it over the salad. 

Since I cannot tolerate dairy, it was lovely to see Marisa offer So Delicious’ cocowhip and coconut yogurt as alternatives for the berries and cream. Cut up the strawberries and blueberries, combine with vanilla extract and coconut sugar and let them sit while they create a lovely sauce. Top your favorite gluten-free cake with cocowhip and a heaping spoon of berries, or create berry parfaits layering coconut yogurt with the berry mixture.

Thank you Marisa for such an informative demo and for the red, white, and blue recipes!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review; however I did receive a store gift card. In no way did it influence my opinions and views, which are derived from my personal experience.

Rob Green, bartender and award-winning mixologist, has created a line of nutritious cold pressed juices that taste great and are actually good for you called SMASH Culinary Crated Juice. These organic and uniquely flavored juices are coconut-water based making them ideal to include in your daily health plan. And they double as cocktail mixers that keep you hydrated as the night goes on.

The launch party was held on the seventh floor of Yoo at the Zoo with a view of their sheik lounge and pool. The evening included small bites from Off the Eaten Path and Chef Melissa, a drink bar with mocktails and cocktails and Trilogy cigars. The food was fantastic, but the star of the evening was the small-batch juices.

A great source of vitamins and aminos, Rob blends fresh fruits and veggies into four flavor combinations: Juggernaut, Kapow, Blue Steel, and Pom Bom.

• Juggernaut – Wheat grass, Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Apple, ​Ginger, and Organic Sugar
• Kapow – Orange, Pineapple, Turmeric, Ginger, Coconut Water and ​Raw Honey
• Blue Steel – Blueberries, Sage, Lemon, and Organic Sugar
• Pom Bom – Pomegranate, Cranberry, Red Grapes, Vanilla Bean, Raw Honey, and Coconut Water 

The Juggernaut was my favorite with the kapow at a close second. Lightly sweetened with organic sugar or honey, they contain a short list of simple ingredients packed with a clean, refreshing, balanced flavor that leaves you wanting more. I loved that you could sample them with or without alcohol, so you could really get a feel for the flavor itself.

Now, on to the food. I noshed hard on the espresso pomegranate pot de creme and marinated Argentinean meatballs with red wine vinegar and chimichurri. The bold flavors paired nicely with the cocktails creating the perfect eat and chill vibe.

Congrats to Rob and the successful launch of SMASH Juices. Order them online for local delivery!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review; however I did receive free samples. In no way did it influence my opinions and views, which are derived from my personal experience.

It isn’t often you meet a business owner so passionate about providing healthy oat-based gluten-free options to those who avoid gluten, but Deb Wheaton is just that person. Her passion shines in the quality of products from Gluten-Free Prairie, a woman owned, family operated business in Montana, that donates a portion of sales to the Celiac Disease Foundation.

After being diagnosed with celiac disease in 2005, Deb set out to create a line of certified gluten free oat-based products made with purity protocol oats grown in dedicated gluten-free fields in Montana. All grains are harvested with dedicated gluten-free combines and packaged in a designated gluten-free facility to ensure they are truly safe and aren’t contaminated with gluten.

I received samples of their hunger buster cookie, pancake and waffle mix, deep dark chocolate brownie mix and Montana morning granola. They also make oatmeal, toasted oat flour and groats. You won’t find any rice flour, xanthan gum, preservatives, or fillers in any of their products and oats are always the first ingredient. Making taste and health a priority, the high protein and fiber content make them a tasty addition to any diet.

So, I am kind of in love with the hunger buster cookies. Oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and raisins come together to create the perfect pick-me-up treat with a whopping 10 grams of protein per cookie. Just a couple of bites will satisfy any dip in blood sugar. These cookies are a chewy, delicious, grab ‘n go treat and I always have a supply in my freezer for road trips or long flights.

The mixes are new to me and offer a different take on traditional gluten-free mixes because they actually live up to their names. The deep dark chocolate brownie mix produces a batch of the most chewy, chocolaty brownies, even when made with dairy-free butter. They were gone pretty quickly and got a thumbs up from my discerning pre-teen daughter.

The versatile pancake and waffle mix takes mere minutes to crank out crepes or pancakes that can be stuffed or wrapped around the breakfast meat of choice. I made pigs in a blanket, which were light, fluffy and didn’t leave me feeling bloated or overly full.

Montana mornings granola is their newest creation combining oats, chewy blueberries and cranberries, almonds, pecans, coconut and honey for a crunchy breakfast treat, topping for ice cream, or eating directly from the bag. I like that it doesn’t immediately get soggy when used as a topping and the added notes of sweetness really boost the flavor of plain yogurt.

If you want to add oats to your diet in a safe and tasty way, check out Gluten-Free Prairie online and on Amazon.com!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review; however I did receive free samples. In no way did it influence my opinions and views, which are derived from my personal experience.

Butcher and the Bottle in Canton has an awesome gluten-free menu with Udi’s Gluten Free buns for burgers and sandwiches, a dedicated fryer, gourmet entrees at reasonable prices and an epic chocolate cake from Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta. This cake is huge with layers of fudgey cake sandwiched between chocolate icing and topped with even more icing and sprinkles. Definitely plan on sharing this dessert and ordering an after dinner drink to balance its richness. 

Drift Seafood and Oyster House has won the coveted title of best seafood in Atlanta from the AJC with more than 1,700 votes. The East Cobb spot offers up a seasonal menu of simply prepared coastal American fresh seafood, that is fresh, bold and driven by their obsession for quality. Gluten-free options are plentiful and marked on the menu to make ordering a breeze. Stop by and judge for yourself.

Food 101 in Sandy Springs salutes oysters with Sunday Oyster Socials every Sunday from 4 p.m. to close. Enjoy three raw oysters on the half shell topped with your choice of hot sauce, horseradish, tomato and lime, salsa, citrus vinaigrette or herb and garlic sauce, for $7.50. If roasted oysters is more your thing, three roasted oysters are $8 and can be topped with house garlic and herb butter; piccata with lemon caper butter; Crab Imperial of crab meat, lemon, scallion, aioli skip the breadcrumbs; and Rockefeller with spinach, ham, Parmesan cheese, roasted garlic and skip the breadcrumbs.

Raspberry and apricot fruit bars are the newest innovation from Katz Gluten Free. These crunchy cookies, made with nutritious chickpea, sorghum and brown rice flours, are packed with real fruit and no dairy, soy, and nuts. And they are on sale! Stop by their website and check out all of their gluten-free products. I highly recommend the apple pie and the hamantaschen.

According to TonetoATL, Rize Artisan Pizza is coming to Dunwoody Village. This Delaware-based pizza chain that opened their first ever location this past fall in Poncey Highland and added a second location shortly afterwards in Sandy Springs, is already planning a third unit. The pizza chain faces some tough competition from long time area restaurants Mellow Mushroom, Novo Cucina and Uncle Maddio’s. The menu at Rize is definitely up to the challenge and they have the best gluten-free pizza on the block using a fresh, not frozen crust, that is proofed prior to cooking.

Sprouts Farmers Market just opened in Woodstock with a larger floor plan and increased offerings in every area of the gorgeous store. Stop by to take advantage of samples, coupons, and great prices. One July 1st, the first 200 customers to make a purchase will receive a coupon booklet for five free deli items.

Table & Main’s July Paleo Wednesday offerings continue to impress. Here is the lineup:

• July 5 | Crispy Pork Belly, charred eggplant & honey pureé, yellow wax beans, heirloom tomatoes
• July 12 | Zephyr Squash & Short Rib ‘Agnolotti’, tomato basil water, carrot, celery, onion, almond ricotta
• July 19 | Seared Scallops, summer melons, cucumber salad, lime
• July 26 | Pork Loin, peach BBQ, sweet potato & leek pancake

Have a safe and tasty weekend!