What Obstacles? White Oak Pastures Ruff Run is March 19

Run into White Oak Pastures and run into a lot of history: one family, one farm, five generations, 150 years -- and the second-annual White Oak Pastures Ruff Run on Saturday, March 19. First heat sets off at 10 a.m. followed by second and third heats at 10:30 and 11 a.m. Go all out in "Run & Fun" featuring 10 obstacles and receive a Ruff Run T-shirt, one beer ticket (for entrants 21+ years old) and join in "After Run" activities (see "Fun"); $35 per person. "Fun" lovers, stick to the "After Run" activities for $15 per person: ride on the mechanical bull, try your hand at cowboy jousting, play cornhole, paintball and more. When the run's done, what's your hurry? Hang around for lunch, available to purchase at the White Oak Pastures food truck (cash, debit and credit cards accepted). Register by calling 229-641-2081 or visiting the online store, designating "pick up" to avoid automatic delivery charges.

Appetizing Aperture

Cast your eyes on chocolate chunk skillet cookies topped off with house-made vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce ($8.95) at Seed Kitchen & Bar, and there's no way you're walking out the door without spooning into one yourself...or at least sharing one with your tablemate. Two spoons, please.

Matthew Ridgway of The Southern Gentleman and Gypsy Kitchen Caravans to Charleston Wine + Food Festival March 2-6

The Low Country calls, and y'all must go to the 10^th annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival (CWFF), Wednesday, March 2 through Sunday, March 6. Charleston is already deemed one of the top food and wine destinations in America, and the CWFF adds about 400 more reasons to visit -- the approximate number of chefs, farmers, beverage professionals, artists and experts contributing to the week of exclusive dinners, fine wine and food tastings, cocktails, beer, demos and classes, Culinary Village experiences, live entertainment and much more. Count Matthew Ridgway in on the punch list. The executive chef of The Southern Gentleman and Gypsy Kitchen leads several demos on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in Marion Square, the Culinary Village and the SCE&G Tent. His plans include preparing chickpea socca pancake with farmers cheese and torn herb salad in the Hands-On Kitchen/SCE&G Tent and Gypsy Kitchen red lentils with coconut milk, basil and hot chorizo in the Culinary Village. Visit the website to choose the ticket options you desire, from individual events to packages. Makes for a sumptuous grown-up getaway because one must be age 21 or over to attend. Feel-good factor (along with food and wine) -- festival proceeds benefit area charities and provide culinary scholarships at three Charleston colleges.

Derek Dollar and Doug Turbush Selected for Georgia Restaurant Association's Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program

Derek Dollar of Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails and The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill and Doug Turbush of Seed Restaurant & Bar, Stem Wine Bar and new Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar have been selected for the Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program by the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) and the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). GDA Commissioner Gary S. Black and GRA CEO Karen Bremer announced the 2016 class of five chefs on February 17 at GRA's eighth annual Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. These chefs bring incredible experience and unique talents to the table and are already supportive of Georgia products, according to Bremer. As part of the Georgia Grown program, Dollar and Turbush will, even more so, foster relationships with farmers to strengthen ties between Georgia farmers, chefs, restaurants and consumers.

Take-O Time Out for Free Tacos at the Bar in Ray’s Rio Bravo

For real, mi amigo. Ray’s Rio Bravo sets out a special taco bar, complimentary for bar patrons only, every Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. until closing time. Living the Tex-Mex life is easy with so many tacos waiting to be held. Another reason the bar at Ray’s packs in so much olé -- $15 pitchers of house margaritas and $10 pitchers of draught beer all day, every day.

Atkins Park Va-Hi Musters a Leap Year Lip Sync Battle so Epic It Only Happens Every Four Years on February 29

Lip balming, jaw stretches, singing to the bathroom mirror -- start doing whatever you do to prep and mobilize your lips for the Leap Year Lip Sync Battle at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland on Monday, February 29. DJ Captain Jam runs the show starting at 10 p.m. Featured beverages from Terrapin and Jack Daniel’s are sure to loosen the lips for showtime. Fake it til you make it. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll be one of the lip sync contest winners taking home prizes of Atlanta Hawks basketball tickets. Miss out on the mouth-umental battle and you’ll have four more years of practicing until leap year 2020

Will They Sing for Their Supper? Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy and Revival’s Rémi Granger Among Chefs Cooking at Songs for Kids Foundation Food + Music Festival February 28

Chefs and musicians will rock Park Tavern when Songs for Kids Foundation Food + Music Festival commandeers the Piedmont Park-side restaurant on Sunday, February 28 from 1-5 p.m. Bantam + Biddy founder/owner Shaun Doty and Revival executive sous chef Rémi Granger are gourmet groupies, i.e. participating chefs, serving lip-smacking good samples to guests while Yacht Rock Revue churns out the hits. The beat goes on with tunes from Songs for Kids artists and kids from the organization’s programs and live and silent auction excitement. A bouncy castle, face painting, magic and other fun activities entertain youngsters. Buy tickets, which include food and drink tastings, on Xorbia for $75 each ($10 for kids ages 16 and under). All proceeds benefit Songs for Kids Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that integrates musicians into the lives of children who are suffering from illness and hardship in and out of children’s hospitals and special needs camps through interactive concerts and the Songs for Kids Records songwriting and recording program.

Soak Up Swizzling Skills from Bellina Alimentari’s Corey Phillips at Decatur Stirs on February 27

Afternoon plans are on the rocks this Saturday, February 27, for those muddling in cocktail mode at the Decatur Stirs Craft Cocktail Experience 2016. Drink in cocktail crafting know-how from local spirit experts and bartenders while sipping and swirling through a showcase of 100 craft spirits, syrups, bitters and new cocktail products at the 2-5 p.m. event spilling through the Courtyard by Marriott Decatur Downtown and Decatur Conference Center. There’s more to crafting cocktails than meets the highball. Bellina Alimentari bar manager Corey Phillips adds Italian flair to the afternoon’s cocktail repertoire by mixing apertivo-worthy sippers with Cynar, Cynar 70 and Aperol. Stop by and absorb some ideas for throwing your own Italian happy hour! Purchase tickets online, $50 each. Limited to ages 21 and over only.

Enjoy Three Courses for $25 at Ray’s at Killer Creek During Alpharetta Restaurant Week Through February 27

So you missed treating someone special to a Valentine’s Day dinner out on the town? Redeem yourself by making a date for Ray’s at Killer Creek during Alpharetta Restaurant Week, going on through Saturday, February 27. Guests can select their choice morsels on Ray’s $25 prix fixe, three-course dinner menu (excludes tax, gratuity or beverages). The first course offers artisan field greens, Caesar salad or a cup of crab bisque. Mains float land and sea options: salmon Oscar with jumbo lump crab meat, béarnaise, grilled asparagus and whipped Yukon Gold potatoes; Springer Mountain Farms chicken with grilled king trumpet mushrooms, grilled asparagus and bacon-thyme demi-glace; or filet trio with mushroom bordelaise and whipped Yukon Gold potatoes. Dessert demands the willpower to choose either Key lime pie with raspberry coulis or crème brûlée with seasonal fruit compote -- fresh whipped cream dollops both selections. Call the restaurant for reservations: 770-649-0064. Heck, belated Valentine’s dinner or not, this delectable deal is irresistibly sweet.

Ride the Oyster Trend at The Big Ketch Roswell Oyster and Beer Flight Dinner February 25

Oyster appreciation netted a top spot when we pried chefs for 2016 food trends, and The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Roswell is on board with a fine and briny opportunity. The Canton Street restaurant is hosting an Oyster and Beer Flight Dinner on Thursday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. Shell out $35 per person to savor eight oysters (four varieties), four (4-oz.) beers from local beer crafters Gate City Brewing Company and Second Self Beer Company and hushpuppies and boiled peanuts aplenty. Space is limited for this oyster bed and brew-fest. To reserve a seat, email Jill List at jill@tbkroswell.com.

What’s New on Pinterest

For far too long, veggies perched meekly on plates like wallflowers at a dance. No more. The trend spotlight beams on Vivacious Vegetables as the dinner table’s newest darlings, and the conversation’s never been so colorful. Set a plant-iful precedent by serving the ultimate winter bliss bowls, smoked grilled vegetables, sweet potato corn cakes with garlic dipping sauce, roasted veggie and goat cheese grilled sandwiches or raw spiralized Thai salad. Vegetarian recipes for the ultimate Australia Day barbecue attest that veggies are on top, even down under. 

Atlanta Restaurants Celebrate National Margarita Day Feb. 22

No need to bring out the blender at home! These Atlanta restaurants are celebrating National Margarita Day this year great specials and promos:

Now through February 25, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina is celebrating all week long with 22-ounce Big House Margaritas (1800 tequila, Agavero and sour mix) for $10 and 22-ounce Grandma’s House Margaritas (1800 tequila, Agavero, sour mix and a hefty floater of Grand Marnier) for $12. These two featured margaritas are served in commemorative maroon cups that guests can keep and are available for a whole week surrounding National Margarita Day (while cup supplies last).

Hop on over to HOBNOB in Midtown for $10 Don Julio Blanco margaritas available all day on February 22. Guests can also take home swag from Don Julio representatives to keep the party going all night long.

Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar is shaking things up with their limited-time pomegranate margarita! Sip on this cool cocktail featuring Don Julio Blanco and fresh lime juice for $12.

#Foodgram

Chefs and mixologists can’t claim all the glory. Let’s hear it for the guy behind the menu art and eye candy-filled walls. That would be Patrick Nguyen, restaurant/bar/brewery artist. Peruse his portfolio at Dozfy and email him with suggestions of restaurants wanting menu art.