Pepperidge Farm is adding to its fruit-flavored cookie lineup with five new varieties. There's not much fruit to be found, though: Fruit puree and juice concentrates make up less than 2 percent of the ingredients. We tried Verona Apple Caramel, a buttery pastry with a sweet filling reminiscent of applesauce, and the Montieri Apple Tart, a sandwich cookie with the lattice work and cinnamony bite of its namesake. Of the two, tasters preferred the Verona for its milder profile and chewy, not crunchy, texture. Other flavors, not tested, include raspberry and peach Montieri cookies, and a blueberry Verona. Suggested retail for a package of about 6 ounces is $3.19.

Chris Hunt/AJC (ENLARGE)

Verona Apple Caramel is a buttery pastry with a sweet filling reminiscent of applesauce. The Montieri Apple Tart is a sandwich cookie.

(ENLARGE)

The March issue of Bon Appetit features a Southern Easter menu and a tour of Atlanta restaurants.

Trader Joe's Tzatziki Dip is a versatile option  No shortage of flavors at Murphy's Popcorn in Marietta  King Arthur Flour's scone mix well worth ordering  Get Blue Bell's Southern Hospitality ice cream while it lasts  We put these fast-food milkshakes to the test

Alon's second location bigger, with wine bar, dining area

Intown bakery and food market Alon's has opened its second location, a big shift for a market nourished in the cozy confines of Morningside. The new location, in a former EatZi's across from Perimeter Mall, is twice as large and has a somewhat cavernous feel. Those familiar with Alon's will find the old favorites here, as well as a large wine bar and dining area, the return of house-made gelato and expanded space for gifts, chocolate and cheese. Newbies should head straight for the bread and pastries and discover why they're the best in town. Sides such as green bean salad with olives and roasted red pepper, and Thai-grilled eggplant, make good last-minute dinner fare. 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road. 678-397-1781, www.alons.com

Southern cooking gets more national exposure

Atlanta restaurants are making the rounds of the national food magazines. In January, Gourmet spotlighted restaurants reviving Southern cuisine, profiled Scott Peacock of Watershed and offered his brunch recipes in another feature. In the March issue of Bon Appetit ($3.99), there's a Southern Easter menu from Peacock (ham with brown sugar and mustard glaze, cream biscuits, turnip greens cooked in pork stock) and a tour of Atlanta restaurants rediscovering Southern cuisine. Among the dozen or so mentioned: Rare, Wisteria, Kevin Rathbun Steak and the Cabbagetown Market. Elsewhere, in a roundup of 10 hot Mexican restaurants across the country, is La Oaxaquena Taqueria in Jonesboro. Make your reservations now.