Learn how to make espresso martinis and more Atlanta food events this week
Metro Atlanta is brimming with tasty events, classes and festivals throughout the month of February. It can be overwhelming to sort through the many options, so this weekly event column offers a curated selection of three food and beverage-focused events happening in metro Atlanta.
This week, check out an espresso martini class, discover a speakeasy’s Mardi Gras-themed pop-up and tour a Ramadan food festival.
Learn how to make espresso martinis
Bar Margot at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta in Midtown is launching a monthly mixology series, and it starts Tuesday with a deep dive on how to make the espresso martini, a cocktail that was first invented in late 1980s London and traditionally involves espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur.
During the event, guests will learn the secrets of making a great espresso martini by shaking, tasting and comparing various espresso martini builds to see how the drink transforms between spirits and techniques, according to a news release. Each ticket includes guided tastings, light bites and recipes to bring home.
5 p.m. Feb. 24. $50 per person. 75 14th St. NE, Atlanta. 404-881-5913, opentable.com/bar-margot
Discover a hidden speakeasy
Tucked away inside Girl Diver in Reynoldstown is Zarate Tiki, a hidden speakeasy that focuses on Filipino street food and cocktails. This month, its running theme is inspired by Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations, featuring late-night bites and drinks that draw on Filipino and New Orleans cuisine. The theme will run for about a month, owner Marcus Fernandez said.
Fernandez incorporates traditional Filipino flavors into his menu while adding his own spin on the dishes. The kitchen is open late, and he offers a $10 and under menu.
Expect dishes like a longanisa sandwich (a type of sausage similar to Mexican chorizo that’s slightly sweeter and less spicy) with jam and garlic mayo on a brioche bun; Filipino gumbo with tamarind soup, mirepoix, golden rice and longanisa sausage; and Bahay fried rice with marinated Spam cubes, Filipino adobo and fried rice. Zarate has drink offerings like a king cake old fashioned, an ube colada, hurricanes and rum punch.
The speakeasy is password-protected and reservations are highly encouraged, Fernandez said.
Zarate Tiki is open 6 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday and 5-11 p.m. Sundays.
955 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta. 678-543-2363, zaratekitchen.com
Check out the Ramadan Food Festival
The holy month of Ramadan began around Feb. 18, signifying the start of one of the most reverent periods of the year for Muslims that involves about a month of daily fasting from sunrise to sundown.
The Ramadan Food Festival returns this weekend for its second year. It’s an overnight market that celebrates food and culture with more than 60 halal food vendors. Guests can expect offerings from vendors like Ponko Chicken, Eggroll Boyz, Simons Chinese, Island Seafood, Shaza Kitchen and Char Kingz.
It is hosted by the Atlanta Muslim Festival Collective (AMFC), which also runs a summer and fall Halal Festival.
“The Atlanta Ramadan Food Festival is about so much more than great food. We’re celebrating community during one of the most meaningful times of the year,” Hasnain Lakhani, co-founder of AMFC, said in a prepared statement. “Ramadan is a season centered on reflection, generosity and connection, and this festival creates a space where Muslims and non-Muslims alike can gather, learn and share those values.”
9 p.m.-6 a.m. Feb. 27-28. $12 per person. 2077 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross. atlantamuslimfestivalcollective.com
About the Author
Olivia Wakim is a digital content producer on the food and dining team. She joined the AJC as an intern in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree. While in school, she reported for The Red & Black, Grady Newsource and the Marietta Daily Journal.
