micropundit

The next “latest trend” that will grace our fair city could be verrines. Say that you have never heard of them? Well that is why your faithful scribe is here : to educate and enlighten you my fellow gourmands.. Verrines-pronounced like terrines- are, as one writer described them, “layered luxury in a glass”. The term, which literally means “protected glass” in French, describes the latest trend sweeping French food circles. In short and summary, verrines are presentations of various textures, flavors, colors and temperatures artfully composed in a glass. They may be amuses; appetizers; or dessert. But the key is the arrangement of ingredients that produces a sensational, sensual taste experience. In France entire cookbooks have been devoted to the art of composing verrines and they are on the menus of all the chic patisseries. The reason that I am mentioning this trend is to (hopefully) prepare you for the opening The FRENCH AMERICAN BRASSERIE(FAB). I had a chance to peek in on the successor to BRASSERIE Le COZE last week and it looks as if this is going to be a trend setter in design, focus and I am betting, food. The design is outstanding:A sweeping glass entry way that leads to 4 luxe levels laid out like an upscale Parisian Gare on the interior and the exterior signage is an attention getter in and of itself. In a phrase, FAB is layered luxury in glass. Not only will downtown’s dining scene benefit from this former Buckhead favorite but FAB will retain if not expand the national acclaim of its predecessor. And with the addition of a few trend setting items such as verrines, the inevitability of FAB’s success is enhanced greatly. So if tres chic is what you seek, 30 Allen Plaza will be the place. Question of the Week: What popular Morningside gelateria appears to be more than “closed for the season”? NEWS and NOTES:(From my keyboard to your screen) And a tip of the toque goes out to ANN’S SNACK SHOP. The Wall Street Journal’s veteran food writer, Raymond Sokolov, who traveled throughout the country in search of the USA’s best burger, pronounced owner Ann Price’s “Ghetto Burger” the number one burger in the USA .He described it a “masterpiece” and “the next level of burgerhood.” Our town’s entry beat out such formidable contenders as LA’s In-N-Out and New York’s DB BISTRO MODERN’s $ 32 foie gras stuffed burger. Congratulations are in order as well for former Creative Loafing food writer Bill Addison. After a short stint in San Francisco, he has been named the food critic for the Dallas Morning News. Buckhead. Lost amidst all the excitement and controversy surrounding the announcement of the Buckhead Avenues mega development was the statement by the developers that they where going to include the first ELTON JOHN PIANO BAR as one of their upscale tenants. If true, what an interesting place to see and be seen it will be. Look for GRILL VENTURES to open behind the new TACO MAC in the expanding Lindbergh City Center. Emory. THE RUSTIC GOURMET has lost its lease and is shuttering. Rumor has it that a fast casual Italian spot may appear soon. Midtown. Scott Black, former GM of BONES, and some partners are looking to open a spot called DOGWOODS near the Fox Theater this fall. Old Fourth Ward. P’CHEEN’S has almost doubled its space and added a 30 foot wall for a rotating art exhibit area, a sign of the growth and vitality of intown dining done right. West Midtown. STAR PROVISIONS is nearly finished with their planned Charcuterie and curing room . It was featured in John Kessler’s recent piece on the rise of the preparation, manufacture and demand for Italian style cured meats locally. I have been inside the facility and we are in for a treat. Thank you for dropping by and remember that kind words don’t cost much but they can accomplish a great deal. PS you guys have nailed the question of the week two weeks straight –you are good!

This past week saw yet another round of mega development project announcements that promise to not only enrich the Atlanta skyline but their developers as well, including the restaurant operators/owners who are about to become as important as the developers that are building this town. For the uninitiated, real estate is to Atlanta what movies are to L.A. And the developers are the stars. The economics of all this new development –land cost, interest rates and demographics- are demanding bigger and bigger projects, with more bells and whistles. And among those accoutrements, especially for the flavor of the month mixed use projects, are restaurants: big, splashy and preferably with national / international cache. So with news like of the arrival of the much anticipated 5 star Mandarin Oriental hotel chain (which features high end restaurants in all of their properties), be prepared for not only the developers to get a lot of ink but watch and see how Atlanta restaurateurs and chefs compete with the bold face names form the big cities; you know, the ones with the book deals, TV shows and multi-unit empires. What is driving all of this? Well because the rents at these mega projects are going to be astronomical and the competition for the premium dollar crowd is going to be fierce, especially with the caliber of the out of town players who are eyeing this market hungrily. So only those with major bank and consistent performance are going to be able to play and fewer still will survive. However the rewards, both monetary and otherwise, are going to be sweet. The old ATL is moving on up to the national and international radar and to the winners will go the fame and favor that has spelled success to all the afore-mentioned big city stars. It is not as if the local restaurant moguls- Buckhead Life, the pioneers, is our Myriad Restaurant Group (NOBU, TRIBECA GRILL); Bob Amick is our Steven Starr (BUDDAKAN, MORIMOTO); and Here to Serve is our China Grill Management (ASIA De CUBA, CHINA GRILL and of course the now famous KOBE CLUB)- are not big time. But folks the stakes –and the steaks – are going to get higher, much higher because of the increased competition. And they are going to have to step up their game to survive and prosper. Speaking of (former) local stars and the big city, there is a buzz in NYC about , Sotohiro Kosugi(SOTO), who is set to open his New York shop this spring at 374 6th Avenue. Question of the Week: What Windy City 4 star duo is looking at opening a spot in the ATL? NEWS and NOTES: (From my keyboard to your screen). Buckhead. Long time hangout spot, CAFÉ TU TU TANGO, has closed to make room for a mega project that will span several blocks of the former West Village called Buckhead Avenues. The project will feature 3 hotels, including a 6 star one, “restaurants (that) would be of the caliber of the very finest you would find in Manhattan and the retailers would include the high-class fashion houses of Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive, etc.” Look for a TRADER JOE’S in Lindbergh City Center late this year. Candler Park. Look for a FOX BROTHER’S BAR BE QUE at the site of the now closed ASADA this spring. College Park. Look for THE ACADEMY GRILL on Virginia Avenue this summer. It will be, according to those in the know, the OK CAFÉ for the Southside. Downtown. Look for the following restos to open this spring in the new developments downtown and around the Georgia Aquarium: AZN, a family style Asian resto (say the name real fast) by the Hsu’s (SILK); CAFÉ SABOR and FIVE SEASONS BREWERY. The luxury boutique hotel under construction across the Ritz Carton Atlanta, the Ellis Hotel, will open THE CAFÉ at the ELLIS HOTEL this spring. Druid Hills. Emory University is getting into the new dining paradigm by hiring Michael Klein as executive chef at the Emory Conference Center. Chef Klein, a CIA graduate with 25 years of experience, comes to Emory from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, where he was national education director and opening dean of the Atlanta branch. Midtown. The Midtown W hotel, currently the Sheraton until June 1 when it will close for renovation, is rumored to have hired the Jean Georges Vongerichten group to handle their food and beverage operations.( I am trying to tell you it’s about to get serious up in here.) JOEY’S LATIN GRILL at the Metropolis condos has shuttered. Look for FIRESIDE PIES, a Dallas based upscale pizza parlor cum wine bar, at the Plaza Midtown condos this summer. It joins its Big D sibling, STEEL, in the newly completed twin tower mixed use project. Well once again I want to thank you guys for stopping by and remember that with most people, unbelief in one thing is founded upon a blind belief in another.

The March issue of Travel and Leisure magazine features a dining guide to Atlanta that illustrates the challenge and opportunity that our dining scene faces in the future. T&L ‘s review highlighted QUINONES; TABLE 1280;ROLLING BONES; PIEBAR; and, LOBBY @ TWELVE Hotel as a representative sample of the depth and breadth of the ATL’s dining scene for the sophisticated traveler. They hit the key dishes and distinct features of each very well. They also mentioned TROIS and ECCO in lesser detail. With this type of ink enticing folks to check us out in the spring-the best time IMO- the timing couldn’t be better. I believe that this article is just the tip of the good news to follow as the Atlanta dining scene slowly gains in reputation. My hope is that the rest of the equation –the attractions, architecture and accommodations- will be in place in order to capture this “new” market’s potential However-and you just knew there would be one- the people who read T&L are ,for the most part, sophisticated folks and their expectations will be considerably higher than we have experienced before. These are not your standard conventioneers; they are people who travel for leisure as well. So this story may open us up to the type of scrutiny that will require an upgrade in our calculus of felicity. What I mean is that the levels of service, accommodations and culinary offerings must meet new and more stringent standards, across the board. From the ground transportation at the airport to the dining experience will be looked at by more than the casual suburban shopper from the outer provinces of the Southeast. And these customers are going to expect the very best across the board and will pay for it. That is the challenge; the opportunity is to capitalize on the good review. . Question of the Week( From my keyboard to your screen): What newly minted Midtown multi- cultural cuisine resto is for sale after less that 6 months of operation? NEWS and NOTES: Buckhead. Look for the former site of PROVANCE to become CATCH, an upscale seafood spot. Congrats go out to Pano Karatassos , founder and CEO of the Buckhead Life Group, for receiving The Golden Oak award from Share Our Strength. This a national recognition for his service to this organization which has raised over $ 200 million, on a volunteer basis, to fight hunger and poverty worldwide. Decatur. Long time swank spot THE SUPPER CLUB will be closed by its owner on March 31. She will open a special event space in Mt Airy, Georgia. The location at 308 W.Ponce De Leon Avenue will be reborn as a bar named THE PARIS ROOM. Downtown. Look for OLYMPIA PALACE, a Mediterranean restaurant, in the Georgia Pacific building soon. According to The Sage, the buzz is building for FAB (French American Brasserie) nee BRASSERIE Le COZE, opening this spring at Allen plaza. Midtown. Look for THAI FUSION, a, uh, Thai fusion restaurant, to open this spring at 2441 Peachtree behind HOUSTON’S. The lights are on at TAP. The highly anticipated, self proclaimed first gastropub , is inching closer to opening. Across the street, Tamarind ,is also closer to opening: new curtains are up and furniture is being installed. West Midtown. PHILLY BOYS , the former downtown cheese steak spot, has re-opened at 1663 Howell Mill Road. Well again thanks for checking out the blog and remember that our words are a faithful index of our souls.

With the emphasis lately on all the new restaurants coming onto the scene it is easy to forget about how good some of the existing ones are, especially the small, chef driven ones like LES FLEUR DE LIS CAFE .I scheduled lunch with The Sage last week to talk about what was going on with the Atlanta food scene and because of some unforeseen circumstances, we ended up at the diminutive downtown diner for what turned out to be a real treat. First, a few words about The Sage and why I seek his counsel. He has been a fixture on the Atlanta scene for over a decade. People-important people in the food business- seek his ear and favor. So when I get an opportunity to seek his counsel, I’m on it. The Sage and I marveled at how Chef Robinson could turn consistently good fare without the benefit of a stove! . The food and the atmosphere were conducive to conversation of an unhurried variety, just the way a lunch with good friends should be. And that is what is generally missing in Atlanta or so we opined. During the meal our discussion turned to where he saw the market going and why. In short and summary, his prognostication is that we will see more of the same but with better quality because of the increased competition. He did say what he would love to see in the near term: a really great sushi restaurant ; an “African American WATERSHED”: a white tablecloth place with valet parking that served good but not necessarily soul food; and, someone invest some serious resources into CITY GRILL so that it could reach its full potential. As we were leaving, I asked Chef Robinson how things were going. He said that business had increased 20% last year and based upon current trends, that he expected a 30% increase this year. He did allow that there were challenges but in my opinion things were not too bad for an almost three year old restaurant in the heart of “downtown”- where nobody dares go upon fear of their life. So, if LES FLEUR DE LIS CAFÉ can survive and prosper at 57 Forsyth Street, in the Healy building, then the Atlanta dining scene’s future is in pretty good shape. Question of the Week: What former intown star chef has decamped to rural South Fulton County and bought and operates a bakery/ café there? NEWS and NOTES (from my keyboard to your screen): Alpharetta. BIA’S PIZZA KITCHEN at Jones Bridge and Old Alabama Road has shuttered. Atlantic Station. Look for a FLYING BISCUIT to join the mix at the AS, probably with a second floor location. Buckhead. MORTON’S steakhouse hopes to expand their street presence and customer appeal by opening BAR 1221, an expansion and redesign of their existing bar area, in the next 6-8 weeks. Campcreek Parkway. Look for THE TASTING ROOM, an upscale wine bar and restaurant to open soon in Campcreek Marketplace. Word is that a very famous Falcon is a partner in this venture. Downtown. STATS is the current name for the 790 the Zone/ David Marvin/ Bob Amick 15,000 square foot sports bar/ studio/ restaurant collaboration. Located at 300 Marietta street next to the Dome, Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park., this site is part of a new “restaurant row” that promises to bring some different and exciting dining concepts to downtown. Amick’s involvement just ups the wow factor. Speaking of Bob, not only did he take his TAP chef on a 4 day tour of London’s gastropub’s, he also took TROIS top toque, Jeremy Lieb to Paris for a four day tour of their latest hotspots. Now that’s what I call attention to detail; I hope that bob spreads some of the continental flair to his present and future projects. Look for an organic bakery/ produce shop/ food store in the Sweet Auburn Curb Market soon. Word is that it will be run by a former resident of Munich, Germany who envisions the shop as being ALON’s meets STAR PROVISIONS. (Sounds as if one of my wishes for the Atl’s dining scene is coming true) Kirkwood. VINOCITY, the Midtown wine bar and restaurant, is relocating this spring to Kirkwood Station, a new urban development located at 1963 Hosea L. Williams Drive. Midtown. Look for CAFÉ AMORE, a neighborhood boite, to join the roster of retail and restaurants at Plaza Midtown condos. Congratulations to NAN’S FINE DINING for their recent award of 4 Diamond status from AAA for 2007. Again, thank you for stopping by and checking the column out and remember that ability is what you are capable of doing; motivation determines what you do; but attitude determines how well you do it.

Last week both the local and national media provided some interesting takes on two trends that we may soon see in greater force in Atlanta’s dining scene. The first, by way of the New York Times: specialty cocktails. The second, from our hometown paper: desserts. With respect to specialty cocktails, the NYT swooned over London’s bars and their startenders, who have become almost as famous as chefs in the top rated restaurants. Citing their settings-some in hotels, some in restaurants- and their varied offerings, the lede was that London had the most sophisticated mixed drinks in the world and therefore by some form of logic, was the most sophisticated city in the world. Well if that is the case-London like drinking spots equal sophistication, then the ATL is moving on up to the big time. Already blessed with continental styled bars such as TROIS and the XO BAR in the Intercontinental Hotel, Atlanta is set to drink further from sophistications cup with the advent of TAP. Bob Amick has spent a good deal of time touring London’s bars and gastropubs designing his latest Midtown eatery. And since the W and St Regis hotels all are noted for their distinct bar scenes, I would expect no less from them as well. Regarding desserts and their ascendancy on local menus, the local paper featured some of the prime examples of the practice in our town. Highlighting both chefs, i.e. Kathryn King of ARIA, and restaurants-QUINONES – the article put desserts on an equal footing with the rest of the menu for ATL hotspots. And the Chicago of the South’s sweet tooth is going to get some new temptations. SWEET POCKETS CUPCAKES is making their signature cupcakes available in retail outlets like JAKES’S ICE CREAM as well as online at sweet-pockets.com. And ONE HOT COOKIE, a franchised sweet shop featuring cookies, ice cream, sandwiches and art, is opening an outlet in Emory Village. So Atlanta restaurateurs, let’s tighten up those cocktails and focus on your dessert menu; you do want to be on the cutting edge don’t you? A cutting edge spot that I checked a couple of weeks ago is VINO LIBRO. This is one cool spot located in the coolest new development in Atlanta, Glenwood Park. Atlantic Station may have done it first but Glenwood Park does it best. VINO LIBRO features a good menu of tasting plates; a superb specialty drink and martini list and (drum roll please) a daily dessert selection. The ambiance is modernist with the library/ reading room in one section and the bar/ wine room is on another. Go for the food, go for the drinks; whatever, just go. Question of the Week: What local restaurant company whose portfolio includes Irish pubs and classic American eateries in intown settings is opening a property in swank St. Simons, Georgia? NEWS and NOTES (from my keyboard to your screen): Buckhead. In a reverse pivot, Ian Winsblade, is now the top toque at POSH after being named top toque in the marketing materials for THRIVE, the new downtown eatery that opened last Saturday. Castleberry Hill. MBAR-music, martinis and margarita’s- has opened at 257 Peters Street. It is a sleek meet and greet spot that also features high end tequila and vodka bars as well. Chandler Park. RADIAL, the popular Dekalb Avenue breakfast-centric spot has shuttered after a solid 4 year run. (Editor's Note: Radial is alive and well. See the post below on March 16.) Decatur. Look for THE CHOCOLATE BAR, featuring fine chocolates, desserts and wine, in the Artisan condos on W. Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Decatur. (Looks like Decatur is getting with the program) And across the street from THE CHOCOLATE BAR, look for SAWICKI’S MEAT, SEAFOOD and MORE, a specialty shop, in the old PASTRIES TO GO space. The owner is Lyn Sawicki, formerly the manager of STAR PROVISIONS and a really great chef and person. Downtown. The word from those in the know is that Bob Amick’s Concentrics Hospitality may be the management company for 790 the Zone’s 20,000 square foot sport/ entertainment complex on Marietta Street, near the Georgia Aquarium. Now that is very interesting, more on this as details emerge. Marietta. PROVANCE, the former Buckhead Gallic gourmet spot has moved to 736 Johnson Ferry Road at Oldtown Parkway and become OLDETOWNE BISTRO. Vinings. The DOC CHEY’s property has shuttered after a brief run. Thank you for looking in on this week’s column and remember that history, although sometimes made up of the few acts of the great, is more often shaped by the many acts of the small. Oh, and have a have a happy Valentines Day!

Now that we are a month into the New Year the outlines of three trends that are going to impact Atlanta’s 2007 dining scene have begun to appear, albeit faintly. At this point in time there is no clear cut direction that the dining scene will take: the economy is still uncertain; the 2006 entries are still being digested (TROIS got 4 stars from the paper of general circulation) and, I have yet to consult my runes. But here are some early picks for the year. First, the number of noteworthy new restaurants, especially in town, will be substantial. I have counted 8 that will be open by the end of spring and that count doesn’t include some of the smaller neighborhood based spots. All of the current trend leaders of our dining scene are readying their latest offerings to a growing population, that is younger and more well traveled market than ever before. The appetite for great food and service, at a good price point, is driving a dynamic that is filling all corners of our fair city with better dining choices than we have ever had. Look for the high end restaurants to be confined for the most part to hotels and the more chef driven spots to crop up in the “hot” neighborhoods. Second, there will be some shake outs in the market due to factors such as increased competition; higher costs; poor management; and, lack of capital to upgrade or improve. SEEGER’S is just the latest example of the shake out; there will be other operators who will be closing / consolidating their properties as they attempt to stay viable. Look for some bold letter name type of establishments to have different names on the front door this coming year. Third and perhaps most significantly, look for more steak houses to pop up on the landscape. Nationally, this trend is hot with celebrity chefs from Wolfgang Puck to Bobby Flay entering this highly lucrative niche. I am talking beef from specially bred cows; beef from several different countries; and steaks from several different animals, including fish. One of the other changes in this genre is to take the traditional format and broaden it to appeal to women as well. I expect that in addition to the local guys-KEVIN RATHBUN STEAK- we will see several of the national high end chains as well as some of the celebrity chef properties coming to town. Atlanta already has some top rated steak houses (although curiously enough none in Midtown), so it should be a very good year for the carnivores among us as the competition heats up for the steak lovers dollar. A prime example of some of these trends will be LOBBY STEAK and SUSHI ,slated to open later this year at the Twelve Hotel Centennial Park. The result of the recently announced marriage between Bob Amick et al and the Novare Group- the ATL’s urban development gurus- this new age steak house should liven up the downtown steak house scene and compete with the established chains as well as the rumored CRAFTSTEAK. Question of the Week: What dynamic hospitality company is tapping a chef with experience in the kitchens of Ducasse, the Ritz Carlton and others to head up their latest (and smallest) endeavor? NEWS and NOTES (From my keyboard to your screen): Atlantic Station. TEN PIN ALLEY, the upscale bowling alley, martini bar and eatery from the Hollywood based Dolce Group, is now open. Word on the street is that they are pitching some new concepts to local developers. Now that would be sweet. Buckhead. Attention foodies: look for a TRADER JOES at the site of the former Office Depot on Peachtree Road. Jerry Fulridge , formerly of P F CHANG’s , is slated to be the opening chef at HOTSTIX STIR FRY KITCHEN in Lindbergh City Center. East Atlanta. Look for SALSA, located at 749 Moreland Avenue, to bring “Pan American cuisine” to heat up East Atlanta. Inman Park. PIZZA VINO is now under new management and the new guys are bringing in some major fire power as the new top toque. Seth Trafford comes to North Highland by way of stints at PRICCI, VENI VIDI VICI and BACCHANALIA. Memorial Drive. From the folks who brought us VICKERY’S , FONTAIN’S and HIGHLAND TAP , comes THE DEPOT. To be located in the long vacant Atlanta & West Point Railroad freight depot, the 210 seat resto- 112 inside and 98 on the patio- is slated to open late spring. The owners are promising “good casual food with a big active bar”. If the past is prologue, this should be a serious joint in the rapidly revitalizing eastside corridor. Well that is it for this week, thanks for dropping in and remember contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, tit is the realization of how much you already have

According to my well placed sources, expect to see some bold face names hailing from culinary capitols like LA, Chicago and New York, just to drop a few names, gracing our fair shores with some serious urban and urbane restos. Atlanta’s spectacular growth in population and increased tourism has fueled the competition to fill all of the expensive towers being built/ planned intown. Many of these towers will have a mix of office, housing and retail; specially designed to create a more urban environment here in sprawlsville. And restaurants are becoming a major selling point for those who want to attract the top businesses; retailers and tenants. From downtown to Buckhead, the ATL has attracted some of the world’s best developers who are now faced with the daunting task of selling/ leasing space at formerly unheard of prices in this market. We are seeing names such as Trump and Hines competing with the local guys as well as new comers like Magic Johnson. They are bringing in “brand names” like the W hotel and restaurants like Beverly Hills hotspot, CRUSTACEAN. While Buckhead has been the golden child historically, Midtown is now the venue of choice for the hip and the hot. But for all of you future restaurateurs/ foodirati: downtown has the infrastructure (hotels); the foot traffic (tourism and convention trade); and, most importantly, the muscle of the city’s biggest developer behind it. Sources tell me that some big time restaurants are being recruited to downtown and the public and private sector are working together to make it happen. So if I were you, I would not sleep on downtown’s potential over the next 5 years-from my keyboard to your screen, you heard it first here. I had a chance to experience another side of Atlanta’s dining scene this weekend that reminded me that packed houses and excitement are not limited to the big name, hot spots. The Industry Bigfoot and his lovely bride hosted an urbane dinner party at CANTON HOUSE, the Buford Highway spot noted primarily for its dim sum. The guests, who included leading figures of the arts, local business moguls and the CEO of a multi-billion dollar philanthropic organization, were led on an exciting tour of Chinese cooking prepared especially for us. A part of the evening’s excitement came from our groups sparkling and wide ranging conversations but the other part came from witnessing the throng of Vietnamese wedding parties, Chinese family diners and their assorted guests happily(and noisily) enjoying their evening. It was a vivid reminder that our city’s dining scene is rich and varied. Question of the Week: What local upscale Asian family owned restaurant group is planning on opening their 4th restaurant late this year? Brookhaven. Look for a HUDSON’S GRILL to occupy the former JOCK’S and JILL’S on Peachtree Road. Buckhead. Look for a name change for Brazilian steakhouse BOI NA BRAZA, if not ownership. (Not a lot of cars in the lot lately) Look for a FLYING BISCUIT CAFÉ at Northside and West Paces in the old MAMA FU’S spot. Raving Brands takes on the OK CAFÉ. SIDEBAR is now back to being BLUEBAR. The Peachtree Battle Shopping Center spot will again feature jazz and small plates. JAVA THE HUT COFFEE LOUNGE has opened at 252 Pharr Road. It features Wi Fi, coffees, Italian sodas and gourmet sandwiches. Decatur. Stockbridge based JUST LOAF’N , a po’ boy and wings joint , has opened its second restaurant at the former location of THE AUTOMATIC, 313 Boulevard Avenue. Downtown. B.E. D. has folded. The Miami based hotspot at the Glenn hotel was in operation for less than a year. The hotel will operate the space as THE GLENN HOTEL RESTAURANT & BAR until they decide on a new operator and concept. Sources say management, or lack there of, was the major issue. Inman Park. TRES P’s has closed. It was a personal favorite; sad to see them go after only a few months. Midtown. VINOCITY WINEBAR & RESTAURANT has replaced top toque Paul Wooten, now sous chef at SWEET LOWDOWN, with Matt Ahlberg. Word on the street has it that Bob Amick has been touring London’s gastopubs for research on TAP, his version of the genre slated to open this spring in the same building as TROIS. Well thanks once again for dropping by and remember, don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but judge it by the seeds you have planted.

The ever expanding galaxy of Atlanta’s dining scene has several new stars waiting to be explored. Southern cuisine, which has not only become part and parcel of the Atlanta experience, is now poised to become a signature theme as well. From the eastside to the Westside, there are a number of restos that are, in whole or in part, focusing on the food that is culled from the various regions of the South and doing it with a great deal of skill and passion. From southern expatriates living in the big cities to southerners returning to their roots, there is a growing appetite for the food that you remember from your grandmother’s table-food that is fresh and prepared with passion. Couple this nostalgia with the farm to table movement that is sweeping the country and you have a movement that is beginning to take hold here in Atlanta. You can now go from RESTAURANT EUGENE’S Sunday southern dinner to SWEET LOWDOWN’S southern tapas, with a taste of RARE’S small plates on the side. I had an experience with this trend this past week and I am now fully subscribed to the southern food movement. My epiphany occurred at JCT KITCHEN and BAR- JCT stands for junction, which is a reference to the railroad tracks that run beside the location. It is located in the old COMMUNE/SAMPAN spot in West Midtown and bills itself as serving “Southern farmstead cooking”. Now I must confess that I really don’t know what southern farmstead cooking is but if my lunch there is any indication, I like it a lot. Open for less than 2 weeks, JCT seems to be gaining its footing judging by the crowd during my meal. My host, the Media Maven, and I decided to try the fried chicken; operating under the theory that if they can’t get that right then the whole premise falls apart. Well not only did they get it right, they did an excellent job: the chicken was tender, the crust crispy and the sides, green beans and macaroni and cheese, were spot on. The price points of the menu were good ranging from $ 4-7 for starters; $ 6-9.50 for the sandwiches; and, $8-13 for the mains. Desserts were all $5-7. Service was crisp and friendly. The décor was very spacious, what the restaurant describes as California wine country with an east coast twist”.( I would term it rustic chic.) Their music selection was another element that caught my attention: they had offerings from every genre of southern music from country to James Brown. JCT looks and feels like a keeper so go by and see if this emerging Westside star can’t put some South in your mouth. Question of the Week: What pioneering intown restaurateur is sharing her expertise and energy to create a coffeehouse that will provide jobs and work experience to some of the city’s homeless residents? NEWS and NOTES: Atlantic Station. LOBBY AT TWELVE has opened a private dining space called THE CELLAR. It has a separate entrance and is available for cocktails, wine tastings and meetings and will accommodate up to 40 people for dinner and 75 for receptions. Atlantic Station At Your Door, the home delivery service for many of Atlantic Station’s restaurants is up and running. Service includes delivery to residents of AS as well as surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. Buckhead. NAVA’S new top toque is Jesse Peres, formerly of San Antonio,Texas.He replaces Tom Harvey who has decamped to ONE MIDTOWN KITCHEN. Some early details have emerged about LOLA BELLINI BAR and RESTAURANT, Here to Serves first Italian restaurant. It is scheduled to open at Terminus this summer and “promises to be the first antipasto bar of its kind in Atlanta”. It will feature two outdoor patios, one for dining and one for drinking and lounging. The menu is described as “California Italian”. The Johnson Studio is the architect. Cobb County. THE WAVERLY GRILL, the Renaissance Waverly Hotel’s fine dining restaurant , is closing. However, it will reopen as MEDCI late 2007. Decatur. Look for DEPAUX, featuring seafood, steaks and what the former Baton Rouge family owners describe as “Louisiana comfort food”, in the historic Decatur Train station,303 East Howard, this spring. Downtown. UTOPIA MARTINI BAR and TAPAS LOUNGE opens this week at 840 Marietta Street. Just look for the giant murals on the side of the building by local artist Michael Colly whose work will be featured inside as well. East Point. C’EST BON CAJUN RESTAURANT has closed. The Lithonia location remains open. Virginia Highland. Let’s welcome Jeff Smedstad, formerly of the highly regarded LOS SOMBREOS in Phoenix, to our city. Jeff is the new executive chef at SALA. Thank you for dropping by and checking us out and remember the world is round and the place that may seem like the end may be the beginning.

A lunch last week with two sages of the Atlanta dining scene crystallized in my mind the nuts and bolts of how the ATL can successfully cultivate its food reputation.How: 1) collaboration between all of the parties at interest 2) Entrepreneurial innovation ;not corporate chain cloned restaurants. The why is because it is only with a shared vision among all of the key players - the public, private and community sectors- and the entrepreneurial energy that is currently driving the ATL’s dining scene that the “new blood and new commitments” necessary for growth and development can be attracted to our city. First, a word about TROIS: the lunch is a must do! The prices are affordable, the service is great and the food is special. My dining companions and I agreed that Chef Jeremy has put together a stellar menu that the kitchen executed with great panache. And the room seemed to be a lot more intimate and warm than on my last visit. The experience made me realize that TROIS was in many ways a metaphor for Atlanta’s dining scene’s potential. It is a result of an entrepreneurial effort that merged with a collaborative vision between the developers, the arts community and others. It attracted a well regarded chef who has made his bones in some of the country’s top venues. And significant resources were committed to the project ($7million?), TROIS is, in essence, three elements, each featuring the latest trends, skillfully blended together to create a new approach to world class dining. The bar as a stand alone experience would rate with the best of the new wave of luxury, old school cocktail bars sweeping the globe. The restaurant with its French focus and sleek , modern curves with, is inline with the surge of intimate Gallic eateries in the major metropoles both here and abroad. Joel Robechon and Gorden Ramsey’s ventures are the most current examples of this trend. And the private dining and event space serves the needs of business and corporate cliental who seek a swank intimate discrete experience for their deliberations. A private club ,if you will, that has a four star chef at its helm. Concentrics Hospitality has put the three venues together so that they seamlessly blend into one experience that should place another star in Atlanta’s national reputation. And that is the key for the city’s movers and shakers as they attempt to cash in on our culinary skills: include all the best minds in the media; the food industry; academia; and others to build a greater awareness and appreciation for our culinary scene and allow the energy and expertise of its creative class of restaurateurs to continue to grow and develop. Like its new restaurants, Atlanta is a sleek, substantive and modern city and with the thinking that characterizes restos like TROIS, it can become one of the best locations in the nation. Question of the week: What nationally regarded local restaurateurs are rumored to be planning a new restaurant, their fourth? NEWS and NOTES: Brookhaven. It looks like the JOCK’S and JILL’s location on Peachtree Road is closing. The question is whether or not it is for good or merely a relocation? Decatur. THE BLUE MAGNOLIA GRILL, where one can chow down on fried okra, chicken and greens as well as jerk tofu , has opened at 2743 LaVista Road. Downtown. In a surprising move, Ian Winslade, opening chef of SHOUT and BLUEPOINTE, has joined the team at THRIVE, scheduled to open at 101 Marietta Street February 3. Rumor had it that he was going to play a major role at POSH, Tom Catherall’s newest Buckhead restaurant. Midtown. THE GRAPE at 10th and Peach has a “we’ve moved” sign up. Anyone know why and where? Rosewell. Dick and Harry Marmulstein, sibling owners of the highly regarded DICK and HARRY’S, have sold their interest in the restaurant. No word as to who and what are the plans of the new owner(s) Thank you for dropping by and remember success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.

As promised last week, I am now going to delve into how Atlanta can and should proceed in its quest to bring tourists to its tables. To recap, an article in the local paper of general circulation touted the efforts of the shakers and movers in the local tourism and convention business to establish the city as a top food-travel destination. It made me wonder if in fact this was: A) possible and B) worthwhile. After much thought and reflection-as well as consulting with various “experts”- I concluded that it was possible but perhaps equally important, certainly a worth while goal both in terms of dollars and cents but as a means and measure of economic development as well. Why? Well, because in the big picture of life Atlanta exists in a globally competitive environment and any competitive advantage helps. And since we start in a good position vis a vis the food industry, we would be building on one of our strengths: a restaurants. The key, as the wise ones tell me, is patience. It is going to take years and resources to build a well earned reputation that will attract and retain the well heeled, sophisticated culinary traveler. There is some considerable work to do before we can start the whisper campaign to lure those who seek the unique and memorable culinary experiences. Case in point: Sunday’s New York Times travel feature, 36 Hours, put the spot light on Atlanta and the restaurant comments, among others, had, shall we say, a slightly condescending tone:” a city where a treasured chef's departure can be front-page news, Atlanta has more than its share of fine restaurants, many of them cavernous, over designed, colonizations of old industrial buildings.” My point is that before we go off on a crusade to bring in the big names from the big city(s), let’s take stock of who we are and what we want to be. In short , let’s create a Shared Vision between restaurateurs; customers; developers; public officials; and , others that can create the win- win strategy that will meet a majority of everyone’s needs. The public sector can have the enhanced revenue and job creation it wants; the private sector can generate the profits it wants and needs and, the public can enjoy a whole new range of dining options. Utopian: not really, however, it will require the services of some professionals to orchestrate the process. Tune in next week for the nuts and bolts of the process. Oh, and a big shout out to john Kessler for his very nice piece on the resurgence of Southern cooking among Atlanta's restaurants. Question of the Week : What former ATL temperamental top toque is set to open a spot in the Big Apple this spring? Atlantic Station. AU BON PAIN has opened in the “food court” of Atlantic Station and is already doing a pretty good lunch biz. Buckhead. MISTO, the Howell Mill Road Italian eatery, looks closed, apparently the victim of the rapid redevelopment of that corridor. Grant Park. Two APRES DIEM alumni have teamed up to open SOLSTICE CLUB in the former NAYRIT location. The opening chef, Brian Scott, is an alumnus of the beloved ROMAN LILLY. Inman Park. Check out the new wine shop, BRIX WINE MERCHENTS, in the Edgewood shopping center. It is located on the second floor, above WILLY’S. Midtown. The former CHERRY BAR and LOUNGE on West Peachtree will re-open this spring as ELEMENT RESTAURANT and LOUNGE. Vinings. ZARIA, the ATLANTA BREAD COMPANY’s foray into white table cloth dining has closed, after just a few months of operation. Thank you for stopping by and remember happiness is the experience of living every moment with love, grace and gratitude.

The local newspaper of general circulation ran several interesting dining related stories during the holidays, among them was a piece by the up and coming hospitality writer ,Leon Stafford, concerning Atlanta’s efforts to market itself as a tourist dining destination. In essence, the story is that local convention and tourism officials are hyping the potential of the “food tourism” market-an estimated $51 billion domestic market – as the “next big thing”. However, local restaurateurs and others are saying yes, but. The whole dialogue raised, at least in my mind, the question of whether or not we are up to par with the current hot spots such as Chicago in terms of attracting global gourmets to grace our restaurants. In my mind, Atlanta’s current status as a culinary capital is largely based on the relative merits of the culinary offerings of some its Sunbelt siblings. Comparisons to some of the other cities in the Southeast have been really favorable, especially after the 1996 Olympics. In the past few years the local scene has been enhanced by both the home town players, ie Concentrics, Buckhead Life, and Here to Serve as well as the star power of the Emerils ,Wolfgangs et al. However, the question still remains as to whether Atlanta is good or just better that its neighbors? It’s not as if other cities have not ridden this horse to success. 20 years ago London had the worst reputation foe food in the world and now it is clearly one of the world’s pre-eminent dining destinations. Likewise, Chicago has become the capital of American culinary innovation after Mayor Daley established a cabinet level position to market the city’s culinary expertise 20 years ago .But Dallas has recently suffered an exodus of some of its out of town fine dining establishments , with rumors of more to follow(can you say no more NOBU) The article had some good quotes from people such as Kevin Rathbun, who stated”(that) Atlanta still has room to grow..’as a food destination’.” I believe that that is where my sentiments are. Going from a regional hotspot to a global food destination is going to take time, money and as one person in the article put it: “You have to bring in new blood and new commitments…” Next week I am going to put my spin on the issue and propose a strategy that could put the ATL into the big time with the big boys and girls. Question of the week: What recently departed, high maintenance but very talented chef MAY be longing to return to the ATL? NEWS and NOTES: Atlantic Station. The TASTI-D-LITE franchise here, as well as the other locations, has closed. Rumors are that the problems were far from the taste of the product. Buckhead. Look for HOT STIX STIR FRY KITCHEN, an Asian fusion concept from Southern Hospitality Management-Compound night club, THRIVE- this spring in Lindbergh City Center. They will be located next to 5 GUYS BURGERS and FRIES. Duluth. Are you ready for some Indo-Pak fusion? Well, according to the local media, ARMAAN, located at 3064 Old Norcross Road, is your place. The restaurant, which features a tapas bar and banquet hall .is being hailed as the first upscale restaurant to feature a combination of the cuisine of western India and southern Pakistan. Midtown. BACHANALIA was named one of Food and Wine’s “25 Tasty places to try around the world in 2007” Wow! ENO, the Mediterranean inspired wine bar and restaurant, has received the 2006 Sante Restaurant Award for Wine Hospitality. The program, the only peer judged restaurant and hospitality program in North America, honors 60 restaurants and professionals in the USA annually. Congratulations to the folks at ENO! MID CITY CUISINE closed this past week. The 31/2 year old resto ,founded by foodie fave Shaun Doty, was often credited with starting the Midtown fine dining scene. The current owners blamed construction related problems from an adjoining office tower for the closing but have hinted that they are being heavily courted by several Midtown developers to open a similar concept in one of the new developments springing up in the hot ‘hood. Poncey-Highland. BABETTE’S CAFÉ has added THE PANTRY at BABETTE’S, an in-house shop featuring the restaurant’s signature soups, desserts, sauces, and other offerings. Selections will be posted daily at www.thepantry@babettescafe.com, where you can also place orders for pick-up Tuesdays through Sunday. Well I hope everyone had a great Holiday season and is looking forward to a prosperous new year, I know that I certainly am. Thanks for dropping by and remember our words are a faithful index of the state of our souls.

As we approach the end of a dynamic and often exciting year, I would like to first thank all of you who have participated in this experience for your time and attention. There has been an increase of almost 300 % in readership since this time in 2005 and the qualitative feedback I have received has been excellent as well. So I would like to close out this year by recognizing that while this year has been good for me, Atlanta’s foodies and our friends, I believe that 2007 will be even better. For instance, in this week’s business media Bob Amick is quoted as saying that he will open 4 restaurants in 2007. Now we know about TAP, the 14th Street gastropub, and PARISH, the white table cloth New Orleans style spot in Inman Park, but where are the others to be located? Even if they are not within the confines of our fair city, Bob’s optimism and energy are welcome signs of things to come. Further, there is talk of developing a downtown dining district by the leading developer in town. There have been discussions with city hall and the recruitment of tenants has begun. And this doesn’t take into account the new players such as THRIVE; LUCKY FOOD LOUNGE; FIRE OF BRAZIL and JALOPENO CHARLIES, all of whom will open their respective doors in downtown in early 2007. With all of this culinary energy flowing our way in 2007 here are 5 things I would like to see in Atlanta’s 2007 dining scene: First on my itinerary would be a high end Japanese restaurant in downtown. The NOBU’s and JAPONAISE and others of their ilk have proven to be big winners in the global dining capitols; a similar experience in the ATL should be profitable to the owner as well as the city’s dining scene. Second, I would love to see an expanded and enhanced Sweet Auburn Curb Market that would assist Atlanta chef’s efforts in the growing farm to table movement. The talent in the marketplace today could work their magic on an even higher plane with a greater access to fresh and wholesome product. Third, I think that collaboration between fellow travelers, Anne Quattrano and Frank Stitt-Birmingham’s top toque and a favorite of the New York media- would be an all star affair as well as an asset to the city’s culinary reputation. I visualize a Midtown hotspot that serves fresh, well sourced product with great ambiance and stellar service. Fourth, A hotel restaurant designed by Adam Tihany, the perennial choice of the global chic. Expensive? Probably, but the buzz about the project would generate interest from everywhere and therefore return the investment in spades. Finally, and this is probably where I lose most of you, with all of the interest in maintaining/ expanding downtown’s tourist and convention trade as well as the anticipated increase in office workers, a GRAND LUXE CAFÉ is just what the doctor ordered. Yes, it is THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY’S prettier younger sister, but it does big, big numbers and its price points are appealing to tourists as well as office workers. So I hope that when the powers that be are planning the downtown dining district that they give the GLC people a call. IJS. Question of the Week: What ATL hip-hop superstar will be joining Usher in the restaurant biz in 2007? NEWS and NOTES: Buckhead. POSH, Tom Catherall’s SEEGER’S by out and return to the kitchen extravaganza, is scheduled to open January 17, 2007. Bill Johnson reports that his services were not requested as Mr. Catherall will leave the interior as is.No word on the whereabouts of Herr Doktor Seeger yet. VIA, an “Italian- inspired eatery “with a 50 foot bar and custom ceramic oven will open early 2007 in the Eclipse condos at 250 Pharr Road. East Point. THE SILK CAFÉ, a smoothie café that also serves gourmet teas and coffees as well as desserts, has opened in downtown East Point at 1605 White Way. Marietta. The local media is going gaga over the Sichuan cooking at TASTY CHINA done by chef Peter Chang (or Zhang,according to John Kessler). I’ll have to check it out. Smyrna. The 10 top dining/ retail storefront, GOURMET 102, has closed. Let me close by wishing all of you Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year. I will return January 2, 2007

Catherall to launch Posh at former Seeger's Atlanta Business Chronicle - 7:37 AM EST Tuesday The restaurant company that brought Atlanta Twist, Goldfish and Shout has bought the location of the former Seeger's to open a new restaurant called "Posh." Here to Serve Restaurants will open Posh at 111 West Paces Ferry Rd. in January. Certified master chef and Here to Serve owner Tom Catherall will run the new 80-seat restaurant, which will have the elegance and charm of a white table cloth establishment. The menu will consist of market fresh chef's choices changing weekly. Catherall -- the creator of Prime, Noche, Goldfish, Twist, Shout and Strip -- had been on a 10-year hiatus from the kitchen , focusing on being a restauranteur and overseeing the menus his six establishments. "I took one look in that Rolls Royce of kitchens and couldn't wait to start cooking again" Catherall said of the former Seeger's. Another Here to Serve creation Lola, Catherall's first Italian concept, will open in the new Terminus building summer 2007.

Well, Atlanta’s dining scene has registered on yet another national barometer, so to speak. We have been recognized, albeit in a somewhat condescending fashion, for having the type of hip and hot places that is marking a new wave of American dining. Antoinette Bruno, Editor in chief of Starchefs.com, an insider web magazine, has proclaimed our fair city the city of casual chic dining.(Casual chic means, in essence, that the food is not prepared with all of the ceremony of a Japanese parrot funeral).Think traditional but with a twist. Starchiefs.com started in 1995 as a home for celebrity chiefs to chat among themselves. It has now evolved into a monthly magazine for the foodservices industry. In this month’s issue Ms. Bruno reviewed Atlanta’s food scene and found it to be in sync with the rest of the country in terms of recent culinary trends. Her review focused primarily on the 25- 35 demographic that is nightly en scene at spots such as TABLE 1280, TROIS and ECCO. She found these places, as well as others, to as stylish as their cliental with cuisine to match. The review concluded by stating..” in a city not generally associated with the vanguard of culinary trend chefs and diners have definitely entered the new era of casual chic.” Thanks, (cough) I think. Question of the Week: What downtown hotspot is rumored to be in trouble due to the cliental it is attracting? NEWS AND NOTES: Berkley Heights. A new concept in ready-to-cook meals ,MY GIRLFRIEND’S KITCHEN, has opened at 1700 Northside Drive. It features the option of a customer preparing the meals with the assistance of on site chefs or already prepared meals. The meals come in aluminum pans or zip locked bags and are easily tossed into the oven or sauté pan. Contact at (404)-350-8045 or www.mgfk.com for further information. Decatur.INDIE COFFEE and BOOKS, is now open at 340 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue,Suite 100. It features organic coffees, teas and pastries, as well as a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles not generally available in major bookstores. Contact at (404)-378-7110 or www.indiecoffeeandbooks.com for further information. Glenwood Park. VINO LIBRO,open less than 3 months, has already changed chefs: Chad Anderson has replaced opening chef Alex Rosado. Midtown. AGNES and MURIAL’S has a new owner. David Kifield Jr. has purchased the Southern food spot from Glen Powell who opened the resto in 1995. Old Fourth Ward. The HIGHLAND BAKING COMPANY is expanding both physically and menu wise. The retail are will be expanded and the new menu will include more baked goods for the rapidly gentrifying ‘hood. Well thanks again for checking me out and remember, sometimes the beaten path is for beaten people.

Last week,after reading the newspaper of general circulation’s piece on Todd Rushing , the operational guru behind Concentrics Hospitality-ONE MIDTOWN KICHEN, TROIS et al- last week, I was convinced that Midtown was now officially the “it” spot for Atlanta’s dining scene. After quotes from the Toddmeister like..”(our) business strategy is to play to Midtown.. a cornucopia” and ..the Midtown client is ..more adventurous and sophisticated..” I thought, this guy has his finger on the pulse of Atlanta diners, judging by the success of his business, and if he said it must be true, right? Well not so fast there, according to the Industry Bigfoot of the top 21 Atlanta restaurants by sales (2004), 14, including the top 3, were in Buckhead. In fact, only 1 of the top 21 was in Midtown and it was not a Concentrics property. Midtown may have the flash but Buckhead still has the cash. Maybe that will change with the launch of TROIS, a unique offering from the Amick stable, It is a different model for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that they did not utilize the talents of Bill Johnson as the designer. Johnson, who had designed all of their big hits except LOBBY at TWELVE, is widely regarded as Atlanta’s David Collins-London’s go to guy for the sure fire hit. According to Mr. Rushing..”..TROIS is part of both the company’s and the city’s growth and development”. Guess they have outgrown the local hit maker? Speaking of Midtown and hits, I had a chance to chow down at VENI VIDI VICI last week and the former hotspot has still got it. I stopped by for lunch on a lark, and was I glad I did: enjoyed a solid meal and service. And the smell of the roasting meats was a welcoming element in a room that has stood the test of time very well. Oh and by the way, it is a Buckhead Life restaurant. Question of the Week: Which resto of a popular Midtown based group is threatening to break up their string of number 1 hits with its dwindling customer base? Atlantic Station. Look for AUNT ANNE’S, a soft pretzel shop to open up this spring in the rapidly growing retail district. Buckhead.As of December 1st, SOUPER JENNY is expanding from a soup and sandwich shop that has a cult like following to include a late night dessert, coffee and wine feature. The night time transition will begin on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm until midnight. Cobb County. RAY’S ON THE RIVER, the long time hot spot and a personal fave for their Sunday brunch, is going through a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation project designed by Ed Seiber(RESTAURANT EUGENE,SPICE.) Inman Park. Music superstar Usher is the franchisee of THE GRAPE property opening December 23 at 300 Highland Avenue. The Atlanta based company that started in 2000 with a Vinings location of the hip, winebar,restaurant and retailer concept, is going strong with 25 locations in 5 states. Well that is all from here for now, take care and remember, nothing in the world b can take the place of persistence and determination

Well I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and are now getting ready for the Yuletide season. That’s right, only 27 more shopping days left! I got a chance to checkout DOLCE ENOCATA last week and came away very impressed. The new 12,000 square foot northern Italian spot is one of the 3 upscale restaurants created by the L A based Dolce Group that is being exported to the ATL, all in Atlantic Station. DOLCE, and its siblings TEN PIN ALLEY and GHEISA HOUSE , is designed to bring the same type of celebrity associated buzz to Atlanta that the Dolce Group restos have brought to El-LAY. DOLCE’s décor is swank; the lighting is low and sexy and the bar has a nice design feature embedded in to the marble top. The service was smooth-there were some veterans of some of the ATL’s fine dining temples numbered among the staff; and, the food was very good and priced on par with similar places in town. Management is composed of some real industry veterans who have been in and around the local scene for years. I got a sense from them that they are setting their goals for the restaurant very high. They understand the competition and they are ready for the challenge. All in all, DOLCE is a sign of things to come for the Atlanta dining scene: hip, fashionable out of town operators looking to make a splash-and some cash-in the ATL by going after the prime locations in town. Question of the Week: What long time downtown lunch favorite’s owners are ready to retire and cash out? NEWS and NOTES: Downtown. After a 5 year run in Gwinnett County, Wine South, the week long annual celebration of good wine and good food is moving its 2007 event to the Georgia World Congress Center. The 8th Annual Wine South festival will be held on September 27-30, 2007. THE FOOD STUDIO will feature "The Decadence of Truffles" menu, created by Executive Chef Mark Alba, with white Alba truffles in each dish from Dec. 4-9. . There will also be a prix-fixe menu on Dec. 10 as a finale: $90 pp., with wine pairings, $130. Menus may be viewed at: www.thefoodstudio.com. Call 404-815-6677 for further details. NO MAS CANTINA won the 2006 Downtown Design Excellence award for best restaurant design, beating out the Johnson Studio’s BED. Duluth. BLUE MARLIN SEAFOOD has opened at 1600 Pleasant Hill Road. It will serve 12 different kinds of fish as well as crab legs, shrimp and lobster, all flown in fresh daily. Midtown. The Industry Bigfoot attended the soft opening of SWEET LOWDOWN and reported that appears to be “ a South City Kitchen for the twenty somethings.” Will have to check it out. After my meal at DOLCE, Dave Schrader, the GM, took me on a tour of the soon to be completed TEN PIN ALLEY, located upstairs from the restaurant. The 15,000 square foot space is spectacular: 40 ft ceilings, 30 plasma screen TV’s. 3 levels including rooms for billiards, a DJ booth suspended 20 feet in the air, 9 lanes of bowling and 3 VIP lanes in a private space! There is strict dress code and some serious security on site. I believe that TEN PIN is going to seriously upgrade the entertainment quotient(EQ) of our fair city. . Thanks for checking me out again, please keep it up and remember that a good example is the best sermon. Oh, and thanks for the feedback on last week’s column, please keep it up.

In the November 30th edition of Wine Spectator magazine, John Mariani, he whose name is feared/loathed in the culinary universe, opines that Midtown is Atlanta’s new dining mecca . Citing the advent of such new hotspots as ECCO and REPAST, as well as the influx of condos, the arts scene and the location, the exulted one removes the crown from Buckhead’s brow and places it squarely on the new kid. It will become even harder to dispute his claim with the rash of new restaurants scheduled to come on line this spring, further putting Midtown’s cutting edge culinary offerings in the lead in this the Chicago of the South. However, all of the buzz in midtown is not coming from or is about the new kids on the block. This past week a visit to SPICE put to rest the notion that only the newly minted restaurants are the pace setters. Chef Marvin Woods has , in a very short time, transformed the hip hotspot not only menu wise but has revamped the décor as well. Gone are the former dark, edgy colors; replaced by a lighter, cleaner palate that gives off a whole new vibe: cool but very hot. Chef Marvin has, in the wording of Signor Mariani, created a new” flavor palette theory” based upon his New York, Charleston, London and Miami experiences. He takes the provender of the “New South” and spices it up with the favors of the low country, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. My lovely dining companion and I were thrilled by dishes such as the Halibut crusted with panko; the Island Chicken salad; and, the ginger sorbet.I was also told that even higher grade fish and meat offerings were in SPICES immediate future. In short and summary, Chef Marvin has given me a reason to go back to SPICE. A shout out to the folks at DOLCE-more on it next week- they are doing some serious work there. Question of the Week: What intown resto company has lost the opening chef at their concept restaurant noted for both its architecture and unique treatment of an American favorite? NEWS and NOTES: Buckhead. EATZI’S, the gourmet resto, grocery / take out spot has closed. All locations except for the original Dallas, Texas location are shuttered. Word on the street is that labor costs and poor management were significant factors. Cumberland. STONEY RIVER STEAKS, the local steakhouse chain with several locations outside of Georgia, has opened at 1640 Cumberland blvd, in the newly renovated Cumberland Mall. Decatur. Mellissa Fedorko, opening chef at PIEBAR, is now top toque at FEAST. Midtown. Look for RITA’S, a Philadelphia based franchise company, to open one of their signature stores in Midtown this spring. The hot concept sells Italian ices, cream ices, gelati and frozen custard. Thanks for checking me out and I hope you and your loved ones have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.

Thanks for the link.Let us know how your experience at TROIS went.

This past week saw yet another set of announcements concerning billion dollar real estate developments inside the perimeter that will feature an exciting mix of high end office, residences, retail and restaurants. With the onslaught of developers into the Central City comes a competition for the hearts, minds and wallets of Atlanta. And it appears that restaurants are the trump card. The Industry Bigfoot has mentioned names such as Lettuce Surprise You, the Chicago dining group, and IL MULINO as evidence that some of the national players are becoming keen on Atlanta. One of the factors upon which some, if not a majority of the restaurateurs, will base their decisions on is money. How much will a developer be willing to fork over in order to have what they hope will be a draw to their development? From hotels-and there are a ton being proposed here- to shopping malls, the ATL is going to see a plethora of new and exciting restaurants gracing the new” urban” Atlanta. But the flow will be going both ways: at the TROIS party last week I was told that Bob Amick et al are going national in a big way. You heard it first here. And a big shout out to SEEGERS and the DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton, they were awarded the coveted 5 star rating from the Mobile Guide for 2007. Atlanta’s two awardees tied it for second place among American cities in terms of award recipients. BACCHANALIA and PARK 75 were Atlanta’s 4 star awardees. Question of the Week: What internationally recognized Buckhead restaurant that has had recent financial challenges is for sale and rumored to be in financial straights again? NEWS and NOTES: Buckhead. According to the Industry Bigfoot, RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE will be moving from its current East Paces Ferry Road location to the Embassy Suites on Peachtree Road. Also, according to the IB, there will not be a Jean George Vongerichten resto in the Atlanta ST. Regis hotel, as had been rumored.Oh well, it would have been nice. Decatur.The RED SHOE will open this week in lovely downtown Decatur. The venue, located at 2891 East Ponce de Leon, will feature live jazz along with such Southern faves as chicken, fried shrimp and red beans and rice. Decatur is becoming more and more like the ATL’s Brooklyn. Inman Park. PACIFIC KITCHEN, which just opened in March of this year, is already on its second chef. Nick Leaky has been hired to replace opening chef Michael De Marco. With its location and setting , this spot should be doing big numbers. IMJS Midtown.THE SWEET LOWDWN, the new Southern resto opening on the 21st of this month at 942 Peachtree, will feature on the first floor cow hide print carpet, cream colored micro fiber upholstered booths and sixties style steel chairs at the tables. Atlanta interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn -- a fixture on TBS' "Movie and a Makeover" -- is designing the space, which will be a mixture of the old and new South. The management team will include staff who worked at two high-volume and trendy New York restaurants, Sushi Samba and Nobu. Sounds like southern chic to me. Thank you for checking me out, I enjoyed your comments about last week’s blog. Remember, courage is the ladder upon which the other virtues mount.

Got a chance to peruse the greatly anticipated and long awaited TROIS this past weekend during a benefit for the Atlanta Symphony and here are some first impressions: In a word, TROIS has panache. The architectural elements are the initial point of reference. The style is modern but as one of the guests remarked to me ”you don’t feel like you are on a spaceship”. There are few hard edges or straight lines; curves and rounded corners predominate. The colors are subdued with an occasional burst of red and the high ceilings in the main dining area give the space some drama. The materials, the marble, the leathers etc., are all high end. (Note to Bob; the marble stairs are tres slippery) The craftsmanship is excellent and the furniture and fixtures are top of the line, especially in the bar. The use of light, both natural and artificial, is one of TROIS strengths. The floors to ceiling windows provide a great deal of visual stimulation and the pin lighting augments the effect extremely well. The space is quite different from any restaurant in Atlanta in both form and function. Spread out over 3 levels with 3 distinct functions, TROIS is composed of : the Bar, think London private club in Notting Hill.(check out the lighting on the floor); the restaurant itself is surprisingly petite but offers a grand open kitchen from which Chef Jeremy Leib will conduct the concerto that will be the dining experience at TROIS (Note to Bob: the art on the poles is a discordant note; why not try them on the walls in the staircases?) ;and, above TROIS, which will be ,IMHO, one of the hottest event spaces in town . The food? Well this was a special event and while food flowed copiously, I think I want to sit down and dine.( the lobster corn dogs will definitely be on my list) I spoke briefly with Chef Jeremy and he said that the next week or so until the official opening will be spent on staff training. Now that was music to my ears because if there is anything that can and will kill a restaurant’s buzz better that anything you can buy in a drugstore, it is service and more precisely, the lack thereof. TROIS is not DANIEL or LE CIRQUE; however it will be a place that you could take guests from Lilburn or London and they would be very comfortable. I am sure that with all of the thought and money that went into this project that the end product will provide some swagger and verve to Atlanta’s dining scene for some time. Question of the Week: What the heck is going on at a certain Midtown hotspot with all the rumors of financial and staff issues? NEWS and NOTES: Buckhead. Congratulations to THE DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead and SEEGERS for retaining the coveted AAA 5 Diamond status for 2007. It marks the 18th consecutive year for THE DINING ROOM and the 6th for SEEGERS.BTW, Atlanta had 15 4 Diamond award restaurants, ranking us third among all cities , behind Las Vegas and New York. Decatur. Look for a TED’S MONTANA GRILL this spring in downtown Decatur. Midtown. ENO has a new top toque. Chef Jor Rego, formerly of SOTTO SOTTO, has joined the smart restaurant/ wine bar and will be unveiling his new fall menu soon. SILK is offering the only kaiseki dining in Atlanta. The 7-10 course traditional Japanese feast can be reserved for up to parties of 5 with 10 days advance notice. For further information, call 678-705-8888. Old Fourth Ward. I checked out TRES P’s CAJUN MARKET CAFÉ ,located at 245 Highland Avenue, last week, on a lark, and was I glad that I did! Loni and Troy, the two New Orleanians who are the owners, bring some serious food and hospitality to the rapidly gentrifying intown community. Located in one of the new condo projects that springing up like kudzu on Highland, the stylish café and retail space is already attracting folks from outside the ‘hood in droves. Thank you for visiting, and please, if you have any suggestions as to how I can improve this blog let me know and remember, leadership is an opportunity to serve not a trumpet call to self-importance.

While enjoying this past weekend’s weather-quite possibly the last “good” weather for a while- I noticed that Atlanta’s landscape is changing quite a bit, especially the built environment, as the planners say. If you use restaurants as a metaphor, and I shall, then the physical, cultural and socio-economic changes that are occurring take on some sort of context i.e., the city is becoming more attractive for residents and visitors. Neighborhoods from East Atlanta to Castleberry Hill and several points in between are taking on new looks; residents; and, new restaurants in rapid order. Most are of the small, chef driven variety but there are chains-albeit small, local ones- numbered among the newly minted eateries. And there are more on the way. Aspiring entrepreneurs, familiar names and out of town operators are all seeking the proverbial gold in these here to fore undesirable and in many case, non existent neighborhoods. Warehouses; condo towers and former restaurant locations all are part of this new urban equation being formulated here in the ATL. Now this is not to totally discount the luxe lounges coming on line. TROIS and DOLCE will soon open their highly anticipated doors. However, there is a new and fascinating culinary energy coming from the neighborhoods that bears further watching. And in keeping with my fervent desire to make this blog the vade mecum for Atlanta foodies, I will note some of the new locations below. Question of the Week: What restaurant group that has made its bones so to speak by developing exciting and good neighborhood restaurants is looking for top toque for yet another of its flagship restaurants? NEWS and NOTES: Downtown. Look for RARE, “serving soul food with a fine dining twist”, in the Piedmont Avenue location that has seen a Bar Be Que joint among others not succeed. The owners are the same folks that operate the HARLEM BAR on Edgewood Avenue. Midtown. The former COMMUNE/SAMPAN spot will re-open this spring as JCT KITCHEN and BAR. Old Fourth Ward. The Bob Amick and Scott Serpas collaboration on Highland Avenue will be a Cajun resto named PARISH(as in the Louisiana governing unit analogous to our counties). It will be across the street from SOTTO SOTTO. Speaking of SOTTO SOTTO, it will move one block west into a bigger space and be re-named, SOTTO SOTTO NUOVO. The current location will be converted to a private event space named, SOTTO SOTTO VECCHO. And last,The ROMAN LILLY space on Highland Avenue will become home to a Thai small plate resto. Poncey Highlands. Award winning PURA VIDA Chef Hector Santiago is going upscale with his new resto, BODEGA GASTRONOMIA. It will be located next its sibling in the same building. Thanks for dropping by, I hope you will keep checking us out and remember, whoever envies another admits their own inferiority.

Attention Atlanta foodies, here are some ideas that I would like to see here in Atlanta: An Annie Quatrano, Frank Stitt collaboration; an upscale Italian restaurant on the order of say,IL MULINO; a swank supper club on the order of London’s MILK and HONEY; and ,last but not least , a LE CIRQUE type of joint. Why you ask? Well, it seems as if Atlanta has lost some its national luster. Once,pre 1996, Atlanta was lauded by the food media and others as the best dining city in the “New South”. Almost every top ten listing of restaurants had at least two Atlanta spots on their list. Now, one is hard pressed to find media recognition for any Atlanta restaurant, with the only the usual suspects garning any type of ink. For instance, Gayot.com only has ATL one restaurant in their 2006 Top 40.I was just thinking that maybe if we can get some of the names and/or types that are popular in the food centers, i.e. New York, San Francisco or LA, then we could return to our pre-Olympic days rankings. Or not. Question of the Week? What is the new opening date for TROIS? (It has been changed again) NEWS and NOTES: Buckhead. AU PIED de COHEN has a new chef; Jerome Grilhot has been promoted to top toque. Philippe Buttin, the long time Sommelier and wine director, has left JOEL and will join NYC‘s LE BERNADIN. Wow, now that is what I call a career move. SEEGERS was named one of Gayot.com’s 40 best American restaurants for 2006. Downtown. Look for METRO CAFÉ DINER, a 24 hour spot with a full bar, to replace the former MICK’S at Peachtree Center. Midtown. Fans of Drew Van Levan(SPICE,IRIS), and you know who you are, can rejoice: he will be the top toque at SAGA, to open soon at 1100 Crescent Avenue. SAGA stands for South African Georgia and will serve South African food with a southern America twist. Roswell. VAN GOGH’S has closed but will reopen as BISTRO VG on Nov 4th, still owned by the same owners. It will be repositioned featuring “innovative French bistro fare". Thanks for visiting with me and remember when the tide is against you, the tide must always turn.

Just by chance, I talked briefly with Kevin Rathbun last week about his new restaurant, KEVIN RATHBUN STEAK. He said that it was not going to be a traditional, Kansas City type place but more modern, like BLT STEAK in New York. I mentioned that there were going to be some big name competitors such as CRAFTSTEAK coming into the market and he shrugged them off by saying that he knows the market better than the “out of town guys”. He invited me to check out his new place which is only two blocks from RATHBUN’S and KROG BAR. Construction has just started but I could see the potential for the space, which is located in a renovated warehouse, to become a destination spot. And not just for the residents of tony Inman Park. I have to hand to the guy; he knows the local market and gives us what we want with style, service and of course, good food. Speaking of the local market, Besha Rodell did an excellent cover story in last weeks Creative Loafing-a local alt weekly- concerning Atlanta’s Slow Food movement. Slow Food is a term that refers to the practice of eating locally, of slowing down, of preserving local cuisines and artisan food producers. She did an excellent job of highlighting some of the key players that are brining these practices to the local market. Please check it out. . Question of the week: What Buckhead Life restaurant has lost its top toque and is looking for a replacement to “ take (it) in a new direction”? NEWS and NOTES: Alpharetta. Look for a swank THE VILLA STEAKHOUSE, featuring a 2,5000 sq foot dining room and 4 waterfalls, to open this month at 11605 Jones Bridge Road. Buckhead. THE BLUE ROOM, a jazz lounge and bar in the Peachtree Battle shopping center, has closed. SUSHI ROCK CAFÉ, one of the first sushi spots in the ATL, has closed to make way for a condo project on Roswell Road. Downtown. PEARL , an expansion of BALTIMORE CRAB and SEAFOOD , will open this month. The 1,000 square foot space was designed by Michael Hibachy(COMPOUND) and will feature a slick chocolate, blue and white color palate and seat 50 in the dining area and another 25 on the patio , in addition to a full bar. The menu will include lobster, oysters and grilled rib eye steak. Lunch prices will range from $ 6.99-14.99. Dinner prices are from $14.99-29.99. Castleberry Hill rocks! Midtown. Flash: A reliable source told me that Tom Harvey, formerly of NAVA, will be the new top toque at ONE MIDTOWN KITCHEN. Congrats to Tom and good luck. Esquire magazine has named two Midtown Atlanta restaurants, ECCO and REPAST as “Best New Restaurants of 2006”. Well thank you for looking in and checking us out and remember, don’t wait for the light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light it yourself.

With all of the news (and requisite wailing, renting of garments, etc) surrounding Michelin Guides San Francisco treats, er… awards. I thought: wonder if Atlanta will ever be deemed Michelin worthy ? I mean are we really, really ready for the big time? After all we do have 2 Mobile 5 star restaurants here and several James Beard award winners as well. But the press accounts from the left coast indicate that Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles are the likely candidates of the near future for the European standard for culinary excellence that is now raising expectations and blood pressure here in America. But just suppose (moving into the subjunctive tense) that the French tire folks were to come to the ATL, with whom and where would they find favor? My hierarchy of local restaurants goes like this: SEEGER’S and THE DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead are the supernova; the novas are BACCHANALIA, JOEL’S, ARIA, and WOODFIRE GRILL. The stars are RATHBUN’S, RESTAURANT EUGENE, and, KYMA.I would love to get other opinions on whether or not Michelin’s ratings are important to a community and its restaurants? So, if the Michelin guide did come to Atlanta, who would rate a star/ stars? Well DiRoNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) must think we are important, they are holding their 16th annual Awards and Education conference h at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead ,October 22-24.Visit www.dirona.org for further details. Question of the week: What noted restaurant architect is also a secret chef in their own right? NEWS and NOTES: Alpharetta. Look for a LITTLE AZIO, serving pizza and pasta , to open next year. It will actually be in Crabapple- but who knows where that is? Buckhead. Sushi lovers rejoice! TAKA has reopened under the original management. And a little bit country The Buckhead Life Group is opening their second CHOPS LOBSTER BAR in Nashville’s West End by late 2007. Downtown. LOMBARDI’S, the long time Italian standard in Underground Atlanta, has changed their name to TRINGALI. Don’t ask Grant Park. LIVING FOODS DELIGHTS, a vegetarian restaurant, has opened at 465 Boulevard. As always, thank you for taking the time to read through this and I hope you will give me some feedback. So, until next week, remember walk in the shoes of someone you dislike before you step on their toes.

Just when I thought that the local restaurant scene was getting hot with all of the new product coming on line, some new news has changed the calculus in a major way. Coming to the San Francisco of the South in the next few years are some big time properties that are going to take fine dining to a whole new level. The last few weeks have been filled with announcements of several announcements of major real estate development projects inside Atlanta’s perimeter highway. Most of them involved mixing upscale hotels with luxury condos and “signature” restaurants. And each project seemed intent on outdoing the previously announced one in terms of its bells and whistles. For instance, once downtown’s W Hotel and Residences was announced-with a rumored CRAFTSTEAK restaurant- featuring 76 condos, some of which would cost over $ 1 million, a Kimpton hotel was announced for Midtown with its 38 condos Starting at $1 million. From Trump Towers to a rumored Ritz Carlton in Midtown, the parade of projects all promised the good life and good eats. My sources tell me that Trump Towers will feature an 8,000 square foot signature restaurant at the corner of 15th and West Peach; Buckhead’ s Mansion on Peachtree will feature two gourmet restaurants, one facing Peachtree Street. The Kimpton project will have a 6,000 square foot spot . And there are more to come( 38 according to the local press). The point is that there will be some new kids on the block soon and they are going to bring some heavy hitters to our fair city, in terms of developers as well as restaurants. It should be very, very interesting to see who comes; who stays; and, who goes. You know that I will be on the case. The next time you are in Castleberry Hill, the ATL’s gallery and arts district, you might want to check out WASABI SUSHI, WINE and SAKE LOUNGE. Located at 180 Walker Street, at the corner of Walker and Hanes, the newly opened spot with a cool vibe, moderate prices; and free parking, has some potential for not only pre/ post event meals but lunch as well. Service: buffed but not yet polished. Question of the week: Which property of a nationally recognized Atlanta intown impresario has already gone through a “menu restructuring” and has seen its around the block lines dwindle significantly? NEWS and NOTES: Atlantic Station. The first restaurant tenant to sign on to locate in the intown hotspot, CLADDAGH’S IRISH PUB, has dropped out of their proposed 8,000 square foot, two level space without ever moving a brick or a stick. Plans are currently under way to replace the chain with a local operator. Taste of Atlanta will return to Atlantic Station on October 14-15th. For more information, visit www.tasteofatlanta.net. Downtown. The Atlanta Hawks have announced plans to place two new restaurants in their nest, Phillips Arena. The HANG TIME LOUNGE will become a full time,year around restaurant, operated by a local chain, with an entrance on Andrew Young International Blvd. THE HEADLINE GRILL will become an upscale, sit down restaurant. (Maybe the birds will play better with the addition of a better class of food in the house. IJS) East Atlanta. There are rumors-and a sign on a building- that VICKERY’s will open its third restaurant in the ultra urban chic Glenwood Park. Folks if you have not been to Glenwood Park yet you owe it to yourself to check it out, if you are into urban chic it is the best. Midtown. Carmen Capello, late of M!X, will be top toque at SWEET LOWDOWN, the resto going into the WATERHOUSE space at 942 Peachtree Street. The menu will feature Southern cuisine with twists of Asian, French and Italian. The scheduled opening is November 15th. Poncy Highlands. PURA VIDA has been named as one of most innovative regional restaurants by Sante, the magazine for restaurant professionals. West Midtown. SIX FEET UNDER, the four year old Grant Park fishhouse located across from Oakland cemetery, is opening a second location at 685 11th Street, between Howell Mill Road and Northside Drive. The 5,000 square foot location is scheduled to open next spring and promises great panoramic views of the downtown, Midtown and Buckhead skylines. Thanks much for dropping by and remember , hold on to a true friend with both hands.