micropundit

For Bob Amick and his crew,the hits just keep on coming.I visited LOBBY,the latest in a seemingly unbroken chain of innovative and creative Amick restaurants, this week and was awed.Not only by the restaurant but by the brief glimpse of the Twelve Hotel and Residences as well. Words like sleek,suave and sophistcated do not begin to do it justice.Think W meets PIEBAR and you have just scatched the surface of the ambience presented in the lobby lobby. But when you enter the LOBBY,then you are transported to a modern space that both comforts and captures you with its' charm and grace.the art, digital black and white pix of various scenes from the hotel as well as some abstracts,is perfectly attuned to the overall atmosphere. The space affords an opportunity to linger at the bar/pizza oven , sit down in a corner nook or gaze out on Atlantic Station's ever growing street scene.the lighting further captures the film noir setting. All in all the setting is worth a visit. But then there is the food.the menu is divided: Before,appetizers include chicken and watercress soup,sage roasted quail,Cru 3 ways(hamachi,artic char,lump crab) and beef short ribs.Wood Oven,pizzas include margherita,robiola and sausage meatballs.Dinner,starting with the LOBBY burger at $9 up to the New York strip at $26,this is casual food with an eye to not only walk in trade but room service as well.I almost forgot the desserts;my bad. Johnathan St. Hilaire looks like he is going to offer his best foot forward with the samples I tried.The wine list,however, is modest at best. A friend remarked that she felt as though she.."stepped out of Atlanta and stepped into New York",and she spent major time in New York.So,that LOBBY has a certain flair about is clear,let's see if it continues the string of success that its siblings have enjoyed.But from me to you: I think it will. NEWS andNOTES: SPOON,a Thai restaurant,has opened in the Hotel Roxy ,located on Maietta Street across from Georgia Tech. Paul Albrecht has landed.PAUL'S at PEACHTREE HILLS-nee PHILLIPE"S-is now open. POP,the Decatur,grab and go cafe/bar,has fizzed out.( Did not last 6 months) Hearing good things about the much anticipated TROIS:4 kitchens;a glass staircase designed by a London architect and a former BACCHANALIA chef as the top toque. Stay tuned ,it's just starting to get good.

I had the privilege and pleasure of briefly chatting with Chef Richard Blais this week and came away impressed with and excited by his passion for his craft.Chef Blais is the local guru of molecular gastronomy or as he terms it,techno organic cooking.Molecular gastronomy is the term coined by French scientist Herve This.It is an approach to the culinary arts that pushes the envelope of the appearance,taste and presentation of food in ways that can excite and challenge diners.Or ,be off-putting.As a highly regarded member of an international fraternitity that includes England's Heston Blumenthal ,chef of the 2005 world's best restaurant,THE FAT DUCK,Chef Bais moves in some very prominent circles.But he is about collaberation with rather than competition among his fellow travelers.More on this point later. In the few months that have marked his tenure at ONE: MIDTOWN KITCHEN,he has revived ONE'S reputation as a see and be seen hot spot and is building a new following among those who seek cutting edge culinary offerings. His Tasting menu's, currently served only on Monday and Tuesdays,are drawing gourmounds from near and far..The Tasting menu features some of the highlights from his star crossed venture ,BLAIS as well as some of his latest creations. He said that as he and his team grow ,he will expand the menu to include more of his creations onto the regular menu and expand the range of the Tasting menu.I believe a lot of people ,including yours truely are looking forward to that. I asked him what he had on his plate for 2006-notice the clever use of wording here? He said that he was very excited about the opportunity to stage with Heston Blumenthal in England.He will cook with him for about a month,probably some time during the summer,in order to enhance his craft and to set the stage for some of his team to possibly stage there as well. Folks,this is B-I-G! Our guy is going to bring back the skills and techniques of one of the world's greatest chefs and share it with us here in the ATL(.I guess every day is opening day.) After our all to brief chat,I thought about several things I would have liked to have discussed with chef Richard but the one thing that I was real clear on was that we are truely lucky to have a chef with his drive and talent among us. NEWS and NOTES: Nick Oltarsh,formerly of MURPHY'S by way of ELEVEN MADISON PARK ,will be the opening chef at LOBBY@Twelve,the Bob Amick and Novare Group collaberation at Atlantic Station. According to the web site,the opening is December7th.LOBBY will be" a high energy casual dining American kitchen..with a great lobby bar".This is a promotion by the way,MURPHY'S is one Amick's Concentrics Hospitality clients. Gregg McCarthy,most recently head of culinary operations at Ray's restaurants-RAY'S ON THE RIVER et al.- has replaced Chef Nick at MURPHY'S. Jay Swift,top toque at Alpharetta's RAINWATER,has been invited to cook at the James Beard House,Saturday,January 21,2006. Congratulations. Chef Linton Hopkins,a native Atlantan,is highlighting the Southern cuisine he was raised on at RESTAURANT EUGENE.He has started serving "The Sunday Supper" featuring entree's like country fried chicken with white pepper gravey every Sunday from 5pm until 9pm. Sounds like an invitation to me. GRAVEYARD TAVERN,a neighborhood bistro,opened November 30th at 1245 Glenwood Road in East Atlanta. Question of the week: What will the Wolfgang Puck, Ritz Carlton LLC partnership mean to Atlanta? Be careful out there people,tis the season to ... just be careful.

I returned to Atlantic Station this week for a luncheon meeting and experienced a great meal and great service all in one location. COPELAND'S CHEESECAKE BISTRO is a New Orleans import that features a huge menu;a warm and modern setting and ,at least yesterday,outstanding service.Although it has been opened for less than a month ,the place has been drawing big crowds ,according to my dining companion ,who was on her 6th visit in three weeks.After I started on my appetizer,a crab cake ,I began to see why. After the first bite ,I began to hum the Campbell's soup song.The large ,succulent and meaty cake was smothered in a shrimp,crawfish and mushroom filled sauce that was outstanding. I followed it up with an entree of a gumbo and salad .The gumbo was very spicy and the seafood salad t was chock full of shrimp,crawfish and oyster. The greens were crisp and the honey mustard dressing was not cloying or overly sweet.As good as the meal was the service was even more noteworthy.Our waiter went above and beyond the call of duty several times to make our experience a truly memorable one,including going in search of a certain party-who shall remain nameless-who was a half hour late.I,..er,the party had a mix up on the time. When you are in the mood for some down home N'awlins cooking,check these folks out. NEWS and NOTES: Speaking of Atlantic Station,LOBBY,the Bob Amick creation,will open at Twelve Atlantic Station on December 5. The 5,000 square foot restaurant will serve as not only the restaurant for the hotel portion of Twelve but will also offer room service to the residents of the condo portion as well.Sweet. LETTUCE SOUPRISE YOU,the 1980's local salad bar restaurant chain that went out of business in the 1990's,has a small unit that recently opened at 239 Ponce de Leon Avenue. AJC dining crtic Meridith Ford is reporting that Lance Gummere,chef for a day at MID CITY CUISINE,is currently working with his former boss,Shaun Doty,at TABLE 1280 and that Daniel Porubiansky who was filling as head chef at the DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton until a replacement for Bruno Menard was found-and a candidate for the job-is now at SEEGER'S. It is now official ,the long rumored St. Regis Atlanta Hotel and Residences was formally announced last week. It will be one of only 9 such properties in the world and will be located at 100 West Paces Ferry Rd,across from SEEGER'S.The Phoenix City's latest posh palace will feature 150 rooms and 50 condos,over half of which are already sold at about $2 million a pop. But the best part from my point of view is the part of the press release that stated that the Hotel will have a "signature St Regis restaurant".Could that be the reason that Herr Seeger has revamped his operation? Hope everyone had a great holiday and dined sufficient. Talk with you soon.

Last weekend marked the grand opening of the High Museum of Art's expansion designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano.It also provided an opportunity for a lot of people to sample the offerings at the Piano designed restaurant,TABLE 1280. The standing room only crowd that prevailed during my museum visit also prevented me from sampling the fare. But for the third time-I sneaked a couple of peeks prior to its' opening- I was struck by how well the modern,minimalist setting blended gallery like with the High's campus.Three words here:sleek,suave and sophisticated.Having eaten at Chef Shaun Doty's previous critically acclaimed restaurants, downtown's eclectic MUMBO JUMBO and Midtown's MID-CITY CUISINE,I was primed to experience his new challenge.Apparently,so were a number of other people,a whole lot of them in fact that night.Will try reservations-lunch is now being served- in the future and report back. NEWS and NOTES : The 2006 AAA 5 diamond awards have been announced and in Atlanta the winners are-ok,say it along with me: SEEGER'S and THE DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton.For those who maintain that there isn't any fine dining in downtown,ATLANTA GRILL,CITY GRILL,THE FOOD STUDIO and NIKOLAI'S ROOF all were awarded 4 diamonds. Husband and wife team Joseph Truex and Mihko Mobunal will open REPAST,a 3,00 square foot restaurant with 75 seats and a patio, early 2006 in the Ponce Springs lofts located in the Old Fourth Ward. P'CHEEN,an international bistro and pub,has opened in the Old Fourth Ward next to HIGHLAND BAKERY.Chef Alex Friedman,late of Buckhead's ANIS CAFE& BISTRO,offers international fare,a full bar and more than 20 wines by the glass. Speaking of Buckhead,SPONDIVITS,the local casual seafood restaurant mini-chain with locations in Cumming,Georgia and the airport area is opening up a Buckhead location on Pharr Road in the ground floor of the Alexan apartments.The location previously housed the short lived TIB'S GRILL. Question of the week: What Buckhead based restaurant group is looking to expand it's empire to Boca Raton,Florida in the near future? Until the next time,stay tuned .

I was downtown last week at a social function and had an opportunity to enjoy the food at ENDENU.located at 393 Marietta Street.Check it out. Speaking of downtown,uber-architect Bill Johnson's design for the Glenn Hotel/BED restaurant promises to increase the wow factor for Atlanta's dining scene by a factor of ten.After being asked about the restaurant and hotel's design, this is how he described the design concept of the hotel and restaurant: " Whether for business or pleasure, The Glenn is sure to please travelers and local patrons alike." "The design of the Glen(we're doing all of the public spaces of the hotel) and BED will be exciting,fresh,and very current.It will become the new 'gotta see 'place". I can't wait. Sounds like another winner from the ATL's hottest architect. NEWS and NOTES: There has been a changing of the guard again at MID-CITY CUSINE.Nicolas Bour,owner/chef of the recently closed IRIS,has been named as executive chef at the popular Midtown bistro. Midtown's Cresent Avenue restaurant row-SOUTH CITY KITCHEN,FRONTPAGE NEWS and VICKERY- has a new player:STALEY'S GRACE.The bistro is located at the corner of 12th and Cresent and from the looks of of things it promises to be a strong presence on the avenue. Rumors are swirling about a famous New York chef who is planning a restaurant at the Georgian Terrace Hotel. Stay tuned for further details. Be good people.

This is a very interesting ,IMO,take on some of the latest ATL restaurants by John Mariani. John Mariani's Virtual Gourmet

This post marks the first anniversary of the little corner of the e-Gullet.com universe that I have been privileged to occupy.Yes people,.we have been on this journey to explore the Atlanta dining scene's new places and faces for a year now and what a ride!And now I am ready to start the second with a look at 2006. First let me say thank you to all of you who have supported me in this effort. Without your feedback,advice and counsel,none of this would have been possible. And what is this? Well before I go there, let me start at the beginning. I had been lurking for a year before I first posted on this site because I was fascinated by the rich discussions on food,restaurants and the different cities represented by the participants in these dialogues.You see,I am not a "foodie" .I am a person who has toiled in the vineyard as an executive in the private.public and the not for profit sector for a number of years before becoming an entrepreneur here in Atlanta. During the halcyon days,I traveled across the country and was wined and dined ,often at some of the best dining experiences that the community ,large or small had to offer. This led to a growing appreciation of the social,cultural and economic facets of restaurants and by extension, the restaurant world. I began to see things in an entirely different light,especially here in Atlanta. I began to see that there was and is a very dynamic and complex dining "scene" here both on an absolute as well as a comparative basis.And ,as I learned and experienced more ,I began to seek out information on the who ,what and wheres. I met owners,operators,journalists and eventually found the internet portion of the equation. And one thing began to stand out throughout my experiences: there was no single source that answered all of my questions about a market that seemed to me at least,to be as vibrant as any I had seen or read about.So instead of cursing the darkness,I started to look for a place to express my thoughts and opinions and to share information. I found it here and have not looked back. It was and still is a humbling experience.The participants here are passionate, informed and experienced about so many things relating to food and restaurants. I was not, but I took a chance on a lark and here I am,warts and all. This is a hobby that has become an obsession of sorts.I have asked friends who are in the restaurant business for assistance and advice;family members who once laughed at me are now putting (or trying to) in their two cents.However, what has been most gratifying to me through this past year has been the feedback that I have received. I could not and would not have continued but for your help, so for all of you ,this has been for you. To start the "new" year off ,I am going to look ahead to 2006 and see if I can spot the HOT SPOTS for 2006. There are 3 restaurants that I believe will be the most significant new players in the ATL next year because of their location,design and chefs: TROIS;B.E.D;and,DOLCHE.Why? Well,for different reasons but in the final analysis,location,location,location. Each of the three,however, -and let me say that there will several noteworthy restos coming on line next year - have some unique properties that will make them standout. First,they are in the new hot spots.For example, B.E.D(Beverage,Entertainment and Dining) is in the Glenn hotel,downtown's first luxury boutique hotel.Two things are important to note here, urban boutique hotels are the sine qua non for any city that aspires to coolness;and,B.E.D has a track record in New York and Miami as hot spots in the epicenters of coolness.Second,they have style. DOLCHE will bring the style and appeal of LA to Atlanta. According to press accounts ,it is a hotspot in LA.that is recognized as much for its' design as for its'cuisine. And design ,is what will make it a standout here.Dodd Mitchell is to LA what Bill Johnson is to Atlanta. DOLCHE is the restaurant that put him on the national radar and now he is doing several significant projects in New York.His entrance into this market should be mutually beneficial.Atlantic Station,where DOLCHE and 2 other siblings will locate,is hot and it is only 60% completed. . Third,they will all have serious chefs. TROIS. The name is lyrical and the location is magical: Midtown ,not Buckhead,is now the hottest 'hood in town.SHOUT;TABLE 1280 ,and PARK 75 all form a culinary circle whose dimensions will be expanded exponentially by TROIS's inclusion.The design should be matched only by the talent of the head chef. And early betting has Richard Blais as being the top toque at TROIS. That name alone puts TROIS at the head of the class of 2006. So there it is : My first "annual" look in the future.Let me know what you think. Until next week,take care.

A recent article in a trendy trade publication identified 5 Trends in American dining that I thought were very interesting ,so I am sharing with you .It seems to be the wave(s) of the future and there are some examples already here in *drum roll please*the ATL.For the uninitiated,Atlanta has launched a branding campaign and the city will henceforth and forevermore known as the ATL-or until the next campaign. Anywho,here are the excerpts of the article: Trend #1 Build Your Own Meal! "Today's consumers are educated in the kitchen and discerning in the restaurant. This is sparking a hot new trend toward customer freedom while dining out -- building their own entrées. Discriminating guests are getting involved with assembling and accenting their own entrée plate at restaurants, suggesting alternative side dishes and more. " Here in Atlanta,THE REAL CHOW BABY,a new westside eatery, is an example of this trend. Trend #2 Excellent Cuisine for just $20 "An excellent meal doesn't have to cost a king's ransom … or a month's grocery budget! Restaurants and bars are taking giant leaps towards more affordable yet wonderfully creative menus, sometimes featuring lesser expensive cuts of meat exquisitely seasoned, prepared and accented. "Top restaurants on both coasts are taking the lead and holding prices to around $20 per entrée, making up the difference in volume and creative cooking techniques." GLOBE is at the forefront of this trend here in Atlanta. Trend #3 Less Formal. A Lot More Fun. "Today, mini sandwiches featuring Albacore with seaweed salad, a miniature tuna burger and cured Ahi with cucumber relish can be a delicious and fun luncheon experience. Or shot glasses of potato leek soup, shiitake mushroom and consommé with simple croutons -- a trio tasting - is becoming as popular as a cocktail service with martini varieties, Bloody Mary _expressions and short whiskey tastings -- all in threes and fours. The idea is variety to increase interest in flavors and make the dining experience fun, less formal." A number of Atlanta restaurants are practicing this approach,PARK 75 and it's new chef come to mind. Trend #4 Mundane "Snacks" Now Homemade & Fabulous "Homemade or "house made." Authentic French Bistros, Italian Trattorias, German Bierhauses and American Pubs are all creating their own simple yet delicious "snacks" to help guests take the edge off while ordering and kicking back before dinner." RATHBUN'S has made its bones here. Trend #5 Fresh & Uncomplicated "The freshest ingredients are coupled with simple, uncomplicated preparations. This trend is so hot that many chefs have redesigned their kitchen, bringing it out to their guests. In these exhibition kitchens guests can select the freshest ingredients - in some cases straight from the chef's own kitchen garden" Can you say BACCHANALIA?. NEWS and NOTES: The 2006 Mobile awards have been announced and congratulations are in order for THE DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead and SEEGER'S, they are once again rated 5 stars,the highest award.There were only 14 such awards in the US. The ATL was tied with San Francisco for second place among American cities for number of awardees.PARK 75 and BACCHANALIA retained their 4 star status.Big ups to them as well. Sources tell me that Joey Masi,former top toque at ONE MIIDTOWN KITCHEN,is looking at a recently closed Virginia -Highlands resto as a potential upscale venture. Stay tuned. The same source-a major player in the Atlanta food scene-says that Paul Albrecht ,who just departed from SPICE,will take on PHILLIPE'S ,the Pechtree Hills bistro. JOEL,the award winning Buckhead brasserie of the famous French chef Joel Antunes, has just been named one of the 40 Best Restaurants in America by Gayot.com,the an international internet food and wine guide. The former owners/employees of Virginia -Highlands fave,DISH,have opened SHORTY'S,a pizzeria specializing in wood fired,thin crust pizzas, inTocco Hills. Speaking of pizzerias,FELLINI'S PIZZA,the local muti-unit chain,will open a new location in Decatur in the old Greyhound bus station on Commerce Drive. Be sure to tune in next week-got something special for you.See ya. .

I visited Atlantic Station twice this week and got sneek peaks at some of the restaurants,bistros,cafes and stores.In a word:wow! First some context. Atlanta is the template for malls and sprawl; if you do not have a car you are basically SOL in terms of dining beyond fastfood/delivery.So while it is not Georgetown ,it is the first Georgia urban experience to have boutiques and boites ,of quality and all in one location. And if you live within the confines of Atlantic Station,you can walk to shop,eat drink and meet.Here is what I have seen so far. TAHITIAN NONI CAFE.An international company that bases it's food ,beverages and related products on the properties of the Tahitian noni berry.The cafe will serve healthy fare based on the berry and other foods with an eye towards your well being.It is small but well designed space located down the block from the movie theatr. COPELAND'S CHEESECAKE BISTRO. The New Orleans operation's ATL operation looks good. The exterior has a Burbon Street flair and inside it looks like a very modern bistro.It is located on the restaurant row facing the central park. CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN. Located across from COPELAND'S,the 4th operation of this chain in Atlanta has a nice patio and a new(to Atlanta) Frank Loyd Wright interior. The sites for ROSA MEXICANO and STRIP face one another on the central park and are dramatic.STRIP will be a two story affair with a second story balcony sure to be a crowd favorite.And the posters for DOLCHE'S,the LA Ital fave and GESHIA HOUSE 's locations on 19th Street ,down the street from the theater ,are already up. So that is what I've seen so far.And because I care about you so,so much,I will return as often as it takes to report back to you what is the dealio on all of the hot spots. NEWS and NOTES : Some of the news floating around the Big Peach this week; Word on the street is that RICESTIX,the Sandy Springd based Vietnamese eatery will soon close its doors after less than a year in business. Look for a different concept at the TIAJUANA GARAGE slot next to FRONTPAGE NEWS in Little Five Points.Word is that the new focus will tapas.Good thing no one else is doing tapas around town. Ich bin der Konig! That 's what it appears Guenter Seeger is saying to his erstwhile rivals with the new and improved Seegers that re-opened last Friday. Early reports are extemely favorable,with particular emphasis on the increased service delivery.With the award of 5 stars to QUINONES,the rumors of a Buckhead SPAGO and the reported 5 star St Regis hotel and residences that will have 2 restuarants, looks as if GS is getting out ahead of the competition. Well it looks as if Atlanta's storied run of having at least one entry in John Mariani's annual Best New Restaurant list published by Esquire magazine has ended.. The November issue lists this years award winners and alas and alack the ATL was nowhere to be seen.But what 'till next year.(but not like the Braves' annual cry) But a feature in Houston's leading alt wekly strongly suggests that airfare paid for by Houston's Vistors and Convention Bureau;a comped room at a posh hotel ;and FREE meals at the 4 restaurants visited MAY have influenced the fact that 2 Houston restos made the list. Ed Seiber,the architect responsible for such local faves as RESTAURANT EUGENE and SPICE, mentioned that he is working on a project with Richard Ullio(SOTTO SOTTO and FRITTI) in a recent interview with a local alt weekly. Let's welcome Sandra Eckstein to our fair city.Sandra is the new beat writer for the AJC's Turning tables column and as such will be reporting "dining news around the Metro area". Her first report carried several interesting morsels including that Jonathan St.Hilaire,formally of WOODFIRE GRILL and SPICE,has joined Bob Amick's crew as executive pastry chef. Until next time,be good people.

Lovely Atlanta is feeling the heat of next week's grand opening of Atlantic Station(AS),the long awaited 138 acre in-town live ,work and play community. Why? Because ,among other things,the west side project, built on the site of a former steel mill, promises to deliver a whole new set of living,working and dining options in an urban and urbane envoirnment previously unseen in Atlanta. For example,"The District",AS's commercial and retail hub will be laid out in a pedestrian friendly grid that accomadates both vehicles and pedestrians and allows them access to the shops,businesses and residences that are skillfully woven around a town square.As far as the retail mix,there is a upscale grocery store,a stand alone department store and a 16 screen movie theater.No,I kid you not; this is actually happening in Center City Atlanta,the nation's poster child for sprawl. Among the restaurants announced to date are: COPELAND'S CHEESECAKE, a New Orleans based concept offering cajun food and .. cheesecakes;CLADDAGHS IRISH PUB;FOX SPORTS GRILL,Fox's answer to ESPN GRILL;ROSA MEXICANO,a New York fave;and STRIP STEAK & SUSHI,from the local group that created TWIST and SHOUT.A local foodie web site has posted a soon to be announced deal that will bring 3 hot concepts to AS from LA that include,GEISHA HOUSE, an Asian themed club/restaurant famed for its celebrity owners;DOLCHE,its Italian high end sibling ;and,KINGPIN, a bowling/bar/restaurant concept that is sweeping the country. Stay tuned, it looks as if Atlantic Station is going to be where foodies go to meet and eat. NEWS and NOTES: Speaking of Atlantic Station,David Marni,formerly of VINE,a Virgina Highlands hot spot,is heading up the dining portion of FOX SPORTS GRILL.Which opened on October 8th. Get your cheese steak on at the Four Seasons hotel on Saturday,October 15th. The head chef from Philadelphia's Four Seasons will offer the City of brotherly love's seminal treat at a benefit dinner. Contact the Four Seasons for details. The old TORTILLIA'S on Ponce de Leon will become a J. CHRISTOPHER'S,a local breakfast food orientated restaurant.A Decatur location is also in the works. Chef Drew Van Leuvan,co-founder and head chef, has left Midtown's TOAST and according to this mornings Atlanta Journal-Constitution,will become the new head chef at SPICE. Former head chef,Paul Albrect one of the pioneers of fine dining in Atlanta,who resigned Wednesday,is quoted as saying that he is staying in Atlanta where he will announce a new restaurant project next week. Stay tuned. A tip from a savy intowner and avid development blogger says that the Cabbagetown/Grant Park dining scene has expanded with the additions of VILLAGE PIZZA,from RIA'S BLUEBIRD CAFE owner Ria Pell,and STONE SOUP. Have a good one people.See you in a few.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution's dining critic,Meridith Ford(MF),presented her "top 50 places to eat "yesterday in the paper's "Fall Dining Guide" and aside from some unusual ommissions,BLUEPOINTE,CHOPS SIA'S,and additions,FIVE and TEN-which is in Athens,Georgia,it was quite an interesting journey into Atlanta's dining scene.First,it appears that ,at least from her perspective,smaller and lighter are in with respect to design,GLOBE,menu,PURA VIDA, and size,QUINONES.Second,service/the lack thereof,is a deal breaker.There were several comments throughout the reviews that pin-pointed that as an issue,especially for the higher rated restaurants.Last,her choice for "restaurant of the year" -PURA VIDA-was proceeded by a rambling disclaimer suggesting,among other things,that the choice was not based on it being the best or brightest but on its personality.Hmm.Well,needless to say,there have been some *discussions* around the choice on local blogs and such. My two cents? It might have helped if she had established what her criteria were BEFORE she sprang her selection on us. IMJS There were some other interesting tidbits that caught my eye in the 29 page pull out:MF likes the Kinjo brothers-MF SUSHI and NAM and Anne Ouatrano/Cliff Harrison.The Buckhead Life Group,not so much.Buckhead is no longer the center of Atlanta's dining universe;Decater is"the area's newly crowned hotspot for neighborhood dining".And SEEGER'S is undergoing a renovation and that the "new"SEEGER'S ,according to the man himself, will "redefine dining standards in the city"(!) Ms. Ford also added a listing of new and unreviewed restaurants,ie.PIEBAR. But her comments clearly indicated she has already made intial visits to some of the spots.She wrapped her up her take on Hotlanta's dining scene with a feature titled "Still to Come" that set the stage for those of us looking eagerly to some of the 2006 openings.(It was not comprehensive.)I will share my thoughts on this topic in the near term. NEWS and NOTES: IRIS,the long standing fine dining oasis of East Atlanta, is closing as of October 17. Like the true champions that they are,they are going out in style with a farewell weekend special: October 14-16. Speaking of 2006 arrivals,Atlanta's latest socialite bible,Paper City,reports that John Otegen,Atlanta's uber interior designer, has been hired as part of the design team for TROIS(hope that some of the local foodie sites/magazines learn to spell this:it is NOT Trios),Bob Amick's luxe French brasserie. What famous French chef is hearing the siren call of Las Vegas-and major dollars-to pack up and leave our shores and set up shop in the desert?He is saying not yet,so far. John Kessler reports that today is Julie Mcbee's last day at the AJC.She wrote the Turning Tables column and others for the food section for years.She is reportedly writing a book.I will miss her voice. Have a great weekend , I will see you next week.

Had an opportunity to re-visit one of the city of Peaches and Dreams' oldest and most popular restaurants this week.And MURPHY's,the Virgina -Highland's hotspot,has lost none of its magic after 25 years.With their popular weekend brunch,eclectic wine bar,tempting dessert case and solid service,MURPHY's has not only survived but prospered in a city where restaurants come and go in the blink of an eye.It also has had several of the top chefs in town such as Michael Tuoy(WOODFIRE GRILL),Garry Klaskala(ARIA) and Shaun Doty(TABLE 1280) grace it's kitchen. In celebration of its' silver anniversary,the restaurant is releasing a cookbook and having a diner to honor owner Tom Murphy. The proceeds of the dinner ,October 26 from 7-10pm,will benefit Share our Strength.A tip of the toque to the fine folks at MURPHY'S and here's wishing them 25 more. NEWS and NOTES: Coming soon;THE LOOP,an upscale pizza and gourmet burger and salad restaurant located at 2145 Peachtree Road. This is the 4th Atlanta location for the Jacksonville ,Florida company. ATKIN'S PARK,with locations in Virgina-Highlands and Smyrna,will open its third location in Cummings,Georgia in early 2006. One of the pioneers of the revitalization of East Atlanta Village,HEAPING BOWL and BREW, has closed. Have a good one people and be good.

Our long nightmare is over-the Ritz Carlton Buckhead has found its new chef. Ladies and gentlemen,boys and girls,please put your hands together and join me in welcoming Arnaud Berthelier to our fair city. Chef Berthelier comes to us from the Ritz Carlton Sharm El Sheikh,an Egyptian resort.He started his career at LE LOUIS XV in Monte Carlo under famed chef Alain Ducasse and has worked in London and prior to his posting in Egypt,he was top toque at THE DINING ROOM ,Ritz Carlton Naples. I am looking forward to see how he handles the pressure of maintaining THE DINING ROOM's 5-star,5 diamond status as well as the increased local competition. Again,welcome chef Berthelier and best wishes.

BULLETIN: Had an opportunity to dine at SAMPAN last evening and see their newly opened bar ,SUSIE WONG'S.Wow.For people who are into upscale asian fare and ambience,this is the place. The Westside Marketplace is fast becoming the ATL's meatpacking district with respect to the new restaurant additions. SAMPAN's prices have been reduced and the addition of SUSIE's bar scene ,with its unsurpassed vistas of the center city's skyline, create a serious compliment to the crowds at FIGO ,TAQUERIA DE SOL;the shopping and ,of course the allure of BACCHANALIA and QUINONES. Check it out. Forgot to add GRAND LUX CAFE to my wish list yesterday.The CHEESECAKE FACTORY'S upscale sibling would make a nice addtion to our suddenly tourist-centric city as well as provide the legions of CCF fans with even larger outlet for their passion.

And the beat geos on. This past week saw major announcements from around the country regarding new massive urban developments anchored by upscale retail,hotels and restaurants.Cities such as Las Vegas,Dallas and Los Angeles are creating international buzz with their multi-billion dollar urban developments headlined by world class architects and restauranteurs.Names such as Joel Roberchon;Tom Colicchio and restaurant operators like the N9ne group are being featured prominently in marketing campaigns designed to lure customers/residents.All of which got me to thinking: What "names" have not yet graced our fair shores here in Atlanta? Here are a couple that came to mind: SMITH & WOOLENSKY-New York based steakhouse noted for upscale atmoshere and extensive wine list. NOBU-Mr. DiNiro's favorite sushi stop has an international reputation. Il MULINO-NYC's favorite italian restaurant has recently spread its wings to Tokyo,Dallas and Vegas. With regard to the top toques: The ATL has not yet received any love from its homeboy,Todd English(Smyrna) or Thomas Keller or Kevin Rathbun's buddy ,Bobby Flay. Stay tuned though,with the plans currently on the drawing board some of these faces and places may be coming to your favorite city soon. NEWS and NOTES: Last week's inaugural edition of the Wall Street Journal's weekend edition featured several Atlanta restaurants as cutting edge hotspots-PIEBAR,ONE MIDTOWN KITCHEN-and chef Richard Blais as a culinary innovator. Bob Amick's empire has now expanded to the sunshine state.LUMA on PARK opened in Winter Park ,Florida-"Orlando's Virgina Highlands" Monday. Gwinnet County diners should be able to enjoy eating at a "posh" steakhouse in their neighborhood soon.There is talk of converting the now closed Gwinnet Cinema into upscale steak restaurant to open early 2006. Word on the street is that Nancy Delgado Miller is no longer with OLA. Untill the next time,thanks for checking on me.

In desending order:1.OUINONES is smaller and more elegant than BACCCANNALIA in appearence;the menu's are similar with the biggest difference being that QUINONES is prix fixe. 2.To date,the tasting menu at ONE is only on Monday and Tuesday. You may eat at the bar which is located in the front of the restaurant.Have not tried it but is on the list.(See WSJ's weekend edition for moredetails on ONE) 3.In the immediate area of the Four Seasons OCEANAIRE is very good;there is a just opened restaurant at the Woodruff Arts Center,TABLE 1280-have not been but have enjoyed the chef's-Shaun Doty-work at his previous resto,MIDCITY CUISINE. 4. PARK 75 is very good;Sunday brunch is a must do. Hope this helps.Enjoy your stay.

A growing national trend is slowly finding its way to Atlanta and it promises to signifigantly affect the local dining scene.The trend of building structures with multiple uses such as residential,retail and/or commercial has a long history in cities with dense urban cores.A example is New York's Time Warner Center with Time Warner's headquarters;a huge Whole Foods supermarket;a 5-star Mandarin Oriental hotel with a residential component and of course the restaurants.Destination dining is personified here.PER SE;MASA;and the soon to be opened Charlie Trotter seafood spot all combine to attract not only office workers,tourists and shoppers but people who come from outside New York just to dine at the Columbus Circle location. And soon Atlanta may see a similar phenomena. The theory behind this type of development,commenly called mixed use development or MXDs for short,is grounded in economics.While costly to construct and difficult to finance,MXDs have been shown to generate a higher rate of return that single use structures in many instances-especially in dense urban envoirnments where land costs are high. Now comes Atlanta's resurgent urbanism and there seems to be an appetite for the types of development that offers the opportunity to live ,work and play-especially if food is involved. The recent press accounts of the Bob Amick,Novare Group partnership underscores the point. Bob has agreed to develop a restaurant concept for the Novare Group's Twelve Hotel and Condo residence product.The concept will be called LOBBY,will be introduced at the Twelve@Atlantic Station and then at the Twelve@ Centennial Park as well as an addtional Atlanta site as well other projects outside the city.Given the popularity of Amick's previous offerings,ONE MIDTOWN KITCHEN,TWOURBAN LICKS and PIEBAR,the LOBBY bar and restaurant will attract not only guests and residents but foodies as well. And more similar concepts may be on the way with the recent annoucements of a W Hotel and Residence project in downtown Atlanta as well as a Mansion on Peactree hotel and residential project in Buckhead that features Dallas's Rosewood Properties flagship brand.Stay tuned ,there are more to come. NEWS and NOTES: Chris Kinjo,of MF SUSHI,will appear on Alton Brown's Good Eats,Thursday ,September 22.He will demonstrate sushi rolling techniques. EMERIL'S Atlanta has been honored by Wine Spectator magazine with its"Best Award of Excellence",the highest honor bestowed by the prestigous magazine.Only 86 restaurants in the world hold this distinction. And speaking of MXDs,JEFF'S NEW YORK DELI,has opened in downtown Atlanta's 123 Luckie Street condominums' retail space. Have a safe and relaxing weekend people.

The star(s) has fallen on Atlanta.The city that has been described as "North of the South and South of the North..." has its first 5 star restaurant awarded by the Atlanta Journal -Constitution(AJC). The back story is that up until 2 months ago the highest rating that the dining critics at the AJC could award was 4 stars.There were only 3 restaurants at that level:SEEGER'S,BACCHANALIA and THE DINING ROOM at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead. Well things have changed and 5 stars is now the highest rating and OUINONES at BACCHANALIA,which AJC critic ,Meridith Ford,described as "a lavish,Southern-tinged gem.." has been awarded the first 5 star salute by the newspaper of general circulation.She focused her praise on the ambiance,service and the skills of the 25 year old chef de cuisine,Drew Belline and noted the difference between it and the other fine dining restaurants in town. Congratulations to Anne Quatrano and Cliff Harrison,the James Beard award-winning chef-ownera of BACCHANALIA on the creation of this outstandind dining experience that is named for,James Quinones, their former general manager at FLOATAWAY CAFE ,who was killed in an automobile related accident in 2004.You have set a new standard for Atlanta. NEWS and NOTES: Just a couple of months ago,Eric Damidot, the newish executive chef of THE ATLANTA GRILL at the Ritz Carlton Atlanta was invited to cook at the James Beard House.Chef Damidot,a native of Bandol,France,is the former sous chef at L'ORANGERIA,the LA 5-star French bistro. For Atlantans who like to get their Ethopian on,there is a new spot in town.COTTAGE has opened at 1841 Piedmont road(next to FAT MATT'S). TOSSED,a New York based upscale salad restaurant,is looking to establish 3 restaurants in Atalnta by the end of 2006. According to the Atlanta business Chronicle,other cities under consideration for outposts are DC and Dallas .

This week's tragedy in the Gulf coast puts life in another perspective. Every day challenges are mundane when compared to the misery projected through our television screens. I am gratified by the response that the people of our nation have demonstated,particularly the restaurant/food service industry.All across the country restaurant owners and operaters are pitching in by having fundraising events.Thanks to you all. NEWS and NOTES: Bob Amick,Atlanta's premier restaurant developer, has been hired by the Novare Group,Atlanta's premier urban condo developer, to devlope a 5,000 sq ft restaurant at their latest concept,Twelve@ Atlantic Station.The Twelve brand is a condo/hotel concept that combines a 101 room boutique hotel with 300 condos in a high rise building.Condo residents get hotel service for meals,cleaning and concierge support;hotel quests get a 750 sq ft loft room with all of the latest information technology. The restaurant and bar will serve hotel guests, condo residents as well as foodies who want the Amick experience. As reported earlier,the proposed name for the spot is TABLE 12. Atlanta's premier restaurant architect,Bill Johnson, first New York restaurant project,BARBOUNIA, opens this fall at 250 Park Avenue south.BARBOUNIA,a"Mediterranean Ouzeria",features an open kitchen, energetic bar, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that will offer a convivial environment that will draw people in for varied dining experiences. The wine list offer selections from all across the Mediterranean as well as a large selection of ouzos and grappas. Alain Bedard has returned to head up the kichen at Buckhead's CARBO'S CAFE.Chef Alain returns to the spot he occupied from 1988-1999 at the swank saloon cum restaurant after having owned restaurants in Aspen and San Diego. GOLDBERG'S BAGEL and DELI COMPANY will open a new operation in Midtown's Colony Square.They will move in the old RUEBEN'S DELI site this fall. Have a safe and peaceful holiday people.

Today,August 29, is the opening date for Atlanta's latest uptown style restaurant,TAURUS and based upon my pre-opening visit, CANOE's former skipper,who worked at both SPAGO and SEEGER's before opening CANOE in 1995, is sailing into the upper strata of Atlanta's restaurants.A quick first impression: Award winning chef Gary Mennie's" new American restaurant with a chophouse focus" looks and feels like a sleek,smooth and sophisticated dining experience. Located on the third floor of a tony lifestyle center at 25th&Peach,the cusp of the Midtown Buckhead border,TAURUS blends all of the elements of a first class Atlanta dining destination,design,a well constructed , meatcentric menu(no entree over $24);and,a serious location ,in dramatic fashion.Starting with a post modern porte cochere that leads into an elevator lobby graced with a twenty foot tall light sculpture,you are then taken on a ride to a subtle, subdued circular room trimmed in rich garnet and ebony tones with taupe accents.The room's energy is focused around the"Bulls Ring",a raised platform with a series of sexy banquets set in the middle of the room.There is also a discrete and compact chef's table and a chic glass enclosed private dining room with a velvet roped entrance as well.What stood out in my mind ,visually speaking,was the balcony that surrounds the main dining area.It provides outstanding views of the downtown/midtown skyline,especially the Southern expanse.With its curtains and seating ,I am so there for a relaxing Sunday brunch.The attractive and attentive wait staff appeared to be ready for the pre- opening night crush. The pre -opening food highlighted Chef Gary's vaunted cuisine well(did not do the desserts but must give a shout out to pastry chef ,Chris Hagearty).Some of the more intriguing items included the "china style" roasted duck;prime steak tartare;the oak roared lamb leg and,the hot smoked salmon steak.The large and diverse crowd ,filled with industry insiders,was impressed with the food and decor.If restaurants like TWO URBAN LICKS frame" hot" for ATL dining,and those like THE GLOBE frame" cool", then TAURUS will help frame "uptown sophistication" here in Chicago on the Chattahoochee. NEWS and NOTES: A partnership between Metrotainment,a local restaurant and catering firm-GARRISON'S,JOE'S on JUNIPER,et al,and Sports 790 the Zone ,will bring a 20,000 sq ft sports themed entertainment /restaurant venue to Legacy Propert Group.s restaurant row soon. The downtown venue will join 3 other restaurants in the well designed site that was the headquarters for Adidas during the 1996 Olympics and is one block from the Georgia Aquarium(GA). Industry insiders say that a local restaurant company is interested in taking 9,000 sq ft in the soon to be completed Southern Company headquarters building at 30 Allen Blvd for a white table cloth resto. The downtown site is,one block from the Georia Aquarium ,slated to open November 23 . Finally,in news not related to proximity to the GA; attention all you big 'ballers out there ,word on the street is that hip -hop mogul Jay-Z is looking for an ATL location for his multi-million dollar sports bar,THE 40/40 CLUB.The Chelsa hotspot ,where Derek Jeter and other boldface names are regulars,has already inked a $4 million deal for an Atlantic City location. I'm out people.Be safe.

Today's theme is why Atlanta's dining scene will improve and soon. This topic presented itself while I was observing an on -line discussion being conducted by a local food blog on the current state of affairs here.The general conclusion was that the Atlanta scene had a lot of good restaurants but fewer quality ones than some of the cities commenly associated with fine dining.Various reasons were advanced for this state of affairs,including a lack of quality ethnic restaurants, to sly digs at the number of fad seekers among the local dining public. Well, here is what I think: Because of the coming increases in cultural and entertainment tourism-and I include sports under entertainment- the local scene will soon be forced to deal with a new and ,in many instances, more sophisticated customer and thus the bar so to speak will be raised considerably.A couple of examples of this trend would be the addition of Boston College and the University of Miami to Atlantic Coast Conference(ACC) where Georgia Tech is member. The various games,tournaments and conferences that well heeled fans and faculty from these sophisticated cities will attend here should invoke comparisons that will incite competition between and among local eateries. The expansion of the High Museum is another factor in the equation.In 2006 and continuing until 2009,the High will stage exhibits from the celebrated Louvre.This will certainly attract not only national attention but will bring a steady stream of French tourists as well,including some watchful museum officials. Talk about raising the bar. Suffice to say , based on these and other factors, I believe that things will get better on the local dining scence with a little help from some new friends.It should be fun. NEWS and NOTES: COOKS WAREHOUSE and SHERLOCK WINES will open their second joint location this Fall at 180 W. Ponce de Leon in downtown Decatur.This foodie fave will have all of the implements,wine and food , as well as the noted cooking classes conducted by top of the line toques. Bob Amick has done it again.First,he has hired Todd Immal,late of the dearly departed OSCAR'S,to be opening chef at LUMA,his posh Winter Park ,Florida restaurant.Next, Carmen Capello,whose reume includes LA BEC FIN and the Ritz Carlton Atlanta ,is now executive sous chef at TWO URBAN LICKS.Mr. Amick does not rest on his past laurals. THE WATERHOUSE RESTAURANT,with a sibling in downtwn Cleveland,will open next month at 942 Peachtree street in Midtown. Early reviews in Clevlend have been favorable and focused on their wine list,decor and price points. Finally, if you are looking for great service as well as selection in your wine purchases,check out Kenneth Green 's BARRLEMAN WINE and CHEESE BY ENO.This Midtown shop is connected to and affiliated with ENO restaurant both physically and commercially.If they don't have it ,trust me,they will get it for you. Have a great weekend people!

Today's theme is :The Intown Resurgence and how its changing Atlanta's dining scene. Atlanta,the City of Peaches and Dreams,is experiencing a resurgence of interest and investment in its' Center City.New places to live,work and eat are springing up seemingly overnight from Buckhead to Bankhead and if some of the rumors are true,the dining scene will have several new and exciting players.It appears that the fusion of the Old South and the DirtySouth is creating a new energy that is driving an already dynamic market to new levels. Case in point: Atlantic Station(AS),a multi-billion dollar intown development filled chic condos,gleaming high rises and panoramic views of the Atlanta skyline.. This massive brownfield redevelopment project,scheduled to open this fall, on Midtown Atlanta's western border has already generated national acclaim for its envoirnmental leadership and has surprised many local observers with its ability to attract major upscale retailers intown.But what has really raised some eyebrows has been the overwhelming demand for housing in Atlantic Station, a demand that has to date attracted several high profile restaurant operaters such as New York fave ROSA MEXICANO. Now comes rumors that Atlantic Station has attracted two of the hottest LA hotspots.Think an Asian TWO URBAN LICKS and an Italian JOELS! A sidebar to this is that these restaurants/bars/lounges may be designed by "LA's crown prince of design",Dodd Mithchell.That could mean that AS would have restaurants by New York's leading restaurant architect, David Rockwell(ROSA MEXICANO);Atlanta's finest,Bill Johnson(STRIP STEAK and SUSHI) ;and LA's finest.Not bad for not Buckhead. NEWS and NOTES: The Fifth Group,SOUTH CITY KITCHEN,FOOD STUDIO et al, will open ECCO,a casual European influenced restaurant,this Spring at 40 7th Street in Midtown. Castleberry Hill's main watering hole cum community meeting place,SLICE,will open another location on Howell Mill Road this winter. Jason Brooks,most recently head chef at 5 SEASONS BREWERY, has joined SEEGER'S as sous chef. Sous Vide,a cooking method first used to vacum pack food,is becoming the latest rage in couture cooking circles. Chefs Ferran Adria and Wylie Dufresne are some of the biggest proponents of this technique,whose explanation goes way above my pay grade.I just hope that Bob Amick buys a thermal circulater and microvac for TROIS. Have a good one people.

Atlanta real estate development and hospitality industry circles are a buzz with the rumors of the arrival of two hotel industry giants to our fair shores.The Kimpton group ,whom the LA Times has called"arguably the formost boutique hotel developer in the US,is looking for Atlanta locations as well as Starwood hotel 's couture St. Regis division.What have these hotels got to do with the Atlanta dining scene? Well.based on history-the hotel operater's and ours-a great deal. For years,fine dining in Atlanta was the Ritz Carlton.And even today because of the economics of fine dining,fine dining is largely confined to upscale hotels with the capacity to operate what amounts to a loss leader.The restaurant becomes an ammenity for their high income cliental and an special occasion spot for locals.Examples include,CITYZEN in the Mandarin Oriental in D.C and the new NOBU at the Cresent Court in Dallas. In the near future-the next 5 years-Atlanta will see the field of fine dining options expanding considerably.The Kimpton group has 39 properties in cities such as San Francisco,their headquarters, and is noted for their high style and flair as well as restaurants such as THE FIFTH FLOOR.ST Regis Hotels and Residences,which has only nine proprties in the entire world is noted for restaurants such as ADNY in their New York property,The Essex House.Folks,these are some serious players and they are coming to a location near you.Soon. The Kimpton folks,according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle,are looking for several Atlanta locations,starting with Midtown as well as downtown and Buckhead. St Regis,according to a telephone conversaion,will be in Atlanta by 2007.The current rumors have a 196 key property-150 rooms and 46 condos-on West Paces Ferry road in Buckhead.This all means that everyone here-operaters as well as customers- is going to have to kick it up several notches! NEWS and NOTES: ONE KITCHEN MIDTOWN will be reviewed by the local paper of general circulation this Thursday.Word is that Richard Blais's influence has been very well recieved by the critics. TAURUS,Gary Mennie's meat palace will open,according to their web site,August 29. VERVE,a coverted nightclub at 511 Peachtree -NODO- will open next month. Have a good one people.

The September issue of Food &Wine magazine proclaims the influence of Asian food on America's culinary culture: Asian is in. From cosmetics to cookware ,asian influences have become a driver for the creation of new ways for Americans to enjoy their lives.Changing demographics are but one of the many reasons that foodies and others are flocking to Thai,Vietnamese,Indian as well as Chinese restaurants in steadily increasiing numbers.And it appears that this trend is alive and well here in Atlanta. Among the restaurants Food & Wine focused on were Atlanta's CON VIETNAMESE GRILL.Owners-and siblings-Duc and Hieu Tran's modestly priced Buford Highway eatery was cited as one of the best new asian restaurants in America.It was joined by another local newcomer SAMPAN.SOTO,the Buckhead sushi lovers paradise, and its chef owner was placed on the list of America's best sushi restaurants,a list that included NOBU,MORIMOTO and the $350 a head MASA. Kudos go out to these restaurants and their owners and staff for their hard work and effort. NEWS and NOTES In keeping with the focus on asian theme: Signs point to a Japanese restaurant,MATSURI, soon occupying the former YOUNGBLOOD'S R&B CAFE space on Ponce de Leon. MU LAN,the Midtown upscale Chinese restaurant,is opening a branch in Southwest Atlanta at 1195 Fairburn Road. In other hot happenings,POOLSIDE ON PEACHTREE,the new outdoor bar at NAVA,opens September 17th. Atlantic Station's hot new hotel/condo tower,Twelve@Atlantic Station,will debut it's restaurant, TABLE 12,this Winter. I would like to thank all of you who have e-mailed me for your support and appreciation.Keep those card and letters coming.Until the next time.. .

This Sunday's(8-7-05) section A piece on the Georgia Aquarium ,slated to open November 23,seems certain to raise the activity level of downtown Atlanta and by extension, its' restaurants. One of the highlights of the feature was the mention of Wolfgang Puck's role as chief of catering.That alone will make the GA the *it* place for all of the major soirees,once the exclusive province of the Buckhead section of town. Along those lines,comes the rumor that BED(Beverage,Entertainment and Dining),a sexy,sophisticated operation with outposts in Miami Beach and Manhatten will locate a branch at the Glenn hotel ,scheduled to open in downtown Atlanta this December.Their resaurants feature a gourmet French inspired menu,creative cocktails, exotic setting with panoramic views-yes,beds are a prominent design element-and ultra premium champagnes.Add in a "refreshing brunch concept"and this sounds as if it should be a hit with the global Schrager-chic crowd. NEWS and NOTES: Gourmet magazine's September issue features several ATL restaurants in their "Where to Eat Now in America" section. They inclued WOODFIRE GRILL,ENO and ONE MIDTOWN KITCHEN.Kudos to those fine establishments. SEASONS 52,a new healthy,fine dining concept out of the Darden company.will open 2 units in Atlanta this Spring.One in Buckhead plaza and one at Perimeter Center. Finally,the vacant space in Midtown that was formerly SALT appears to have attracted a new tenant.Look for AVRA,a Greek tavern to open there this winter. Have a great week people.