Food history, stand mixers, and aspic
Thursday, July 30 — Hello, internet friends.
⌛ I’m hoping to see my fellow food history obsessives at Pastries A Go Go in Decatur tonight for Beksa Lala and Soupbelly’s 70s dinner party.
Many moons ago, I heavily dabbled in food history stories. It all started when I was 14 and found a microwave cookbook while on vacation. As someone who was born post-microwave, I’d never considered the appliance’s impact — or the terrifying evidence of people cooking fish in the microwave. I certainly don’t mean this in a negative way, but flipping through an old cookbook feels like an anthropological study, and there’s so much you can learn about historical eras just based on what people were eating. (Did you know that although the KitchenAid stand mixer was considered a “Trojan Horse” for women’s careers, commercial-grade mixers premiered on warships?) I highly recommend perusing the Old Recipes Reddit.
🫕 Tonight, I hope to learn more about China and Poland’s cuisine during the 1970s. And I’m pretty jazzed about the aspic course.
In this week’s “Quick Bites,” get details on indoor farmers markets in Underwood Hills and Peoplestown, a new Middle Eastern cafe in Sandy Springs, and the opening of Kamayan ATL at its new location on Buford Highway.
👀 Keep reading for updates on Summerland at Upper West Market, Dunwoody’s Varuni Napoli, and new restaurants planned for Midtown’s “pencil building,” along with my quick love letter to the smash salad at new Avondale Estates restaurant Last Dance.
Finally, read Beth’s latest edition of “Family Meal,” where she shares a story on Yemeni-Ethiopian coffee shop, Mokhaport, and raves about Bey Mediterranean’s shrimp manti. There’s also a recipe for Portuguese pork belly from Decatur restaurant Fork & Vine Social.
See y’all next week,
🍰 Sarra
🍴 Buckhead Restaurant Week is here! Now through Sat. Aug. 1, savor exclusive menus and bold flavors at 50 of Atlanta’s finest restaurants. Discover your next favorite table with us. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Quick Bites
Openings
🥪 Chefs Todd Ginsberg and Josh Kim will open Ida’s Kitchen Counter in South Downtown next week.
🥙 Middle Eastern spot Arabian Cafe & Cocktails opened in Sandy Springs.
🇮🇹 After a quick overhaul of the interior, Victory Sandwich Bar in Decatur is now American-Italian bar and restaurant Besto.
🛒 Upper West Market is open in Underwood Hills, with a grand opening planned for Aug. 1.
🍽️ Lao-Viet supper club Side Quest is now in residence every Sunday evening at Bar Avize on Brady Avenue. You’ll also find Side Quest popping up the last Monday of the month at Mushi Ni in Inman Park.
🇵🇭 Filipino restaurant Kamayan ATL opened at its new location in Asian Square on Buford Highway. The restaurant took over a larger space next door to its original location. A grand opening takes place Aug. 8.
Coming attractions
🇯🇵 Japanese restaurant Sozou will open in Midtown at the Spring Quarter development on Aug. 7.
🧑🌾 ArtWell Farmers Market, backed by SANAA Art & Wellness, will premiere at Terminal South in Peoplestown on Aug. 9. The family-friendly market will offer local produce, holistic wellness activities, and handcrafted goods by artisan makers, from noon to 5 p.m. The market will take place twice a month on Sundays.
☕ Baladi Coffee will open soon in Marietta.
🖼️ It appears that Sargent, the new Eastside Beltline restaurant from Lucian owners Jordan Smelt and Katie Barringer, will open before the end of August.
🇲🇽 Amasa Mexican Kitchen in downtown Alpharetta is also on track for a mid-August opening.
Closings
☕ Tucker Yemeni-Ethiopian coffee shop and cafe Mokhaport will close its physical location on Mountain Industrial before December. Mokhaport owner Hesham Abdulla told Rough Draft the business will then pivot to online sales.
🐔 The Chick-fil-A at the Terminus 100 building will close on July 31 after nearly 20 years on Peachtree Road in Buckhead.
Community announcements
🎨 Bellwood Coffee in Grant Park is reinstating the Jovita Moore mural on the side of the building. The decision to paint over the mural memorializing the late Channel 2 Action News anchor and beloved public figure led to online backlash that eclipsed the coffee shop’s opening in April. Artist Tommy Bronx was recommissioned by Bellwood to create a new mural of Moore.
🛒 The owners of Kelly’s Market and Deli on East Howard Avenue in Decatur will seek new owners to take over the business. “We’re taking our time to make sure it’s someone who loves this community the way we do,” the owners said in an Instagram post.
Industry updates
🍷 Bri Hicks is now Brush Sushi’s newest sommelier.
🥩 Branden Holte (Kyma, Bull & Beggar, Local Three, Warhorse Atlanta) was named the new executive chef of McKendrick’s Steak House in Dunwoody. With Holte’s hiring, the classic steakhouse will introduce in-house butchery, house-made bread, and an expanded commitment to using ingredients from local farmers. Look for a story from Rough Draft Managing Editor Cathy Cobbs soon.
Add to your calendar
🐉 Atlanta Hard Cider in Marietta will host a Dragon Con trivia night on July 31, featuring the official Dragon Con apple pie craft cider on tap.
🍵 Oohmami Matcha will pop up at Yeti on the Eastside Beltline on Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
🎂 Manuel’s Tavern will celebrate 70 years in Poncey-Highland with a multi-day event, Aug. 6-9. Expect food specials and an exclusive 70th anniversary t-shirt for sale. Catch live performances by Seed and Feed Marching Abominable, The Four O’Clocks, and a one-man circus act on stilts. Read Beth’s feature story on Manuel’s Tavern and its ties to local politics.
🍾 Inman Park Italian restaurant Amore e Amore will host a Ruffino wine dinner on Aug. 6, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $80 per person and include a five-course meal with wine pairings.
🥘 Pop-up Habibi’s ATL will host a paella class at Chow A La Carte in Buckhead on Aug. 22, starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. You can also catch Habibi’s for lunch on weekdays at Chow A La Carte.
🥕 The Atlanta Botanical Garden will host AgLanta Eats: Neighbors + Flavors on Aug. 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. Expect up to five tastings from local chefs, a live cooking demonstration from Chef Gary Caldwell, and access to the encore exhibition of Niki in the Garden. Tickets range from $50 to $65.
Buckhead Restaurant Week Is Back, and It’s Delicious
SPONSORED BY LIVABLE BUCKHEAD
🍽️ Atlanta’s most delicious week is back! Now through Sat. Aug. 1, Buckhead Restaurant Week invites you to explore exclusive, multi-course menus at nearly 50 of the area’s finest restaurants.
From cozy bistros to upscale dining rooms, there’s a table waiting for every craving. Gather friends, celebrate our vibrant culinary community and discover your next favorite dish. Reservations fill fast, so plan your week today.
🎫 Explore the full lineup here.
Top Stories
Three new hospitality concepts are heading to Atlanta’s tallest skyscraper
✏️ The CP Group and New York-based Episcope Hospitality will open new restaurants in the Bank of America Plaza (aka the pencil building) next year. Plans include a lobby restaurant and bar, a market and cafe, and a tenant-exclusive lounge on the 37th floor.
⏩ Read my story on what’s next for the pencil building.
Varuni Napoli opens next week at High Street in Dunwoody
🍕 Varuni Napoli, known for its Neapolitan-style pizzas, will open on Aug. 5 at High Street in Dunwoody. The opening marks the third location for the pizzeria, which includes restaurants in Morningside and Inman Park.
⏩ Read Cathy’s story on the High Street location here.
Summerland opens at Upper West Market
🍅 Chef Anne Quatrano just opened her latest restaurant at Upper West Market in Underwood Hills. Located on Collier Road in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood, Summerland serves breakfast and lunch daily, along with coffee and baked goods.
Summerland’s opening marks the first restaurant to open at the indoor farmers market. Once fully open, Upper West Market will feature more than 20 locally owned food, pantry provisions, and retail stalls, as well as a wine bar from Hop City Beer & Wine.
⏩ Read Beth’s story on Summerland here.
At the Market
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS
🌮 Each week, Community Farmers Markets and Rough Draft Atlanta partner to bring you recipes you can make at home using fresh ingredients from your local farmers market. This week, it’s all about those peaches. Check out the recipes for vegetarian tacos with peach salsa, and peaches and cream.
🍴 Buckhead Restaurant Week is here! Now through Sat. Aug. 1, savor exclusive menus and bold flavors at 50 of Atlanta’s finest restaurants. Discover your next favorite table with us. SPONSOR MESSAGE
That Slaps
🥗 What do cantaloupe, squash, and cucumbers have in common? They’re all in season right now and key ingredients in the smash salad at Avondale Estates restaurant Last Dance. I happen to think it’s a pretty brilliant union, especially with fresh cilantro, hoja santa, scallion, mint, chervil, and fennel seeds tying everything together.
The salad also comes with peanuts, which I’m sure add some great crunch and protein for people who aren’t allergic to them. Otherwise, you can nix them like me.
👀 The smash salad will remain on the menu, but the ingredients will rotate with the seasons. I know I’m not the only one who’s excited to watch this salad evolve with new ingredients.
We’re always looking for recipes to highlight on Rough Draft. If you have a favorite dish from a restaurant you want the recipe for, please send me an email to sarra@roughdraftatlanta.com.
