Eggplant fries!
Thursday, Aug. 20 — Hello, internet friends.
Nobody needs reminding that the temperatures have been oppressive lately. You know what we do forget about, though? The perils of dehydration. If you’ve recently experienced out-of-character headaches, fatigue, or muscle spasms, those can all be signs that your body’s screaming for more hydration. Stay on top of your water intake, and remember that you can also get hydrated by eating. I suggest picking up a watermelon and sprinkling salt on the slices — that way, you get some electrolytes, too.
👀 In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on a highly anticipated restaurant opening in Midtown, a Midwest restaurant chain’s upcoming locations in metro Atlanta, and a local bakery’s expansion to Athens. Keep reading for Waffle House’s foray into tacos — yes, really.
Be sure to read this week’s “Family Meal” for Beth’s Monday night pop-up picks, her food media reading list, and Nakato’s miso soup recipe.
See y’all next week,
🍰 Sarra
🥃 Raise a glass. Support a mission. Build community. Join Urban Recipe for an evening of premium bourbon, mouthwatering barbecue, and live music – all in support of our mission to feed people while building community. Get tickets. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Quick Bites
Opening
🇮🇳 Fine-dining Indian restaurant Pataaka will open at the Spring Quarter development in Midtown on Aug. 22. Look for our story on the menu at Pataaka soon.
Closing
🇲🇽 Mexican street food pop-up Gorditas ATL announced its closure on Instagram last week. “We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Every burrito you bought, every pop-up you attended, every community event and catering order, every moment of this has been a gift,” a statement read on social media.
Coming attractions
🥖 Atlanta-based Henri’s Bakery will open a location in Athens, as first reported by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
🥪 Chicago-based sandwich chain Potbelly is coming to metro Atlanta, as first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A location will open at Chamblee’s Peachtree Station on Sept. 1, while another will open in Cumming sometime this fall.
🍳 Here’s an update on Los Angeles-based breakfast spot Eggslut. The Beltline location should open this fall. Eggslut also includes a location at the Moxy Atlanta Downtown.
☕ Common Coffee & Cocktails in Doraville teased opening a second location in Duluth. Atlanta Coffee Shops founder Eugene Buchko told Rough Draft that the Duluth location will open this winter. The original location has also expanded its hours, staying open until midnight most nights and 1 a.m. on the weekends.
Community updates
🐟 The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead recently underwent its biggest renovation since 2010.
🥗 The ATL Vegan Festival issued a public apology on social media following public dismay over featuring animal-based vendors at the event. “For the past few years, our festival has included approximately 90% vegan vendors and 10% non-vegan vendors. We were unaware that including non-vegan vendors violated the expectations of the vegan community. We take full accountability and apologize,” the statement reads.
🐕 Fork & Vine Social in Decatur is donating all of the proceeds from every mango lassi sold to the Chopaya Jeev Raksha Foundation, a non-governmental animal welfare organization based in Patiala, Punjab, India. One drink sale can feed seven dogs in India.
🍺 The LikeMinds pop-up in the former BrewDog space at Krog District on the Beltline will continue through the end of the year with an expanded menu.
Publix frozen berry recall
🫐 Four lots of Publix brand GreenWise frozen blueberries and mixed berries have been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination, including packages sold in Georgia. But now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slapped a Class I risk label on these frozen berries. It’s the highest risk warning from the FDA, meaning it’s “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
🦠 The E. coli strain in question – O145 – can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. No deaths have been reported since the July 29 recall announcement, with 12 related illnesses identified in Florida and Georgia, including four hospitalizations.
Check your freezer for the following GreenWise berries:
- Organic Whole Blueberries – 10 oz – UPC number: 41415-06453
- Organic Whole Blueberries – 48 oz – UPC number: 41415-12053
- Organic Whole Mixed Berries – 10 oz – UPC number: 41415-06753
- Organic Whole Mixed Berries – 48 oz – UPC number: 41415-12153
Add to your calendar
❤️ Inman Park restaurant Kitty Dare will donate 10% of tonight’s proceeds to Lost-n-Found Youth’s AIDS Walk Atlanta fundraising campaign. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation will match any funds raised through AIDS Walk Atlanta.
🌭 Red’s Beer Garden in Boulevard Heights will host the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile tonight, from 4 to 8 p.m.
☀️ Grant Park’s Summer Shade Festival returns this weekend.
🖼️ The Daily Chew will host an Artist Harvest Dinner on Aug. 27. Guests will receive a first look at “Manna,” an exhibition featuring work from regional artists. Manna will run from Aug. 28 through Nov. 23. Tickets are available for $150 per person.
🀄 The Chastain Park Conservancy will host a mahjong night fundraiser on Aug. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Buckhead Butcher Shop. The $130 ticket price includes donation fee and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
🆕 Atlanta’s Sober Supper Club launches at Bovino After Dark on Sept. 24. Tickets are $80 per person and include a five-course tasting menu, non-alcoholic beverage pairings, and gratuity.
Amy Sherald: American Sublime
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART
🎨 You’ve seen Amy Sherald’s iconic portrait of Michelle Obama. Now, her largest exhibition to date is here in Atlanta, featuring rarely seen paintings and monumental portraits spanning nearly two decades.
Amy Sherald: American Sublime is in its final weeks, marking the last chance to see one of the leading artists of her generation on view in her home state. Get your tickets before the show wraps.
Can only make it in the evening? We’ve got you covered. The show stays open after hours every Friday. Grab a drink, snag an exclusive exhibition poster, and explore the galleries at your leisure.
Top Stories
Hungry AF will expand to Tucker
😋 Local, Black-owned restaurant chain Hungry AF will open a new location in Tucker later this year.
Since 2022, Hungry AF has become beloved across Atlanta for its fusion menu, featuring “world famous” pasta, wings, phillies, burgers, and fried rice. The restaurant also offers a different creative wing flavor and cookie each month.
⏩ Read more about the restaurant here.
Waffle House is testing tacos in select locations
🌮 A number of Waffle House locations around Georgia are testing four breakfast tacos and three lunch/dinner tacos inspired by favorite sandwiches like WaHo’s patty melt. The all-day breakfast chain rarely incorporates new items, so this is actually a huge deal.
Is it blasphemy or is it genius? Maybe it’s a bit of both.
⏩ Check out my story and find participating metro locations here. No judgment!
The Fox Theatre gets a bar upgrade
🎭 The Fox Theatre’s latest upgrade sees its partially enclosed rooftop terrace transformed into an enclosed bar called the Arcade Lounge. The new space gives Marquee Club members two indoor areas to relax, with bar service, when attending shows at the Fox.
⏩ Read Beth’s story, and check out the improvements.
At the Market
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS
Rough Draft Atlanta and Community Farmers Markets partner each week to bring you two recipes that you can make using fresh ingredients at your local farmers market. This week, it’s all about dessert – we’ve got an apple-based sorbet with figs and a peach-apple breakfast skillet. Check out both recipes here.
That Slaps
🍆 I’m perfectly aware that eggplant’s texture makes it a divisive food. Unfortunately for the haters, I’m culturally programmed to love the summer vegetable in just about any iteration.
Over the weekend, I attended a co-worker’s milestone birthday dinner at KR SteakBar and consumed plenty of good things. But my favorite dish on the birthday menu was the eggplant fries ($14), which come with some powdered sugar and homemade hot sauce. (That pairing may not sound appetizing. I assure you, however, KR SteakBar knows what they’re doing.)
❤️ I saw the red color and assumed it was marinara, but adored the zingy surprise. The whole experience was an extremely happy accident.
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.
