Bites and Flights

Just got this news from Fifth Group Restaurants (which owns Ecco, South City Kitchen, and La Tavola). I am excited to see that the restaurant, which will be called The Original El Taco, will remain a Mexican joint and that Shaun Doty (of Shaun's, in Inman Park) is behind it. Here's more information from a press release:

“The owners of Fifth Group Restaurants have joined forces with Executive Chef Shaun Doty, owner of Shaun’s, to create The Original El Taco in the former Sala space in Virginia-Highland. The new restaurant will open in mid-October. Doty is developing recipes for creative Mexican fare like tacos, tortas and salsas, and the Fifth Group Restaurants team is working with William Peace, Peace Design, to change the look and feel of the restaurant.

And if you still have any VHS cassettes around the house, Rupert wants those too—to play on the retro TV in the restaurant’s “living room.” When I dined at Noni’s a few nights ago, our server told us that the living room—a small area with wood paneling, a comfy couch, large round coffee table, grandfather clock, and 1980s-style television (I am guessing its from the 1980s, because it looks exactly like the TV my family had when I was growing up…) is meant to remind patrons of their grandma’s living room. And of course, grandma never would’ve had a DVD player.

All week long (through Saturday, August 16) Asian restaurants across the city are offering special menus and discounts as part of the first-ever “Taste of Asia.” Here is more information from their website:

During a quick tour of the new H&F Bread Co. (the heavenly smells of which I wish I could bottle and dab on my wrist every morning), Andy Minchow, of Holeman and Finch Public House, mentioned that he and fellow bartenders Greg Best and Regan Smith have been doing some “cross-training” with the folks at The Brick Store pub, in Decatur. Since The Brick Store (and their wonderful upstairs Belgian beer bar) is one of my favorite spots (along with our Restaurant of the Year, Holeman and Finch, of course), I quickly perked up. Details, please!

Turns out Brick Store bartender Miles Macquarrie (who knows his beer and his cheeses—he’s never steered me wrong with a cheese plate selection) has been working behind the bar at Holeman and Finch this week—learning the art of the cocktail—because he's been picked to open the highly anticipated new gastropub from Brick Store owners Dave Blanchard, Mike Gallagher, and Tom Moore. The restaurant is slated to open by December in the old Rue de Leon space around the corner (131 East Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur).

In exchange, Team Holeman and Finch spent some time behind the bar in Decatur, learning more about beer (I would looove to see an expanded beer selection at Holeman and Finch). And they brought their bread over too—H&F Bread Co. breads are now being served at The Brick Store and at other area restaurants, such as Cuerno.

If you haven’t tried the bread yet, the shop is open every morning at 7 a.m. and is available on Saturday mornings at the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market. But be sure to get there early (they open at 8:30 a.m.)—Minchow said they usually sell out in the first two hours.

H&F Bread Co. 2255 Peachtree Road, 404-350-8877, hfbreadco.com

 
UPDATE: I learned from DecaturMetro.com that the name of The Brick Store guys’ new gastropub will be Leon’s Full Service (the space was originally a gas station/body shop). Read more about the concept (which will focus on “small farms, small wineries, small spirit producers, and small breweries...”) here.

 
In our August issue (on newsstands now), our restaurant critic, Christiane Lauterbach, picks Holeman and Finch Public House as the Restaurant of the Year and singles out fifteen other spots as Atlanta's best new restaurants.

Do you agree with her selections? If not, tell us who you think should have been picked in our "Challenge the Critic" contest, which starts today. The best "reviewer" will win a dinner for two at—where else?—Holeman and Finch.

Click here to enter.

In case you missed it when it originally aired a few weeks ago (as I did), and are too worn out to focus on anything else that's work-related today (as I am), here's Richard Blais making a liquid-nitrogenized "Popcornsicle" (as part of a promotion for Garrett Popcorn) for Kathie Lee and Hoda on the Today show. Enjoy!

 (If the clip isn't working, you can see the video here.)

For more than a year now, 5 Seasons Brewing at The Prado has been surrounded by construction (The Sembler Co. is in the midst of transforming the shopping center and neighboring area to include a Publix, Target, Home Depot, and other stores). While many loyal patrons of 5 Seasons’ handcrafted beers and local, organic fare have found their way through the construction, it looks like things have gotten a little more difficult lately—5 Seasons’ owner Dennis Lange recently sent this plea (via e-mail) to his customers:

“To the untrained eye, driving on Roswell Road this morning it would appear that 5 Seasons is no more because access has been dramatically altered. In reality, and in the Prado, getting to the 5 is now more difficult than ever. Let's not think of it as some unsurmountable task, rather, think of it as extreme dining! The entrance you have been relying on for most of the last 8 years will be closed for the next 2 weeks (according to reliable construction sources, but...). The temporary entrance will be at the top of the new Prado shopping center at the Target entrance, where you will then immediately turn right and enter the parking deck and circle down to level P2 (that's Parking Level 2 for those of you who've had one too many frothy ones). I realize that this is terribly inconvenient but it is sadly our hand dealt...and now for the plea. We really need your support right now. It's been tough and the construction has not encouraged people to frequent the 5 but we need your help and support to get through this. Don't let a little construction activity dissuade your choice to dine and drink at the 5. Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope!”

Here’s a photo of the construction. (5 Seasons' entrance is on the right)

Yesterday, Lange and his attorney, Joe Wargo, told me they filed a complaint against Sembler. I won’t get into the reasons why, since even the thought of a courtroom strikes much fear in this blogger’s soul, but I will encourage you to support this restaurant. 5 Seasons has a new location planned for Midtown (on Marietta Street), and I really don’t want that plan to change since it will be right between my office and my house, and therefore the perfect post-work happy hour spot. So please, stop in for a...

Seven Sisters Münchner...

or a Big Blonde Hefeweizen...

or a Blackfriars Barleywine...

or make a reservation for their upcoming Beer vs. Wine event on August 26. Here are the details:

5 beers (from 5 Seasons), 5 wines (Moletto), 5 courses
$60 per person, plus tax and gratuity
6:30 p.m. hors d’oeuvres
7 p.m. dinner

Call 404-255-5911 to reserve.