I’ve had a few watershed traffic days in my soon to be 12-months of blogging. One of those days came from a little blurb about the devastating flood damage to Canoe, that effervescent contemporary American restaurant which sits on the banks of the not-so-mighty ‘Hooch. While the restaurant may or may not be in your daily dialect, it is almost always mentioned as one of the elite Atlanta restaurants. Further to the point, after roughly 14-years, Canoe has the longest legs in the notoriety department of any restaurant in the Vinings/Smyrna area.
Sure enough, there was a big outcry when word spread that the restaurant was forced to close because of ridiculously high waters (yes … that’s the absurdly high waterline). If there was ever any doubt as to its status in the “pantheon” of the ATL dining-scape, the public support that followed, which was swift AND substantial, would quell most any doubts.
Some two-months later, riding the hardworking backs of executive chef Carvel Grant Gould, special events manager Laurie Vance, and the rest of the team, Canoe is back. The excitement was pronounced enough to draw John Kessler’s attention, he returned to wax-foodetic in his last post of the awesomeness that was 30 restaurants, 30 days series. It’s a great read. Though I didn’t check it out until post meal, I noticed some subtle differences in the mutual dishes.
Anywho, when Papa Buddha and I headed over there for lunch a few days ago, something happened to me. I got all giddy like a school girl. You should consider just how disturbing that statement is … remember, I’m a straight dude. But back on point, regardless of the culinary experience that was immanent, I just got all warm and fuzzy inside. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same would happen for most any “culinarian” with Canoe on their schedule. That alone may make a trip there worthwhile.
