Miso Izakaya and chef/owner Guy Wong have become critical darlings. The end result is that this Old 4th WardJapanese restaurant (and chef) has won and been nominated for a slew of awards across the foodiesphere. With Wong and sous chef Melissa Allen firmly entrenched in the kitchen, one can’t be completely shocked by this critical infatuation. While many chefs across the city spend a chunk of time trying to play the celebrity game, Wong and Allen focus on consistency by cooking everything that comes out of that kitchen.
So those efforts, combined with the infatuated writings of many, have helped the small plate restaurant overcome a sputtered start, which, has given way to an ever expanding customer base beyond that of our city’s edgier food fans. While some of our city’s cash cow restaurants sit back and watch the system chug quietly along, that’s not in the cards for Miso Izakaya.
Alcohol optional in this bad boy. Freshly squeezed watermelon juice comes courtesy of Guy Wong’s Miso Izakaya. And while I have your attention, check out this article on The Kitchn about watermelon cocktails.
Deep in the backwoods of Inman Park and the Old 4th Ward and tucked away in the corner of the vast Stove Works complex sits a little gem of a wine bar. Krog Bar, appropriately situated at the foot of Rathbun’s since 2005, serves as one fine place to enjoy an evening.
Though a tip of the hat from the food community usually only comes after mentions of Krog’s big brother and sister (the aforementioned Rathbun’s and Rathbun’s Steak), many wine enthusiasts in Atlanta vigilantly frequent this 750 square foot watering hole from celeb chef and big green egg enthusiast Kevin Rathbun.
Eli Kirshtein, one of Atlanta’s handful of Top Chef alums, appears to be on the verge of making a big splash. Word around the campfire (translation: not finalized) is that Kirshtein is set to take over the old Repast space at 620 Glen Iris Drive, which sits on the edges of Poncey-Highlands and Old 4th Ward.
You might remember when Besha Rodellbroke the news about Repast’s demise, which came just a few weeks after co-owner Joe Truex left to helm the kitchen at Decatur’sWatershed restaurant. In the month since, a number of rumors have surfaced as to the future for the Repast location. This one seems to have some real legs … though again … it’s not finalized.
When last we heard from Kirsthein, he was on his way to New York City to serve as a stagiaire at Solo Restaurant. After spending the early part of this year working at the kosher restaurant, Kirshtein hopped around a bit … I believe he spent some time in Israel. The mystery continued when ENO (Eli’s restaurant of choice during his Top Chef time) closed. It left many of us wondering what was in store for the young knife slinger.
If this is indeed the case, it will be interesting to see how the concept develops. This will be the first venture for Kirsthein, a padawan of celebrity chefRichard Blais. More on this as it develops.
PICTURE CREDIT: Kirshtein (right) appears at a cooking demo with Blais. [courtesy SavoryExposure.com]
I know … I know … many of you were up in arms … angry, confused, and disappointed. This past Friday, you woke up, grabbed your morning coffee, and opened your browser intent on seeing yet the latest installment of Inside The Chef’s Kitchen. But alas, nothing was there and so hearts were broken, children were fire bombing, and the world was not at peace. Well, something else was going on, so I took a few days off.
And so on this particular Monday, we have a special edition of ITCK to compensate for my indiscretion. As the series concludes its second month, we have yet another stellar participant. Enter Jay Swift of the quasi-eponymous 4th And Swift.
Previously, the longtime Atlanta chef (but Baltimore native) served up culinary delights at South City Kitchen and the now defunct Rainwater. These days, he finds himself doing his thang down in the Old 4th Ward. His continental cuisine powered by a seasonal menu is often discussed around these parts and makes for excellent food porn. Alright y’all, duck, because there my be some shurikens flying. And with that, welcome to ITCK!
Big ups to Atlanta Magazine’sBill Addison … who dropped this jewel on us via twitter. Apparently, Dynamic Dish, everyone’s favorite healthy eating spot, is scheduled to expand in the spring. According to Addison, DD will do away with their BYOB policy as they are due a liquor license. More interesting, is the idea that there will be a semi-standard menu in place. I’m not so sure how people will react to that point. Some people love that DD is different everyday, other’s hate it. I’m sure it’s hell on owner/chef David Sweeney and this will almost definitely help him streamline his business. Congrats to DD, and if you haven’t been … get there now!
Been a little pre-occupied, but I promise I’ll get back into the swing of things henceforth. In the meantime, if you don’t have any plans for dinner tonight, why not check out Serpas True Food? Helmed by chef Scott Serpas, the restaurant is hosting a Hunger Action event tonight (Tuesday, Sep. 08 for all you calendar snobs).
As September is the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s “Hunger Action Month,” 20% of proceeds from this evenings dinner will go to the ACFB. You can find out more on the ACFBs website and then make a reservation online. As of this late in the day penning, there is still plenty of availability. I have only been back once since my first impression, but this may just get me back down there. In the meantime, check out Serpas on Good Day Atlanta:
The area of downtown surrounding Edgewood Ave doesn’t get a lot of love. For the most part, it is pretty dingy and it’s definitely not the safest of places. Still, the ‘hood does have some life, and Rolling Bones Barbecue has long been part of the reason to venture down there.
The converted gas station has one of the most identifiable looks of any Atlanta grub hub. However, recent events took a toll on business at the barbecue joint. Enter chef Todd Richards, who, backed by his own LushLifeGroup, acquired the business some months ago. Earlier this month, Richards began to implement some changes; not surprisingly, I was there soon after. A couple of trips in and I think I have a good idea of what’s going on.
So yesterday was LottaFrutta; that quirky and offbeat food stop down in the Old 4th Ward/Inman Park. A self-proclaimed fruit house and market, it translates into a fruit bar with sandwiches and salads. Their style is unique (at least to this town); and, as such, it was time that I took the Atlanta Sub & Sandwich Tour down yonder.
Whether you think their name should be one word or two, one thing is for sure: you’ll remember this place. It starts from the outside. The fruit wrapped car is almost always sitting Southside on Randolph; meanwhile, the interior is awash in a palate of fruit colors and patterns. Keep your eyes open, LottaFrutta has their own chi [A lemon that sits in one corner … noted as an energy lemon]. This style continues all the way through to their sandwich selection. They’re fairly simple, but they do have personality. Meanwhile, the ultimate question still needs to be answered.
Atlanta’s Queen of the Blogs has confirmed that LottaFrutta is indeed still open. Not sure why they didn’t pick up the phone when I called a couple of times… but alas – head over without fear. Thanks for the report BG!
