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!
So a good friend informed me today that LottaFrutta seems to be temporarily down for the count. I ate lunch there a little over a week ago and I’m not surprised. Apparently, the hiatus is due to construction. I called down earlier and nobody picked up the phone. If I hear otherwise, I’ll let ya’ll know… and as soon as they open – I’ll definitely let you guys know.
A fanatic tea dude myself … this is some great news. Danneman’s Coffee Shop in the Old 4th Ward announced that they have added a bunch of loose leaf teas to their beverage list. Included in the expansion are:
A friend of mine was asking me for advice on where to go for her birthday. I realized by the time we were done … that was good fodder for a post. This is by no means an attempt to offer up a “definitive” list of party grub in the Dirty. Rather, here are just a few spots that seem to work well for when you want to hang with your crew. The focus here isn’t as much on the food as it is on the experience. That said, *most* of these offer up serviceable grub. The list after the jump!
