Atlanta magazine- Where to Eat Now, City's 50 Best Restaurants

I read this a few weeks ago, but our copy of Atlanta magazine finally arrived at the studio. We had so many clients recognized, I have to congratulate them!

Top Ten Restaurants:
#2 Restaurant Eugene- Nevermind our friends at Seiber Design created the restaurant; we are proud nonetheless, of Chef Hopkins and Gina Hopkins "No other local restaurant has evolved with as much mind and soul."
#4 Holeman & Finch Public House- With only 60-seats, Greg, Andy, Regan, Gina & Linton have "inspired a generation of food-savvy pubs and broadened the public palate. It's one of the city's most heartening success stories."
#8 Miller Union- Embracing the traditional Southern cuisine, Native Georgian Chef Steven Satterfield and GM Neal McCarthy "The space unites the owner's personalities- It's a little bit posh, a little bit country....(the pantry) is one of my favorite sanctuaries in town"

Rest of the Best:
4th & Swift- Embodying Atlanta's ambition with his food and dual menus, Chef-owner Jay Swift "If visitors want to experience a restaurant that epitomizes the Atlanta aesthetic, take them to 4th & Swift."
Bocado- "Executive Chef Todd Ginsberg's (food)... deserves blind devotion" Brian Lewis and Chef Todd continue to impress with more than just that amazing burger.
The Fifth Group- Our studio is busy working with Peace Design on their 2 new concepts;  We've been fans of Ecco and La Tavola Trattoria for a long time.
Woodfire Grill- Also working on new concept for Nick, Bernard, & Kevin; Chef Kevin Gillespie combines "flavors immediately conjuring up the south... not simply the taste.. but the feeling of eating breakfast in a meat-and-three." We hope he keeps mining the Southern recipe lexicon for offbeat inspiration... "

Food Trucks & Modern Design

 

Most of the studio took a break last week to enjoy The High's temporary summer exhibit, "Modern by Design." On loan from NYC's MOMA, it features 150 works focusing on three design periods: 1934 “Machine Art,” the "Good Design” series between 1950 and 1955, and 1972 “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape.” I found beauty in the simplest objects, thankful I was being forced to recognize a rake, typewriter or vegetable peeler for its good design. It was difficult not to judge each object on whether I considered it timeless?

 

As luck would have it, we chose a day when the Food Trucks were hanging at the Woodruff Arts Center drop-off.  A trip we've all been wanting to make, we tried everything from arepas, BBQ, tacos, veggie wraps, tamales, and then hit the ice cream truck for dessert.

Killer Tomato Festival & Spazmatics

 

July 17- It turned out to be one of the coolest weather weekends we've had in a LONG while and a perfect setting for the 3rd annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival at Westside Market. A great benefit for Georgia Organics, Chef Ford Fry and JCT Kitchen & Bar played host to almost 1400 food lovers like us. The best Atlanta Chefs set up on both levels of the courtyard and across the bridge, with table-filled tomato-based dishes prepared with local farmers' ingredients.  Not just snacks, there were mixologists mixing up tomato cocktails as well. 

 

We were introduced to the awesome and diverse talents of the Spazmatics... daydreaming of how we could bring them to a future ai3 party. We will be returning next year with more of ai3 in tow!