Food trucks were one of 2009’s hottest food trends—in other cities. Ventures such as Korean taco sensation Kogi barbecue in Los Angeles and Washington DC’s Sweetflow frozen-yogurt-stand-on-wheels have captured fans and dollars. If local entrepreneur Andrew Capron can secure a license, Atlanta may see his barbecue truck with a racy name on the streets by mid-spring 2010.
Boners BBQ—with the tagline, “Put a little South in your mouth”—is “not meant to offend as much as humor,” says Capron. With a Hooters-style wink, female staffers in 40s/50s style outfits will serve singled priced items such as baby back riblets with homemade sauces, pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders with Asian slaw on sweet buns, and baked beans with “smoked crack,” aka the charred barbecue ends. Capron is still working on the desserts, which will fall under the category of, ahem, “happy endings.”
While Capron works through the regulatory issues of getting a food truck permitted for Atlanta’s roads, he’s serving his barbecue on Monday nights at Tongue and Groove nightclub. He’s also working on a partnership with a certain chef who would find this concept appealing. (See the Question of the Week below.) Since barbecue could be regarded as Southern “street food,” this might be the concept that kicks off a robust food truck culture in Atlanta. We can always dream.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Beer Connoisseur, a locally produced publication featuring all aspects of the rapidly growing beer culture, released their inaugural issue last week.
Top Chef news from other blogs: Robbed finalist Kevin Gillespie said in an interview with Kessler that “I can’t talk about our plans yet, by me and my partners have some restaurant projects in the works.” And Besha Rodell got the scoop that Eli Kirshtein is leaving Eno by Zaza.
Buckhead. Foodie Buddha heard the news that the folks behind Holeman and Finch are planning to open a liquor store named Bottleneck next year.
Thrillist is reporting that Just Loaf’n, the New Orleans dinner plate and po boy restaurant, has opened its second location at 3173 Roswell Road.
Downtown. Look for a JR Crickets opening at 309 Nelson Street this winter.
East Atlanta. Kessler reported that Calavino Donati has returned to Atlanta’s dining scene with Urban Cannibals Bottega and Bites at 477 Flat Shoals Road.
Midtown. An April opening is projected for Hugh Acheson’s Empire State South, the most anticipated restaurant thus far of 2010.
Westside. Look for West Midtown’s Corner Tavern to open at 1133-A Huff Road this winter.
Question of the Week: What prodigal Atlanta chef is looking to open a restaurant downtown called “Black Market?”
PS. The answer to last week’s QOTW—What Atlanta restaurant was cited as the example of a 2010 menu trend by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine on their 20 Menu Trends for 2010 list?—is Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, for coal-burning pizza ovens. (Jimmy called that one pronto.)
