André Gallant
We used our backyard wood-fired brick oven to feed friends and help our community
When my wife, Jo, a pastry chef and professional baker, said she wanted to build a wood-fired brick oven in our backyard to start baking bread and pizzas, I couldn’t see the appeal. There’d be ditch-digging involved, expenses of cement and brick, not to mention all the logs needed for fuel. I went along with the plan anyway.
Why is it so hard to bake bread with Georgia wheat?
When it comes to loaves, Georgia lacks a local grain economy—the bread corollary to farm-to-table. It’s a logistical and agricultural problem that bakers and farmers hope to correct.
It could soon be legal to harvest oysters in Georgia—but why is the proposed law so murky?
The nearly identical House Bill 501 and Senate Bill 182 recently passed their respective chambers—which bodes well for passage of legislation to make harvesting oysters legal in Georgia. But the regulations in the bills—which are intended to usher in a new oyster era—may stifle rather than kickstart the resurgence.
The case for eating Georgia “jellyballs”
Cannonball jellyfish—a smaller cousin of the feared shore demon but harmless to humans—is Georgia’s third largest fishery by volume. They're popular in Asia; less so here in Atlanta. This fall, a collaboration launches between Golden Island International, the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service, and southern chefs with the intent to increase domestic sales of jellyfish beyond Asian markets and sushi restaurants.
Where to eat local seafood on Georgia’s coast
Seafood described as fresh and local at restaurants on the Georgia coast isn’t always so, despite close proximity to fishing grounds along the state’s 100-mile coastline. But here are a selection of standout restaurants that do serve Georgia seafood, including Sunbury Crab Company, Doo Dads, Desposito’s, and more.
Will the Georgia oyster rise again?
Ask Kimball House co-owner Bryan Rackley about any gaps in his Decatur restaurant’s oyster menu, and his answer comes clear and quick: On a list that includes selections from the Carolinas, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana, he can offer no Georgia oysters.
