ATL Food Chatter: February 8, 2010
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While we wait impatiently for food trucks to finally be permitted by the City of Atlanta’s licensing bureaucracy, one pair of entrepreneurs is gaining ground in the street food department. Streatery, a partnership between former tech industry-types Dave Liniado and Mike Fuller, sells quality hot dogs out of food carts positioned in various locations downtown. The duo navigated government red tape by partnering with General Growth Properties, a company that operates malls around the country and was recently hired by the city to help launch a new street vendor program (the program involves kiosks, not mobile food trucks, as detailed in this document).
Two carts from the Streatery have been in operation for a month now. They rotate locations but can generally found on weekdays on Peachtree Street in front of Woodruff Park the Georgia State University Student Center and on weekends near The World of Coke.
The carts’ main attraction is the all-natural jumbo hot dog made by a company in Marietta, served on bread baked daily by Engelman’s in Norcross. The carts also serve veggie dogs (particularly popular with the GSA students, according to Liniado), turkey dogs, and sausage (also made in Marietta). There are thirteen toppings to choose from, including vinegar-based cole slaw. Specials, including a chicken sandwich and special toppings such as peach barbecue sauce, will be offered shortly.
Liniado says that four additional carts have been ordered and will arrive the first or second week of March, and that the company is scouting sites beyond downtown. Strong possibilities include Spring and Fifth around Georgia Tech, Colony Square, and (back downtown) possibly the Five Points MARTA station. Liniado sees the company’s territory expanding as far as Buckhead. “We’re trying to stay as real and New York as possible,” he says, “but we’re still learning—as the weather improves—just where the foot traffic in Atlanta is heaviest.”
NEWS AND NOTES:
Nation’s Restaurant News is reporting that star chef Shaun Doty has signed two leases for spaces in Atlanta for his planned burger chain (though Doty doesn’t yet reveal the locations).
Slow Food Atlanta will host a family-style dinner at Watershed in Decatur on Sunday, February 21 to raise funds for Slow Food’s Terra Madre Foundation. The event will include a presentation about Terra Madre from Slow Food International Founder Carlo Petrini; five courses of reinterpreted Southern food from chefs Kevin Gillespie, Linton Hopkins, Steven Satterfield, Kevin Ouzts, Billy Allin, Scott Peacock, and Cathy Conway; and an exclusive performance by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls.
Buckhead. The Blissful Glutton reported that Le Triskell Creperie has opened at 3833 Roswell Road.
Kessler gave shout outs to the opening of Saskatoon, specializing in wild game.
Buford Highway. Havana Grill, from different relatives of the original Havana Sandwich Shop clan, is expected to open February 18. (Havana Restaurant, a reincarnation of the Havana Sandwich Shop that burned in 2008, is already open.)
Downtown. Irish Bred Pub in Underground Atlanta has closed.
Tilt Coffee Shop in Castleberry Hill has closed.
Inman Park. Thrillist is reporting that Candi’s for Breakfast, a 120-seat mother-and-daughter spot, has opened at 661 Irwin Street.
Roswell. Gorda Luna Cafe and Grill, featuring Cuban sandwiches, has opened at 10495 Alpharetta Street.
Smyrna. Look for Victoria’s Cafe and Pastries, featuring a breakfast and lunch menu, to open in the former New Orleans Connection space at 1669 Spring Road this month.
Westside. Star Provisions will host Allison Cooper, cheese maker for the Vermont Butter and Cheese Company on Sunday, February 14 from 3pm until 6pm for a special cheese tasting and book signing.
Question of the Week: What type of restaurant is rumored to be going into the former The Taco Stand location?
PS. The answer to last week’s QOTW—What in town former wine bar and restaurant is rumored to have has a new name, a new chef and a new menu?—is Vinocity. It is now Kirkwood Public House.
