April 2015
Features
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Swamps Élysées: Meet the Queen of Gator, Georgia’s Christy Plott Redd
Christy Plott Redd says she likes to take the fancy out of fashion, but on a recent afternoon in Manhattan—her auburn hair falling in carefully curled waves beneath a mink hat, her eyelashes pressed into thick half-moons over shadowed lids—the fancy was very much on display. She wheeled behind her a suitcase the size of a small car. Inside were dozens of alligator skins, samples she was toting around to sell to big-name fashion designers.
Dinner with art: Atlas’s spectacular dining room gallery
As restaurant concepts go, the one behind Atlas in Buckhead’s hyper-upscale St. Regis Hotel is a bold gamble. In addition to a $5 million design overhaul of the dining room—courtesy of the ubiquitous Johnson Studio—and an open kitchen whose consulting chef is Atlanta culinary icon Gerry Klaskala, Atlas boasts 23 museum-worthy paintings and drawings from one of the world’s foremost private art collections.
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The Connector
After decades of neglect, glimmers of hope for Sweet Auburn
Back in 2012, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn district to its list of the country’s “most endangered” historic places. Much bemoaning of Atlanta’s fondness for the wrecking ball followed—just as it had in 1992, the first time that the Trust sounded the alarm on the precarious status of one of the most influential locations in African American history.
Atlanta loves art festivals, but local artists are still struggling
The sun shines, birds sing, dogwoods bloom, and weekends brim with festivals. It’s time to grab a beer, take in some music. . . buy some art? Hold on a minute. Atlanta’s festival culture—which, thanks to our mellow climate, is basically a year-round phenomenon—may delude us into thinking we’re supporting the creative class.
Southern discomfort: Author Jim Grimsley recalls his generation’s struggle with integration
In Jim Grimsley’s new memoir, “How I Shed My Skin: Unlearning the Racist Lessons of a Southern Childhood,” he drops the protective shell of fiction to revisit a pivotal chapter in the lives of many Southern children in the 1960s. Grimsley was 11 years old in 1966 when his school admitted its first black students after a federal mandate forced integration.
Steeplechase bingo: What you’ll spot at Kingston Downs
Just a few of the things you’ll spot at this year’s race on April 18: Seersucker, cigars, and hats as big as Shetland ponies.
Can UGA scientists save endangered big cats with a “frozen zoo”?
It’s a long way from the jungles of Sumatra to a lab in Athens, Georgia, but two University of Georgia researchers hope to create a stem cell bank that could save endangered big cats. Its first deposits are cells collected from Zoo Atlanta’s Jalal, a Sumatran tiger, and Moby, a clouded leopard.
How the TSA became an Instagram star
Hear “Transportation Security Administration” and you imagine stern-faced agents inspecting carry-ons. But the TSA as social media mavens? You bet.
The Bite
Poached Pears with Butterscotch Ice Cream
From Aaron Russell, Restaurant Eugene
Goat Cheese, Radish, and Kale Spread
This easy spread, created by Lisa Rochon, won an honorable mention at Peachtree Road Farmers Market’s 2010 “Market Mash-Up” vendor recipe contest. It can be used as a dip, as a simple appetizer or first course served with sliced bread, or as the base for a fabulous sandwich.
Jennie Ruth’s Deviled Eggs
From Glass Onion Classics by Sarah O’Kelley. These deviled eggs are a tribute to my partner Chris Stewart’s grandmother, Jennie Ruth. She was an inspiration to his cooking with her classic Southern ways, and here you see that tradition shining through.
Sonya Jones’s Mini Fig Pies
Sonya Jones is the owner of Sweet Auburn Bread Company and the author of “Sweet Auburn Desserts: Atlanta’s Little Bakery That Could.” Desserts were always in the house, and Jones often had a hand in baking peach and blackberry cobblers or apple pie.
Carvel Grant Gould’s She-Crab Soup with Hot Butter Crackers
Carvel Grant Gould grew up immersed in Buckhead’s food world. No baby shower or Christmas party was complete without platters of cheese straws and chocolate eclairs from Henri’s Bakery.
Ricotta-Stuffed Fried Squash Blossoms
When May rolls around and the squash begins to blossom, I’m ready to start stuffing and frying. If you’ve never tasted fried squash blossoms, the delicate flavors and crisp texture will win you over. This recipe gives you tips to properly prepare this deceptively simple dish.
Roasted Turkey with Gravy Two Ways
To brine or not to brine—that is the Thanksgiving question. Though some people believe that it negatively affects the texture of the bird, I am a faithful briner. I feel that the application of salt enhances the flavor of the meat and helps keep it moist during cooking. A simple overnight brine of 1 cup salt to 1 gallon cold water is all you need.
Hoppin’ John Black-Eyed Pea Butter
As one of Memphis’s best known food photographers, Justin Fox Burks produces the popular Chubby Vegetarian blog with his wife, Amy Lawrence. They are also authors of “The Southern Vegetarian: 100 Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Table” (Thomas Nelson), a collection of their healthy, inspired takes on traditional dishes. At the Association of Food Journalists conference […]
Charlie Brown Cookies
While driving through the little town of Water Valley, Mississippi, not far from the Ole Miss campus, an adorable, refurbished mercantile caught my eye. I stopped in for what turned out to be a wonderful lunch and was impressed by the selection of homegrown produce, sophisticated artisanal grains, and home-baked goodies. When I saw that […]
Last Word
Sometimes restaurants have a lot going for them—just not all going at the same speed. Last Word, in the Old Fourth Ward, is one of them. It’s trying to do a lot: bring craft cocktails to a level of housemade everything, build a menu reminiscent of the co-owner’s native Lebanon and also the Maghreb countries of Morocco and Tunisia, and include late-night plates to complement the ambitious drinks.
Technique: General Muir’s Todd Ginsberg on curing lox
The terms “lox” and “smoked salmon” are often used interchangeably, but deli purists will tell you real lox is not smoked but cured in salt for days or even weeks. Finding the perfect level of salinity is a delicate process, says chef Todd Ginsberg.
Fresh on the Scene: Atlas, Grand Champion BBQ, and more
Under the keen eye of veteran restaurateur Gerry Klaskala (of Aria), who served as consulting chef to this modern beauty inside the St. Regis Atlanta Hotel, Atlas is off to an impressive start. Beautifully landscaped dishes, spectacular art from the likes of Picasso and Chagall, respectful service, and a serious wine list come together without a hint of stuffiness.
Garnish & Gather vs. PeachDish: Putting Atlanta fresh meal kits to the test
Seizing on Americans’ collective desire to elevate home cooking (and collective laziness), entrepreneurs have collaborated with farmers and chefs to package simple, ready-to-cook meals with just enough ingredients—often premeasured and sourced locally—to fix the portions you need for that evening. I tested two Atlanta favorites, Garnish & Gather and PeachDish.
Great brunch dish: Octane’s vegetarian breakfast bowl
Baristas aren’t the only talented hands at Octane Westside. Since 2011, chef Julia Schneider has managed Octane’s food program and catering business, bringing unexpected zeal to the soups, salads, and sandwiches she crafts throughout the week.
How to take an expert food photo, from Atlanta stylist Tami Hardeman
Impress your Instagram followers by following these 8 photography tips.
Back to school: 5 classes to sharpen your kitchen skills
A look at four Atlanta food and drink classes, including the Cooking School at Irwin Street, the Cook’s Warehouse, Atlanta Wine School, Pine Street Market’s butchery class, and H&F Whisk(e)y Society.
Expert advice: How to hire top talent for private dining events
Craig Richards, chef at St. Cecilia, and Kellie Thorn, bar manager at Empire State South, on hiring top talent
Watch and learn: 4 free farmers market demos in Atlanta
What you can learn during demos at Grant Park Farmers Market, Piedmont Park Green Market, Morningside Farmers Market, and Peachtree Road Farmers Market.
How to build a bar, from expert Atlanta bartender Adam Fox
The cofounder of the Dogwood Table supper club shares his list of essentials and three classic cocktail recipes.
How do you spot a true wine lover? By how they hold their glass
The grip says it all—how to tell the wine newbies from bon vivants by how they hold their glasses.
Your essential Twitter and Instagram guide to Atlanta foodies
The essential Twitter and Instagram guide to the best local events, food porn, and stories
How to throw a party like a pro, from Atlanta experts Tony Conway and Annette Joseph
The Legendary Events owner and ”Picture Perfect Parties” author and entertaining editor for Atlanta Magazine’s HOME give tips on how to plan wisely, remember the details, and be a good host.
How to shop like a chef in Atlanta: 5 stores for unique goods
6 Atlanta chefs share their favorite shopping destinations, including Great Wall Supermarket, 48th Street Market, and more.
The Christiane Chronicles: Hashtag hatred and why shochu is Japan’s best kept secret
You won’t catch me tweeting at the table I own a smartphone, but I refuse to tweet, text, or otherwise share photographs of what I eat. Unlike my peers who communicate every detail of their lives as professional stomachs, I have no desire to share my whereabouts and “instant opinions” with a bunch of strangers.
The Goods
April Getaway Guide: Madison’s antebellum houses, D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival, and more
Just 60 miles east of Atlanta, Madison is a convenient place for city folk to get their antebellum white columns fix. An 1845 guide to Georgia called it “the most cultured and aristocratic town on the stagecoach route from Charleston to New Orleans.”
Buckhead’s Anisa International designs makeup brushes for beauty’s biggest names
If you wear makeup, there’s a good chance you’ve used products by local company Anisa International. Name doesn’t sound familiar? That’s because Anisa’s goods are sold under labels like Estée Lauder, Sephora, and MAC.
Room envy: A bold wallpaper adds glam to this Kennesaw bathroom
Interior designer Kelly Kole gutted the circa-1997 builder-issue bath in her Kennesaw house to add a little glam to her life. The inspiration: a dramatic blue-and-white Thibaut wallpaper, “Donegal,” that she spotted at the High Point Market a couple of years ago.
Destination: Rosemary Beach, Florida
Don’t be fooled by the cobblestone streets, quaint town square, and Spanish–and West Indies–inspired cottages; Rosemary Beach was developed just 20 years ago.
The Love List: Spring in my step
The peppering of new spots along the Eastside Trail has me itching to get outside.
Miscellaneous
April 2015: Cooking for four, but shopping for eight
Every year in America, about 66 million tons of food end up in the garbage. This is according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which did some more math to conclude that the food we throw out—whether it’s from our homes, our restaurants, or our grocery stores—is worth, in total, $161 billion.
One Square Mile: The Shepherd’s Inn
Between night and day, between Centennial Olympic Park and the county jail, Jimmy Rivas is praying. He and his coworkers have agreed to spend one year within these walls, recovering from alcohol or other drugs. In five minutes, they will serve breakfast.
