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DEL.ICIO.USAdios, Costa Rica! Hello ATL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CHEF MICHEAL TUOHY: IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA
Photo: Rich Addicks/AJC staff
Holy smokes, can’t a girl go on vacation without the world falling in around her?
I leave for a week to get soaked up in the rainy season of Costa Rica and come back to:
Michael Tuohy is selling Woodfire Grill and moving back to California to open a farm-to-table concept there called Grange. Located inside a boutique hotel property, the Citizen Hotel, it’s one block from the state capitol in Sacramento. He will hang up his tongs on August 12, Woodfire’s 6-year anniversary. Tuohy, who spearheaded the farm-to-table movement in Georgia, has been cooking here for over 20 years. Look for more in my column next Thursday. Until then you can read Tuohy’s farewell: “After 22 years in Atlanta, the past 6 years at Woodfire Grill, my wife Patti and I have made the decision to move to California! I am joining the Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group, a San Francisco-based boutique hotel company, along with the Rubicon Development Group in Sacramento, to launch a new farm-to-table restaurant called Grange. Grange will be located at the new Citizen Hotel, located one block from the state capitol in Sacramento. We hope to open before the end of the year.”
Sala has been bought back into the Fifth Group family, and is closed temporarily to revamp. More on that in next Thursday’s column, too. (I’m just trying to get to all the up-front business first, then to details later).
Wild child Nicolas Bour is breaking my heart and leaving his post as executive chef of the Farmhouse at Serenbe to go to the Willard Intercontinental in Washington, D.C. as executive chef. Bour has been looking for a great fit for himself since Iris closed, so let’s hope this will be what he’s looking for. His raw energy and talent will be missed here, though. No word yet on who will replace him.
Who has memories of Woodfire Grill, Iris and the Farmhouse? What about Tuohy’s earlier restaurant, Chef’s Cafe?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Dining
Comments
By AA
July 22, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Good luck!
By Sharon
July 22, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Michael’s departure makes me so sad for Atlanta’s dining scene. As a avid “slow food” fan and early believer in the farm to table movement, I appreciated Michael’s approach to food and wine selection and preparation. Michael and a few of his fellow chefs did much to begin and further Atlanta’s understanding and appreciation of sustainability. Michael Tuohy’s food is always creative and delicious, and the atomosphere at his restaurant relaxed and casual. It made for an excellent combination. I will personally miss seeing Michael’s big crooked smile, our conversations at the bar about our world travels, and the taste of a dish just prepared that day with the freshest of ingredients. Michael, the best of luck to you and to Patti. I know you are thrilled at the chance to go home and start a new challenge. Bon chance mon ami!
By Joe
July 22, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
My mother used to stay at the La Quinta where Chef’s Cafe was located and we used to dine there when she was in town. Micheal Tuohy introduced me to many different flavors and dishes during the many wonderful meals that we enjoyed there. He will be sorely missed here in Atlanta - I think he has had a major influence on the dining scene in this city and Sacramento has just gotten a fantastic talent for their city. Good Luck Michael!!!
By Drew
July 22, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
Michael has been a huge farm-to-table influence here in the Atlanta market. I’m very sad to see him leaving, but I’m glad he is passing the torch to the new owners; I can only assume that they will continue his ways and continue to support the local producers. Thanks Michael!
http://michaeltuohy.typepad.com/
By good riddance
July 22, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
His departure can’t come soon enough. He’s an a-hole! He still owes me $1,400.00. I think I ate there 3 times and was less impressed each time. Also heard he has a couple of children out there that he has nothing to do with. What a guy!
By michael tuohy
July 23, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
This person obviously has me confused with someone else. No children on this end! I also suggest that the ajc. verify or regulate anything that gets posted by general public, slander is not a good thing!
By Meridith Ford
July 23, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
I couldn’t agree with Michael more — it’s nice when folks use the blog as an information and community tool, not as their personal venting rod. There’s really just no place here for hearsay….
By Andrea
July 23, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
I met Chef Tuohy years ago at a tomato talk at the farmer’s market at the Dunwoody Nature Center and we celebrated various birthdays and anniversaries at Woodfire Grill over the last 6 years. As our children got older, we included them in the fun and our aspiring dairy farmer/cheese monger loves to check out the cheese cave at Woodfire. We will miss Chef Tuohy and hope we can enjoy one last dinner before he heads home to California.