PEACH BUZZ: South’s chefs, food return to their roots

Bon Appetit praises Southern cuisine

Well, it’s taken a while, but Southern chefs and food writers have finally gotten Southern cuisine back to its roots and front and center in national publications. January’s Bon Appetit, which will feature the mag’s predictions for 2009, touts “new Southern cuisine” as the cuisine to follow in 2009.

And to get folks in the mood, our own Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch and H & F Bread Co. is featured with recipes highlighting, in his words, “gussied up” beet salad with corn bread croutons and crispy ham, and brioche-crusted fish with Jerusalem artichoke puree and pickles. “You don’t need to go to New York or Chicago or Paris to be a great chef,” Hopkins is quoted as saying. “You can cook Southern food with the same passion and integrity.”

Also in the January issue, the editors choose their top picks for the new “gastro tavern,” and Cakes & Ale in Decatur (which just keeps getting better and better every time I visit —- a winter broccoli salad was a welcome forkful on my last time in) is on the list. Bravo!

The magazine goes on sale Jan. 9.

Sweet twosome’s even sweeter cause

Millard and Linda Fuller, founders of Habitat for Humanity, are commemorating their golden anniversary with a honey sale for their new non-profit housing ministry. For each $50 pledge, donors receive a jar of honey made by North Georgia beekeepers Carl and Virginia Webb.

All proceeds go toward the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta, which focuses on repairs and renovations for longtime homeowners in need. Fifty jars of honey were donated for the cause.

“It’s their 50th wedding anniversary, and it’s golden and it’s all very sweet,” Jackie Goodman, a volunteer and board member of Fuller Center, told Buzz. “We thought offering the very best honey in the world was in keeping with one of the finest marriages in the world —- a love affair that has produced four children and more than 300,000 houses for working families in need.”

To get the jar of honey, call 404-966-9220.

Casting Crowns treated like royalty

If you were among the millions who saw hometown Christian act Casting Crowns perform “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” on TNT’s “Christmas In Washington” special Wednesday night, be sure to stop Casting’s Mark Hall in the grocery store and tell him how they sounded. The youth pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church told Buzz he was planning to be in that sanctuary when the taped show aired.

“I hope they’ll send me a copy soon because it was a very positive experience,” Hall said. “I met a lot of neat people. Kristin Chenoweth. Julianne Hough from “Dancing With The Stars.” Darius Rucker —- really cool getting to meet him. Raphael, Raphael … I can’t remember his last name. We got to meet the first lady backstage afterwards at a reception and she was very gracious… . Oh, and we met [co-host] Dr. Phil —- now that was something! I mean, we live in Atlanta; and on the south side at that. Dr. Phil just doesn’t drop through McDonough very often!”

“And you know the thing about that experience,” Hall continued, “is when you get to meet those type of people you think: ‘Gosh, I hope they’re nice.’ And they really were. It was truly an honor to be included in something like that. Something where Christian music was recognized, and to represent that.”

Backstreet singer’s son hospitalized

The 6-year-old son of Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell has been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness, according to the singer’s Web site, reported People.com

“Baylee Littrell has been in the hospital for the past few days,” says a message posted Thursday on brianlittrell.com. “He will be starting a treatment this afternoon and the Littrell family asks that all Backstreet Boys fans please remember him in prayer during this trying time.”

Littrell, 33, and his actress wife Leighanne, 39, met on the set of the Boys’ 1997 video “As Long as You Love Me.” The two were married in September 2000, and welcomed their son two years later.

Hilton’s home robbed of jewels

A man wearing a hooded sweatshirt broke into Paris Hilton’s home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and reportedly made off with millions of dollars worth of jewels.

“At around 5 a.m. Friday, officers received a call from a security guard who reported that Paris Hilton’s residence had been broken into,” LAPD spokeswoman Julie Sohn tells People.com

“According to detectives, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves forced entry through the front door, ransacked her bedroom, took unknown property and fled,” Sohn added.

An estimated $2 million in jewelry was stolen, according to the LA Times, citing unnamed detectives investigating the case. An investigation is under way and Hilton was not at home at the time of robbery, Sohn said.

A rep for the heiress wasn’t immediately available for comment.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Comedian Charlie Callas is 81. Actor John Hillerman (“Magnum P.I.”) is 76. Drummer Bobby Colomby of Blood, Sweat and Tears is 64. Drummer Peter Criss (Kiss) is 63. Musician Alan Parsons is 60. Actress Jenny Agutter is 56. Actor Michael Badalucco (“The Practice”) is 54. Actress Blanche Baker (“Shakedown,” “Holocaust”) is 52. Singer Billy Bragg is 51. Singer-bassist Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE) is 51. Country singer Kris Tyler is 44. Singer Chris Robinson of Black Crowes is 42. Singer David Cook (“American Idol”) is 26. Actor Jonah Hill (“Accepted”) is 25. Singer JoJo is 18.

Contributing: Jamie Gumbrecht, Sonia Murray, Meridith Ford, Shane Harrison and news services.

Got a tip for Peach Buzz? 404-526-2749 or buzz@ajc.com