The recent announcement that celebrated Atlanta barman Paul Calvert would be stepping down as beverage director at Victory Brands/Victory Sandwich Bar and partner at Paper Plane in Decatur was greeted with puzzlement and disappointment by many fans.
But on the brighter side, Calvert will be on hand tonight for a party at Paper Plane, where he’ll help celebrate the restaurant’s two year anniversary from behind the bar, and say his goodbyes.
“It’s my bon voyage,” Calvert said in a conversation earlier this week.“We open at five, as usual, and we’re going to stay open late.”
Asked why he was leaving, just as Victory Brands is about to open a new Sandwich Bar location in Inman Park and a new cocktail lounge, Little Trouble, on the Westside, Calvert was typically droll and demure.
“I would just like to do some different things,” he said. “The Victory Brand has been very successful and I was very proud and very excited to be a part of that and work with that amazing crew.
“But with the opening the two new places, I thought this was a good time to do this thing that I know that I want to do. It just seemed like a good time to make a break.”
Calvert said he would be involved in Little Trouble on an “as needed" basis. “We’ve all worked together on it for over a year,” he said.“I will be less involved than I thought I would be a year ago. But this is a very positive separation. We’re all still good friends, and I’m there to help if they need me.”
Asked if he wanted to break any big news about what he’s going to be doing next, Calvert had a simple answer. “No.”
“I do have plans,” he said.“But in the short term I’m going to continue to do some consulting. I’m going to work around the house and work in the garden. I’m going to do some more food and beverage writing. And I’ve also been working a book of short stories.”
Coming soon, look for Calvert's new collaboration beer with Decatur's Wild Heaven Craft Beers and brewmaster Eric Johnson.
Dubbed Emergency Drinking Beer, the easygoing session ale, brewed with lemongrass, Portuguese sea salt and grapefruit zest, is set to debut on draft at Victory Sandwich Bar in Decatur on April 9.
Credit: Bob Townsend
Credit: Bob Townsend
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