Atlanta private chef Jason Ellis may come across as brash and confident, but on the Fox reality show "Hell's Kitchen," he froze up and lost focus at times. The end of his stint in Gordon Ramsay's charge, then, didn't come as a huge shock. "Jason was good enough to make it to the final five," Ramsay observed on the show, "but he didn't instill the confidence I needed to see to be my head chef." Ellis, who would like to write cookbooks, run a couple of "branded" restaurants, endorse products and appear on television again in some capacity, isn't moping. "I'm arrogant, but America loves me," he told us during an interview. "I feel like the Jennifer Hudson of the show. Sometimes (when) you lose, you really win. There have been many great opportunities I've been presented with."
Say what?
"Know what you call a good-looking girl on the arm of a Gator fan? A tattoo."
- Longtime local sports anchor Chuck Dowdle, preaching to the choir Monday night as emcee of the Greater Atlanta Bulldog Club gathering at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Opera notes
We got a peek at the perks in store for supporters of this fall's Atlanta Opera Ball, themed "La vie bohème" and chaired by Marlene Alexander, Monica Dioda and Jack Sawyer. Patrons and host committee members will party poolside at the home of Sawyer and Dr. Bill Torres the evening of Aug. 9. A patron party hosted by Paul Hagedorn and catered by Dennis Dean is planned for Sept. 15. Decor for the fete itself, planned for Sept. 25 at the St. Regis Buckhead, is in the capable hands of A Legendary Event's Tony Conway. And the St. Regis is offering a special rate of $199 for Opera Ball guests the night of the event. You don't want to be left out, do you? Contact Rae Weimer at 404-343-7125 or rweimer@atlantaopera.org or see www.atlantaopera.org for all the details.
Soup opera notes
Souper Jenny, the much-beloved Buckhead restaurant where fresh eats and impromptu ballads are on the menu, is looking for a new home. Owner Jenny Levison, whose soup troupe serves and serenades at the same time, said her lease is up at the end of the year. She'd love your ideas for new possibilities. Call her real estate guru and brother, Daniel Levison, at 404-949-9040, if inspiration strikes. They're looking to stay in the Buckhead area.
Buzz in our ear
Singer-songwriter Judy Collins will speak during an upcoming benefit for St. Jude's Recovery Center. The event is planned for 11:30 a.m. Sept. 22 at the Westin Buckhead Atlanta. Tickets are $125. To register contact Kacey Danley at 404-874-2224 or kdanley@sjrcatl.org or see www.stjudesrecovery.org.
Overscene
Actress Debbie Allen enjoyed lunch at South City Kitchen Midtown on Monday. She had the grilled salmon and a side of collard greens, with biscuits and cornbread to complete the meal of true Southern comfort.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Darryl Hickman is 79. Cartoonist Jim Davis ("Garfield") is 65. Singer Jonathan Edwards is 64. Actress Sally Struthers is 62. Actress Georgia Engel is 62. Drummer Simon Kirke of Bad Company is 61. Guitarist Steve Morse of Deep Purple is 56. Bassist Marc Perlman of The Jayhawks is 49. Actor Michael Hayden ("Murder One") is 47. Actress Lori Loughlin is 46. Actress Elizabeth Berkley is 38. Singer Afroman is 36. Drummer Todd Anderson of Heartland is 35. Singer Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach is 34. Rapper Soulja Boy is 20.
Contributing: Mark Bradley, Rodney Ho, news services
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