Food is central to celebrations year round. But in Atlanta this fall there’s the added excitement of enjoying new restaurants, seasonal food festivals and the opening of anxiously awaited multi-use developments such as the Ponce City Market where food will definitely be center stage. “We’re happy to be here,” said Anne Quatrano, chef and owner of award-winning Bacchanalia located in west Midtown. “Our concept in the Ponce City Market will be a casual seafood place with counter service called Dub’s Fish Camp with lobster rolls, shrimp po-boys, raw bar and a Vietnamese fish salad.”
Ponce City Market brings the towering 2 million square-foot “old Sears building” on North Avenue back to life. A Central Food Hall on the street level, buzzing now with final touches underway, will be home to grab-and-go stalls and sit down restaurants with many of Atlanta’s favorite chefs at the helm.
Hector Santiago brings his Latin flair to sandwiches at El Super Pan. Justin Anthony of Ten Degrees South puts beef jerky in the spotlight at Biltong. “Biltong is the name for beef jerky in South Africa where it’s a super popular street food, “ said Anthony. “We make it fresh and serve it with different seasonings.”
Linton Hopkins, chef and owner of Holeman & Finch, appeals to all-American palates with H&F Burger and Hop’s fried chicken.
The historic building will be hopping with local chefs and their version of contemporary cuisine in a quick serve setting. Quatrano said, “We’ll have relaxed service with beer, wine and seltzers on tap.”
The Ponce City Market’s just-opened Williams-Sonoma culinary retail store has a restaurant attached. “The dirty little secret is that foodies don’t know how to cook,” said Jean Armstrong of Williams-Sonoma. “So we’ll have free techniques classes.”
Food is a trip
All over town, food is the draw and gourmet has gone global. In Buckhead. Atlanta Le Bilboquet’s elegant dining room serves French bistro fare with flair. Peruvian cuisine was the draw at the Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta, when chef Diego Oka of the hotel’s Miami property came to town. Oka led guests on a taste trip through his native Peru with Pisco sours, ceviche of yellow tail snapper, a traditional yellow potato and olive oil dish called causa and Peruvian chocolate mousse with crunchy caramelized quinoa.
For foodies with a healthy appetite for taste adventures, there’s a world of flavors to discover in Atlanta today.
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