Foodie Journal Art on Display

Clockwise, from left: The Southside Fizz from the Distillery of Modern Art. Owner and founder Seth Watson. A peek into the 15,000-squarefoot space.

Art on Display

CHAMBLEE’S DISTILLERY OF MODERN HONORS TWO CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Founded by event producer Seth Watson, Chamblee’s Distillery of Modern Art (DoMA) blends two creative expressions. Part distillery and part art gallery, the 15,000-square-foot space opened for tours and tastings over the summer. There’s also an additional 2,800-square-foot event space that may be rented out for private events.

Here, we spoke with Watson about his vision.

What excites you most about opening the Distillery of Modern Art? I'm looking forward to blending art and distilled spirits under one roof. Our goal is to make fantastic craft spirits that are approachable and affordable in an upscale environment. Most distilleries forget about the customer experience; that's where we started. The goal was to create a cohesive experience between a local spirits brand, an events space, an art gallery and a cocktail lounge under one roof.

What kind of spirits can guests expect? Our incredible head distiller, Matt Greif, will be producing vodka, peach vodka, gin, corn whiskey and amaro. As these products are being brought to market, we will produce and lay down bourbon and rye barrels. The selection will continue to expand as we perfect our offerings.

What kind of artwork will be featured, and how often this will change? We are looking to stay with modern art, from canvas to murals, sculptures and more. For our on-site gallery, as with our bottle art, art will rotate in and out, some staying for weeks, days and months. The goal is to work with local artists first to highlight our vibrant city and expand over time. We have zero intention of charging artists to display in our facility. We feel a duty and commitment to the arts, not a transactional relationship with artists.

What kinds of events will the distillery host? DoMA will host everything from distillery-sponsored cocktail classes, restaurant pop-ups, live music, art installations and more. But the space is also a kind of a blank canvas for others to use and create their own events. n

Distillery of Modern Art 404.482.2663 distilleryofmodernart.com @distilleryofmodernart

TACO

’BOUT TASTE

Whip up this delicious Mexican corn recipe from Yumbii

Taco-lovers, this one’s for you. Food-truck-turned-taco-shop Yumbii and sister restaurant The Queso Shop, a takeout destination for tacos and queso, are set to open at Moores Mill Center at the end of this year. Until then, you can get a taste of Yumbii’s Mexican corn using the recipe below.

Yumbii’s Mexican Corn

Serves 2

1 cup corn, cut from the cob 1 tsp canola oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp green onion, sliced 1 tbsp red onion, small diced 1 tbsp Korean chili flakes 1 tbsp cotija cheese 1 tbsp Yumbii BBQ aioli 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped

Sautée corn, red onion, green onion, season with salt and pepper. Place in a dish of your choice. A small soup cup works the best. Top with BBQ aioli, cotija cheese, chili flakes and cilantro. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Yumbii yumbii.com @yumbii

FOOD NEWS

n Asian-fusion restaurant chain Wagamama is opening its first Georgia location in the Star Metals District in West Midtown. The restaurant, which originally opened in London in 1992 and now has seven locations worldwide, will feature a menu of cooked-to-order noodle dishes, signature ramens, shareable plates and craft cocktails. wagamama.us

n Wave 3 Coffee will open this winter at Buckhead Commons, offering a menu of coffee, immunity-boosting tonics, teas, cold-pressed juices and artisanal chocolates. wave3coffee.com

n Chef Pat Pascarella, who is also behind Italian restaurants Grana in Piedmont Heights and The White Bull in Decatur, will soon open Bastone mozzarella bar in the former Bocado space in West Midtown. The winefocused eatery will offer hand-stretched mozzarella and cheese imported from Italy, as well as handmade pasta and craft cocktails. bastoneatlanta.com

Buckhead or Bust

FUN FACT

Kamel played soccer in college at the University of Naples in Italy.

5CHURCH FOUNDER AYMAN KAMEL HAD ONE GOAL: EXPAND TO BUCKHEAD

STORY: Carly Cooper

An Italian-Egyptian immigrant, Ayman Kamel arrived in New York in the ’90s, trading his engineering degree for a career in hospitality. Kamel learned the business from his uncle, but after losing his restaurant located across from the World Trade Center to 9/11, he moved south. He opened the first 5Church in Charlotte, followed by Charleston, and in 2016, Midtown Atlanta.

“I fell in love with the restaurant business,” he says. “Seeing the smile on our guests’ faces on their way out, saying they had the best time, makes it all worth it.”

As he explored the city, he became enamored with Buckhead. “It was my dream for the last five years to be a part of the community,” he says. “The area is so unique; it has everything every neighborhood would wish for. I knew it was only a matter of time—I wanted to be associated with Buckhead.” That dream is coming to fruition with the fall opening of 5Church Buckhead in the former Sage Woodfire Grill space. Slightly smaller than the Midtown location, 5Church Buckhead boasts a sunroom with a retractable glass ceiling and a new menu specific to the area.

“I plan to be in business for the next 20 to 25 years. To be able to do that, our business continues to evolve,” he says.

We spoke to him to learn more.

What’s the funniest thing that happened when you were opening 5Church Midtown? The artist we hired, Jon Norris, was painting the words to The Art of War on the ceiling of the restaurant and got annoyed with me because I kept asking him when it would be finished. So he told me afterward that he hid “beware of the owner” or something like that in the text. Why did you decide to expand to Buckhead? In 2019, I took a survey of every guest who walked in the Midtown restaurant (3,000 a week) asking what ZIP code they came from. More than 6% were from Buckhead. That’s when I knew 5Church Buckhead would be the perfect location.

What’s unique about the Buckhead restaurant? The most popular items—the lamb burger, 60-second steak and scallops—will stay. Part of the menu will change weekly based on local farms. The key is the art and ambiance. We’ll be choosing local artists and changing the artwork every six months. Instead of The Art of War, we’ll showcase the history of Buckhead. We’ll have a chef’s table for 10-12 people. The chef will present the dishes and the thought behind them. I am working hard to put it inside the prep area of the kitchen so diners can watch the staff working while they enjoy their dinner.

What are your hobbies? When I’m not getting my butt kicked by work, I love to spend time with my lovely wife and two kids (a collegeaged son and a daughter in high school). I love to watch soccer. I watch European soccer, but my children and I are big Atlanta United fans. In fact, [the players] come to enjoy themselves at 5Church.

I’ve traveled all over. You name it, I’ve been there: France, England, Holland, Spain, Egypt, Germany, Denmark. My family loves Mexico. That’s the happy place for us after a long year. My dream is to travel to Japan. n

5CHURCH BUCKHEAD

buckhead.5church-atlanta.com @5church_buckhead

FEATURED RESTAURANTS

A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

BY: Wendell Brock, Rebecca Cha, Angela Hansberger, Hope S. Philbrick

PHOTOS: Sara Hanna, Joann Vitelli

THE ALDEN

Chamblee's popularity as a residential and dining destination seems to be on the rise, and Chef Jared Hucks is here to make sure diners eat like royalty. Winning starters include a homemade bread plate with prosciutto butter and cheddar pimento cheese, silky sweet potato bisque and sashimi quality seared scallops. For mains, go with the cold smoked salmon, Moroccan-spiced shrimp and grits or the hickory smoked Brasstown coulotte steak. Desserts are deliciously unique. If you’ve got belly room to spare, be sure to witness the chef’s gastro-theatrics with the banana bread pudding service. Our favorite was the lunar chocolate, which the chef calls his “dessert moonscape.” Smaller dishes: $11-$21 Larger dishes: $23-$45 Desserts: $9-$15 Chef’s tasting menu: seven courses/$95 thealdenrestaurant.com

BABYLON CAFÉ

When Iraqi native Saad Marwad and his wife, Kelly Rafia, opened Babylon Café in 2014, the city’s foodie community started to buzz about the couple’s fresh, flavorful repertoire of Middle Eastern classics, from falafel and hummus to kebabs and baklava. While the starters are quite good—try the fattoush salad, the lentil soup and the eggplant badenjan—the earthy, long-simmered stews are unlike anything else in town. We like the herb-based qurma sabzi with super-tender lamb shank and the bamia (okra and tomatoes) with oxtail. Don’t leave without a sip of the anise-flavored aperitif called arak and a bite of kanafeh, a sweet made of shredded phyllo, housemade sweet cheese, rose- and orange-water syrup and pistachios. Appetizers and sides: $2-$7 Entrees: $12-$20 babyloncafeatl.com

BIG SKY BUCKHEAD

The laid-back cattle ranch decor in this West Village hotspot is the perfect foil for top-notch Tex-Mex-meets-Deep-South eats. Specialty cocktails served up by fresh-faced mixologists combined with events such as Wednesday trivia nights, game-day viewing parties and weekend brunches with all-you-can-drink mimosas make Big Sky Buckhead a favorite urban escape. Best-in-class dishes such as the Big Sky Nachos, Goose Island IPA wings, Original Burger and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich are good enough to brand this place in your memory forever. Good to know: Big Sky is a cashless establishment, so don’t forget your alt-currency. Also, free on-site parking spots are limited, so consider carpooling or ridesharing. Starters: $4-$12 Salads, sandwiches and tacos: $11-$13 Entrees: $15-$19 Brunch items: $12-$15 bigskybuckhead.com

The Alden's lemon tart with cantaloupe sorbet is a refreshing dessert. The dish is finished with local honey, bee pollen and Chantilly cream. Veggie lovers will delight in Casi Cielo's milhojas de verduras, a napoleon loaded with sliced eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes, topped with cotija cheese.

CASI CIELO

Casi cielo translates to “almost heaven,” and it’s a fitting description for this sophisticated Sandy Springs Oaxacan eatery. You’d be loco to miss the tender, charcoal grilled octopus, earthy portobello or mahi-mahi tacos, the crunchy plantain croquettes or buttery Chilean sea bass. Equally enticing is the world-class mezcal collection and the exotic cocktails made with favorite brands such as Alipus, Nucano and Gracias a Dios. The gracious staff epitomizes high-bar professionalism. Appetizers, soups and salads: $6- $18 Quesadillas, tacos and bowls: $12- $18 Main dishes: $15-$43 Desserts: $9 casicieloatl.com

DAS BBQ

In 2016, Stephen Franklin had a dream to make Georgia the most “inclusive, creative barbecue experience in the country,” and that’s just what he did at DAS BBQ. Whether it’s the rosy, smoke-ringed brisket, equally pink and juicy St. Louis-style ribs or the spicy, smoked chicken wings, every bony bite is a testament to Franklin’s focus on the art and science of smoked meats. Bring the whole family and don’t pass up house-made sides of decadent cream corn, mac ’n’ cheese and stickto-your-ribs Brunswick stew. Dig into white chocolate banana pudding after if you’re willing and able. Meats (whole, half and sandwich): $7-$28, sausages $5/link Wings: $9/$18 for half dozen/dozen Side dishes (in regular, pint or quart): $3-$23 Desserts: $3-$5 dasbbq.com

FORZA STORICO

The fact that the odds of success are notoriously bleak for new restaurants doesn’t seem to have fazed Westside newcomer Forza Storico. The baby sister of Buckhead’s popular Storico Fresco, Forza Storico focuses on Roman cuisine, proffering dishes such as fried carciofo and saltimbocca with exemplary flavor and flourish. Extra-regional fare such as a breathtaking plate of San Daniele prosciutto and milky mozzarella, charry grilled octopus with Calabrian chili pesto and herb-stuffed, pan-fried branzino are well worth the trip, but one taste of Forza’s house-made chitarra arrabbiata or tonnarelli cacio e pepe, plus one of Jose Pereiro’s specialty cocktails, and you’ll instantly be transported to your favorite Roman piazza. Antipasti: $10 - $23 Pastas: $16 - $26 Salads and veggies: $7 - $10 Specials and mains: $19 - $26 Desserts: $3 - $9 storico.com

KR STEAKBAR

Atlanta chef Kevin Rathbun’s only Buckhead restaurant feels customtailored for the community. A contemporary nocturnal cubbyhole where small plates rule, wine flows and the air bristles with excitement, the fashionable “steakbar” concept finds Rathbun and chef de cuisine Jessica Gamble fusing two venerable concepts: meat and Italian. Here, nearly everything speaks with a perky Mediterranean lilt: amari-kissed cocktails, steak doused with espresso sauce, heavenly olive-oil cake with almond brittle and citrus cream. (Pastry chef Kylie Akiyama is terrific.) Hidden touches, like the speakeasy-style bar behind the kitchen and a patio that feels like a sunken garden, make us want to continue to explore this romantic spot. Antipasti: $6-$19 Pasta: $12-$16 Entrees: $18-$68 krsteakbar.com

LE COLONIAL

Le Colonial’s website describes this upscale French-Vietnamese restaurant as “a luxurious escapist oasis,” and we’d agree. Amidst potted palms, starched white tablecloths and whirring vintage fans, glitzed-up diners are transported back to 1920s Vietnam and enjoy the culinary synthesis of the era. Favorite street fare such as banh mi thit nuong (chargrilled pork sandwich) and pho bo (beef noodle soup) get the white glove treatment with chef Richard Lee’s skillful way with Asian herbs and spices. Classic favorites of crispy panseared chicken dumplings, garlicky beef rice noodle rolls and curried green papaya salad will have you hankering for a one-way ticket to Saigon. Small plates: $12-$24 Soups and salads: $10-$18 Large plates: $14-$60 Sides: $4-$11 Desserts: $12-$14 lecolonialatlanta.com

NEWK’S EATERY

This Mississippi-based chain has popped up in the Atlanta market, and though it looks like a fast-food joint, it tastes like homemade. Salads—from shrimp remoulade salad to a delicious steak-and-blue-cheese version to old-fashioned chicken salad—are a standout. At this casual, familyfriendly, crowd-pleasing spot you can also get sandwiches, pizzas and mac and cheese but, refreshingly, no burgers. We are pretty crazy about the sausage-and-pepperoni pie, with

Southbound's Chamblee hot chicken gives the iconic Southern dish international flair with Szechuan-style heat and flavor.

its thin crust and warm and gooey toppings. And who can resist a crispy rice treat with chocolate and peanut butter? Not us. Salads, sandwiches and pizzas: $7-$11 newks.com

R. THOMAS DELUXE GRILL

Open 24/7 and bedecked with ’70sstyle disco lighting, beaded curtains and groovy plastic walls, this Buckhead favorite feels like a throwback to the days when the health food craze was in its genesis. Whether you go for the sizzling bone-in hot wings or Dr. Joe’s Mango Salad with a side of raw cashew “cheese,” R. Thomas lives up to its promise to “treat carnivores and vegetarians with equal respect.” More menu favorites include the quinoa-rich Thai Express bowl, the classic Thomas Burger with sprouts and guacamole, the curry coconut seafood linguine, Southwestern-style R.’s Quesadilla

You can’t talk to an R. Thomas fan without hearing gustatory praise for their fish tacos. and an unforgettable peanut butter chocolate pie. Breakfast: $9.75-$14.75 Appetizers: $4.50-$17.50 Sandwiches, salads and veggie mains: $5.99-$17.50 Entrees: $13.25-$20.75 Desserts: $6.50-$8.75 rthomasdeluxegrill.net

SOUTHBOUND

A “welcome to the neighborhood” vibe lingers throughout Southbound in Chamblee, whether you sit at the bar stocked with artisan spirits, on a comfortable chair in the main dining room or under an umbrellaed picnic table on the patio. Weathered wood, exposed bricks and dangling light bulbs give the space casual elegance. The menu presents Southern comfort food with some creative international flavors and influences. Variety means there’s something for just about any preference, diet, budget and hunger level. The menu changes about three times a year, but popular favorites remain, including the double-stack burger, Southern ramen, smoked short rib, Chamblee hot chicken and wild Georgia Shrimp. Small plates: $4-$18 Mains: $14-$33 Sides: $4-$6 Desserts: $6-$9 southboundatl.com

TAKA SUSHI AND PASSION

Chef Taka Moriuchi learned from perhaps the most famously finicky and cult-inspiring Japanese chef Atlanta has ever known: Sotohiro Kosugi, owner of Buckhead’s legendary (but now shuttered) Soto Japanese Restaurant. Today, Moriuchi holds court at his own sushi bar, where his impeccably fresh fish and hot and cold appetizers compare to the best Japanese food in town. The only difference: His prices won’t shipwreck your budget. Among our faves, the UPS roll is a delicious nod to the Atlanta-based Big Brown fleet, and the black cod and okra tempura are packages you’ll be happy to see arrive at your table. Appetizers: $6-$20 Nigiri: $2.50-$11 Sushi rolls: $4.50-$19.50 takasushiatlanta.com

Note: Prices and menu items may have changed since original publication.

Hungry for more?

Visit the Simply Buckhead website to read all of our Restaurant Reviews!