CURRY UP NOW TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF NEW MADISON YARDS RESTAURANT ON SEPTEMBER 24

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/15/20

The Award-Winning Indian Fast Casual Will Celebrate With 50% Off App & Online Orders All Day Long

Curry Up Now, the award-winning Indian fast casual known for its innovative and creative approach to Indian cuisine, will celebrate the Grand Opening of its newest restaurant in Atlanta on Thursday, September 24. The restaurant, which is located at 915 Memorial Dr SE Suite 210 in the Madison Yards retail-living center, will celebrate by offering 50% off orders placed via the Curry Up Now app and website all day long with code CelebrateATL. This location joins another in Decatur, which opened last summer, and will be closely followed by another Curry Up Now opening at 24 S Main Street in Alpharetta in October. The local franchisees are also on the fast track to complete another Curry Up Now outpost at The Interlock, which will also feature Curry Up Now’s craft cocktail bar concept, Mortar & Pestle.

“Our Decatur opening last year was the perfect way to introduce Curry Up Now to the greater Atlanta area, but we’re thrilled to be opening closer to the heart of the city in a popular center like Madison Yards,” said Hemant Suri, Atlanta franchisee for Curry Up Now. “We are excited to welcome the community to the newest Curry Up Now restaurant with our Grand Opening event, and look forward to becoming a go-to spot for Indian cuisine lovers in Atlanta.”

Curry Up Now began as a food truck in 2009, founded by husband and wife duo, Akash and Rana Kapoor, and ably supported by co-founder and Senior VP of Operations, Amir Hosseini. Since day one, Curry Up Now has been on a mission to serve Indian flavors and ingredients in a way that is approachable for the everyday American consumer by utilizing formats that are more recognizable to the mainstream. Their signature dishes include Tikka Masala Burritos, Deconstructed Samosas, Indian-style tacos, Naughty Naan and more, as well as a wide variety of Indian street food snacks and traditional dishes like Thali Platters, Kathi Rolls, and more. Ingredients are clean and sourced from local vendors whenever possible, and the menu is designed to support vegan, gluten-free, and Halal diets in an effort to accommodate all guests, no matter their dietary preferences. In the last ten years, the Kapoors have expanded the Curry Up Now empire to include three food trucks, 13 brick-and-mortar restaurants spanning coast to coast, and a globally-inspired craft cocktail bar concept, Mortar & Pestle, that is housed within select Curry Up Now restaurants.

“Despite the crazy and unprecedented year that 2020 has been, we’ve seen great growth as a brand and are very excited to welcome the new Madison Yards restaurant to our expanding Curry Up Now family,” said Akash Kapoor, founder and CEO. “Hemant and the Atlanta team have worked tirelessly to get this restaurant ready for the opening, and now that they have Alpharetta and The Interlock on the horizon, it’s shaping up to be a big year for Curry Up Now’s Atlanta expansion. With the opening of the Madison Yards location, we have now opened 5 restaurants since February.”

The Madison Yards location will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Catering and takeout will be available, and guests are invited to order ahead using the Curry Up Now mobile app. For more information, call 678-732-0953, visit www.curryupnow.com, and follow @CurryUpNow on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

MARLOW’S TAVERN PRESENTS THE WHATCHYA BEEN GRILLIN’ CONTEST

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/15/20

Culinary Competitors Battle for Big Green Egg Package and Marlow’s Gift Cards
To celebrate the September return of the famous Ribs & Whiskey menu, Marlow’s Tavern wants its guests to show off the grilling recipes they mastered during quarantine by entering its Whatchya Been Grillin’ contest.

Marlow’s Tavern will award prizes to the top three grill gurus whose recipes celebrate what makes this season sizzle. The first-place prize is a Big Green Egg package, valued at $1400, featuring a large EGG, an intEGGgrated Nest + Handler, acacia wood EGG Mates, charcoal, starters, ash tool and grid gripper. The winning recipe also will be featured on Marlow’s Tavern’s fall/winter menu. The second-place winner earns a $250 Marlow’s Tavern gift card, third place brings home a $150 gift card, and the People’s Choice award winner receives a $150 gift card.

Contest participants can submit recipes online through Monday, Oct. 5. Entries are limited to one per person or email address. No purchase is necessary to enter. John C. Metz, executive chef, CEO and co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern, will review all entries and announce the winning recipe on Saturday, Oct. 24.

CHATTAHOOCHEE FOOD WORKS ANNOUNCE NEXT ROUND OF CULINARY TENANTS COMING TO THE WORKS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/5/21

Chattahoochee Food Works
Announces the Newest Round of
Culinary Tenants Coming to The Works
Cubanos ATL, Hippie Hibachi, Philly G Steaks,
Belen de la Cruz –Empanadas & Pastries, & Monster Cravings
The globally-inspired food hall, Chattahoochee Food Works, is proud to announce the latest lineup of local, culinary talent expected to open throughout 2021. In addition, a select group of culinary tenants will participate in the first-ever The Works Hoppy Easter event on Saturday, April 3 from noon to 9:00 pm.
Chattahoochee Food Works, curated by Robert Montwaid, creator of New York’s Gansevoort Market and Emmy and James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, will introduce a total of 31 culinary tenants to the industrial-glam food hall this coming year. The beautifully crafted indoor and outdoor, full-service bar is slated to open in the coming weeks. The outdoor patio is perfect for enjoying a cocktail and soon-to-come special events and appearances.
The most recently signed food hall tenants, include Belen de la Cruz – Empanadas & PastriesCubanos ATL, Hippie Hibachi, Philly G Steaks, and Monster Cravings. All of the vendors to date are Atlanta-owned, small businesses. The 22,000-foot food hall acts as an opportunity for local owners to either jump start their culinary concept or transition from a food truck or online business to a brick and mortar.
Owner Robert Montwaid said, “This is an impactful moment for the Atlanta culinary community. My partner Andrew Zimmern and I are thrilled to provide a space where owners can kick-off their vision and see it come to life. We are here to support and provide consult to every culinary owner who comes on board. We want them to succeed, find their audience, and share their family or original recipes with our guests. We think of Chattahoochee Food Works as a tight knit community within our thriving city. This is “the” place Atlantan’s and those visiting our city will desire to be.”
The Makers Building that houses Chattahoochee Food Works is located on The Works property, an 80-acre, adaptive mixed-use development in the heart of Atlanta’s Upper Westside. Additional retailers include Ballard Designs, BOBO Intriguing Objects, Les Mains Nail Bar, and others.
Currently, the list of food hall vendors includes seventeen that are soon-to-open:
  • From beautifully hand-crafted appetizers and rolls packed with a myriad of flavors to Signature Nigiri plates and Robata Grill options, Flying Fish owners Christine Nguyen and Johnny Cho are excited to bring their new concept to Atlantan’s. The beautiful space was curated and designed by Alex Kinjo
  • Bahn Mi Station is the second concept owned by Christine Nguyen and Johnny Cho, Banh Mi Station will bring traditional Vietnamese cuisine and authentic recipes to the food hall, serving some of Vietnam’s most famous food like bánh mì, pho, and Vermicelli Noodle bowls. Also curated and designed by Alex Kinjo.
  • Sakura Ramen Bar offers classic ramen flavors like Tonkotsu ramen and vegan, and broth-less ramen with beyond meatballs – all created with in-house made ingredients. Owned by Anna Grace, Sakura Ramen Bar will also offer a monthly chef tasting menu with sake pairing, a variety of yakitori selections along with appetizers you would find in traditional izakaya’s such as Takoyaki’s and gyozas. Online ordering, catering, and delivery will be available too. Designed by Alex Kinjo.
  • Sakura Gift is a unique, Japanese gift shop that will showcase rare Japanese whiskey, an array of Japanese sake and sake tasting bar along with beer and boutique wines. Owner Anna Grace is excited to welcome you to this unique space, created by Alex Kinjo who wanted to share a taste of traditional Japanese culture with the locals. The store will also sell sake ware, Japanese fashion, and offer monthly sake and sushi pairing events and ikebana (Japanese floral arrangement) classes.
  • Monster Cravings, owned and created by Veronica Dalzon, are the freshest, handcrafted cookies Atlanta has ever tasted. Veronica has been known to say that her cookies are even better than your grandmother’s cookies! Addicting cookie flavors such as PB&J, Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies & Cream, or the vibrantly colored Bam Bam cookie, topped off with fruity cereal, are just a few customer favorites.
  • After living in several countries, Argentinean native Belen de la Cruz landed in Atlanta and finally felt it was the right place for her to pursue her long-time entrepreneurial dream of opening Belen de la Cruz – Empanadas & Pastries, an Argentinean empanadas shop. Currently Belen and her two brothers run two shops where menu offerings include delicious Argentinean empanadas including beef, chicken, cheese, and veggie as well as traditional desserts.
  • Cubanos ATL has quickly become a go-to spot for authentic Cuban sandwiches and Cuban style coffee. Cuban-born, Owner Ozzy Llanes, and his team craft his authentic Cuban sandwiches using locally and organically sourced ingredients. Ozzy is delighted to share his kitchen, his family’s recipes, and his love of Cuban food.
  • Hippie Hibachi will be the first, hibachi spot to debut in Atlanta that offers vegan dishes on the menu. The concept was created by Joshua Brock when he chose to live a healthy, vegan lifestyle, but could not find many dining options for himself. Joshua’s menu is based on classic hibachi style whereas guests can choose a protein such as Teriyaki chicken, shrimp, or plant-based meat, paired with a variety of vegetables, fried rice, and Hippie Hibachi’s house made Vegan Yum Yum sauce.
  • Philly G Steaks will offer an authentic, ribeye Philly Cheese Steak created by Philadelphia born Gordon Brown. Currently located at Sweet Auburn Curb Market.
  • Pomodoro Bella is a new Italian concept from long-time, culinary industry cohorts and pizza fanatics, James Semanisin and Byars Parham. In addition to pizza and pasta, marketplace items such as make-at-home meal kits, house made sauces, pasta, Italian desserts, and more will be offered. Pomodoro Bella will have an exclusive ordering window located on the expansive outdoor patio and will be open later than the daily food hall hours.
  • Baker Dude founded by Orran Booher, is “more than just frosting.” Orran’s artistic cake work is in the form of cupcakes, cookies, and beautiful cakes but the long-time, pastry pro will also offer an array of savory and sweet breakfast and lunch creations too.
  • Baked Kitchen South African Street Food Owner, Allan Katzef, takes pride in sharing his home-country’s cuisine with Atlantans. Patrons will find a variety of South African dishes such as The Burri Don Dawg, South African boerewors (a type of sausage) and Sosaties, a lamb and apricot skewer grilled to perfection. Evolving, weekly red-eye specials ranging from vegan-friendly burgers to out of the ordinary sandwiches will also be featured.
  • Atlanta’s famous Morelli’s Ice Cream owned by husband-and-wife team Donald Sargent and Clarissa Morelli. Chattahoochee Food Works will be the ice cream dream team’s fourth location.
  • TydeTate Kitchen, a family-owned and operated catering business located in Lawrenceville, Georgia that will serve home-style comfort Thai food.
  • Unbelibubble Tea House will offer handcrafted bubble tea using homemade ingredients by husband-and-wife team, Alex Yoon Kim and Mindy Kim offer. Experience almost 50 bubble tea variations tailored to meet customers’ tastes.
  • Graffiti Breakfast will feature breakfast staples with a southern twist and will “pay it forward” by using local ingredients from Atlanta’s urban farms. This will be the first location for husband-and-wife team, Chef Marcus James Waller and Tonya Waller.
  • Taqueria La Luz, a new Mexican street food concept crafted exclusively for Chattahoochee Food Works by co-owners of Midtown Atlanta icon Zocalo, brother and sister twins Luis Martinez-Obregon and Lucero Martinez-Obregon.
About Chattahoochee Food Works
Chattahoochee Food Works is located at 1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW in the Makers Building at The Works. It will feature 31 food stalls and an extensive outdoor patio covering 22,000 square feet in total, that will offer a collective of global culinary vendors. Additional features include chef-driven demonstrations, intimate events, and artisanal market shops.
Owner Robert Montwaid, creator of New York’s Gansevoort Market, and celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, are the curators behind Chattahoochee Food Works and are currently selecting vendors.
Robert Montwaid is the former owner of one of the top ten nightclubs in the world, The Pink Elephant, which formally occupied spots in New York City, Hamptons, Mexico, and Brazil. Montwaid will blend his 15-plus years of craft cocktail and entertainment experience with Chattahoochee Food Works in the form of an industrial-glam, center-style, indoor and outdoor bar, and welcoming lounge. Ample public seating, a retractable glass wall, and eye-catching chandeliers that dot the clerestory ceiling are a few of the bar and lounge featured highlights. A simple menu with high-level offerings such as a raw bar, champagne and prosecco list, craft cocktails, and charcuterie will be available.
ORIGINAL RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 202
Pomodoro Bella, Baker Dude, and Baked Kitchen South African Street Food
Highly anticipated food hall, Chattahoochee Food Works, curated by Robert Montwaid, creator of New York’s Gansevoort Market and Emmy and James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, will open this fall at The Works, a Selig Development located in the heart of Atlanta’s Upper Westside. Three new tenants, Pomodoro Bella, Baker Dude, and Baked Kitchen South African Street Food have confirmed participation as part of the new 31-vendor, 22,000 square-foot space including an extensive outdoor patio.
Pomodoro Bella
An Italian concept from long-time, culinary industry cohorts, James Semanisin, General Manager and chef, and Chef Byars Parham, most recently Executive Chef of Cru Food & Wine Bar at Avalon. James shared, “Why pizza? We are both pizza fanatics and love good, fresh ingredients. As chefs, we only work with the best produce and cheese we can source and will be dedicated to finding and using the perfect tomato.” Byars added, “One of the most interesting parts of our stall will be the dough room where patrons can catch a glimpse of us working giant sheets of dough for our house-made pasta and pizza. Working dough is an art. The right ingredients and the right vision are key. We brought in a Forno Bravo oven that we will fire up at 600-700 degrees — our pizzas will cook quickly in 1-2 minutes.”
In addition to pizza and pasta, marketplace items such as make-at-home meal kits that will vary weekly, house made sauces, pasta, Italian desserts, and more will be offered. Pomodoro Bella will have an exclusive ordering window located on the expansive outdoor patio and will be open later than the daily food hall hours.
Baker Dude
Founder Orran Booher, began baking Christmas cakes as a teenager in Kingston Jamaica where he grew up. His Christmas cakes became so popular that he started to outsell his talented baker mom who taught him this trade. At the age of twenty, he moved to the United States and raised his cake game to include decadent fondant-style cakes and European-style desserts so he could express his artistic ability. Fast forward more than a decade and patrons can now find miniature versions of Orran’s artistic cake work in the form of cupcakes at his pastry shop Baker Dude at The Beacon Atlanta.
Orran shared, “After years of baking birthday cakes for colleagues and family, it was a no-brainer to bag corporate life and lead with my passion — art. I’m a strong creative so there is nothing I would rather do than use my art and tasty cupcakes to make our guests smile. Right now, our world can use all the happy it can get — my goal is to provide that to anyone who comes to our new stall.” Guests will find “more than just frosting” at the Baker Dude. The pastry pro will offer an array of savory and sweet creations in addition to cupcakes such as the Bou-Cake, a beautiful, seven cupcake bouquet. Menu items include, Super Ah-Vocado Toast, the must-have Farmer’s Market Egg Wrap, Classic Quiches, mouth-watering Plum Galettes, scrumptious blondies and an array of vegan, gluten-free, keto, and paleo treats.
Baked Kitchen South African Street Food
Owner, Allan Katzef, culinary arts graduate of The Art Institute of Atlanta, wanted to learn everything there was to understand about how to open and successfully run a restaurant. “My inspiration for our Baked Kitchen food truck was driven from attending music festivals around the nation. Long lines and mediocre food offerings — I wanted to bring my South African-inspired menu to these spots and share exceptional food with great folks while my team and I could enjoy the surroundings. Now that my food truck business has grown, we feel it is time to set up a brick and mortar.” His girlfriend, Kelsie Lam, will design their new food stall and include elements that are a nod to Allan’s birthplace, South Africa.
Allan takes pride in sharing his home-country’s cuisine with Atlantans. Patrons will find dishes such as The Burri Don Dawg, South African boerewors (a type of sausage) in a toasty baguette topped with caramelized onions, cheese sauce, monkey gland sauce and guacamole, garnished with scallions. Another inspired creation is Sosaties, lamb and apricot skewers grilled to perfection and coated with a heavy layer of apricot jalapeno barbecue sauce and paired with a side of yellow wild rice and a South African delicacy called Pap, which is mielie-meal — a course flour mixed with water. Baked Kitchen South African Street Food will also feature an evolving, weekly red-eye special ranging from vegan-friendly burgers to out of the ordinary sandwiches and various off-the-cuff dishes. Look out for Allan’s Dragon Sauce too — what’s in it? We can’t tell ya!
The first round of recently released tenants included:
  • Atlanta’s famous Morelli’s Ice Cream, owned by husband and wife team Donald Sargent and Clarissa Morelli. Chattahoochee Food Works will be the ice cream dream team’s fourth location.
  • TydeTate Kitchen, a family-owned and operated catering business located in Lawrenceville, Georgia that will serve home-style comfort Thai food.
  • Babakabab!, the decade-old food truck known for their authentic Lebanese barbecue dishes and bowls as well as a variety of grilled kebabs and falafel, owned by Samer Bakri and Mark Haddad.
  • Unbelibubble Tea House will offer handcrafted bubble tea using homemade ingredients by husband and wife team, Alex Yoon Kim and Mindy Kim offer. Experience almost 50 bubble tea variations tailored to meet customers’ tastes.
  • Graffiti Breakfast will feature breakfast staples with a southern twist and will “pay it forward” by using local ingredients from Atlanta’s urban farms. This will be the first location for husband and wife team, Chef Marcus James Waller and Tonya Waller.
  • Taqueria La Luz, a new Mexican street food concept crafted exclusively for Chattahoochee Food Works by co-owners of Midtown Atlanta icon Zocalo, brother and sister twins Luis Martinez-Obregon and Lucero Martinez-Obregon.
About Chattahoochee Food Works
Chattahoochee Food Works is located at 1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW in the Makers Building at The Works. It will feature 31 food stalls and an extensive outdoor patio covering 22,000 square feet that will offer a collective of global culinary vendors. Additional features include chef-driven demonstrations, intimate events, a test kitchen, and artisanal market shops.
Owner Robert Montwaid, creator of New York’s Gansevoort Market, and celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, are the curators behind Chattahoochee Food Works and currently selecting vendors for a fall 2020 opening.
Robert Montwaid is the former owner of one of the top ten nightclubs in the world, The Pink Elephant, which formally occupied spots in New York City, Hamptons, Mexico, and Brazil. Montwaid will blend his 15-plus years of craft cocktail and entertainment experience with Chattahoochee Food Works in the form of an industrial-glam, center-style, indoor and outdoor bar, and welcoming lounge. Ample public seating, a retractable glass wall, and eye-catching chandeliers that dot the clerestory ceiling are a few of the bar and lounge featured highlights. A simple menu with high-level offerings such as a raw bar, champagne and prosecco list, craft cocktails, and charcuterie will be available.

SUMMER SIPPIN’ ROSWELL 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/24/20

Runs August 1 to September 30

50 Participating Restaurants and Sips here.

Summer Sippin’ Roswell, a two-month beverage competition that typically occurs from June through July, will take place this year from August 1 through September 30. This event was created in 2016 as an industry support program by Roswell Inc, the city’s economic development organization, and in the event’s fifth year, more than 50 restaurants are competing to have their drink crowned ‘ Best Sip in Roswell’ 2020.

“With new safety standards and carryout options, Summer Sippin’ is a great way for our community to safely celebrate the end of summer and support our local food and beverage industry, which has felt the tremendous impact of COVID-19,” said Steve Stroud, executive director of Roswell Inc. To ensure the health and wellbeing of both our businesses and patrons, all participating restaurants will implement the following 5 ‘Sip Safely Standards’, which are in direct alignment with guidance provided by the State of Georgia, City of Roswell and CDC:

● Clean Restaurants Tabletops will be cleaned between diners, and entire facilities will be thoroughly and regularly cleaned, focusing on high-traffic areas.
● Wearing Masks. Employees will follow face-covering guidance per state and local ordinances.
● Frequent Hand Washing. Employees are trained on the importance and expectation of increased frequency of handwashing.
● Physical Distancing. Restaurants will comply with capacity and physical-distancing requirements in accordance with
state and local guidelines.
● Carryout & Delivery. Where possible, restaurants will offer carryout, curbside or delivery options.

Furthermore, the majority of participating restaurants will offer a carryout drink option in addition to serving their cocktail in-house, allowing patrons to participate in whichever way they choose. Carryout drink options include mocktails that can be “spiked” at home, DIY cocktail kits and hand-crafted cocktail mixes. During the two-month event, patrons are encouraged to order sips from participating restaurants, and then rate each sip they try on the Summer Sippin’ app or at SummerSippin.com. At the end of the event, based on the drink ratings, one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic drink will each win the title of ‘Best Sip in Roswell’ 2020. Patrons can also share their sippin’ experiences during the event using the hashtags #SipSafelyRoswell and #SummerSippin2020.

Participating restaurants for 2020 include: 1920 Tavern, Adele’s on Canton, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Bayou’Q, Big Oak Tavern, Brookwood Grill, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Café Lucia, Canton Street Beer Market, Ceviche Taqueria, Chipper’s Pub, Crazy Love Coffee House, Deep Roots Wine Market, Fellows Cafe, Fickle Pickle, Flying Biscuit Café, Foundation Social Eatery, Fresco Cantina Grille, From the Earth Brewing Company, Gate City Brewing, Gracious Plenty, HOLA! Taqueria & Bar, Houck’s Grille, Huh Natural & Real Food, Ipp’s on Canton Street, Johnny’s Pizza, Local on North – Roswell, Loyal Tavern, Lucky’s Burger and Brew, Marlow’s Tavern, Monterrey Roswell, Noca Eatery & Bar, Osteria Mattone, Peach & the Porkchop, Pinkies Up Beer and Wine, Pure Taqueria Roswell, Rock N Taco, Roswell Provisions, Scooter’s Coffee, Shanghai, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, Sublime Tree, Table & Main, Taqueria Tsunami, The Mill Kitchen & Bar, The Whiskey Project, Variant Brewing Company, VAS Kouzina, VG bistro + bar, Vin 25, and Zest Restaurant.

The full list of participating restaurants, drinks, descriptions and photos can be found at SummerSippin.com and on the Summer Sippin’ App, which is available in both Google Play and Apple App stores.

MISSION + MARKET LAUNCHES ASIAN POP, A POP-UP TAKEOUT EXPERIENCE

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/24/20

Now Available for Lunch + Dinner Monday Through Saturday

For Atlantans, Buckhead-based Mission + Market has become a go-to favorite since its inception in Spring 2018. Now, Atlanta mainstay and Executive Chef Ian Winslade is giving patrons more to savor with a “To Go” pop-up, called Asian POP, only offered through delivery and takeout.

Specializing in comforting Asian food featuring fresh flavors with Chinese and Thai influences, the budget-friendly Asian pop-up will be offered over the next couple of months with menu items ranging from $3-$15. The Asian POP menu is limited but packed full of flavor. Menu items include Honey Garlic Chicken with snow peas, carrots and scallions; Teriyaki Beef Tenderloin with mixed vegetables; Hanoi-Style Seared Salmon with yellow Thai Curry peanut sauce; Jumbo Lump Crab Curry with bean sprouts, vegetables, and rice noodles; Sesame Pot Stickers with chicken and citrus soy sauce; Crunchy Lettuces with shredded carrots and spicy peanut dressing; and more.

Winslade, who is also a partner in Mission + Market, is excited to launch a pop-up inside the restaurant and experiment, recipe test, and explore his favorite cuisines and flavor profiles while also doing market research. “Before COVID hit, we were looking at opening new concepts and actively reviewing locations for future projects. While those ideas have been put on hold temporarily, this is a moment in time where all rules are off. Right now, we have the perfect opportunity to innovate and do things differently while navigating COVID curveballs. I’m passionate about this cuisine and these flavor profiles, as they always have provided comfort to me…and who doesn’t need a little comfort right now.”

Asian POP by Mission + Market photography, full menu, and interviews with Executive Chef Ian Winslade are available.

WHAT:
Asian POP by Mission + Market is now open and operating via delivery and takeout only.

HOW:
Orders can be placed three ways:
1. Order by calling Mission + Market at 404-948-2927.
2. Order through Mission + Market’s website.
3. Order via third party delivery, including Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash.

WHEN:
Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 8:30pm | Friday: 11:30am – 9:00pm | Saturday: 4:00pm – 9:00pm

WHERE:
3550 Lenox Road NE
Suite 550
Atlanta, GA 30326

WEBSITE:
www.missionandmarketatl.com OR www.instagram.com/asianpopbymm

Featured photo by Hayley Langholtz

GETTABITE FOOD DISCOVERY APP LAUNCHES AMID TOUGH RESTAURANT LANDSCAPE, END UP HELPING THE INDUSTRY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/25/20

Relevant for today’s times, GettaBite app came roaring into the market with over 5k downloads in the first three months of 2020 after an early 2020 launch. They also garnered 300,000+ total deal views every month with 1,000+ restaurant deals featured weekly. People loved it and it quickly became their go-to app! So, going gangbusters would be a good term to describe the success of GettaBite. Then the pandemic hit. But, the founders Evan and Rain of GettaBite didn’t let that stop them from getting deals to it’s rabid fanbase and they pivoted to to-go deals, while offering restaurants free exposure during the tough time. Yes, FREE! GettaBite To-Go was born. Here’s how it worked:

“Restaurants can email GettaBite at contact@gettabiteapp.com or send in their pick-up/delivery offering through the app itself and GettaBite will post the offerings on the app for hungry Atlantans to see at no charge to the restaurant,” according to the Press Release from PR Firm, Via Failla.

Here’s what Co-Founder Rain Li said about this, “Around mid-March, Georgia had just started to close dining rooms due to coronavirus. It was like the whole restaurant industry went belly up overnight. That was particularly difficult for local businesses when they don’t have the resources like the chain restaurants do to cope with the lockdown. We were brainstorming that week as soon as we found out about the closures, trying to think of ways we can help the industry in the next 24 hours. Within a few days, the Gettabite To-go feature went live, free of charge for restaurants. We’ve dedicated a special section in our app showcasing, in real-time, restaurants that are open for takeouts and delivery or featuring deals on gift cards. The turn around time from the moment a restaurant contacts us to the app showing their deals can be as quick as in less than 30 mins. The following weeks we saw so many restaurants reaching out to be featured on our app and our users continuing to use our app even though they can’t dine in or do happy hours anymore. That was kind of light in the darkness moment because we saw a surge of people getting takeout/deliveries just so they can keep their local restaurants in business. There will always be crises in the world, it’s comforting to know your community will have your back no matter what. GettaBite has always been about connecting people and it was a validating moment for us as a company and members of our community.” This has become one of their most memorable experience to date from development to implementation with the app. We love that they did this so quickly to help the restaurant industry in their time of need!

So what exactly IS GettaBite? Are you looking for something new place for dinner or even a special deal on some tacos? You know we are! Enter: GettaBite. It’s the Atlanta based to-go and food deal app that’s made you’re next food adventure easier! From the brains of co-founders Evan Walker and Rain Li, who came up with the idea in college, it navigates all those food deals for you, so you don’t have to do it yourself! When you open up the GettaBite app it becomes readily apparent that you can find every type of food, deal, happy hour, discount available in your area. What’s amazing is as you move new deals will pop-up. Plus, something that Co-Founder Evan Walker said in the interview we conducted stuck with us, he said, “GettaBite is for people who want to get the most out of life without life getting the most out of their bank account. It’s free food discovery and we’ve done the hard and tedious work for you. Discover away.” If you know us, you know we’re all about the adventure, whatever that adventure may be. Food adventures shouldn’t have to stop right now OR break the bank. You could use it every day, especially those days where you turn to your partner, friend, or family member and say, “what do you feel like today?” This solves the ho-hum, cumbersome conversation that just ends up with you at the Mexican restaurant AGAIN. So, how does it work, and does it really work, you may ask?

Based on personal experience, it’s as simple as two words: download and open. We’re not kidding! We downloaded the app, opened it, and started finding deals near our house in minutes. That day we were looking for a good deal on our anniversary dinner, and wouldn’t you know it Bulla Gastrobar in Midtown was offering 35% off all their menu items and we wouldn’t have known without the app. Plus the cherry on top was the $25 pitcher of their white sangria! We also saw that a place we wanted to try in Chamblee, LaGarde Eatery was offering 10% off take-out. On another occasion, we found a great happy hour deal! It’s easy to navigate, just type in a key word or scroll around, you’ll find it. Co-founder Evan Walker had this to say about what he wants you to know about the app, it’s also happens to be one of his biggest accomplishments, “With respect to our users, it’s giving people access to information they didn’t previously have access to. Most restaurant specials are sitting on a chalkboard inside the restaurant. We’ve made that information accessible in an instant from any smartphone.”

Now, that we’ve enticed you this far wouldn’t you love to know more? We talked recently to the team at GettaBite and had an interesting conversation about everything from how they started, their favorite thing about the app, their most memorable moments, and the future of Gettabite. Let’s see what they had to say, shall we?

Adventures in Atlanta: How Did you get the idea for GettaBite?

Evan Walker: The idea for GettaBite struck me when I was in college. While eating at a restaurant with a friend, I was surprised to see how expensive my bill was when it came. My burger, fries, and a drink totaled $16 without a tip. As a broke college student, I knew eating out like that wouldn’t be sustainable or practical. But to me and my friends, eating out was an opportunity to wind down, laugh, talk about life, and enjoy one another’s company away from other distractions like TV, games, and the like. Who doesn’t love getting a bite with their best friends? A few weeks after my expensive burger incident, I found myself at another restaurant ordering another burger. This time was different, however. When the bill came, it was $6 total. It turned out this restaurant had a special that night for half off burgers and fries, so my buddies and I walked away with happy stomachs and happy wallets. Once I got home that night, I started researching all the other weekly specials in town and compiled a list. I began asking friends if they knew any of these specials by heart. No one did. I realized right then and there something was missing in the marketplace. That something is GettaBite.

Adventures in Atlanta: What’s your favorite thing to share with users about GettaBite?

Evan Walker: You know that moment when you first start feeling hungry, but don’t know what you want? That’s the moment we want to capture. True food discovery that doesn’t cost you anything. These aren’t coupons you buy for a later date. These are real time deals and specials that anyone can participate in at no additional cost. It’s information that makes deciding where to eat better and easier for everyone involved. Instead of searching the whole web or scanning your phone’s GPS for nearby food, GettaBite has already done all that work for you and presents you with a food discovery tool loaded with deals that are rewarding in both a gustatory and financial sense. AND it’s free.

Adventures in Atlanta: What have been your most memorable experiences throughout the development and implementation of GettaBite?

Evan Walker: I have been extremely fortunate to work together with wonderful and talented people. From brainstorming with our PR/Marketing team to designing GettaBite with my Co-founder and CTO Rain, I’m lucky to be constantly learning from (and surrounded by) passionate and intelligent people. Probably the most rewarding experiences to date are implementing new features and strategies together with our team and seeing the results roll in. Banal as it may be, the people are what make it worthwhile to me. Virtually everyone I’ve worked with to date on GettaBite, I would consider to be a good friend of mine.

Rain Li: Around mid-March, Georgia had just started to close dining rooms due to coronavirus. It was like the whole restaurant industry went belly up overnight. That was particularly difficult for local businesses when they don’t have the resources like the chain restaurants do to cope with the lockdown. We were brainstorming that week as soon as we found out about the closures, trying to think of ways we can help the industry in the next 24 hours. Within a few days, the Gettabite To-go feature went live, free of charge for restaurants. We’ve dedicated a special section in our app showcasing, in real-time, restaurants that are open for takeouts and delivery or featuring deals on gift cards. The turn around time from the moment a restaurant contacts us to the app showing their deals can be as quick as in less than 30 mins. The following weeks we saw so many restaurants reaching out to be featured on our app and our users continuing to use our app even though they can’t dine in or do happy hours anymore. That was kind of light in the darkness moment because we saw a surge of people getting takeout/deliveries just so they can keep their local restaurants in business. There will always be crises in the world, it’s comforting to know your community will have your back no matter what. GettaBite has always been about connecting people and it was a validating moment for us as a company and members of our community.

Adventures in Atlanta: What’s the one thing you’d like everyone to know about GettaBite?

Evan Walker: GettaBite is for people who want to get the most out of life without life getting the most out of their bank account. It’s free food discovery and we’ve done the hard and tedious work for you. Discover away.

Adventures in Atlanta: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment with GettaBite?

Evan Walker: It’s two-fold. With respect to our users, it’s giving people access to information they didn’t previously have access to. Most restaurant specials are sitting on a chalkboard inside the restaurant. We’ve made that information accessible in an instant from any smartphone. On the restaurant side, the sense of accomplishment is knowing that people are going to a specific restaurant because of a deal they saw on GettaBite. That’s a very real and tangible thing, especially amid the global pandemic we are facing. It feels good to know we are helping businesses in an industry that took a huge hit.

Adventures in Atlanta: Will you continue to have the to-go offers featured or will you change that out as the market changes?

Evan Walker: Only time will tell how the market will adapt and recover from this global pandemic, however GettaBite’s mission has always been to bring people together at restaurants in order to enjoy great food at a great price. There is something essential and human about gathering together over food. We hope to get back to that essential way of life as the situation improves. Until then, we will continue to do what we can to provide our users with to-go offers.

Rain Li: That depends on how the market changes. We would like to think that once the virus is over things will go back to normal, but that probably won’t be the case. Whatever it is, we will continue to be agile and adapt fast in the direction that benefits our users and restaurants.

Adventures in Atlanta: What future goals do you have for GettaBite? 

Evan Walker: We believe people in every major city should be able to discover food deals, happy hours, and specials in their respective cities at the touch of a button. We are entering another wave of technological achievements that are unprecedented. Some companies are looking to colonize Mars, some to prevent aging, some to create Artificial Intelligence, and yet happy hours are still only on available on chalkboards. GettaBite’s goal is to change that and to upgrade the way we discover food.

Rain Li: Some of our future goals involve releasing new features that will help users get the information they need quickly as well as enhancing the locality aspect of our app. We are constantly seeking feedback from our users and adjusting our product to better address people’s needs. Our vision is to create a platform that enhances the communities and cultures that already exist surrounding food, it’s all about connecting people.

Gettabite coming to your city? The possibilities are endless. Download the app here or from the app store/google play.

ATLANTA BEER AND WINE FESTIVALS INTRODUCE SAVE NOW DRINK LATER GIFTCARDS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/20/20

Save Now, Drink Later Gift Card

Can be used on any Atlanta Wine Festivals or Atlanta Beer Festivals events through 2022
Gift Cards will go on sale Wednesday, June 3 at 10am

Ticket link here.

Get tickets to 4 future events for just $119 and the first 250 sold will be just $99!
Good for 4 regular advance tickets to future events through Dec. 31, 2022. Tickets valid for Bottomless Drinks, General Admission or Advance Ticket types. For the following events a $35 credit will be applied to the ticket price: Atlanta Bourbon Festival, New Year’s Events, and Early Entry tickets to Atlanta Brunch Festival. Purchaser will be responsible to pay the balance due. (Any new events with an intro price higher than $35 will fall into this category as well.) Tickets must be redeemed online before each event; can not be used at the gate/door. Limit of 2 per person.

BONUS: Everyone who buys a Gift Card will be entered into a raffle for a weekend trip for 4 to Charleston that includes 2 rooms for 2 nights at a Hilton property (exact hotel based on availability) and 4 tickets to a Charleston Wine Festivals event. Can be used in 2020 or 2021.

Tickets here.

Sales tax and ticket fees will be added.

ATLANTA RESTAURANTS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENHANCE SAFETY MEASURES

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/17/20

Safety and Wellbeing of Staff and Guests Remain Top Priority as Dining Rooms Reopen

The restaurant industry has been devastated by COVID-19, causing closures and service industry employees to lose their jobs. Many establishments have turned to takeout and delivery to stay afloat while others remained completely closed. As the stay-at-home order has been lifted by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, restaurants are preparing to reopen, and some are going above and beyond required measures to ensure the safety of staff and guests.

Johnny’s Hideaway, the iconic Atlanta nightclub, has partnered with CleanWell, the exclusive certified applicator of Monofoil in the Southeast. Johnny’s is the first nightclub to use this nanotechnology-based cleaner that sticks to surfaces and provides protection for 30-60 days. It molecularly bonds to any surface and provides ongoing efficacy in physically killing pathogens that can carry viruses. CleanWell will come to Johnny’s every 45-60 days to reapply the cleaner.

Marlow’s Tavern has installed an upgraded Reme Halo air filtration system that kills 99% of all germs and viruses. They are temporarily installing plexiglass dividers between booths and sanitation stations throughout the taverns. Single-use paper menus and QR code menus will be available for guests to read on their phones. Marlow’s Tavern also will be controlling the number of guests entering the building.

Following the trend, Murphy’s owner Tom Murphy is taking proactive measures to implement new safety protocols and improve the air quality at his iconic Virginia-Highland restaurant with the installation of Synexis, a biodefense technology to reduce the opportunity for infectious microorganisms. Murphy’s is the first independent casual dining restaurant in Atlanta with this state-of-the-art microbial reduction system. Synexis is the same advanced technology used to continuously reduce bioburden in sectors such as schools and hospitals and is effective against airborne and surface viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek are also implementing increased precautions to ensure a healthy, safe environment for all guests and employees. Added precautions include installing UV lights by Global Plasma System to combat dangerous pathogens and viruses that may be in the air, single-use menus, contactless pay options, plexiglass booth dividers and more.

Rock ‘N’ Taco, Roswell’s late-night, gourmet taqueria spot, has taken several steps to ensure a safe reopening. While the eatery was closed, the team renovated, updated décor and strategized on how to serve their guests safely. All employees are now required to wear masks and practice extensive hygiene protocols. They have a handsfree, virtual menu so that guests do not have to unnecessarily touch anything. Rock ‘N’ Taco is opening its six, large garage doors to encourage patrons to eat on the patio so that everyone is getting fresh, clean air. Additionally, the restaurant has made more room on the patio by roping off some of its large parking lot for extra, spaced-out seating.

Taco Mac is following strict sanitation guidelines upon reopening and implementing several additional safety recommendations from the local, state and federal governments, as well as the CDC. Staff performs a thorough cleaning and sanitation of the entire restaurant before opening a dining room, utilizing ready-to-use peroxide disinfectant to regularly spray all contact surfaces. All employees are required to wear masks while in the building. Taco Mac has installed sanitation stations throughout the restaurant and removed all caddies and condiments from tables. Team members will bring out sanitized salt and pepper shakers as well as single-use condiments upon request. Dining areas have been rearranged for intentional social distancing through limited seating as well as planned traffic flow and taped six-foot markings in key areas to show guests where to stand when waiting. Taco Mac is continuously monitoring the situation and applying additional measures as needed. View detailed guidelines and safety measures here.

It is important for people’s livelihoods that these restaurants reopen, and guests need to know that their health and safety is of the upmost importance to the owners of these establishments. As patrons return to their favorite local restaurants, they can take comfort knowing restaurants have gone above and beyond to enhance protocols for their wellbeing.

GEORGIA MUSIC PARTNERS AND GENER8TOR ANNOUNCE COVID-19 RESPONSE PROGRAM

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/11/20

Free Webinar Series Serving Georgia Music Industry Will Run Daily, on Weekdays, May 11-15 at Noon
Georgia Music Partners (GMP), the state’s premier music business advocacy group, in partnership with gener8tor, a startup and artist accelerator program, announced today a new initiative supporting Georgia artists and music businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Under the Georgia Emergency Response Program, participants will have access to a free webinar series designed to identify and leverage critical resources in order to weather this ongoing public crisis.

As a part of the program, participants will be invited to lunchtime webinars presented by experts who will cover a variety of actionable topics designed to help participants both financially and emotionally, irrespective of one’ career stage. In addition, several Listening Sessions with A&R reps and artists will be available for musicians to get feedback on their music and make connections with industry professionals. Current webinar schedule is below:

  • Monday, May 11
    • 12PM ET: “Federal Loan Resources and Forgiveness: What You Need To Know” ft. Roshanda Naulls (Aprio) & Tate Henshaw (Polay Clark & Co)
    • 1PM ET: Listening Session with Delante Murphy, A&R Manager, EMPIRE
  • Tuesday, May 12
    • 12PM ET: “Growing Your Audience and Making Money Online: How to Use Twitch to Bolster Your Career During Lockdown” ft. Karen Allen, Author, Twitch for Musicians
    • 1PM ET: Listening Session with Brian Johnston, Senior Director of A&R, Atlantic Records
  • Wednesday, May 13
    • 12PM ET: “How to Build and Leverage Your Digital Presence During COVID-19” ft. Jay Gilbert, Co-Founder, Digital Strategy, Label Logic
    • 1PM ET: Listening Session with Country & pop with Brandon Bush, Sugarland
  • Thursday, May 14
    • 12PM ET: “Multi-Platinum Case Studies on How to Grow Your Brand Via Instagram and TikTok” ft. Bernie Lawrence-Watkins, Attorney, B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates, PC
    • 1PM ET: “Personal and Business Finance Best Practices During COVID-19” ft. Chris Benner & DiAndira Green, Bennett Thrasher
  • Friday, May 15
    • 12PM ET: “Mental Health and Wellness from Musicians and Business Owners” ft. Ami Bedi, MA LPC NCC, Riverwalk Psychotherapy Associates

GMP and gener8tor will also host one-on-one consultations with participants in order to answer questions and walk through resources available to musicians and businesses at this time.

“The music industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, especially due to the suspension of all live touring activity,” said Shachar Oren, GMP’s President. “We are thankful for gener8tor’s partnership in producing this wonderful program gratis for our creative music community and music businesses, many of which are small businesses. We are dedicated to doing all we can to sustain our music business community through this crisis so that we can emerge strong on the other side of it, and we hope that our community will take advantage of this offering and find it useful and actionable.”

“We have seen firsthand the impact that the music industry has on a community, and we hope to call on our network of mentors, industry professionals and partners to support artists and businesses at this time,” said Joe Kirgues, gener8tor co-founder. “Our goal is for everyone to come out on the other end of this crisis as strong as possible to ensure a continued thriving music scene in Georgia.”

Registration for the program is free. Interested artists, musicians, and creatives may visit www.gener8tor.com/emergency-response-program/georgia to register. The program will kick off on Monday, May 11 and run through Friday, May 15. All Georgia-based musicians and music industry businesses are welcome to apply.

About Georgia Music Partners: Georgia Music Partners is a not-for-profit organization founded with the mission to help Georgia’s music industry grow to promote job growth and culture in the state of Georgia. Georgia Music Partners managed to pass the Georgia Music Investment Act in 2017, which then went into effect in January 2018 and creates a new tax incentive for music production in Georgia. GMP is currently working to pass a fix bill to further this overall mission. Visit www.georgiamusicpartners.org to learn more about GMP and our advocacy work.

About gener8tor: gener8tor’s turnkey platform for the creative economy connects startup founders, musicians, artists, investors, universities and corporations. The gener8tor platform includes pre-accelerators, accelerators, corporate programming, conferences and fellowships. Visit https://www.gener8tor.com to learn more.

OLIVA RESTAURANTS RETURNS TO SERVICE MONDAY, MAY 18

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/11/20

OLIVA RESTAURANTS RETURNS TO SERVICE MONDAY, MAY 18
All Four Sister Concepts Will Offer Curbside Pickup &
Take-Out Featuring Special To-Go Menus

Oliva Restaurants is thrilled to announce the reopening of all four of its Atlanta concepts next Monday, May 18. After closing Aziza, Bellina Alimentari, Falafel Nation, and Rina on March 16, each restaurant will begin offering limited menus featuring many local favorites along with a few surprises for curbside pickup and take-out.

“We made the extremely hard decision to remain closed for the last two months to help support the global efforts combatting the pandemic. It is an incredible feeling to reopen our doors to the Atlanta community and have our Oliva family in the restaurants again,” said Tal Baum, proprietor of Oliva Restaurants. “We carefully planned our reopening to ensure a safe environment for team members and customers alike. Our industry is all about creating memorable moments and connecting people. We see the current circumstances as an opportunity to reinvent what we do and engage with our guests on a different level, even from a distance.”

Aziza returns to showcasing the best of Israel by offering both modern and comforting Middle Eastern dishes, as well as a number of multi-course options. The menu will change daily and highlight produce from local farm friends. The popular Full Experience menu will be offered as a multi-course dinner and will include salatim, a family-style entrée, two sides, and dessert. Weekly Shabbat Dinner will be available for preorder for Friday pick up. There are a few other exciting surprises that are in the works and will be announced on social media. Aziza’s full wine list and special to-go cocktails, a delectable pastry basket with Aziza’s famous breads and pastries, as well as several a la carte options, are all at diners fingertips.

Hours of Operation: 3 PM – 8:30 PM | White Provisions – 1170 Howell Mill Road NW | 404-968-9437 | aziza-restaurant.com

Bellina Alimentari brings Italian comfort to quarantine with family-sized dishes including lasagna, pomodoro, ragù, meatballs, and a salad; the Bellina Family Meal with polpette and pane, a family-sized pasta, salad, chocolate truffles, and a bottle of wine; the Salumeria Antipasti Box with half of a schiacciata, three types of charcuterie, three types of cheese, marinated olives, marinated artichokes, a family-sized salad, and a bottle of wine; fresh pasta kits; as well as Aperol Spritz and Negroni cocktail kits. They will also be serving a menu of Salumeria and Alimentari goods such as fresh pasta, pasta sauces, olive oils, and schiacciata (by the pound) from the Bellina in-house Italian market, antipasti, pasta dishes, panini, sides, dessert, and a selection of natural wines from the Wine Bar.

Hours of Operation: 12 PM – 8 PM  | Ponce City Market – 675 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE | 404-330-9933 | bellina-alimentari.com

Falafel Nation is set to serve the Falafel Nation meal for two featuring a selection of two pita or chopped salad, two orders of fries, two cookies, and two sodas; and the Falafel Nation Deluxe meal with a selection of eight falafel or Sabich pita, a side of hummus, a side of tahini, a sauce trio, Israeli salad, Israeli slaw, fries, two pitas, two cookies, and two sodas. A la carte options are also available and patio seating will be open.

Hours of Operation: 12 PM – 8 PM | White Provisions – 1170 Howell Mill Road NW | 470-355-9951 | falafelnation.com


Rina is cooking up a family meal featuring a main course, a choice of three mezze, a side of rice pilaf, two pita, hummus, tahini, a sauce trio, and dessert; and regular menu items including mezze options, a selection of hummus, Amba Chicken, Beef Kababs, Falafel Salad, Halloumi with charred vegetables, Chicken Shawarma, Arayas, and more will be available. Perfect for Spring, Rina’s Backyard Grilling kit with skewers, salads, and sides are sure to be a hit. Add on to-go cocktails and boozy milkshakes and guests will feel like they are carried to a faraway land. The patio and to-go window on the Atlanta Beltline will be open for orders.
Hours of Operation: 12 PM – 8 PM | Ford Factory Lofts – 699 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE | 404-343-0362 | rinakitchen.com

To order, view the full menus online and place an order through each restaurant website or call the restaurant directly.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, Oliva Restaurants remains committed to putting the health and well-being of our team members and guests first. Each restaurant will be following all CDC guidelines and taking the necessary steps to ensure safety. All staff will be practicing social distancing and have been provided guidelines to return to work. They will also be required to take their temperature before their shift. Oliva Restaurants will be providing PPE for all staff and plans to increase an already rigorous standard of cleanliness