Tag Archive for: atlanta

FRONTLINE DINE INITIATIVE 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/9/20

TRUE STORY BRANDS LAUNCHES “FRONTLINE DINE” INITIATIVE WITH SPANX BY SARA BLAKELY FOUNDATION TO DELIVER MEALS TO WORKERS AT CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA

Starting 4/10, Atlanta Hospitality Group will Cook & Deliver Thousands of Meals to Healthcare Workers 

With meal deliveries beginning this week, True Story Brands (10 Degrees South, Yebo Beach Haus, Biltong Bar) is set to deliver nearly 2,500 meals per week to workers of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as part of new “Frontline Dine” initiative. The initiative is funded by Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation, the charitable arm of Spanx that has donated millions of dollars to charities around the world since its inception in 2006.

The idea for Frontline Dine was born as a collaboration between longtime friends Justin Anthony, Founder of True Story Brands, Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx, and her entrepreneur husband Jesse Itzler, who see it as a way to help provide for two communities: the hospitality and healthcare industries. Over the course of two weeks, with hopes to continue longer, the initiative will be responsible for delivering nearly 2,500 meals a week to workers at three Children’s campuses (Scottish Rite, Egleston and Hughes Spalding) during shift change.

Prepared at Biltong Bar at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, the meals will feature traditional South African dishes like Savory and Sweet Curry with chicken or beef and Peri-Peri Chicken. Ideation and execution of the menu will derive from Anthony’s parents, Derek and Diane, who are also the Executive Chef team behind True Story Brands’ flagship restaurant 10 Degrees South. Derek and Diane Anthony, along with Biltong Bar’s Chef plan to serve a menu that honors the South African tradition of convivial, family-style dining while also supplying healthcare workers with hearty and nutritious meals to help get them through this challenging time. In March, Anthony’s young cousin was diagnosed with a severe case of coronavirus and was cared for by the staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. She is now on the road to recovery, but Anthony says his cousin’s experience at Scottish Rite played a large role in his decision to take action. He, along with staff from True Story Brands’ temporarily closed restaurants, will deliver meals to each Children’s campus.

“Now more than ever, it’s important to do our part to help the community and we’re so proud to announce this initiative in collaboration with the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation,” says Anthony. “Not only will it help those on the frontlines battling COVID-19, but this will help provide work for True Story staff who have been temporarily furloughed because of the pandemic.”

RALLY WITH #ATLFAMILYMEAL TO SUPPORT ATLANTA’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/5/20

Setting the Table to Feed, Nurture, and Support Atlanta’s Hospitality Industry.

Link to our full article on City Lifestyle as well: https://citylifestyle.com/atlanta-ga/articles/life-and-culture/rally-with-atlfamilymeal-?utm_source=Influencer&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=liz-and-john-attaway

Help. Support. Come together. Do good. These are not new concepts. As humans, in good times its harder to look past your own situation to see others in need, but in bad, it’s amazing how it brings us together and makes us stronger. With the onslaught of hospitality worker unemployment or under employment, a slew of non-profits and charities have popped up to answer the desperate call of the industry. We’re living in unprecedented times at the moment, and it’s all we can do is if we have the means to pitch in. They were there for us, giving us advice, cooking us delicious meals, and taking care of our every need, and now they need us! From charities that have always been doing good, like Giving Kitchen, to the growing list of newbies, #ATLFAMILYMEAL is answering the call to help feed your favorite bartender, sous chef, and everyone from the industry in need.

In a nutshell, #ATLFAMILYMEAL’s mission, “is to feed, nurture and support hospitality workers and their families experiencing hunger and joblessness in the metro Atlanta community.” They’ll leverage all of their industry knowledge, supply chain, and workers to coordinate, deliver, and feed Atlanta’s hospitality community. We took a moment to talk to Michael Lennox of Electric Hospitality, which Muchacho, Golden Eagle, and Lady Bird are a part of, about his #ATLFAMILYMEAL initiative and here’s the take-aways from that conversation.

Adventures in Atlanta: How did you come up with #ATLFamilyMeal? 

Michael Lennox: “#ATLFAMILYMEAL is the result of looking around and seeing the potential for almost every Atlanta-area restaurant and hospitality company closing their doors, leaving hundreds of thousands of hospitality workers without jobs. The majority of people in the hospitality community live paycheck-to-paycheck. If that means there are a ton of chefs and cooks out of work, we all still know how to cook, we all still have access to food, so the idea behind ATLFAMILYMEAL is that we can rally together as a hospitality community to raise money to help pay for food, staff to cook it, prepare meals for out of work hospitality workers and use technology to deliver it to their doorstep. After I started telling people about the idea, an inspiring and surreal amount of positive energy started bubbling to the surface, culminating with a lot of people wanting to do something but not having an outlet to get organized effectively en masse. We also recently filed for 501(c)(3) designation, so donations are tax deductible, and as we continue picking up speed with #ATLFAMILYMEAL, I think what we have now is a powerful channel for as many in the industry as possible to focus our energy and resources under one flag to feed as many hospitality workers as possible.”

Adventures in Atlanta: What’s the most important/one thing you want people to know about #ATLFamilyMeal?

Michael Lennox: “The most important thing to know about #ATLFAMILYMEAL is our ability to scale. We are working with some of the smartest minds and best resources across food and technology with the goal of ultimately helping hundreds of thousands of newly unemployed hospitality workers across the metro Atlanta area gain access to free meals each week. During this increasingly challenging time, we noticed that it had become difficult for those in the hospitality industry to consistently have access to meals, so we are grateful for the overwhelmingly positive response to our efforts. It’s going to take a united effort from the hospitality community to cast as wide of a net as is needed, so we are really banging the drum and inviting everyone into our tent.  We are excited to watch #ATLFAMILYMEAL grow as we move forward and build up our network.”

Adventures in Atlanta: Could you tell us a little bit more about how someone would apply/what’s the process for aid through #ATLFamilyMeal? Who qualifies?

Michael Lennox: “Currently, restaurant and hospitality businesses can apply through the Restaurant Signup page on atlfamilymeal.org. Once they have been onboarded into our system, our technology allows for a seamless collection of their employee contact information, so that we can begin delivering meals right to their doorsteps.

We’re also working closely with other businesses in our network and adding their employees to our system so they can start receiving free meals in the weeks ahead. Our goal is to eventually open sign-up directly to hospitality workers in the community, but in the meantime, we encourage hospitality workers in metro Atlanta to reach out to their employer and encourage them to apply to #ATLFAMILYMEAL.”

Adventures in Atlanta: Is there anything else you’d like to emphasize beyond what’s in the backgrounder or on the website? 

Michael Lennox: “We wanted to create an all-encompassing community for hospitality and restaurant workers, as well as business owners, to rely on for up-to-date information, relevant resources, food, and other essential supplies. While we are still in the early stages of implementation, we are confident that growing our community and contacts will lead to exponential growth, support, and impact.”

Adventures in Atlanta: What’s your plans for #ATLFAMILYMEAL beyond the COVID-19 crisis?

Michael Lennox: “#ATLFAMILYMEAL is a nonprofit created amid COVID-19, but our mission is much larger than the current crisis at hand. We plan for the tools, resources, and foundations we’ve developed to continue assisting hospitality workers in the future. Beyond this crisis, our purpose is to continue broadening our reach and offer a growing digital library of resources for the hospitality community. This will include everything from Georgia Restaurant Association-supplied advocacy and regulatory updates, to crowdsourced best practices surrounding things like banking and cash flow, to a variety of health and wellness resources, and more, so we can help hospitality businesses and workers get back to work. Last but not least, we see big opportunities to build on the momentum being generated right now to advocate for a stronger safety net for the hospitality community so we are better prepared if and when another pandemic or crisis occurs in the future.”

Adventures in Atlanta: Anything else you’d like to add? 

Michael Lennox: “Since launching #ATLFAMILYMEAL last week with the help of participating chefs and hospitality groups like Gina and Linton Hopkins, Electric Hospitality (Golden Eagle, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, Muchacho), King of Pops, Fox Bros., and more, we’ve delivered approximately 2,600 free meals to hospitality workers across Atlanta, and in the coming weeks, our goal is to exceed 100,000 meals per week. These deliveries are currently happening twice a week and we couldn’t be more proud of our diverse and elite leadership team from the hospitality industry, business, and nonprofit world here in Atlanta.  A $20 donation supplies 4 meals to a hospitality worker in need, and donations can be made on our website (atlfamilymeal.org), so we encourage anyone who is interested in learning more and donating to the cause to please check us out online and follow along on social media. In spite of this being a tragic moment for so many, we are inspired by the way that Atlanta has been rallying around this cause so far and are positive that we are going to get through this together.”

So, by using their network and resources, leveraging donations, they’ve created a place for anyone in the industry to find their next meal. Did you see their goal to send out exceed 100,000 meals a week? That’s amazing. We’re in! Are you ready to donate? Get involved? Find out more about #ATLFAMILYMEAL? Go to atlfamilymeal.org and start your journey!

Photos provided by Luke Beard via Blue Hominy PR.

#ATLFAMILYMEAL LAUNCHES TO HELP HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/25/20

#ATLFAMILYMEAL is a community of Atlanta area chefs, restaurant owners, hospitality workers, and business/non-profit leaders rallying together to help the Atlanta hospitality community and its people survive and thrive. In the hospitality industry, “family meal” is a universal slang that encompasses the sacred time before or after a shift where the entire restaurant staff comes together, breaks bread over a humble, hearty meal, enjoys each other’s company, and finds their center. Chefs and hospitality groups who are actively participating in this effort include Gina and Linton Hopkins, Electric Hospitality (Golden Eagle, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, Muchacho), King of Pops, Fox Bros., and more.

MISSION + VISION: The mission of #ATLFAMILYMEAL is to help feed, nurture, and support hospitality workers during and immediately after the COVID-19 crisis by activating and connecting the Atlanta restaurant community unlike ever before. There are more than 500,000 hospitality industry workers in the state of Georgia, and more than half of this group live and work in the metro Atlanta area. The majority of these hospitality industry workers live paycheck to paycheck and have found themselves jobless overnight.

This initiative involves a united front across the industry supply chain, with extraordinary teamwork, communication, and a commitment to attain a common goal––doing whatever it takes to feed the ATL restaurant family. #ATLFAMILYMEAL is a newly-formed nonprofit with end-to-end logistics capabilities actively seeking funding, sponsorships, and in-kind donations to purchase, prepare, and deliver free “family meals” to the doorstep of hospitality workers across the metro Atlanta area, potentially employing hundreds (or thousands) of out-of-work hospitality professionals in the process.

ABOUT: Spearheaded by Michael Lennox, CEO & Founder of Electric Hospitality (Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, Golden Eagle, Muchacho), the #ATLFAMILYMEAL movement is focused on building a virtual dinner table for the community to gather, share ideas, leverage resources, feed, and provide support for hospitality workers experiencing distress. ATLFAMILYMEAL, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit that is in the process of seeking its 501(c)(3) designation, and is actively building a leadership team and raising funds to support the following areas of focus:

(1) building and nurturing an online community engaging around ways to help the hospitality community survive and thrive

(2) aggregating, combining, and deploying existing assets in the community (food, money, production space, hospitality leadership and personnel, delivery vehicles) and pairing them with sophisticated logistics/distribution software to route “family meals” across the city to feed tens of thousands of hospitality workers in their homes in metro Atlanta

(3) supporting Georgia Restaurant Association’s (GRA) vital advocacy work on behalf of the restaurant and hospitality industry

HOW WILL IT WORK:

  1. #ATLFAMILYMEAL will take existing resources in the community (food, people, money, delivery vehicles) and connect them in a new way to create temporary links in the supply chain and local economy that have disintegrated during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the team of industry leaders and experts is working together to leverage existing resources in the community that are not currently being utilized for food production (e.g. food product in storage, restaurant/catering/banquet kitchen facilities, catering and food-service delivery vans/trucks, etc.) by raising money to reactivate these resources and the talented workers in these industries.
  1. Interested restaurants and hospitality businesses can sign up with #ATLFAMILYMEAL by emailing info@atlfamilymeal.org, share available resources (i.e., kitchen space, food product, staff, catering equipment, etc.) and #ATLFAMILYMEAL provides administrative and logistics support, and access to specialty equipment, as well as a variety of online tools and resources to help them feed their staff.
  1. #ATLFAMILYMEAL then uses donated funds to buy food, pay workers to prepare the food, and pay delivery drivers to deliver the food directly to unemployed restaurant and hospitality workers in the metro Atlanta area, all while following strict federal and state health and safety guidelines over food production and distribution.

CONNECT: In the spirit of hospitality and connection, help build the virtual dinner table by using the #ATLFAMILYMEAL hashtag online and on social media to build awareness for the movement, share ideas, connect dots, leverage resources, and show support for those experiencing distress in the hospitality industry. While we may not physically be together, we can work alongside one another to emerge stronger on the other side. Join the coalition on Facebook (@ATLFamilyMeal) and use the #ATLFAMILYMEAL hashtag to share ideas or resources to support this movement. For more information, please visit www.atlfamilymeal.org.

DONATE/SUPPORT/VOLUNTEER: Donations are being accepted online through www.atlfamilymeal.org, and 100% of donated proceeds will go toward helping feed and support hospitality workers in the metro Atlanta area. #ATLFAMILYMEAL is also actively seeking and receiving in-kind donations of the following: perishables, non-perishables, food packaging, supplies, delivery capabilities (i.e., vans/trucks). Do you have expertise in one of the following domains: Logistics, Packaging, Distribution, Marketing, Communications, HR, Legal, Accounting, Design? #ATLFAMILYMEAL is also actively seeking part-time volunteers with specialized backgrounds in core functions that support #ATLFAMILYMEAL’s mission and work. Inquiries and interest: please email info@atlfamilymeal.org.

GUSTO! LAUNCHES DINING BONDS TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR EMPLOYEES

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/24/20

Buy now and reap the rewards later. gusto! has found an innovative way to generate revenue for their employees by creating gusto! Dining Bonds. Purchase a $100 dining bond now and redeem it for $150 on July 1 or purchase a $200 dining bond now and redeem it for $350 on Sept. 1. Dining bonds help generate revenue now to pay gusto! team members while offering guests a great value on gusto! in the future. Guests can put their bond money towards catering when back in the office or as an excuse to celebrate the end of social distancing when they’re able! Visit gustobonds.com for details and to purchase.

CITY WINERY ATLANTA ANNOUNCES FOOD AND LOCAL WINE TO GO!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/24/20

Easy online ordering for chef-driven meals and wine by the three pack, six pack, or case

In an effort to adapt to these ever-changing times and support public health measures, City Winery is providing new ways to enjoy their locally-produced, award-winning wine and food at home.

New wine packages are available to purchase here and range from $45 for a three-bottle bundle that includes their top-selling ATL Rosé to a $225 mixed case of reds, whites, and rosés.

City Winery’s chef-curated food to-go includes margherita flatbreads, cheese and charcuterie plates, Impossible Burgers, and more. Click here to purchase and set the pickup time.

Pickup for food and wine is available Monday through Friday from 11am to 6pm at the spacious patio, which has been set up for low-contact.

“If you’re in a position to help, we could really use your support right now. While we can’t put on shows at this time, we are still making wine, produced locally, with grapes sourced from incredible vineyards. We’d be truly grateful for the opportunity to sell some to you. Quite frankly, our ability to continue supporting our employees and sustain this shutdown depends on it.” said City Winery CEO and Founder, Michael Dorf. 

Dorf continued: “We’re adapting as quickly as we can, given that our company vision is founded on the unique social bond that occurs when communities of like-minded people gather over a bottle of quality Cabernet, while dining on a freshly-prepared meal and listening to their favorite artists perform. We’re figuring out this new normal and continue to develop creative new ideas in collaboration with the artist, winemaking, and hospitality communities.”

For guests wishing to further support City Winery during these challenging times, additional options include donating to their Employee Relief Fund or tickets for future shows.

For updates, please follow City Winery at @citywineryatl and also visit www.citywinery.com/atlanta.

THE GREAT AMERICAN TAKEOUT: SAVE OUR RESTAURANTS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/23/20

Tuesday, March 24th

Initiative of a coalition of restaurants including one of our faves: Marlow’s Tavern

On March 24, we’re asking everyone in America to show their support for our beloved restaurant industry and incredible employees by joining #TheGreatAmericanTakeout and eating at least one delivery or pick-up meal. Looking for a restaurant to support? You can find a list of local ones here.

Where are you getting takeout?

CHIRINGA MAKES THE MOVE TO TAKE-OUT AND CURBSIDE PICK UP ONLY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/19/20

From Dine-In to Take Out, Guests Can Still Enjoy Their Surf-Side Favorites

Based on the recommendations of the CDC and the concerns for the health of the community, CHIRINGA has suspended dine-in services and has implemented a strict take-out and curbside pick up policy until further notice. In order to protect the safety of their patrons and the internal team, guests can dive into their surf-side favorites by ordering from their extensive online ordering system, calling into the restaurant or by ordering from the outdoor Fly Up Window located on the Town Green during business hours. Allowing guests to take a staycation, CHIRINGA’s full menu will be available and includes whole grain bowls, dips, salads, sandwiches, tacos and plantains, available with fresh fish packed with Omega 3’s and clean proteins, along with freshly squeezed juices overflowing with Vitamin C. Guests 21 and up can also order specialty cocktails, craft beers and full-bodied wines at the Fly Up Window to enjoy on the Town Green. When completing the order online, guests can specify if they would prefer to pick up their order from the Fly Up Window or curbside. When placing an order for curbside, guests will need to describe the make, model and color of the car picking up the order to ensure prompt delivery. To dive into CHIRINGA’s online ordering system, visit www.chiringa.com and click the “Order Online” icon located at the top of the page. CHIRINGA is very grateful for their loyal patrons that continue to dine at their restaurant and hopes everyone is staying safe. For more information, visit www.chiringa.com or call 770.802.8940. For updates regarding hours, ongoing safety procedures and sanitation methods, Follow the Kite on Instagram at @chiringaatl and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chiringaatl.

GETTABITE APP LAUNCH TO-GO FEATURE!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/18/20

GettaBite App Pivots To Launch A New Feature
to Aid Atlanta Restaurants Amidst COVID-19 outbreak
Founders Evan Walker and Rain Li of the popular GettaBite app that was launched at the start of 2020, features thousands of Atlanta-area food deals each week. The team of two have pivoted the use of the free app to feature GettaBite To-Go! It’s the same app, but with a new option to keep Atlanta restaurant guests well-informed about which restaurants and food vendors are offering pick-up and delivery during this current time.
GettaBite To-Go! is offered to restaurants for free for a limited time. This is in an effort to help the Atlanta service industry get word out which is especially beneficial for those small business owners without public relations or marketing support.
The GettaBite duo is focused on helping those that have helped them. GettaBite Founder, Evan Walker, “We want to help get word out for restaurants and push sales for their industry in this downward market. We want to partner with Atlanta restaurants so we can help communicate to their guests which restaurants are open, which ones have shifted to take-out and delivery, and what people can expect to order from local restaurants at this time. Let’s keep Atlanta restaurants and diners connected!”
Users can expect the app to provide a self-guided experience. The deal feed will show several hours of deal information and pick-up/delivery information from surrounding restaurants in real time. Currently, GettaBite features hundreds of Atlanta restaurants and offers over 1,000 deals every week from popular names such as Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Hampton & Hudson, El Super Pan, Moe’s Southwest Grill, La Hacienda, Real Tacos, Fontaine’s Oyster House, Midtown Bowl, and many more with new restaurants added daily. The app is also a way for users to discover new restaurants by area and learn about new dishes in addition to the new featured launched today.
How It Works
Restaurants can email GettaBite at contact@gettabiteapp.com or send in their pick-up/delivery offering through the appitselfand GettaBite will post the offerings on the app for hungry Atlantans to see at no charge to the restaurant.
Evan Walker shared, “We founded GettaBite on the idea that restaurants and their diners need a strong communication channel. With many cities closing restaurants and only allowing take-out or delivery, we want to make sure communication between restaurants and their customers isn’t lost.”
Creators Evan Walker and Rain Li launched GettaBite in the summer of 2019. While studying at Auburn University, this young, entrepreneurial team felt the restaurant market lacked a focused food discovery tool. Students and younger generations wanted to know where to go to eat for the biggest bang for their buck. GettaBite is primarily a database of deals at a user’s fingertips. For restaurants, GettaBite is a free way to communicate deals and offerings quickly with a younger audience. The app is more than a food discovery app, it’s the missing link the market craves. GettaBite provides an affordable way to share an eating experience that is cultural and social with a younger generation.
  • Download on any smart phone at the App Store for free
  • GettaBite currently has a 5 out of 5 rating
  • Approaching 6,000 registered users
  • 300,000+ total deal views every month
  • 1,000+ restaurant deals featured weekly

GRANA IS OPEN, LAUNCHING CURBISDE PICK-UP!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/18/20

Starting Thursday, March 19th!

11:30 am – 8 pm

Call 404-231-9000
Pick-up inside or call us and we’ll run it out to you.
Available every single day!
Executive Chef Pasquale “Pat” Pascarella, known for The White Bull on Decatur Square, shared, “Our entire team has been very excited about this opening due to the buzz in the neighborhood surrounding Grana — we all talked about it and agreed that we should open the doors and offer daily, food pick-up during this current time. While this may not be our opening menu, we have a large offering of menu options and will make it easy for those who are currently at home and not going out.”
In addition to the menu below, guests may purchase pasta and tomato sauce complete with recipe cards from the Grana kitchen team.
Address:

1835 Piedmont Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30324

Atlanta Lucky Fest 2020

Date: Saturday, March 14th

Time:  3 pm

About: Hit the jackpot of gold this St. Patrick’s Day and celebrate the luckiest holiday at Lucky Fest with Spiral Entertainment at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Known as the biggest green party in all of Atlanta, Lucky Fest features frosty drinks, live music, and of course, tons of beautiful Atlantans donning their best green attire. Beginning at 3 p.m., guests are invited to sip specialty cocktails like the Dublin Mule, Mexican Leprechaun, Lucky G Margarita, Rebecca Creek Lemonade, and more, while noshing on fried shrimp, oyster, and chicken baskets, served with crispy fries. With breathtaking views of the Midtown skyline, live music will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature electrifying performances from DJ Q-tip, Semi- Charmed, and Moon Tower. General Admission tickets are available beginning at $20 and include entry to the event and all day entertainment. Food and drinks will cost extra. Additional booze and bites tickets can be purchased at the event for $6 and $7. Any unused tickets can be returned for a full refund. To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, visit www.parktavern.com.

More Information:

https://www.bigtickets.com/events/spiral/lucky-fest-2020