Restaurant Openings
Bar Ana, the dessert and cocktail bar backed by award-winning pastry chef Claudia Martinez and Artie De Los Santos, opens tonight. It takes over the former El Bar space beneath El Ponce on Ponce de Leon Avenue.
By day, Ivan Solis will operate Recuerdos Coffee from the space, opening at 7 a.m. By night, however, it becomes Bar Ana, where Martinez will serve her signature luxe desserts, like a quesillo shortbread tart and Araguani chocolate with passion fruit ganache, pomegranate, and mole crunch. Martinez plans to launch a three-course tasting menu in the next few weeks.
But it’s not all sweets at Bar Ana. Expect a few savory pastries and charcuterie and cheese on the menu. In addition to wine, look for cocktails like the Dirty Pineapple (Murrell’s Row Tulsi gin, pineapple brine, vermouth, strega) from beverage director Mayim Williams. Solis will also offer a selection of coffee drinks in the evening. Open Thursday through Monday Recuerdos Coffee and Bar Ana seat around 40 people.
Check out photos of the interior and desserts below from our sneak peek over the weekend.
(Photo by Beth McKibben)
(Photo by Beth McKibben)
Azara, a new physician-founded restaurant inspired by regions where people often live well beyond 90 years old, will open tomorrow. The restaurant takes over the former Estrella Rooftop and Bazati spaces between New Realm Brewery and Illuminarium on the Eastside Beltline. Owned by Dr. Raj Pandya, Azara features nutrient-rich dishes and includes three dining spaces: a bistro and coffee bar; a full-service restaurant; and a rooftop patio.
Coming Attractions
Hotel Phoenix officially opens on Dec. 1 at Centennial Yards in South Downtown and will include all-day French-Southern restaurant Zephyr with a cocktail bar called Bar Z.
It appears a location of Wok Chi Asian Kitchen will open in the old Pizza Hut at Boulevard and North Avenue on the edge of the Old Fourth Ward.
Celebrity Restaurant Drama
There’s never a dull moment on the Atlanta restaurant scene, but add a celebrity to the mix, and drama is sure to follow. Make that celebrity an owner or investor, and it’s a double whammy of drama fit for a reality show reunion special.
Singer-songwriter Usher is suing one of his longtime music producers, along with other associates, over a disputed $1.7 million loan. The loan was meant to help open Homage ATL, a Buckhead restaurant on Piedmont Road.
In the suit, filed in Fulton County, Usher says he declined to be an investor in the restaurant. Instead, he loaned the group $1.7 million last year wired to a trust account. However, the purchase of the property never took place and Usher asked the group this summer to repay him for the loan. So far, he’s only received $1 million back. He’s now suing for $4.9 million in damages ($700,000 for each of the seven claims in the lawsuit).
But it looks like Usher had better luck with the Baccarat tumbler the global superstar collaborated on with the French luxury crystal house. The limited edition crystal tumbler, retailing for $220, is currently sold out online.
New Pop-Up Alert
Miller Union Chef de Cuisine Jay Felton just launched a new pop-up combining his two favorite foods: pizza and barbecue. Called Oso Smoke & Dough, Felton creates foldable individual pizzas stuffed with barbecue meats, vegetables, and other seasonal ingredients. (Think brisket and an egg frittata cradled in fluffy pizza dough.) Catch Felton and Oso Smoke & Dough at Peachtree Road Farmers Market this Saturday.
Sweet Addition
O by Brush, the Michelin-starred omakase restaurant owned by Chef Jason Liang in Buckhead, will launch a dessert omakase experience on Dec. 6, led by pastry chef ChingYao Wang. The $155 per person dessert omakase features six sweet and savory courses, and is limited to only 10 seats per day.
Add to Your Calendar
Food Network host and cookbook author Kardea Brown will be at the Atlanta History Center tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss her new cookbook “Make Do With What You Have.” Tickets are $6 for members, or $16 for non-members.
The annual Foxgiving Feast returns to the Marquee Club at the Fox Theatre in Midtown tonight. Starting at 6 p.m., the evening includes holiday dishes, cocktails, and wine, as well as a special guest host in TV personality and “America’s Next Top Model” judge Nigel Barker. Tickets are $70 per person.
The annual Atlanta Chili Cook Off returns Nov. 22 to Brook Run Park in Dunwoody. Beginning at noon, the competition features more than 40 teams from across the region, all vying for the title of chili champion. Tickets for all-you-can-eat chili samples start at $30 per person.
Head to Grant Park Nov. 22-23 for the Atlanta Halal Fall Festival. This free event, taking place at 625 Park Ave. next to Zoo Atlanta, begins at noon each day and features dozens of food and artist vendors, a kids’ zone, live music, and performances.
The Creole Food Festival returns to Atlanta Nov. 23, bringing award-winning chefs and dishes from across the diaspora to a grand tasting event taking place from 5-9 p.m. at Knock Music House. Tickets start at $40.