Omnivore Atlanta

Our 2008 Food Issue hit the streets today. When conceiving of this year’s food issue, I struggled with whether to do another piece on local eating. I covered the same topic in my 2006 food issue, although from a very different angle. When I arrived in Atlanta in 2006, it seemed that the city was way behind in terms of its awareness of the local eating movement, so I covered the chefs who were at the forefront of bringing awareness to their customers. This year, I wanted to cover local producers – the folks living in Georgia who make local eating possible. So I decided to frame the issue around a week of totally local eating. And it was heartening to find out that even I, who has been thinking about this topic for years, had some things to learn about what we have to offer here in Georgia.

So, while the local eating theme has been visible for a couple of years now, I decided that it was still important enough to cover in a new way. That the issue coincided with the final stretch of this election cycle was a coincidence, but it turns out that the election is spurring others to talk about local food as well. If you haven’t already, you really should check out Michael Pollan’s open letter to the next president, which appeared in the October 9th New York Times Magazine Food Issue. You can also listen to Terry Gross’ Fresh Air interview with Pollan, which aired on Monday. I find the most interesting part of the interview to be where Pollan addresses whether or not the local food movement is an inherently elitist movement, driven by wealthy foodies. Of course, there is that aspect to it, but Pollan makes a convincing argument for how and why we need to move beyond that perception.

Even if you did see CL’s food issue in the paper, make sure to check out the online version, which has tons of extras: a guide to local food resources, recipes from local chefs, and a photo gallery of Mike Buckner milling local flour at his home in Junction City.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Studioplex will begin hosting a weekly green market starting Saturday, July 12 from 8 a.m. – noon (rain or shine). The Studioplex Green market will be held every Saturday through the fall, and will be set up across from the main entrance to Studioplex on Irwin Street near the corner of Auburn Avenue (at the water tower triangle) in the Old Fourth Ward. A portion of the profits from the market will benefit City Church-Eastside, led by Pastor Scott Armstrong, which regularly meets in the community room at Studioplex. In addition, vegetables not sold during market hours will be donated to Project Open Hand, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization.“This green market will be especially convenient for the residents of Studioplex and our neighbors in the Historic Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park and the surrounding communities,” said Dillon Baynes, principal of Studioplex LLC and one of the three partners in the in-town development. “It may even save some shopping trips!”

Tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and squash will be some of the initial produce available and will be “competitively priced,” according to Baynes.

“In following the farm-to-table concept, our goal is to efficiently bring an abundance of fresh produce from farmers in Habersham and Rabun counties in North Georgia to the heart of Atlanta. We are all eager to do our part to promote sustainability,” said Baynes.

Danneman’s Coffee in the Old Fourth Ward will have their coffee available for purchase at the Studioplex Green market.

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Epicurious.com has put out a list of the top 10 farm-to-table restaurants in the U.S. and our very own, Woodfire Grill, has made the list.
Here is what they had to say about chef Michael Tuohy’s Cheshire Bridge eatery:

Chef Michael Tuohy has long been a supporter of organic growing, and helped launch Georgia’s Organics, a nonprofit group that promotes healthy, local, sustainable food in the diet of people across the state. While he uses local produce to create dishes, his cooking shows North Californian influences, hinting at his San Francisco roots. His commitment to adapting his menu with the seasons is clear: The day’s fresh, local ingredients take center stage on the homepage. And even the decor has a local theme: Tuohy asked Atlanta-based craftsman Tracy Hartley to make some of the tables and wood paneling for the Grill. In many cases, the menu pays homage to the farms that provided the fare: There’s a Wood-Oven-Roasted Bramlett Farm Trout with Anson Mills Grits, Steel-Pan Greens, and Herb Butter; and a Chilled French White Asparagus with Sauce Gribiche (an aïoli sauce with chopped herbs, capers, lemon juice, and spices) and Ashland Farm Micro Celery.

Click HERE to view the rest of the locally-minded restaurants that made the list complete with a photo slide show.

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Georgia has a lot to enjoy in terms of local foods, and an upcoming weekend organized by Food & Wine magazine’s Grow for Good campaign features a variety of restaurant/food events, all in glorification of Georgia farms. The Grow for Good campaign aims to raise $1 million for Farm to Table, a national initiative dedicated to supporting local farms and sustainable agriculture. Farm to Table will also maintain an interactive website for Georgia to help farmers build ties to consumers, chefs, restaurateurs, and institutional buyers such as schools, hospitals and hotels. It will also provide educational resources for farmers to help support a transition to sustainable farming practices.

The events begin Friday, Sept. 28, with Eat Local at Atlanta, Athens and Palmetto’s “Best Chef’s Tables.” From about 6-9 p.m. in a whole slew of excellent restaurants, attendees are treated to a tasting menu featuring Georgia-grown ingredients. Tickets are $150 per person including tax and tip, and reservations may be made by contacting the restaurant directly. A handful of the participating restaurants includes Element, the Farmhouse, Rathbun Steak, all the Star Provisions joints and many more. For the full list as well as contact info for restaurants, visit www.foodandwine.com/growforgood.

Stay tuned for information about the Country Fair in the City event Sept. 29 and the Summer Supper at Summerland Farm Sept. 30.

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