By Nancy Wood It all started with chicken on a vineyard. Those free-range feathered fowl pecking around Marc Taft and his wife Elizabeth while on a trip to California are what prompted them to start their own chicken-centric restaurant. Since it opened in 2011 in Cobb County, Chicken and the Egg has hatched a budding empire across Atlanta’s northern suburbs that shows no signs … [Read more...] about A Q&A with President, COO and Executive Chef Marc Taft
Chef Insights
John Castellucci
Castellucci Group Atlanta John Castellucci grew up in the restaurant industry. His parents opened Sugo and he worked in that kitchen in middle and high school. “That’s where I got my first real restaurant experience,” he says. By age 13 he knew his professional path: “I felt like cooking was something that not only I would enjoy most but also be good at. It aligned … [Read more...] about John Castellucci
John Williams
At the tender age of 22, John Williams is on the fast track in Atlanta’s restaurant scene. Unlike most chefs, Williams fell into the business after accepting a job offer from the owner of a local music venue right before he graduated from high school. “I was taking a food science class and really liked it,” recalls the Atlanta native. “When the owner asked if I could come to … [Read more...] about John Williams
Matt Weinstein
Executive Chef ONE Midtown Kitchen Atlanta “I’ve always loved working with my hands,” says Matt Weinstein, executive chef at ONE Midtown Kitchen. Fortunately, the jobs he tried along the way – plumber, auto mechanic, carpenter – didn’t pan out. Starting at 15 as a busboy and dishwasher at a family-owned restaurant, the 30-year-old Virginia native soon got his first … [Read more...] about Matt Weinstein
Woolery “Woody” Back
Coalition Food & Beverage, Alpharetta Table & Main, Roswell When he was a high school-aged server at Uno Pizzeria & Grill, the camaraderie of the kitchen staff helped Woody Back realize he belonged in the back of the house. “I saw what they were doing and cooking, and I wanted to be back there,” he says. “I’d cooked for my friends and parents quite a bit; it … [Read more...] about Woolery “Woody” Back
Savannah Sasser
Hampton + Hudson Atlanta Savannah Sasser As a little girl, Savannah Sasser loved working alongside her single mother in the kitchen. “It was the best way for us to spend time together as a family,” she says. When her mother first taught her how to make a roux, she’d said that it would be finished when it was the color of a penny. Sasser ran to fetch a penny then set it by … [Read more...] about Savannah Sasser
Changing With the Tides
Georgia seafood angles toward fresh caught and sustainable options to match consumer demand By Alexander Gagnon Georgia’s culinary scene has transformed drastically over the last few years. Like elsewhere across the country, the farm-to-table movement has taken off, encouraging more people to learn how and where their food comes from. It’s only natural that they’ll … [Read more...] about Changing With the Tides
Gunshow Hosts 3rd Annual “Hired Guns” Series
Chefs Kevin Gillespie and Joey Ward of Gunshow are bringing back their “Hired Guns” series for the third year and the lineup is full of great talent. This year’s guest chefs will cook dinner on Sunday and Monday, nights Gunshow is normally closed, with a limited number of tickets sold for each night. Beginning the series is Gillespie’s Top Chef friend and one of DC’s most … [Read more...] about Gunshow Hosts 3rd Annual “Hired Guns” Series
