Quick Bites

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having a safe place for people to socialize in the middle of the pandemic was incredibly fulfilling. Based on that experience, I decided to upgrade my existing beer and wine license at the Midtown Promenade store and add liquor. Our location off the Beltline, and the upgrade to the entire complex creates an incredible opportunity to evolve. I am thrilled we survived this last year and I was super excited to reopen for nighttime dinner service with the addition of Bar MetroFresh. We’ve always been such a great, casual, neighborhood staple that having the option to pop in for a cocktail with friends and hang out for a bit is perfect. We look forward to feeling out the potential of Bar MetroFresh, including live music and entertainment both inside and on the patio.

Q. What are some of your other favorite restaurants and bars in the city?

A. I love Kyma, where our friend Chef Pano always treats us to his amazing Greek specialties. We never put in an order; the food just keeps coming out. Canoe is our favorite special occasion restaurant. You just can’t beat the setting and the food is always inspiring. We live right up the street from Nino’s, which is the best for traditional old school Italian. I’m also a huge fan of Ford Fry and love No. 246 in Decatur.

Q. You’re well known for your acting work in TV, films, and on stage. Which came first: your love of acting or cooking?

A. Honestly, cooking came first. But they were sort of tied together. I’m not kidding you when I tell you as a child, making cookies or pies at home, I used to pretend I was Julia Child or The Galloping Gourmet. I’d set out all the ingredients and narrate my process as I went along for an imaginary camera and an imaginary audience.

Q. You were recently nominated for an Emmy for “After Forever” – are there more acting roles coming up soon?

A. We are shooting season three of “After Forever” in September of this year. It was postponed for a year because of the pandemic. I am also working on a one man show about my life in Hollywood and how I wound up cooking for a living. It was a New Year’s resolution that I made to challenge myself in the year I turn 60! I have just booked Synchronicity Theater for the first weekend in November. I’m scared to death, but also super excited. I’ve never done anything like this, but I needed a project that was not “restaurant related,” It’s been awesome to be able to take a break from my day job when I can to focus on something else – something that I’ve always loved.

Our Buckhead Office Proudly Welcomes JESSICA CABALLERO

At her previous brokerage, Jessica achieved the President’s Circle Award for the Top 6% of agents globally. She is dedicated to offering her clients unparalleled service, world-class marketing, cutting-edge tools and resources, and access to an unrivaled network – both locally and worldwide. Contact Jessica today for all your real estate needs.

JESSICA CABALLERO

Top Producer, Atlanta REALTORS® c. 404.272.4031 o. 404.237.5000 jessicacaballero@atlantafinehomes.com jessinthecityatlanta.com sothebysrealty.com ►Tenth Street Ventures and Wolf Ideas Group have a new food truck park called What the Truck at 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway on the Westside. The park is open Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. After 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, a D.J. will play and a $5 entrance fee will be charged. For more information, visit whatthetruckatl.com.

▼Second Helpings Atlanta (SHA) is providing 24 high school students an immersive summer-long experience volunteering for the organization’s food rescue routes. SHA’s Youth Rescuers

Summer Service Program aims to inform select teens about the problems of food insecurity and food waste through SHA staff and other hunger leaders in Atlanta. The Youth Rescuers will also pledge to become SHA Zero Food Waste Heroes to reduce their household food waste. Students from across the city are participating, including those from Westminster Schools, Dunwoody High School, The Galloway School, The Paideia School, Northview High School, Milton High School, Chamblee High School and North Springs High School. For more information, visit SecondHelpingsAtlanta.org

Paul Nair, founder of Savi Provisions, has announced a new concept called UPop – short for Urban Provisions Offering Petroleum. The high-end food and beverage concept located in a new to Georgia gas station called Arco at 3861 Roswell Road. UPop will offer chef driven prepared foods, beer, wine and liquor. It will also include a bistro offering small plates. While this first location will serve as the prototype for future locations, Nair plans to expand to Cary, Durham and Raleigh, N.C.

►Drew Van Leuvan has been named the new executive chef of Fifth Group Restaurants’ Ecoo Buckhead. Van Leuvan was named a StarChefs Rising Star Award winner, one of Food & Wine magazine’s Chefs on the Rise and cooked at the James Beard Foundation House in New York. He most recently was executive chef and partner at Seven Lamps.

Chef Kevin Gillespie and his team have announced that Gunshow will resume its normal service on July 7 after a dramatic reimagining took place to keep the doors open in Glenwood Park during the pandemic. Gunshow has been serving a fixed price tasting menu rather than tableside preparation for more than a year. Make a reservation at gunshowatl.com.