Food4Life boxes help those impacted by the pandemic

Inman Park. I moved to Atlanta in 2001 after graduating from Miami University (the Ohio one) and found my first fine dining job with Van Gogh’s in Roswell. The wine program was stellar and the staff was seasoned and well educated. They took me under their wing and planted the seed for hospitality and wine that would lead to other opportunities managing restaurants furthering my interest in wine. Fast forward to 2014 when I partnered with Gretchen Thomas of Barcelona Wine Bar to develop VinoTeca – a boutique shop with a tasting component that strives to not only sell great bottles, but also educate through weekly

There are a few wines that I always look to when deciding what I want to drink in my free time and 4 Monos Viticultores GR-10 from Sierra de Gredos, Spain is often one that I choose. The vines are located north of Madrid in a region that has a devotion to the Garnacha grape, but a few others are blended into this wine like Carinena and Syrah. This wine is organically grown, about as natural as you can get and made by four friends who partnered to create the label. The nose exhibits notes of ripe red berries and a lively freshness while the mouth is elegant and driven by minerality and ripe fruit. A perfect wine for sharing with the best of friends.

By Collin Kelley

Food4Life, a COVID-19 crisis response project, is marking a year since it swung into action as the pandemic outbreak descended on Atlanta.

According to co-founder Marlon Kautz, the nonprofit was already active in food and housing support work through Atlanta Survival Project. “We watched as COVID-19 began to slowly spread around the world,” he said. “We were tuned in to how the emerging pandemic was going to impact access to food.”

Food4Life’s usual distribution method was to set up on street corners in neighborhoods where food was most in need to give out fresh produce and other foodstuffs. The organization decided even before the pandemic started closing schools and businesses that it would deliver boxes of groceries to doorsteps, but it would need to seriously ramp up its volunteer roster.

A signup form for volunteers went up online and in 48 hours, more than 100 volunteers had signed up to deliver food. On another signup, more than 100 people requested food.

Food4Life now has 1,700 volunteers who have made more than 11,000 deliveries of grocery boxes in the past year.

Kautz said donations from supermarkets, bulk food distributors, manufacturers, and farmers have made the food distribution possible. He said the doorstep delivery model will continue beyond the pandemic and so will empowering volunteers who have their own ideas about getting food to those in need.

“We tell volunteers if they have an idea, we’ll help support facilitate it,” Kautz said. For more information, visit atlsurvival.org.

Girl Diver in Madison Yards, 955 Memorial Drive, Suite 510, offers by-the-pound seafood, platters for sharing, and a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese comfort food. Visit girldiveratlanta. com for more.

Isaac White and Anthony Singleton have opened Highland Bistro in the former Chef’d Up space at Highland Walk, 701 Highland Ave. The menu features burgers, wings, hot dogs, sandwiches, vegan options and more. Full menu at Postmates and Uber Eats.

Chef Mimmo Alboumeh has opened Botica in the former Watershed space at 1820 Peachtree Road offering tastes of Mexico and Spain. Full menu at eatbotica. com.

Incoming

Doughnut Dollies: The Marietta-based doughnut shop, owned by chef Anna Gatti and Chris Gatti, will open a third location in Virginia-Highland. (Spring)

Maepole: The Athens favorite is opening its build-your-bowl meets Southern meat-and-three at a second location in Summerhill. (Summer)

MUJŌ: Castellucci Hospitality Group’s Westside pop-up sushi bar will open in its own space next door to Cooks & Soldiers. (Summer)

Shake Shack: Sixth Atlanta location at Piedmont Park. (Late 2021)