Latest news with #HennaBakshi
Eater
4 hours ago
- Business
- Eater
Longtime Midtown Seafood Restaurant Lure Is Closing
Henna Bakshi is the Regional Editor, South at Eater and an award-winning food and wine journalist with a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Level 3 degree. She oversees coverage in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville. Lure Saltwater Kitchen and Bar is closing in Midtown after its final service on August 30. It will serve some of its classic seafood dishes for the next month to honor its 14 years on Crescent Avenue. The establishment is owned by Fifth Group Restaurants, which also owns Ela, La Tavola, South City Kitchen, Ecco, and Alma Cocina. 'We're incredibly proud of what Lure has been providing and are deeply grateful to the guests and teams who made it so special,' said Steve Simon, founder and CEO of Fifth Group Restaurants, in a statement. 'As we look to the future, we'll evolve with our guests' desires and invest in exciting new opportunities.' Lure employees will be absorbed by Fifth Group's other restaurants. After August 30, the space will remain open for private events until the end of the year. 'We are humbled and filled with gratitude for the love this city has shown us,' says Lure's Instagram post. 'To all of the guests and team members who have made Lure such a special place, we want to say thank you. But ideally, not in a social post… We'd rather say it in person over a Tackle Box and a Supressor Spritz.' The restaurant is listed for sale for $550,000. Eater Atlanta All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Eater
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
Best Dishes and Cocktails Eater Editors Had in NOLA This Week
The annual Tales of the Cocktail, a gathering for cocktail and spirits industry professionals, is in full swing in New Orleans this week. Bartenders from around the country have gathered in the city to show down, learn, and network. In the midst of it all, we've been gathering our notes on some of the best dishes and cocktails we've had in NOLA recently. Here are ones that stood out. The seasonal tres leches cake at Acamaya is a reason to revisit the restaurant. Missy Frederick Tres leches cake at Acamaya Acamaya, Eater's 2024 Best New Restaurant for NOLA, has still been getting a lot of attention lately (NYT reviewed it not long after our team stopped by on a recent trip), and for good reason. The restaurant impresses on several fronts: the intriguing wine and cocktail list, its punchy and robust raw dishes, and some surprising stunners, such as a humble sweet potato given main character energy with peanut mole, turmeric, and lime. Dessert is usually the least exciting part of a meal for me, but here, it's the dish that seems to be lingering in my memory the longest. Tres leches cake gets a more robust, substantive quality with the use of masa, and mango adds an assertive tartness for balance. The flavor of the cake seems to change a bit with the seasons — the peach version on the menu currently seems a good enough excuse as any to revisit this special place. — Missy Frederick, Eater cities director. Columbina cocktail at Jewel of the South Jewel of the South is well-accoladed for its concoctions, and it's sure to be a major stop for Tales of the Cocktail visitors this week. On a recent visit on a Friday afternoon, the team and I cozied up at the bar and ordered a slew of cocktails. I started with the ambitious Durian Fields ($26) made with durian yellow chartreuse, eau de vie, and garnished with a chewy durian candy. It was a gamble, durian is an acquired taste with its combination of earthy sweetness and oniony savory notes. It's a geeky drink, with creativity worth admiring, though one I may wait long to revisit. Next, I ordered the seasonal Columbina ($15), and that may be one of the best cocktails I've ever had. The tiny sipper was made with gin, a cardamom pear cordial, and lemon, garnished with a fresh sprig of thyme. The cocktail was refreshing with pear and lemon, offset with cool baking spice notes of cardamom, and that sprig of thyme pulled the aromatics together in perfume. It is an understated drink with no frills and nothing to hide behind but brilliance. — Henna Bakshi, Eater regional editor, South. Pot of rice at Dakar With a slew of awards and accolades over the past few years, including Eater NOLA's Best New Restaurant Award in 2023, Dakar has solidified itself as a dining destination in New Orleans. Chef Serigne Mbaye cooks the cuisine of Senegal, honoring his mother and also the countless enslaved Senegalese people brought to Louisiana. One of his most memorable dishes is also the simplest seeming — a pot of rice. On a recent visit, the Rice Connection course featured a cast-iron pot with steamed rice, finely diced bell peppers, and a sprinkling of chives. The dish was passed around the table to share among strangers. It was the best rice I've ever tasted — each grain perceivable by the tongue, immaculately cooked. Rice carries a dark history in the South as the reason so many Africans were forced to the United States, and diners can't help but contemplate this while sitting in the Dakar dining room. But it is not a somber affair — as the menu states, 'In Wolof 'benachin' means one pot. In that one pot rice meets magic.' — Erin Perkins, Eater editor, South. Yellowfin tuna solera at the Kingsway is an umami, sweet, and spicy treat. Henna Bakshi Yellowfin tuna solera at the Kingsway The team behind the award-winning restaurant, Saffron, has newly opened a gem on Magazine Street. The Kingsway by chef Ashwin Vilkhu is an elegant but relaxed affair, putting Singaporean street food in a fine-dining setting. Dinner is a four-course prix fixe for $92, and it amazes right from the first course. The Gulf yellowfin tuna solera (an additional $16 supplement) is an umami, sweet, and spicy beauty. The raw fish is served in a five-year chile sauce on top of sticky rice, and garnished with thinly sliced scallions and edible flower petals. Bites are eaten wrapped in seaweed. It is a powerful way to begin a meal, lighting up all parts of the palate. Layers of chile, offset with white rice and acid, the velvety texture of the fish with the crispy seaweed and scallion, all dance in harmony. It readies you for the incredible ABC chicken to come. — Henna Bakshi, Eater regional editor, South. Truffle butter martini at Hungry Eyes In a world of super dirty, extra filthy martinis, the truffle butter martini at Hungry Eyes might be the final boss. It doesn't wallop you over the head with fake truffle flavor but is more nuanced and savory. The drink is best paired with the steak tartare in a 'burger grease' vinaigrette — it tastes like a hot-off-the-griddle fast food favorite. — Erin Perkins, Eater editor, South. Eater New Orleans All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Eater
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Minhwa Spirits Feels Like Your Cool Friend's House
Henna Bakshi is the Regional Editor, South at Eater and an award-winning food and wine journalist with a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Level 3 degree. She oversees coverage in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville. Welcome to another installment of Scene Report in Atlanta, a new column in which Eater captures the vibe of a notable Atlanta restaurant at a specific moment in time. The soju distillery in a Doraville strip mall, is an unlikely hot spot, but when you make the OTP drive and enter the doors, you realize you're at your coolest friend's house party. Minhwa Spirits founders Ming Han Chung and James Kim are those friends. After opening Georgia's first soju distillery (soju is a Korean distilled alcohol fermented with rice) last year, they were smart to house more than just the spirit, which was widely unknown in the state. The space is home to Postern Coffee during the day, chef residencies in the kitchen, and a cocktail bar, invitingly introducing diners to soju and makgeolli. The atmosphere: Minhwa has two versions: an evening electric energy and a daytime chill mode. On a recent visit on a Saturday afternoon, the space was flooded with ample natural light from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Young people sat at tables on their laptops, the air smelled of freshly brewed coffee (try the coconut ube latte, $7), and a gentle hum of conversation and laughter came from the bar stools. An outdoor patio has several tables against a stunning mural called 'Morning Calm' by artist Kimchi Juice, depicting a Korean woman wading through mountains and peach trees — a nod to Georgia. On a Saturday evening, there was a line forming out the door. The space was buzzing with people. A table close to me was celebrating a birthday, and another seemed to be on a first date with shy, awkward body language and cocktails in hand. Andrew Bloom's kinetic art on the walls seemed to move in its liquid florals. People were relaxed, the service was attentive and friendly, and no one seemed to keep tabs on the parking meter — parking is free. From bottom to top: Cheesy kimchi fried rice, coconut ube latte, KFC nuggets, gilgeori toast, japchae, and volcano hot dog. Henna Bakshi The food: Minhwa Spirits has welcomed chef Lino Yi (formerly TKO at Southern Feed and Lazy Betty) to the kitchen since Ganji's departure, the excellent pop-up that popularized the purple rice bowl. Yi brings Korean comfort bar food to Minhwa. The cheesy kimchi fried rice ($12) is a treat any time of the day, the japchae ($15) with sweet potato starch noodles and mushrooms is an umami bomb, and the volcano hot dog ($6) is piled high with spicy krab, sriracha, eel sauce, and scallions. The food is delicious barfare, though the menu could use a punch of acid through a bright salad or pickles and kimchi. Pastry chef Molly Follet (Little Bear, Ticonderoga Club) makes the fluffiest butter cheesecake ($10) with a peach ginger jam that pairs perfectly with Postern's cortado using Ethiopian coffee. Insider tip on food: A spam and egg souffle gilgeori toast ($10) with cabbage, carrot, and spicy mayo is the current offering for brunch, and black sesame chicken and waffles with a spicy miso maple caramel will be added soon. Food pop-ups are hosted here often — look for Jay Patel's popular Indian-fusion barbecue tandoori sliders and wings from Dhaba BBQ. Mom's Backyard Garden made with soju, gin, cucumber and lime cordial, and perilla. Henna Bakshi The drinks: As one would hope, this distillery slings great cocktails. Minhwa has taken on one of Atlanta's top award-winning mixologists, James Sung (formerly Umi, Palo Santo), to whip up concoctions using the housemade soju and gin. The housemade Yong soju is earthy and light, and the gin is made in partnership with local tea company, the Chai Box, with Indian chai spices. Beaches Down in Georgia cocktail with hibiscus jelly at Minhwa Spirits. Lauren Lynn Sung infuses Korean ingredients with fat-wash and clarification techniques to create floral, fresh, and velvety-textured drinks. In one cocktail, aptly named Mom's Backyard Garden ($16), Sung uses his mother's perilla from her garden to garnish the drink made with soju, gin, and a cucumber and lime cordial. (Perilla leaves are commonly used in Korean cooking and have an herbaceous and peppery flavor.) It's refreshing, with a milky texture, punctured by bright green perilla — a visual stunner. The Beaches Down in Georgia ($16) is served with a cat face-shaped sour digestif gummy made from an extract from the Japanese raisin tree (hovenia dulcis thunb). It is commonly found in alcohol digesting supplements. I couldn't tell you if it works, but I can surely tell you the cocktail is a sweet and sour beauty with tongue-popping acidity. Most signature cocktail on the menu right now use clarification and fat washing, giving them linearity in a milky texture. They also tend to lean sweet, which is expected in Korean food and drinks. I'll be curious how Sung experiments moving forward, leaning on spice, salt, and umami in other iterations. Insider tip on drinks: Be sure to order the makgeolli service (cloudy Korean rice wine) ($22) served from the traditional gold aluminum kettle in golden cups. Pair it with the KFC chicken nuggets. Buy bottles of soju and gin to take home. Why go here: Minhwa Spirits gets it. The precarious 'it' is the balance between accessibility and finesse, and a downright cool factor. The team here is finding its groove, and it is exciting to witness their experimentation. The distillery is drawing local talent to itself seemingly naturally, making the space a creativity incubator, all while keeping its boozy and cultural spirit alive. This is my kind of house party. Eater Atlanta All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Eater
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Monday Night Brewing's Huge New Expansion to Open in West Midtown on August 16
Henna Bakshi is the Regional Editor, South at Eater and an award-winning food and wine journalist with a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Level 3 degree. She oversees coverage in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville. West Midtown is steadily seeing new growth. Monday Night Brewing's original home is expanding into a brand new indoor taproom and outdoor space, called the Grove, on 670 Trabert Avenue. The grand opening is set for Saturday, August 16, which coincides with the opening of the BeltLine's newest Northwest Trail segment. Doors will open at noon with live music, pizza, wings, brewery tours, beer, and specialty cocktails. Monday Night Brewing The new indoor taproom at Monday Night Brewing in West Midtown under construction. The new 7,400 square-foot space will feature 30 taps, with nearly 100 different releases a year. The outdoor 17,000 square-foot expanse will include a patio with fire pits, an amphitheater for live music, pizza ovens, a 20-foot outdoor LED TV, free parking, and dozens of native trees. Morning coffee and pastries will also be added. The existing West Midtown space (former taproom) will be used for private events. Monday Night will release new beers for the opening, including the Sticky-Hop Hut double New England IPA, All Hussle No Bussle lager, Faithful Instruction with raspberry, and Blueberry Full Stack, a maple syrup barrel-aged brown ale with blueberries and vanilla. The Grove will feature pizza ovens and 30 beer taps. Monday Night Brewing The new BeltLine trail section and the Grove opening come on the heels of multiple restaurants closing in West Midtown recently. Eater Atlanta reported on the reason behind the closings linked mainly to expensive parking and a lack of public transportation. Since then, multiple businesses in the neighborhood have lowered parking rates (including the Grove offering free parking), and the opening of the new trail will offer more foot traffic in the area. The Chai Box, Atlanta's popular tea company, also recently announced the opening of its first chai cafe in West Midtown. The Grove marks Monday Night Brewing's 13th year of business. The brewery runs six taprooms across the Southeast, including two in Atlanta, as well as locations in Birmingham, Knoxville, Nashville, and Charlotte. Eater Atlanta All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Eater
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Major Food Events Around Atlanta This Summer
Henna Bakshi is the Regional Editor, South at Eater and an award-winning food and wine journalist with a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Level 3 degree. She oversees coverage in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville. Summer isn't just about peach season (okay, it's a lot about peach season). Food festivals, wine dinners, and farmers' markets are in full swing. Here are restaurant events we're excited about. Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 21-26 Buckhead Restaurant Week is happening now, with the city's restaurants offering prix fixe menus, cocktail specials, and tastings. Major participating restaurants include James Beard finalist Aria, Alma Cocina, Alon's Bakery + Market, Brush Sushi, Carmel, Gypsy Kitchen, Jinya Ramen Bar, Kyma, Madre Selva, Mission + Market, Nan Thai Buckhead, Nobu Atlanta, Pendolino, Pricci, Snap Thai Fish House, St. Regis, the Southern Gentleman, and Zakia, among many more. PeachFest, July 27 For its 11th year, PeachFest returns to Downtown Atlanta on Sunday, July 27. More than 65 chefs and bartenders will sling peach-centric food and drinks, this year teaming up with Pearson Farm's Peach Week. Restaurants include Tio Lucho's, CudaCo. Seafood House (Charleston), etc. (Chicago), Kitty Dare, Southern National, Marcus Bar & Grille, Auburn Angel, Rathbun's, Sweet Auburn Barbecue, Table at the Lake, Birdcage, Southern Child, TWO urban licks, Stolen Goods ATL, and many more. Tickets are on sale now and begin at $95. Peach Week Atlanta takes place this week, from July 21 to 26, with peachy dishes featured at more than 20 restaurants around Atlanta. Key menu items include: Cornbread Panzanella at Miller Union Charred Peach Gazpacho at Birdcage Peach and Scallops Risotto at ENZO Steakhouse & Bar Peach and Chinese Mustard Glazed Spare Ribs at Sweet Auburn BBQ Peach and Prosciutto Ice Cream at the Pub @EAV Summer Labneh at Kitty Dare Look for peach-centric drinks and dishes at many Atlanta restaurants during Peach Week this week. PeachFest Panda Fest returns, September 5 to 7 The sold-out Panda Fest returns to Atlanta this September 5 to 7 at Atlantic Station. The mega gathering will include more than 80 Asian food vendors, an outdoor market, K-Pop and Thai dance performances, and a 15-foot inflatable panda. The festival began in New York City and is now growing to multiple cities nationwide. Early Bird tickets go on sale this Friday, July 11, at 10 a.m. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, September 11 to 14 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is returning for its 14th year, and tickets are already on sale for the weekend-long events. The talent lineup is jam-packed with top local and regional chefs. This year's festival theme is 'States of Motion,' exploring how food connects people across regions, generations, and cultures. Brooklyn's popular Smorgasburg food festival is looking for vendors Brooklyn's popular open-air food festival, Smorgasburg, has selected Atlanta as its new home. And here's the thing — it's not a one-time event. Beginning this October, this new food festival will run year-round, every Saturday, in South Downtown at 140 Forsyth Street SW. More than 40 food vendors will be featured weekly, including pop-ups, food trucks, bars, and artists. Originating in New York in 2011, the festival is an incubator space for up-and-coming culinary talent. Vendor applications for the festival are open now. Atlanta will be home to Brooklyn's popular Smorgasburg weekly food festival. Ashley Walia 'Smorgasburg has always been about discovering and championing the most exciting emerging culinary voices,' said Gaston Becherano, a former Brooklyn vendor who is now the co-owner and CEO of Smorgasburg, in a statement. 'When we looked at where to expand next, Atlanta stood out immediately — there's a dynamic and thriving pop-up food scene here that's deeply rooted in creativity, community, and cultural pride.' South Atlanta is undergoing major revitalization, with the team behind Sammy's announcing the opening of a barbecue restaurant in the neighborhood next year. 'Atlanta is such a food-loving city, and the experience Smorgasburg will bring to South Downtown is going to be unlike anything else that exists here in Atlanta,' said April Stammel of South Downtown in a statement. Wine Dinners Atlanta restaurants are buzzing with special dinners. Here are some worth checking out. July 23 , at 6:30 p.m.: a tasting tour of France's Loire Valley through a five-course food and wine pairing menu. French Wines of the Loire Valley at the Ashford on Wednesday,, at 6:30 p.m.: a tasting tour of France's Loire Valley through a five-course food and wine pairing menu. August 7 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.: Yours truly is pairing wines with a six-course dinner menu at Lazy Betty in Midtown. Tickets can be found under the Experiences section Wine Dinner with Eater's Henna Bakshi at Michelin-starred Lazy Betty on Thursday,at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.: Yours truly is pairing wines with a six-course dinner menu at Lazy Betty in Midtown. Tickets can be found under the Experiences section here August 14 from 7 to 9 p.m.: a five-course dinner of Atlanta's iconic dishes, including Salmon Chips, inspired by Two Urban Licks; a Bec Bagel, inspired by Emerald City Bagel; Chicken Wings, inspired by Magic City; Squid Ink Pasta, inspired by BoccaLupo; a Catfish Po' Boy, inspired by Bankhead Seafood; and five wine pairings. Tickets are $85 per person and can be purchased Atlanta Food Staples Wine Dinner at the Epicurean on Thursday,from 7 to 9 p.m.: a five-course dinner of Atlanta's iconic dishes, including Salmon Chips, inspired by Two Urban Licks; a Bec Bagel, inspired by Emerald City Bagel; Chicken Wings, inspired by Magic City; Squid Ink Pasta, inspired by BoccaLupo; a Catfish Po' Boy, inspired by Bankhead Seafood; and five wine pairings. Tickets are $85 per person and can be purchased here Eater Atlanta All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
