Beat the Clock and Purchase Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival Tickets before the Price Rises on July 1

We are all about saving you money. That’s why we are bringing you the ticket scoop on JCT.’s sixth annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. Get your tickets before midnight on July 1 or shell out more money as ticket prices increase to $70 per person. Through June 30, experience the luxury of paying $55 person and $50 for Georgia Organics members. Spend Sunday, July 20 from 1-5 p.m. with more than 50 of the South’s top chefs, 19 mixologists and more than 30 farmers. The afternoon devoted to tasting tomato dishes and concoctions will benefit Georgia Organics and The Giving Kitchen. Along with festival founder Ford Fry, participating chefs include Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Lance Gummere of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, Joey Ward of Gunshow, E.J. Hodgkinson of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Chrysta Poulos of King + Duke and St. Cecilia, Joe Schafer of King + Duke, Derek Dollar of Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Adam Evans of The Optimist, Andrew Smith and Scotley Innis of Ormsby’s, Andrew Isabella and Drew Belline of No. 246 and Craig Richards of St. Cecilia. Mercedes O’Brien of Gunshow, Eduardo Guzman of JCT. Kitchen & Bar and The Optimist and Ronnie LeClair II of No. 246 are on the mixologist list. Head over to Goat Farm Arts Center this year for the festival and again, don’t procrastinate on purchasing your tickets. Visit Facebook for more information.

Brunch Out at King + Duke Beginning Sunday, April 13

Photo by Tuan Huynh

The word’s out. Add King + Duke to your list of places to relax over Sunday brunch! Beginning April 13, Ford Fry’s home for hearth cooking will serve Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the dining room and out on the see-worthy street-side patio. A peek at the menu reveals a venison-inspired bloody mary; smoked fish board with capers, onions, spring onion schmear and house butter crackers; Dutch baby pancake with fruit of the moment and salted maple butter; and “Campfire” North Georgia trout and potato hash with fried eggs and grilled spring onion.

New South Family Supper Draws on Old and New South for Southern Foodways Alliance on April 6 at Summerland Farms

Pickled, distilled, fermented, preserved. Generations of Southerners leveraged these techniques to stockpile garden-fresh bounty for off-season eating. “New South” chefs and artisans respect the past while forging ahead into a deliciously diverse and inclusive future for Southern cuisine. Ford Fry and Kevin Gillespie epitomize this resurgence. The renowned chefs are two of the more than 35 chefs, artisans, mixologists and brewers flocking -- from all over the South -- to Summerland Farm to participate in the New South Family Supper: Preserving the Future of Southern Food on Sunday, April 6. Proceeds benefit the Southern Foodways Alliance, an institute of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi. 

Tickets are $250 per person and include the full experience: food, beverage, programming and round-trip luxury coach transportation from Star Provisions in Atlanta to Summerland Farm near Cartersville. Hop on the bus at 3:30 p.m. and ride out for 4:30 p.m. cocktails and appetizers followed by an early supper. Buses roll south to Star Provisions at 7:30 p.m. 

If you can’t farm out, you can still enjoy Ford Fry’s style in town at JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246, The Optimist, King + Duke and St. Cecilia. Gunshow, in Glenwood Park, is the place to go for Kevin Gillespie’s local and worldly wows.

Gunshow and King + Duke Heat Up GQ's Best Restaurants of 2014 List

It didn't take long for the city of Atlanta to catch the bug - and now, it's spread across the nation. Symptoms of this epidemic include: uncontrollable cravings for unique cuisine, addiction to energetic atmospheres and inability to turn down a dinner invite. The culprits: Kevin Gillespie's Gunshow and Ford Fry's King + Duke. The national buzz created by these Atlanta restaurants have landed them on GQ's list of "The 12 Most Outstanding Restaurants of 2014." Alan Richman, the magazine's award-winning food correspondent, remembers the moment his revelation hit. While at King + Duke, Richman recalls, "I sat up straight and thought: This is the one. This is informal American dining, perfected." His experience at Gunshow left him saying, "I don't recall so many styles of cooking from one restaurant kitchen, and each dish is successful, because every cook specializes in the cuisine he or she knows best." We couldn't agree more, Alan - this list has certainly received the Peach State's stamp of approval!

King + Duke and Umi Named as Atlanta Must-Visits by The Huffington Post

King + Duke Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee

In John Mariani's January 2 "What's New in Atlanta" article, the Esquire food and travel columnist and The Huffington Post contributor names a pair of Buckhead neighbors on his list.

At King + Duke, executive chef Joe Schafer centers cuisine preparation around an open kitchen and wood-fire cooking on a 24-foot hearth. Mariani notes that, "If you want to find Atlantans of every stripe having a grand old time, check out King + Duke any night of the week from five o'clock till midnight."

Only a short walk from King + Duke is Umi, where guests are greeted by Tokyo-born chef Fuyuhiko Ito as he turns ocean-fresh catches into delectable sushi. For those wondering what to order on their next visit, Mariani's recommendations include the "irresistible scallops seared on the grill" and "the piece de resistance, Kobe-beef toban-yaki in a dashi broth that ameliorated the decadent richness of the beef, which at $28 an ounce is sheer indulgence."

Buckhead Welcomes Ford Fry's St. Cecilia on January 13

Fun fact: the name of Ford Fry's latest restaurant, St. Cecilia, not only pays tribute to the patron saint of music, it also represents Fry’s love of music and the sirens of Greek mythology whose songs coaxed mariners to shore. Luckily for us, he's not making us sing for our supper when the new restaurant opens this Monday, January 13. Located at the junction of Peachtree and Lenox roads, the newest addition to The Pinnacle Building boasts a menu that travels the European coastline, exploring delicate pasta, roasted fish and fresh crudo served in the historic seaside towns and villages. Executive chef Brian Horn plans fresh, handmade pasta and wood-roasted fish; goes coastal with seafood dishes of bucatini with Jonah crab, Serrano chili and garlicky crumbs or fluke crudo with blood orange, pink grapefruit, Castelvetrano olive and EVOO; then travels inland for the likes of veal rib chop with , mushroom pancetta and Madeira. Interior-wise, elements such as reclaimed light wood, Romanesque-tiled columns and vintage accents create a timeless design and modern day atmosphere. Kitchen sightseeing reveals hot and cold from the wood-burning mini hearth to an icy trough filled with fish and shellfish. Pastry chef Chrysta Poulos directs dessert creation, and consultant Lara Creasy crafts a beverage program emphasizing wine and lighter-bodied cocktails. St. Cecilia serves dinner nightly and weekday lunch. Valet parking is available. Reservations: 404-554-9995.

#Foodgram of the Week: @fordfry

Want a glimpse behind the curtain at the man responsible for The Optimist, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246 and King + Duke? Instagram @fordfry for a peek into Ford Fry's life both in and out of the kitchen.

King + Duke Named to Esquire's Best New Restaurants List

Courtesy of Andrew Thomas Lee Photography

So, the King asked the Duke, "Did you see that we're included in Esquire magazine's list of Best New Restaurants of 2013?" With Joe Schafer at the helm of King + Duke's  24-foot hearth and Chrysta Poulos dishing out the desserts, we're sure the Duke and guests can both agree that this award is well-deserved. Add in a beverage program under the direction of Lara Creasy and you have a formidable team that Ford Fry has put together. Fry is no newcomer to this restaurant list -- The Optimist made last year's roster and was named "Restaurant of the Year." Congrats to the team at King + Duke!

Atlanta Foodservice Expo Serves Delicious Success Stories from Ford Fry and Robby Kukler

They say if you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. At the Atlanta Foodservice Expo next week, meet four foodservice and hospitality industry leaders responsible for bringing the heat to the kitchen. Hear their delicious success stories on launching some of Atlanta's most popular restaurants from 9-10 a.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center on Tuesday, October 22. Texan-turned-Georgia chef and managing partner of Rocket Farm Restaurants, Ford Fry, is the creative mind behind the delicious eats of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, King + Duke, No. 246 and The Optimist restaurants plus JCT.'s Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival for Georgia Organics and People's Food Truck. Does South City Kitchen, La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, The Original El Taco, Alma Cocina and Lure ring a bell? Robby Kukler, co-founder and partner of Fifth Group Restaurants not only ensures the success of the group's operations, marketing and recruiting teams, but serves on the board of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Is there anything these culinary chiefs can't do? Join us and find out. 

Ford Fry Nominated for GRACE Restaurateur of the Year Award After Dishing Out Several ATL Successes

 

Love this award acronym and the chef who’s up for it. Ford Fry is a finalist for the Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) award for Restaurateur of the Year. It is no surprise to see Fry nominated by his industry peers for this seventh annual award recognizing leaders who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia’s restaurant industry. Boy, has he! With restaurants JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246, The Optimist and King + Duke under his toque, not to mention food and fun-loving community contributions such as summer’s annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival and People’s Food Truck in his pantry, it’s apparent Fry is a key ingredient in Atlanta’s diverse restaurant scene. GRACE winners will be announced November 10 at the GRACE Awards Gala to be held at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. The theme of this year's event will be a farm-to-table look and feel. Aside from a cocktail reception, three-course dinner featuring delights from the finalists, there will also be live music to entertain the night away. Grab your favorite people and join in a festive night honoring Georgia's most brilliant minds in the food industry. Visit the Georgia Restaurant Association website for more information and to make your reservation. 

Atlanta's Top Chefs Gather at Serenbe for Southern Chefs Potluck on Sept. 8

The only thing you'll need to bring to the 4^th Annual Southern Chefs Potluck on Sunday, September 8 is a healthy appetite. Atlanta's top chefs Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow, Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen, No. 246, The Optimist and King + Duke and Tyler Williams of Woodfire Grill are taking over the pastoral grounds of The Inn at Serenbe from 3-6 p.m. to create some mouth-watering, family style dishes. White Oak Pastures meats also will be featured. Enjoy Terrapin beer, Quivira wines, cocktails and an outstanding auction overflowing with culinary experiences. Tickets, available online, range in price from $125 per person up to $1,000. Monies raised at the annual fundraiser for Wholesome Wave Georgia will increase access to good, wholesome and locally grown foods for all Georgians.

King + Duke Hosts Atlanta Community Food Bank Supper Club on July 16

Ford Fry and his newest restaurant King + Duke are teaming up with Supper Club on Tuesday, July 16 from 5-10 p.m. to help provide meals for those in need through the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Ford Fry's commitment to community service is as strong as his dedication to his award-winning restaurants such as JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246, The Optimist, and People’s Food Truck. On Tuesday night, guests can get in on the philanthropic drive as 20 percent of each tab during the ACFB Supper Club event will be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. With no membership fees or long-term commitments, the ACFB Supper Club is a no-brainer. The only tough decisions you'll have to make are what to order once you're in the hands of chef Joe Schafer. With hearth-cooked fish, fowl and farm along with starters, bites and shareables on the menu, you'll be facing a lot of difficult choices. Of course, you could just maximize your donation and order to your heart's content. We say go ahead and order dessert and rest assured that you're helping those in need at the same time. Make reservations online. 

Chef Ford Fry Names New Restaurant St. Cecilia

Music-loving Ford Fry has serious guitar skills and plays with local chef band Five Bone Rack, so it’s fitting that he’s named his new seafood-heavy Mediterranean restaurant after St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. Opening this fall in Buckhead’s former Bluepointe Space, Ford describes St. Cecilia as a combination of No. 246 and The Optimist, his popular Italian restaurant in Decatur and his acclaimed West Midtown sustainable seafood restaurant. St. Cecilia's menu will feature locally sourced ingredients and grilled seafood cooked in a wood-burning oven. The restaurant will also have a dramatic “crudo” bar. This is music to our ears!

The Optimist Named One of the World's Best New Restaurants

  

Photo Credit: Andrew Thomas Lee

Chef Ford Fry's award-winning restaurant, The Optimist, has reeled in yet another accolade. It has landed onto Condé Nast Traveler's list of Hot Tables of 2013: The 70 Best New Restaurants in the World representing the American South region. Up against some tough competition, The Optimist has come out on top. Conde Nast's editors turned to their most-trusted food critics, bloggers and writers for recommendations of their favorite new restaurants in foodie destinations worldwide. In his nomination, John Kessler, The Atlanta Journal Constitution's dining columnist described The Optimist as a "nouveau seafood restaurant" with "sustainable fish smartly and simply prepared." If you haven’t dined at The Optimist, you’ll want to add it to the top of your summer to-do list! The Optimist is an authentic coastal seafood experience with sustainable ingredients and a well-stocked oyster bar, so it’s no surprise that it’s a foodie favorite!

Munch and Mingle at People's Fest on June 22

Eat, drink and be merry with the peoples on June 22! People's Fest is throwing a party in the heart of Atlanta to celebrate all things delicious. Munch and mingle the night away with peace of mind that your $25 ticket is benefiting City of Refuge, a non-profit company that directly helps the Atlanta community. Ford Fry’s got the food and Marc Broussard’s got the music. All People’s Fest needs now is, well, the people! 

Get Memorial Day Weekend Started Off Right With a Fish Fry and Anniversary Bash at The Optimist

The Optimist is celebrating two biggies -- its one-year anniversary and Memorial Day -- on one party-perfect day, Saturday, May 25. The polished fish camp and oyster bar is hosting a fish fry beginning at 1 p.m. Keyboardist Ben Tanner of the Grammy-nominated Alabama Shakes will perform with bands Belle Adaire and The Bear starting at 4 p.m. The year has sailed by with regatta speed since Ford Fry opened The Optimist to give Atlantans the ocean edge they crave. The fresh catches and cool tunes will help cure any landlocked woes.

The King said to the Duke, "We're Opening Monday, May 13!"

Crown Chef Ford Fry marvelously mischievous. King + Duke, his new Buckhead outpost opens Monday, May 13. Turns out Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" inspired the naming of this fun and welcoming restaurant resplendent in classic American themes and bold, wood-fired cooking on a 24-foot open hearth. With Executive Chef Joe Schafer at the helm, slower cooking methods, woodsy smokiness and locally sourced ingredients come together at the hearth. Pastry Chef Chrysta Poulos' desserts can be paired with wine or cocktails. Top mixologist Lara Creasy runs with Fry's American history and literature inspirations in the beverage program that includes 35 wines by the glass and a "library" of more than 200 selections from around the world, including our original 13 colonies. Coffee roasted by Counter Culture in North Carolina fills cups. Located at 3060 Peachtree Road, King + Duke serves dinner nightly and lunch on weekdays, and offers a dining room, garden patio with a bar and lounge. Valet parking is available. Reservations: 404-477-3500.

Eat It and Tweep: A Twitter Feeding Frenzy Counts Down to King + Duke Opening

 

Want to stay in-the-loop with the happenings of Chef Ford Fry’s latest venture? The scoop about his new Buckhead restaurant, King + Duke, can be easily found by following along on Twitter (@kingandduke). And don’t worry, the opening on May 13 at 3060 Peachtree Road won’t bring an end to King + Duke’s Twitter action! 

Sample Tweet: getting close. we have furniture and lights and art! follow our progress here: http://kingandduke.tumblr.com

People's Food Truck Revs Up to Hit Streets Following April 27 Launch Party

     

Have you heard who's driving into the A? People's Food Truck is arriving this weekend and is ATL's new "feel good food" truck. This truck runs on compassion for saving and building lives and desires to help a community develop itself through sustainability and stability. People's, the mobile arm of non-profit City of Refuge (COR), will teach skills, provide jobs for and help feed people. People's rolls out, COR community staffing will sell items from a menu created by Ford Fry (JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246,The Optimist and Oyster Bar at The Optimist), and every meal purchased will help feed those in need. Saturday's launch celebration begins with COR's "Refuge Run 5K" in the morning and shifts gears to the People's Food Truck party at City of Refuge from 5-7 p.m. that evening. Grammy award-winner Micah Massey provides musical entertainment. To attend the free event, RSVP to tony@cityofrefugeatl.org with your name and number of guests. People's, start your engine and let the "feel good food" roll. 

The Attack is Back! Tickets Now on Sale!

The weather is warming up and pollen is in the air, so that means that JCT. Kitchen & Bar is anticipating a killer tomato harvest come Sunday, July 21 when Chef Ford Fry hosts the 5^th Annual JCT. Kitchen Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival to benefit Georgia Organics. Local farmers and 33 featured chefs pair up to create tomato dishes, 14 mixologists shake up vine-tingling tomato cocktails, and high-profile judges choose favorites while about 1,400 guests nosh and drink up all of that fruit-of-the-vine goodness. Live entertainment comes by way of the Spazmatics and local chef band Five Bone Rack. Purchase your tickets now for the 1-5 p.m. festival then relax until July's bountiful harvest. Tickets cost $55 per person and $50 for Georgia Organics members until June 30 and then increase to $70 per person on July 1.