Vol. 11, No. 6 | Atlanta, Rising
Hey Ya’ll!
Where did April go?! Seriously, it felt like one long week. I looked up yesterday and it was May 1st and I’m still struggling to understand how we got here. I was on the road for three out of the four weeks of the month and getting over some weird bug at the same time, which probably explains. Despite this, I’ve had some really good times.
Here’s what I’ve been up to:
I spent a week in Vancouver for the 50 Best Bar awards. I’ve been fortunate to take four trips over the past two years because of the awards and I’m seriously going to miss this city. It’s become one of my favorite food cities in the world, and it’s also incredibly beautiful. It’s weird spending so much time somewhere and then realizing you might never go back.
Speaking of 50 Best, Ticonderoga Club made the extended 50 Best Bars list!! About five years ago I mentioned that it was wild to me that an Atlanta bar wasn’t on the list and that Ticon was more than deserving of it. While it’s not in the 50 (they’re #85) it’s still incredible and a long overdue recognition. What I love about this bar is that they genuinely don’t care about stuff like this. They show up every day just wanting to be a good bar with great drinks and great service. That’s why it feels so good to see them recognized globally after being open for 10 years. Excellence never fades.
There were so many amazing Atlanta things this month. I’m going to dedicate the rest of this newsletter to my dope Atlanta friends who do it big every day, but shone even brighter in April.
Thandi Walton (Hotel Phoenix), Tiffanie Barriere and Keyatta Mincey have created the official Atlanta cocktail and received a proclamation from the city of Atlanta in recognition of it. It’s fittingly called “The Atlantan”. This is not something that happens often. It’s been a long time since a city put a cocktail in their history books.
Tiffanie’s new book was announced last week. If you’ve heard her talk about spirits, then you know how much depth she brings to cocktails. As someone who loves a good story, this is my favorite thing about this industry. I can’t wait to read it. Preorder it here.
If you’re in New York this summer, check out Chef Scotley Innis at Six Coasts by Smorgasburg on Governor’s Island. I was in New York for a week in April and got to taste the menu over the course of two days and it’s incredible. (Yes, I know this is in New York and I said Atlanta, but Scotley’s first restaurant was in Atlanta and that’s where we met, so it still counts).
I hope you’re all doing well. I’m recovered and energized (and home for a few weeks) so you’ll hear from me soon.
Shannon