The Atlanta Foodcast: A Food Podcast

Oh, friends. Forever. I. Love. Atlanta. We have so many things to be proud of in this city. Great gobs of people. Traffic that moves (most days). The Olympics were here. We have Coca Cola. Delta. The Varsity and…. The Clermont Lounge.

This beloved spot is no longer a lone strip club on Ponce. No, no. Now, towering more mightily than before in all its historic glory sits the Hotel Clermont and, down a few flights of stairs, you’ll find Tiny Lou’s.

Jeb Aldrich is at the helm of the kitchen and the French-inspired menu has a story worth hearing — and don’t worry, we get there. He’s spent a considerable amount of time here in the city — and elsewhere. What’s happening at Tiny Lou’s is pretty awesome and we caught up at the restaurant so I could hear his story. So, here he is.

Imagine you are working on the line, or… you’re a bartender, a dishwasher, or a server in a restaurant here in the city. An accident befalls you and you are incapable of working. Seeking support is not always something that comes to all as available knowledge. The thought of paying your rent, keeping the lights on, or power can be a serious struggle. What do you do? Enter: Giving Kitchen.

Jen Hidinger-Kendrick and Bryan Schroeder are part of this wonderful organization that supports food service workers with a network of stability and grants for times of crisis in their lives. The organization is based right here in the city. Recently, I had a chance to sit with both of them hear their stories and the story of how Giving Kitchen came to be — and we laughed a lot, which is always nice.

Howard and Anita are the elder siblings of the Hsu family. Growing up in the burbs of Atlanta, Henry Country, to be exact, their parents’ restaurant was home — constantly surrounded by food. If you caught Chef Ron of Lazy Betty on the show earlier this season, these two have very similar memories of their grandmother cooking for them throughout their early years.

Now, having all taken their own paths, Howard and Anita have been feeding Atlanta for years through Gezzo’s, a west coast burrito spot south of the city, and Sweet Auburn BBQ. Howard and Anita are also two of the OG on the food truck circuit here in Atlanta. Anyways, their story is wonderful. Listen, go grab a burrito if you’re down in McDonough or hit up the curb market for some smoked wings.

Chef Ian Winslade’s life has taken him from the countryside of England to Bermuda, to NYC, to LA, to Atlanta — and he’s been with us here since before the ’96 Olympics. He's spent his life honing his craft in the classic kitchen and has worked for an incredible array of chefs and restaurants.

Before his current digs, I knew Chef Ian as the man in charge of the menu at Murphy’s in Virginia Highland which is a restaurant of Atlanta infamy it’s own. Now, at Mission + Market in Buckhead, he's bringing his perspective on global cuisine to your plate with a menu that celebrates favorites found for all. I caught up with Chef at the restaurant to hear his story — which I know you’re going to love.

The next time you’re thinking to yourself, “You know what? I think I’ll have have an ice-cold, refreshing bubbly beverage!” Make sure it isn’t some junk with a bunch of weird ingredients, empty calories, and garbage that your body doesn’t need.

Instead! Reach for an ice-cold can of Montane Sparkling Water! Refreshing, natural spring water as pure as nature itself — made in Atlanta and wrested from natural springs found in the great state of Georgia!

But in all seriousness…. Welcome Hollis Callaway — founder of Montane Sparkling Water to the show. His story starts right here in Georgia and continues on now with a some of the best bubbly water you can get your hands on. Starting just a few years ago, you can pick up cans of this greatness at Kroger, Publix, and even Whole Foods. We caught up at their field office here in town so I could hear his story.