James Virgil owned Mr V’s Figure 8, a nightclub of Atlanta’s disco era. Photographby Ben Rollins For more than 20 years, my life has revolved around the moods of a beast, a noisy and badly behaved stainless steel reach-in refrigerator of the kind commonly found in restaurant kitchens. It requires a separate freezer on the side, a faithful Sub-Zero that rarely gives me trouble and produces ice by the bucket. But were it not for the Victory Raetone behemoth that rules my kitchen, I would never have met James Virgil. Commonly known as “Mr. V,” Virgil operates a restaurant supply store, dealing in ..read more

Atlanta’s steady job growth and stable economic climate continue to make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs. In fact, the Southern city was recently recognized as the top metro area in the country for new business formation. To help support these local business owners as they start, run and grow their businesses, Chase for Business is inviting Atlanta-area entrepreneurs to attend a complimentary, all-day expo packed with learning and networking opportunities. The event will take place at Pullman Yards (225 Rogers St NE) on Wednesday, May 1 from 1-7 p.m.  Attendees will hear d ..read more

Chef Daniel Herget Courtesy of Perry Lane Hotel Chef Spotlight: Dan Herget At the Emporium Kitchen in Savannah’s Perry Lane Hotel, global flavors are paired with Southern hospitality. Executive chef Dan Herget, who says the restaurant is inspired by a classic French brasserie, dishes about a favorite spring vegetable, a decadent off-the-menu item, and his ideal way to start a day off in his city. Unexpected Pairing | “French breakfast radishes are incredible in the springtime. I like to serve them with whipped butter and sea salt as an accompaniment to our bread plate, which features a brioche ..read more

Grossman (right) grows his own herbs in the Chastain’s garden. Photograph courtesy of The Chastain Two Atlanta restaurants—Bacchanalia and the Chastain—won Michelin Green Stars in 2023. Started in 2020, the Green Star recognizes an establishment’s commitment to environmental stewardship. We talked to Christopher Grossman, owner and executive chef of the Chastain, about cooking and his secrets of sustainability. Atlanta magazine: Do you classify your culinary training as traditional in the typical sense of the word, or nontraditional? Christopher Grossman: I never went to culinary school. I ass ..read more

Matt Olson rounds first base after hitting a solo homer in the third inning of the home opener against Arizona on April 5. Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images On Friday, the Atlanta Braves opened up their Truist Park account with their first home game of the year. The game itself is just one of 162 and in the win-loss column, the result has little impact on the outcome of the season. But the experience for Braves’ fans matters more than any other regular season game in the year. The winter after a disappointing postseason is hard and long for players and fans alike, especially with World S ..read more

A line drive is always a tricky thing. As an 11-year-old Little League first baseman, that was a truth I knew from experience. Sometimes they shot off the bat with such ferocity that it tested my reflexes to get my glove on them as I fought against the instinct to simply get out of the way. Occasionally, they were hit so solidly that they had no spin, and would come at me fluttering, like a Phil Niekro knuckleball. And other times, they would spin like a curveball, cracking off the bat at chest level and dipping to my feet by the time they reached my glove. But none of my Little League experi ..read more

The Original features fried chicken dipped in chili honey with slaw sandwiches inside a waffle. Courtesy of Bruxie Despite living in Atlanta for nearly 20 years, I don’t consider myself a Southerner. I appreciate a good biscuit, but in my (unpopular) opinion—chicken and waffles do not and will never go together. However, I recently visited a new chicken tender and waffle restaurant in Chamblee, and shockingly, really liked it. Bruxie—a word that refers to someone from Brussels, home of the waffle—opened in Chamblee’s Parkview on Peachtree (5126 Peachtree Boulevard) building in mid-March, with ..read more

Truist Park Photograph courtesy of the Atlanta Braves Truist Park: The home of the Braves is an enigma. It’s an artificial mecca of baseball that displaced Turner Field to the chagrin of many, but now draws some of the best crowds in baseball. The stadium itself is a beauty, with faux red brick that creates an old-school ballpark feel in a sea of corporate office parks. Let’s leave behind its contradictions for a moment to focus on Truist Park and the great baseball played there since 2017. Out in Droves A combination of recent Braves success and Battery amenities has driven up attendance, wit ..read more

H&F Burger Photograph courtesy of the Battery Atlanta The Battery—the mix of year-round restaurants, bars, and shops that surrounds Truist Park—was built to be a destination. Seven years later, we’re happy to report that it has pulled off its mission. Don’t just come for the game: Come early and eat, hang out with friends, or let your kids burn off energy before they sit through three hours of baseball. If ballpark hot dogs aren’t your thing, you can have a sit-down meal, and then walk a handful of steps to the front gate. If you’re not ready for the party to end, you can keep the postgame ..read more

Talat Market chefs/owners Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang Photo by Bailey Garrot Chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter, the co-owners of Talat Market in Summerhill, were recently named Best Chef: Southeast finalists by James Beard Foundation. The awards, known as the Oscars of the culinary world, will be announced on June 10 in Chicago. Though there were five semifinalists from the Peach State (Arnaldo Castillo of Tio Lucho’s, Erika Council of Bomb Biscuit, Duane Nutter of Southern National, and Pete Amadhanirundr of Puma Yu’s in Athens), Savang and Lassiter will now represent Georgia on their ..read more