As a kid, I liked to rummage around attics and closets. Old ones in particular were the best; full of forgotten stuff and remnants from the past…seasoned by time. These nooks of vintage clutter offered escape and solace, a safe space to dream. They connected you to someone, something authentic; a life well lived. Instantly, you belonged and you felt secure knowing that, as cynical as the world was, this place provided respite. Where are they, these safe harbors, now that we are all grown up?
Bars used to be like that I thought. In their heyday, before there was a national chain on every corner, bars were gritty, eclectic and intimate. Every neighborhood had their own, each as different as the ethnic populace it housed. American bars, squared-jawed joints of Genesee Ale and Chesterfield Kings, teak wood chairs, black and white TV’s. You went there to shed the mask, to be part of a community that was familiar and real.
I guess you would call them dive bars today; disheveled and dusty, off the beaten path and forgotten by the masses.
There was a place in Detroit, called the Cloverleaf.
Read More Post a comment (2)A mixed bag of ink splot for this week’s blog, so let’s get right to it shall we?
A City Harvest
This Sunday, November 20th, marks the 1st of many City Harvest Events hosted by Atlanta’s own India Ramos of Urban Vines. The eclectic four course dinner – wine pairing features labels crafted in Ms. Ramos’ micro winery located right here in the city! Now you should be forewarned that an evening spent with India can be extremely spontaneous and adventurous. So, if you are up for a good time, before the relatives come a knocking for Thanksgiving, get on over to her website and buy some tickets. Rumor has it that some classy giveaways are available for ticket holders who buy online.
Generation Sell
If you missed this past Sunday New York Times there was an enlightening Op-Ed piece on the Millennial’s, (the population segment born between the late 70’s and early 90’s), and the methods they have adopted to affect social, political and economical change. Seems those enigmatic twenty and thirty somethings, call them Generation Sell, are using the small business model as a way to define their own generation, while simultaneously transforming our stagnant political and governmental landscape. “It’s striking,” says author William Deresiewicz,
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chow trailers cleveland, GA
Urban Eats Consulting Group is working with Chow Trailers of Cleveland, Georgia to bring you a full service, turnkey gourmet food trailer fabrication service. Interest in the burgeoning food truck and street food phenomenon is at an all time high, yet entry into this industry can be logistically challenging, time consuming and financially impeding. Many entrepreneurs, eager to get their concept to market, run into permitting, branding and truck/trailer fabrication roadblocks. The Urban Eats, Chow Trailer relationship can make the start up process easier to navigate and allow clients to focus on delivering quality products and services. We offer the following:
- Affordable, Custom Built Food Trailers with Many Sizes and Options Available
- Trailers are Built to Order, Easy Tow Designed, Reliable and Cost Much Less than Trucks!
- Interior Layout and Design
- Equipment Sourcing and Installation
- Concept Development and Branding Direction
- Vehicle Wraps, Graphics, Logos and Website Logistics
- Menu Ideation and Costing
- Permitting and Licensing Guidance
- Commissary Location Assistance
For a free quote please contact todd@urbaneats.net or call 404-835-7180.
I have consulted with many types of clients in the food and beverage world. While I have had my fair share of, shall I say, misguided individuals, I have also been privy to some very sharp, smart minded entrepreneurs. Of the later, I have come to observe some common characteristics that I believe have led all of them to a high level of success. A person or team that embodies most, or all of the following traits, in my opinion, gives them a leg up on other suitors.
- They have a great idea. Notice I did not say, “They have a good idea”. There are a million good ideas out there, only a few great ones. A great idea to me makes sense, like a whiff of burning oak on a crisp autumn day…it belongs, dances naturally into the grand scheme. When spoken, a great idea lands with a solid thud; throw a bolder into the lake below and admire its force and impact. The power of its potential is unquestionable.
- They are fully committed to their vision. It’s not if, but how! In their own mind a successful entrepreneur has already seen how their idea manifests. The task now is moving the universe the hell out of the way to make it happen. Successful entrepreneurs are masterful problem solvers. Mr. Banker, stop hording all the money. Mr. Landlord, do not be so greedy. Mrs. Naysayer, I got no time for you to rain on my parade because I am committed and intentional.
- Successful entrepreneurs have a feverish appetite to learn, ask questions and put it all out there for everyone to see. They make themselves vulnerable, self expressed and open minded in a way that engages other people. They research, research, research and pose a lot of what ifs. A recent client of mine ate hundreds of tacos and got so good at profiling tastes that he could pinpoint spice ingredients in salsas. “Too much curry, how about more cumin?”, he would say.
In casual conversation the other day, my 14 year old daughter declared that human beings only use 10% of our brain capacity. At the time, I played it off as something she picked up at school and went about my afternoon, but her comment stilled over me all day. I have heard that 10% theory before and, while I believe it is true, the distinction of the claim never really bothered me. My rational was that, if all we have is 10%, then that is all we have; move on. Then I began to think about what a 10% brain mentality has delivered to the human race up to this point and whether or not we may be reaching a point of maximum output.
Humans, at 10% capacity, have achieved some herculean feats over the last million years. We learned how to speak, develop languages, hunt for food and chisel a wheel…all ground breaking stuff. Even today, we continue to roll out new discoveries regarding medicines, space travel, and alternative forms of energy use. But is not all of that, and whatever else that comes along in the future, contextually the same as discovering the wheel? In other words, is our little human microchip, at 10% capacity, stuck in an endless loop of producing physical outputs with nowhere to go? Have we reached a point where we have no ability for breakthroughs beyond the physical?
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I was recently in New York for five days running an ultra mod café for the FIAT car company. The event was a traveling car show of sorts featuring the new Fiat 500’s. Set up in the middle of Times Square, passersby could actually sit in the mini Italian roadsters and watch movies a la 1960’s drive-in on the massive Sony monitors. It was a very cool experience, except for the fanatical cab driver who accused me of damaging his taxi. He actually called the cops who brushed off his complaint, once they realized his lunacy.
I am big on olfaction and New York just smells different. Not in a bad way, like an old library, a museum…your grandfather’s closet. Whatever the scent, New York owns it and wears it well. The city is big, gritty and simmering culturally; everyone’s skin is some hue of brown, English spoken only when necessary and everyone smokes, (cigarettes are held askew between the forefinger and middle with wrist turned slightly downward as not to burn the million other people walking down the sidewalk…who are also smoking).
My first venture onto the street was an ADHD overload. I did not know what to look at first because there was simply too much to see. I felt like a dog in a new house…sniff here, run there, sporadic. Buildings, people, advertisements, store fronts, pigeons, bums, sidewalk preachers all existing in some unspoken orchestration.
During my downtime I was able to scope out the restaurant scene. If I had to sum it up I would say; small batch, eclectic, single item iterations of familiar foods, perfected. Gone are the big menus hosting a wide variety of food items, in their place, boutiques offering one thing, reinvented in ways that are remarkable, fantastic.
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Summer blazes on and I have to admit that this carpet bagging Yankee is finally becoming immune to the heat. Seriously, I don’t even notice the 95 degree days anymore. What can you do about it anyway, right? So, I say uncork that chilly bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and relax. But, others who reside in our fare city have not mastered the art of the cool down. The heat has rendered them incapable of tolerance. With extreme heat, tempers flare and some people just lose all control.
Flying Purse
Intern Natalie, while driving through Buckhead one night this week, witnessed a woman stumble out into the middle of Piedmont Avenue, attempting to stop traffic. Upon slowing down and swerving to avoid hitting her, Natalie became amused when this bar patron turned traffic cop abruptly threw her purse at intern Natalie’s car window…then cussed her out. This women obviously did not have the chilled Sauvignon Blanc…opting instead for the Jager shots.
Read More Post a comment (0)By Natalie Holler
Intern at Urban Eats Consulting Group
I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately on the population segment known as the Gen Y’s. As a 22-year-old Gen Y myself, I have developed an interest in how the media and pundits are portraying my generation. Born between 1981 and 2001, the “Millennials” are the largest generation in America since the Baby Boomers and aren’t going unnoticed. Our population, in numbers alone, has consumer industries scrambling to understand us, and why we put more emphasis on living in the moment, instead of investing for the future. Well, as a Gen Y, I can honestly attest to the stereotypes that have been bestowed upon my age group. We have proudly embraced an era that may leave some (our parents in particular) scratching their heads.
Instead of saving money for a new car, house, or any other major investment, I have noticed that my peers would rather rent a house or apartment, drive the car our parents bought us and use our disposable income on taking weekend getaways or traveling to another part of the world. Buying the new iPad, pampering ourselves with manicures/pedicures, facials, and highlights, and going out with friends to enjoy incredible food and fancy drinks rank high on the priority list. Not to mention a new outfit for every outing. We want to be a part of the social scene, while at the same time finding out who we are as young professionals through interaction and networking. Image is everything now days and being seen at certain events or with certain people can open many doors for opportunities. Several articles have stated that the Y Generation is a major influence on every industry, especially the restaurant industry. Industry leaders are turning their focus to this generation and introducing loyalty programs, experimenting with tech-savvy marketing approaches, and making some serious lucrative adjustments.
Read More Post a comment (2)You really have to hand it to Atlanta based Morris & Fellows. Weathering the worst recession in decades, this family-run, mixed use development team emerged to ignite a foreclosed lifestyle center in of all places, Woodstock, GA. If you have not been to Woodstock lately, you’re in for a big surprise. For those of you geographically challenged or who live ITP, take I-575 to Hwy 92 and turn left onto a quaint two lane road, (Caution: 25 MPH speed limit – and the popo take it seriously), that rambles past rollicking, wood clad houses, antique stores and other small town Americana. After a mile or so you’ll eventually happen upon the downtown commercial district. And it’s at this point you will swear you are not in Kansas anymore – having instead been transported to trendy Inman Park or Virginia Highlands. You have to go there to believe it.
In addition to Pure Taqueria, Canyon Burger and J. Christopher’s, Morris & Fellows has announced that Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill and Freight Kitchen and Tap will join the restaurant line up in their eclectic mixed use development, Woodstock Downtown. Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza and Grill, according to owner Jason Sheetz;
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Demand for shared commercial kitchen space is on the increase in the Atlanta area. Several factors have surfaced that are contributing to the need for hourly, daily and shared commercial kitchen space. New Georgia Health Code laws have restricted caterers from cooking in residential kitchens, and the popularity of the food truck and specialty food businesses are increasing the need for inexpensive, health department approved work space. A new facility located in Lawrenceville, GA is now open offering several kitchen station set ups ideal for bakers, specialty food processing, food truck commissaries and entrpreneurs with a new ideas. Monthly memberships and hourly rates are available.
If you’re a caterer, food truck operator, chef or entrpreneur and interested in learning more about this new facility please contact Cornelia Florea at 404-484-4588.
