"Food That Rocks" Totally Rocked It!

Food That Rocks, A Celebration of Sandy Springs, was magnificent! Already I can hardly wait for next year's event! Billed as a "Bites & Bevs" event, it's so much more! I'm a bigtime foodie, so I don't lend restaurant endorsements lightly. But I do wholly honor my foodie friends and many of them were at this event, so I'm excited to share! 

Food That Rocks 2016, Jackie of Bishoku and Nikki

My dear friend Nikki—@atlantafoodie on Instagram—went with me. That's her (right) with Jackie (left), the owner of one of her favorite sushi restaurants, Bishoku! After enjoying a couple of pieces of sushi, I totally get why Nikki loves this restaurant so much. And I've been looking for an awesome sushi restaurant, for years...I can happily say "Mission accomplished!" And Jackie is super sweet!

Food That Rocks 2016, Food 101

There were more than 20 restaurants at Food That Rocks, some I've been to, some I've been wanting to go to and some I've never heard of but are now on my must-visit list! Some of my favorites were Cibo e Beve (serving Tuscan Lemon Chicken Thighs), Food 101 (Fried Green Tomatoes, Pickled Shrimp and Watermelon Salad), and Under the Cork Tree (Crispy Lamb Ribs with Pickled Cucumber), to name just a few.

Beverages were provided to Tito's, Battle and Brew (which I can hardly wait to visit!), Three Sheets and a few others.

I didn't try all the restaurants or beverages—but I had plenty (and took Uber, an event sponsor), but will be using the event's restaurant list as a to-dine list. 

Oh, and there was live music! I love big concerts, but I don't spend a lot of time at live music events—which is a shame because Metro Atlanta is a mecca for that kind of entertainment—but I wholly enjoyed the lively music at Food That Rocks! 

Check out Tony Levitas and Friends, Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project, and Tommy Dean Trio, the three featured bands at the inaugural Food That Rocks. 

Food That Rocks 2016

I had the great honor of meeting, and speaking with at length, Tom Mahaffey, President of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce. Our immediate discussion topic was the obvious success of Food That Rocks and the great delight that the attendees were such a diverse crowd, particularly in generations. A 21+ event, there were a great many millennials as well as a peppering of some who had probably lived in Sandy Springs the whole of their lives, and everyone was having a delightful evening! 

We also discussed the excitement about build-out of the new Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Sandy Springs, slated to open in early 2018 according to articles, and the proposed monorail/light rail for Sandy Springs. In fact, Sandy Springs was the first of three Atlanta-area cities in late 2015 to discuss bringing such a system to their communities. Personally, I think that for many it would be a welcome relief and desirable alternative to exponentially thickening traffic.

I very much admire Tom's enthusiasm for building an even more vibrant and exciting Sandy Springs, and I'm totally jealous of his office—at the top of the King building of the King & Queen buildings, visible from the intersection of GA-400 and I-285.  

Food That Rocks 2016

Food That Rocks was more than a food and music event, it was also a fundraiser, the beneficiaries of which I invite you to learn more about. The three organizations were Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance, Second Helpings Atlanta, and Ian's Friends Foundation. Each had tables at the event, each visited by quite a few of the attendees.

Food That Rocks 2016, Dale DeSena

Dale DeSena, who I know from Les Dames d'Escoffier International-Atlanta Chapter, is the President of Taste of Atlanta and the producer of Food That Rocks. I love that when she took the stage to make very brief comments—so that ticket-buyers could quickly get back to the fun at hand—totally looked like she was going to rock out with her Food That Rocks guitar!

Mark your calendars for Taste of Atlanta coming up in October. Last year the event featured more than 90 Atlanta restaurants! It's one of the must-attend Atlanta food events, and if you were at this year's Food That Rocks, you got a taste of the fun to expect!

Food That Rocks 2016, Nothing Bundt Cakes

I love food events like this because no one looks twice when you have dessert way before the meal is finished. (I often will indulge in dessert first, just in case I get full before getting to that course.) The photo above is one of the delicious—and I don't use that word lightly—cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes. I'd enjoyed their cakes before, but got to chat with co-founder Debbie Swetz, who was as lovely as their cakes are amazing!

I'd like to offer a huge "Thank you!" to Sandy Springs Hospitality & Tourism for hosting me as a guest. I've known Patti for years—she and her husband are dear friends—and I had the honor of meeting Jennifer and Samantha. What a fantastic evening and event! Do check out their website to see just how much there is to experience in Sandy Springs!

"Congratulations!" to Dale DeSena, sponsors, restaurants, beverage companies, bands, Sandy Springs leaders, and ALL the patrons who came out to support the first annual Food That Rocks event...I'm so looking forward to next year!

Goodbye and Good Luck to The Brickery

I recently had the great honor of meeting Bruce and Sally Alterman, two remarkable and delightful people who are the owners of The Brickery Grill & Bar. The connection was graciously conducted by Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism, one that I would not have made in time otherwise. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to experience this amazing dining destination!

GOODBYE

This was my first visit to The Brickery and unfortunately my last visit. I had an exceptional experience, however, to the dismay of countless loyal customers, the restaurant is closing on Wednesday, December 23, 2015. 

In my conversations with Bruce and Sally, and witnessing many touching longtime customer interactions, it became distinctly obvious that The Brickery has been more than a local restaurant. It has been a restaurant "home"; it has been the place where many citizens of Sandy Springs "grew up". 

They hadn't planned to close, but the strip of real estate on which The Brickery resides was purchased by big-business developers. Bruce and Sally have explored the area for a suitable site, with an approachable price, for a privately-owned restaurant, but to no avail. So far... 

House Caesar Burger | The Brickery

GOOD LUCK

While Bruce and Sally are open to the possibility of reopening somewhere else nearby, should this indeed be the final week of The Brickery, there's still one last hurrah on the calendar...the 2016 South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Florida!

They won Hellman's "Best Burger in Atlanta" competition, beating out 12 other local finalists, and will be competing with celebrity chefs from all over the United States! Yes, they informed the organization that they are closing, but they're still invited to compete!

One of their signature dishes, the customer favorite House Caesar Burger, will compete in the 10th annual "Burger Bash" to be held on Friday, February 26, 2016. As of this writing, VIP tickets have sold out, BUT there are tickets still available for the main Burger Bash event, which I'm sure will also sell out. 

The year's Burger Bash will be hosted by celebrity chef and television sensation Rachel Ray! The panel of judges is equally awesome with David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris and Natalie Morales!

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival event, presented by FOOD & WINE, is insanely popular! "Bring home that trophy, Sally and Bruce!" 

Sally and Bruce Alterman | The Brickery

DELIGHTFUL PEOPLE

Sally and Bruce expressed only the sincerest appreciation and gratitude toward their customers and staff. They've created a unique restaurant "culture". I've rarely seen a community like what The Brickery has created, and I love it when I do see it. I invite you to check out their Facebook page for some of the wonderful customer comments...these restaurateurs are definitely going to be missed!

Bruce and Sally opened their first restaurant four years before The Brickery. Bruce's brother was operating Perimeter Cafe at Perimeter Mall—I'm certain I dined there, given I worked at Perimeter Mall part-time when I first lived in Atlanta in the late 80s. They succeeded as restaurateurs, with Perimeter Cafe II, in a space where there had previously been four restaurants in only five years! 

That's also where they started catering. Not wanting a second restaurant—they didn't want to be apart...so sweet!—catering became an additional revenue stream, one that they've continued during their 24 years at The Brickery.

When I asked Sally what advice she would give someone wanting to get into the restaurant business, she offered, "Know how to run a business and love people." She explained that it wasn't just about the recipes. You can have stellar food and run a business into the ground...you can have amazing recipes, but if you're not a people person, it's not going to thrive. After 24 years at The Brickery, Sally and Bruce obviously are business savvy and love their customers as much as their customers love them.

Knowing it would be a challenge to name a single favorite memory during The Brickery's 24 years, I asked Sally for just one of her favorite moments. She immediately cited the day that they got to cater the 100th birthday of Garnett Cobb, the "Queen of the Sandy Springs". The event was held at Heritage Sandy Springs, a non-profit and park that is part of Garnett's legacy. 

Garnett had visited The Brickery for her birthday every year for years. She passed away at 104 years of age in 2013, certainly missed by many Sandy Springs citizens and friends.

Onion Rings | The Brickery

AMAZING FOOD

While Sally noted that knowing how to run a business and possessing a love for people are key to success, I think their incredible food is the icing on the cake...The Brickery has amazing food! I believe one of the keys to their culinary success is that they're a "scratch house". 

As Bruce puts it, regarding the competition, "We cut. They pour." Meaning that The Brickery cooks from fresh, scratch ingredients instead of using mass quantity factory-manufactured products. As a foodie, I can tell you that that makes a huge difference in food quality...The Brickery "gets it".

Check out the plump, vibrant red, vine ripened tomatoes pictured on their Facebook timline and you'll see with your own eyes just how fresh and delicious the food is. They source tomatoes, corn and other items from a farm in Lumpkin County, where they also have a cabin. I've enjoyed a number of visits to Lumpkin County, specifically Dahlonega, which is quite lovely.

I haven't shared with you the specifics of the Caesar Burger! Hands down, it's one of the best burgers I've had. I say "hands down" deliberately...I made the mistake of trying to pick up the burger with my hands, even after having been sufficiently warned. This is a messy burger! In all the best ways. 

I do not recall the specific order of the burger's layers, but it includes: buns that are offered in whole wheat or sesame egg (I enjoyed the latter); two different layers of shredded lettuce; their house-made creamy Caesar dressing (delish!); grated mild cheddar cheese; and an 8 oz. beef patty...and lots of magnificent flavor! Just remember to roll up your sleeves!

In addition to my amazing Caesar Burger, I enjoyed a side of onion rings...the best I've had in years! I demolished the burger and every single onion ring on my plate! Another best-seller is the restaurant's fried chicken. Bruce treated me to a sample...it's outstanding! I totally get why it's so popular...it tastes perfectly homemade!


A fellow foodie friend of mine has been to The Brickery many, many times and raved about the Caesar Burger and said also that their seafood is fantastic. And she highly recommended their martinis, which of course I had to sample—also very well done! She's such a fan that the next morning when I was talking about my experience, she decided to go to The Brickery that evening. Good reports all around!

The Brickery

AWESOME CUSTOMERS

The restaurant's tagline, "Casual Dining...Serious Food", is exactly what diners experience. Speaking of casual, Bruce pointed out to me that some of the staff were in t-shirts and jeans, a perk (to be able to wear jeans on these final days) he and Sally extended the staff if they'd wear a "Caesar Burger" t-shirt, which many accepted. I'm impressed that they've done so much to make closing as painless as possible for their employees.

When I arrived, the restaurant was packed! I was graciously offered a table, but was dining on my own that night so I opted for a seat at the bar (pictured above), which had a great view of the whole of the restaurant...win-win!

Please allow me to share with you a bit about the staff at The Brickery. Since the announcement in November that the restaurant will be closing on December 23, there have been ZERO employees to leave. That, my friends, is loyalty...they truly must love their Brickery family!

How have they managed to keep employees who know their last day will be two days before Christmas? Many of them have worked there for many, many years. The two ladies who waited on me have been there for 9 and 19 years! You really do get a sense of family when you're there. 

Also, Bruce and Sally started a reverse customer appreciation campaign. I've never heard of something like this, but then I saw it in action. They're accepting donations from longtime customers to go into a bonus fund that will be distributed to all the staff when they close. The fund already has thousands of dollars! 

While I was talking with Bruce, a former employee—one who started with them when the restaurant opened in 1992—who had dined there that night came up to Bruce and handed him a check for $200 to put into the fund. Another customer later gave him $400 cash for the campaign...and those are just the ones I personally witnessed! What a wonderful demonstration that customers are so appreciative of the service they received over the years...it was quite touching.

Yet another endearing moment, The Brickery's former Kitchen Manager's wife and mother stopped by for a visit. After working with Bruce and Sally for 22 years, he lost a battle with cancer. His mother was in town and wanted to see where he had worked all those years. The mother was elated to see so much happiness in the restaurant...such a touching moment.

It saddens me that such a treasure in Sandy Springs is closing, but it was quite remarkable to see the outpouring of love for the restaurant, for its staff and for Sally and Bruce.

I'd like to offer a huge wanderlust ATLANTA "Thank you!" to Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism for connecting me with Bruce and Sally, and a huge "Thank you!" to Bruce and Sally for the dining experience and delicious food, and to The Brickery staff for being so awesome! 

If you're interested in obtaining a piece of Sandy Springs history in the form of furniture or kitchen items from The Brickery, they're holding an auction on Tuesday, January 5. Stop by and do tell all of your restaurateur and foodie friends!

FINAL FAREWELL?

What's next for The Brickery? After the Burger Bash competition at the 2016 South Beach Wine & Food Festival things are up in the air. We may be in the final few days of one of Sandy Spring's most beloved dining destinations. 

On the other hand, they're open to possibilities, so they just might be back...

(All photos in the post are courtesy of The Brickery) (This is not a paid story. All opinions are sincere and my own.)