This sure is cool.

Score another win for Decatur’s premier dining reputation: Two out of the six members of Georgia culinary team selected to cook at NYC’s famed James Beard House on October 15th will be from local Decatur restaurants.

Chef Savannah Haseler from Twains Brewpub will join four other other prominent GA chefs in preparing dishes made from GA Grown produce and products. In addition, Julian Goglia, partner at The Pinewood has been asked to create custom cocktails that pair well with each dish of the five course meal.

“Chef Savannah may be Georgia’s best kept secret” admitted Holly Chute, former Executive Chef to five Georgia Governors. “In my current role with Georgia Grown (Georgia Department of Agriculture) I look for chefs that do a great job highlighting our local products on their menu. No one does it better than Savannah. She has trained her staff to make every item from scratch. People eating at Twains for the first time are astounded by the food expeience.”

Julian Goglia has attracted similar praise for his ability to craft stylish and satisfying cocktails. He has made The Pinewood a go-to spot for cocktail officianados, which might explain why Julian was recently named one of “America’s top 25 bartenders” by leading industry website The Daily Meal.

“Julien is brilliant in his approach. Just when I think a dish tastes perfect, he pairs it with a certain beverage that takes it over the top” added Chef Chute. “He completes the incredible talent of our team beautifully.”

Five Chefs in total, plus Gogglia will travel to New York on October 14th to create a GA grown dinner experience for a sold out dining room. Cooking at The James Beard House, which regularly showcases the world’s top talent, is an experience on every chef and mixologist’s wish list. Haseler and Goglia will soon join the elite group of culinary professionals who have seen that wish fulfilled.

Haseler photo courtesy of Twain’s, Goglia photo courtesy of Zagat