Restaurant Eugene’s former sous chef, Kevin Ouzts, is recently back from a California food pilgrimage and ready to show the Atlanta food world what he’s learned.

After graduating from culinary school in Atlanta in early 2009, Ouzts headed out to America’s food mecca with stints at The French Laundry in Yountville and The Fatted Calf in Napa.  At The Fatted Calf, Ouzts discovered his passion: the art of Charcuterie.

This was something he had never encountered in the modern South.  As he details on his website, “As a native of Atlanta and the South, I discovered that this is a world that the city of Atlanta has never truly had the opportunity to embrace.”

Back in Atlanta today, Ouzts has founded his own company, “The Spotted Trotter”, which will sell everything from pates to terrines (which is like pate, but has more coarsely chopped ingredients) to jerky and crepinettes (a small, flattened sausage) at Sawicki’s and the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market beginning next weekend.

Ouzts tells DM that he believes his product stands out because it’s made in boutique batches and “every primal cut, trim, or whole animal will be sourced locally either within the state of Georgia or surrounding Southeast.”  He continues, “We will use fresh, organic herbs and spices when available, except dried spices. All of our animals are humanely-sourced and the finest quality the Southeast has to offer.”

For the more gastronomically inclined among us, you can peruse a list of a few of the specific items which Ouzts will offer up for sale over the first few weeks of business.

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It’s back on kiddos!  From Little Shop’s blog…

Ms. Andrews will be here on Friday, July 9th at 6 p.m.

This event is a signing for her new book, The Very Fairy Princess. Ms. Andrews will not be doing a presentation and no photography will be permitted.

This will be a ticketed event, and availability will be limited. Little Shop of Stories will pass out tickets on Tuesday, July 6th, starting at 6 p.m. While tickets are free, you must purchase a copy of The Very Fairy Princess from Little Shop of Stories at this time to obtain a ticket.

From HomeGrown Decatur’s brand-new Facebook page…

HomeGrown Decatur announces its plans to open at 412 Church Street in the space formerly occupied by That Pottery Place. HomeGrown will serve as a market and gallery space for local artists, artisans and craftsmen to showcase their work. An emphasis will be placed on green and eco-friendly art.

Decatur residents and co-owners Lori Ronca and Beth Thompson plan on an August opening. Classes will be offered, as well as monthly art openings and special events. Student art shows will feature talented young people from the surrounding area. Beth Thompson comments, “We look forward to providing a fun and eclectic shopping experience for our customers while creating a thriving market to showcase the unique talents of local artists. Being able to bring the store to life in our beloved hometown is a priceless benefit of living in this amazing community.”

Lori Ronca adds, “Emerging, independent artists in Atlanta will find a home here- an opportunity to network with other artists as well as a venue in which to show and sell their work while providing the community an ever changing selection of art and locally produced products.”

Local artists interested in displaying their work at HomeGrown can contact Beth and Lori at www.homegrowndecatur@gmail.com.

Because it’s been a bit unclear…

Blue Elephant Book Shop is finally open at 407 W. Ponce right across from Watershed. Our hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 9:00 and Sunday from 12:30 to 6:30. Please call 404-373-1565 for more information.

More than a year after we first caught wind of Palate Wine Bar’s plans to build pub adjacent to their current location inside Oakhurst’s Scottish Rite, I received a report a few days back that construction on McGowan’s Pub finally looked to be under way.

An email back from Palate’s Jill Alikonis confirms it…

It’s true, we are building McGowan’s Oakhurst Pub. We plan to get rolling in 3-4 months. Open for lunch, dinner, and late night; 22 beers on draft.

A rumor I helped propagate after two separate confirmations doesn’t seem to be true.

While the interior of Natalie’s Fish House may have been in a bit of disarray recently, it’s not because they’ve closed up shop.  The chalkboard sign outside the restaurant states that they are closed for renovations and will reopen tomorrow.

Apologies for any confusion.

John Kessler tweeted last night…

Nathalie’s Fish House in Decatur has closed. Never once tried that joint…

FMFats confirmed it for us with a walk-by, because you know that Kessler guy can’t be trusted.

Starting this Friday June 4th, you can vote for your favorite window display among the Decatur businesses participating in this year’s Beach Party Window Contest.

Between June 4th-June 18th, stroll by participating shops, press your nose up against the window and check out their beachy window displays.  If you like what you see, text the code found in the window to 80672.  The business with the most text votes wins.

Who’s participating?  Why that would be, Boogaloos Boutique, Cook’s Warehouse/ Sherlock’s Wine Merchants, Greene’s Fine Foods, Mingei World Arts, Peggy’s Boutique, Salon Red Kids, Squash Blossom, Steinbeck’s, The Seen Gallery, Universal Joint, Wild Oats and Billy Goats, and Worthmore Jewelers.

Got all that?  (A bit more info and a map of participating businesses HERE)

No word on what the winning shop might receive, but I hope it’s made out of sand!

h/t: The Decatur Minute

David reported in last week of a stop-work order on the door of the soon-to-be Decatur Diner.  The sign was still there late last week when I stopped by, so I sent a email of inquiry to part-owner Bill Langford.  Here’s his reply…

We had hoped to be ready to open by now or at least with in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately when you’re dealing with various contractors, ordinances and inspectors, the best of plans seem to get derailed.

Although I haven’t been directly involved in the build out, the stop work order had something to do with some minor changes made to original interior plans and the failure of our general contractor not informing inspectors with updated blueprints. The new blueprints were delivered at the end of last week.( after a wait to have them changed) With the holiday, it’s another waiting game for inspectors to come back out. Not always a quick process even without a holiday.

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Billy reports that a sign has gone up in a brown-papered window of the Renaissance condo building in downtown Decatur (@ 230 East Ponce) announcing the coming of Axiom Salon for Men.

This is Axiom’s second location in Atlanta.  The first – which has garnered some pretty good feedback online – is at the intersection of Piedmont Road and Cheshire Bridge in Midtown.