Kevin Gillespie does his thing Sunday at Dunaway Gardens in Newnan, at For Food's Sake fundraiser

Former Top Chef finalist Kevin Gillespie hasn’t given up on his plan to open a barbecue restaurant. He just hasn’t found the right spot.

Not that there isn’t plenty of vacant restaurant real estate in Atlanta, but locations he has seen so far all tend to be too big. He wants to find a place that seats about 40 people.

“It’s not about making tons of money,” he said. “It’s about doing it right.”

Gillespie served pork both sliced and chopped

Buzz can attest that it’ll be worth the wait. Gillespie was the featured chef at Sunday’s For Food’s Sake benefit at Dunaway Gardens in Newnan. Gillespie cooked a whole pig, donated by Buckhead Beef, overnight, and served it both sliced and NC-style, chopped and vinegary, with sides of fresh slaw, potato salad and slices of white bread from Holeman & Finch.

The feast was paired with beers selected by brewmaster Crawford Moran of 5 Seasons …

Continue reading Kevin Gillespie still searching for perfect BBQ location »

I took this picture of Kevin a while ago in his kitchen

“Top Chef” finalist Kevin Gillespie still plans to open a barbecue joint in Atlanta, but plans are on hold for the moment.

The executive chef of Woodfire Grill told us he and his partners had identified a possible location, had plans drawn up and everything, but then he decided it was too big.

“I would have had to do 800 (meals) a day to make it work,” he said. “The whole point was to keep it small. We really want to focus on Woodfire, and make it great.”

So, stay tuned.

The affable Gillespie mixed and mingled at the bar of the Midtown W Wednesday night at a slightly kooky event billed as the “Fans of Kevin Gillespie’s Beard” bash. Enjoying cocktails and proudly brandishing unique party favors – paper beards – were Krista Miller and Zachary Smith. The two set up the “Fans of Kevin Gillespie’s Beard” Facebook page during the “Top Chef” season, undoubtedly helping Gillespie clinch viewers’ choice honors at the end. Smith …

Continue reading Kevin Gillespie’s BBQ plans on hold »

"The Perfect Vintage," by Christopher M.

Kevin Gillespie inspires our imagination, inspires our palates, inspires aspiring chefs.

Now he has inspired original art.

The finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef has been captured in a series of paintings by Vinings Gallery artist Christopher M.

“I feel honored that someone of the caliber of Christopher finds my work to be capable of inspiring a work of art,” Gillespie told us.

The two host a special dinner this Sunday at Woodfire Grill, where the dining room has stayed packed since Gillespie’s strong showing on the cooking reality show. He told us not long ago that while the restaurant probably could cram in a few extra diners, he prefers to eschew the easy profit to ensure every diner has a magnificent experience.

This Sunday’s event, with limited seating, is your shot at having the star chef feed you himself, then chitchat a bit in between courses. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m., with a four-course dinner to follow.

"Hot Night," …

Continue reading The unveiling of “Top Chef” Kevin Gillespie »

Just call him Boss Hog

Oh, that trend-setting Kevin Gillespie. The Woodfire Grill chef turned his fantastic run on Bravo’s Top Chef into something of a pork project last year, tossing bits of pig here and there to the judges’ delight. Now look what we have here.  Ann Mack, director of trendspotting at global marketing firm JWT, is out with a list of 100 things to watch this year. No. 7: “Bacon everywhere.”

Here’s the whole list. Does it all seem trend-worthy to you? (Buzz is particularly down with No. 68.)

1. 3D at Home

2. Airline Subscriptions

3. Alternative Measures of Prosperity

4. Alternative Metals in Jewelry

5. Asia’s Widening Income Gap

6. Augmented Reality

7. Bacon Everywhere

8. Bio-Based Airplane Fuel

9. Boeing 787 Dreamliner

10. Bogotá

11. Brighter Colors

12. Buycotting

13. Carey Mulligan

14. Coconut Water

15. Composting

16. Contemporary Indian Art

17. Cordless Power

18. Customized Pharmaceuticals

19. …

Continue reading Bacon, bacon everywhere in 2010 »