Tastemaker The Real Drinkmaster

FUN FACT

Rodbell has an identical twin who lives in Buckhead.

The Real Drinkmaster

Andrew Rodbell introduces authentic canned cocktails to the Southeast from his West Midtown warehouse

STORY: Carly Cooper PHOTO: Joann Vitelli

Andrew Rodbell just wanted a good Mai Tai. He was at a Yacht Rock Revue concert with his friend/now business partner, Charles Sain, and he couldn’t find an authentic cocktail. With 20 years of experience in brand management and product development for companies such as Coca-Cola and Cartoon Network, Rodbell decided to solve the problem.

In 2017, Rodbell and Sain launched Post Meridiem Spirit Co., a canned cocktail company that uses genuine ingredients such as barrel-aged whiskey, tequila, Italian maraschino liqueur and lime juice. Its Mai Tai, Margarita, Daiquiri, Old Fashioned and Vodka Gimlet come in 100milliliter steel-walled cans to keep them fresh. They pack a punch at 23-27% alcohol by volume. Just pour and serve over ice.

“Post Meridiem is the next tradeup consumers are making,” Rodbell says. “It’s something premixed that tastes like your bartender made it.” Previously sold only at package stores, restaurants and bars throughout the Southeast, Post Meridiem is now available for purchase nationwide through its website.

We spoke to Rodbell about creating the cocktails and balancing startup life with time commitments to his wife and three children, ages 5, 7 and 9.

How do you choose the flavors? We have a bench of ideas. We had a delicious Aviation with crisp, dry gin; imported Italian maraschino liqueur; creme de violette and lemon juice, but during our stability testing, we confirmed that the shelf life of [fresh] lemon juice is not long enough. We refuse to use engineered lemon juice or use any fake ingredient. Therefore, we had to cut a drink we loved because real ingredients taste better. We have additions to our lineup in the works, and we will introduce them in the not-too-distant future.

How did you develop the Post Meridiem recipes? Thoughtfully. We chose recognizable cocktails and classic recipes, as people appreciate familiarity. We wanted to focus on real ingredients because artificial ingredients, widely used across the ready-to-drink category, really impact the integrity of the cocktail. We worked with an award-winning mixologist to get the perfect balance and taste. We worked with packaging engineers and food scientists to ensure the quality ingredients held up in our can over time. For example, our Mai Tai closely follows the original Trader Vic recipe with a blend of funky rums, orange curacao, orgeat and, most importantly, 100% real lime juice.

What's a typical workday for you? Part of the fun is not having a typical workday. I have my routines in terms of distributor management, sales and vendor management, but some days I am negotiating distributor contracts, and other days I am driving a forklift. [Now] I am glad to have more time to focus on strategic growth as we grow the team.

What do you tell your kids about your job? They tell their teachers that Daddy makes cocktails. I assume their teachers think I am a bartender. Really, they know that Dad started a company that makes cocktails in small cans. They know I make delicious drinks that make people happy, and that’s good enough for me.

Do they ask to taste it? They do, but they know it’s an adult drink. They think the can is very cute. My middle son is obsessed with trucks, cars and anything that rolls. The greatest day of his life was when I brought him to the office to meet the shipping trucks. He got to sit in the cab and watch me drive the forklift.

What do you do for fun? Between a growing business and having a family with three kids under 10, I don’t have much time or energy for anything else. I love visual arts and music. I am on the board of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. I also paint acrylic canvases, but nothing that will be shown at the Contemporary, I can promise you that. n

POST MERIDIEM

FEATURED RESTAURANTS

A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

BY: Wendell Brock, Rebecca Cha and Angela Hansberger PHOTOS: Sara Hanna, Joann Vitelli

THE ALDEN

Chamblee's popularity as a residential and dining destination seems to be on the rise, and Chef Jared Hucks is here to make sure diners eat like royalty. Winning starters include a homemade bread plate with prosciutto butter and cheddar pimento cheese, silky sweet potato bisque and sashimi quality seared scallops. For mains, go with the cold smoked salmon, Moroccan-spiced shrimp and grits or the hickory smoked Brasstown coulotte steak. Desserts are deliciously unique. If you’ve got belly room to spare, be sure to witness the chef’s gastro-theatrics with the banana bread pudding service. Our favorite was the lunar chocolate, which the chef calls his “dessert moonscape.” Smaller dishes: $11-$21 Larger dishes: $23-$45 Desserts: $9-$15 Chef’s tasting menu: seven courses/$95 thealdenrestaurant.com

BABYLON CAFÉ

When Iraqi native Saad Marwad and his wife, Kelly Rafia, opened Babylon Café in 2014, the city’s foodie community started to buzz about the couple’s fresh, flavorful repertoire of Middle Eastern classics, from falafel and hummus to kebabs and baklava. While the starters are quite good—try the fattoush salad, the lentil soup and the eggplant badenjan—the earthy, long-simmered stews

The tempting tacos from Bone Garden Cantina are the epitome of fresh, hot and south-of-the border satisfying. are unlike anything else in town. We like the herb-based qurma sabzi with super-tender lamb shank and the bamia (okra and tomatoes) with oxtail. Don’t leave without a sip of the anise-flavored aperitif called arak and a bite of kanafeh, a sweet made of shredded phyllo, housemade sweet cheese, rose- and orange-water syrup and pistachios. Appetizers and sides: $2-$7 Entrees: $12-$20 babyloncafeatl.com

BONE GARDEN CANTINA

Beyond the colorful Día de Muertos dining room decor, the well-curated mezcal and tequila selections and the uber-friendly service, Bone Garden Cantina offers some of the most authentic Mexican cooking in Atlanta. Tastier guacamole and hot dipping queso you will not find, and we’ve tried! The tender-tothe-bone Mexican pork ribs are meaty, miraculous bites of earthy richness, and the tomatillo-rich pozole verde soup is pure south-of-the-border goodness. Garlic-sautéed shrimp enchiladas and adobo steak quesadilla seasoned with guajillo chile are among many fine familiar classics. Smaller plates include exemplary tamales and tacos. Appetizers: $2.50-$9.50 Soups and salads: $4.50-$9.00 Tamales, tacos and empanadas: $3.50-$5.00 Mains: $7.50-$12.75 bonegardencantina.com

Platter up at Das BBQ! Texas-sourced hot sausage (a breathe-easy 500 on the Scoville scale), bark-rich pulled pork and in-house-made sides.

DAS BBQ

In 2016, Stephen Franklin had a dream to make Georgia the most “inclusive, creative barbecue experience in the country,” and that’s just what he did at DAS BBQ. Whether it’s the rosy, smoke-ringed brisket, equally pink and juicy St. Louis-style ribs or the spicy, smoked chicken wings, every bony bite is a testament to Franklin’s focus on the art and science of smoked meats. Bring the whole family and don’t pass up house-made sides of decadent cream corn, mac ’n’ cheese and stickto-your-ribs Brunswick stew. Dig into white chocolate banana pudding after if you’re willing and able. Meats (whole, half and sandwich): $7-$28, sausages $5/link Wings: $9/$18 for half dozen/dozen Side dishes (in regular, pint or quart): $3-$23 Desserts: $3-$5 dasbbq.com

FORZA STORICO

The fact that the odds of success are notoriously bleak for new restaurants doesn’t seem to have fazed Westside newcomer Forza Storico. The baby sister of Buckhead’s popular Storico Fresco, Forza Storico focuses on Roman cuisine, proffering dishes such as fried carciofo and saltimbocca with exemplary flavor and flourish. Extra-regional fare such as a breathtaking plate of San Daniele prosciutto and milky mozzarella, charry grilled octopus with Calabrian chili pesto and herb-stuffed, pan-fried branzino are well worth the trip, but one taste of Forza’s house-made chitarra arrabbiata or tonnarelli cacio e pepe, plus one of Jose Pereiro’s specialty cocktails, and you’ll instantly be transported to your favorite Roman piazza. Antipasti: $10 - $23 Pastas: $16 - $26 Salads and veggies: $7 - $10 Specials and mains: $19 - $26 Desserts: $3 - $9 storico.com

HAVEN RESTAURANT AND BAR

Haven is exactly that—a safe, inclusive place where your every gastronomic need is met. If weather permits, enjoy the serenity of patio dining while indulging your taste buds with crisp Gulf oysters, the Southern cheese board or Timmy’s wild Georgia shrimp. Or go inside and soak up the classy atmosphere while digging into seared Georges Bank scallops or spice-roast-

ed Green Circle Farms chicken, and wrap things up with a warm chocolate brownie with artisan espresso sauce. Small plates and salads: $6-$15 Entrees: $18-$38 Steaks: starting at $51 Sides and desserts: $7 havenrestaurant.com

JALISCO

After nearly three decades, Jalisco remains a giddy, guilty pleasure trip through a tunnel of cheese. This TexMex institution at Peachtree Battle is better than an El Paso taco kit, but not exactly a showcase of the sophisticated techniques and ingredients of the Mexican larder. Without apology, Jalisco is what it is, a place with consistently good, standard-issue burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and even a Hamburguesa Mexicana. (It’s topped with nacho cheese.) This is not a place where the kitchen thrives on change and creativity. For the most part, the menu is the same as it has been since Jalisco opened in 1978. Lunch specials: $5-$9 Entrees: $9-$13 404.233.9244

LA GROTTA

This four-decades-old institution is as popular today as it ever was. And that has as much to do with the generations of devotees—many of them old school Atlanta royalty—as it does with its reliable, often superlative food. Whether you begin with earthy bresaola Valtellinese, milky burrata di mozzarella fresca or verdant insalata di carciofi freschi, it’s imperative you save room for the mains, for this is where the kitchen truly shines. Silky creamsauced pastas such as penne con verdure and pappardelle con astice will become your new gastro obsession, and delectable meat dishes such as scaloppine di vitello Antonio and filetto di manzo al Barolo are best enjoyed with a bottle of fine Italian red. Appetizers and salads: $9.95-$15.95 Pastas and risottos: $10.95-$35.95 Mains: $21.95-$39.95 Desserts: $7.95-$9.95 lagrottaatlanta.com

The Monster-in-Law roll at Starfish: deep fried soft shell crab, avocado, cucumber and masago.

PIG-N-CHIK

Co-owner Jim Graddy tells us he learned the art of the pit on his granddaddy’s pig farm in Manchester, Georgia. Graddy remembers cooking whole hogs all night long over hot coals, and when we tear into his pulled-pork sandwich—a delicious pile of pink, smoke-tinged meat between two thick slabs of white bread—we believe him. Graddy has proudly transported his family’s traditions to his casual Southern ’cue counter. Man, is the food good. The fresh-tasting coleslaw (with just a little mayo) and excellent new potato salad are just the things to cut the richness of the succulent pork. Some other tasty go-withs are fried okra, longcooked collards, mac and cheese and Brunswick stew. We’re sated. We’re sauce-splashed. We need a moist towelette and a nap. Entrees: $8-$24 pignchik.net

STARFISH

Starfish—which can look just a little lost on the block that houses Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch—is exactly the kind of sushi joint we have been trolling for. In a city where Japanese cuisine can be hit-or-miss and sometimes not the freshest, chef-owner Seung K. “Sam” Park’s reticent little pearl is a superior catch—cute and compact as a bento box but with just a hint of luxury. At dinner, we were delighted to see how the kitchen plays around with untraditional ingredients such as truffle oil and balsamic vinegar, slicing fish as thin as carpaccio and arranging it in dazzling presentations. When our flounder sashimi arrived, the server told us to place a dab of the ponzu jelly spiked with cilantro, jalapeño and lime on a strip of the fish and roll it up. Exquisite. Starfish isn’t the kind of place that announces itself with screaming klieg lights or red carpets. But in this culture of excess, sometimes being a little bit under-theradar can be very seductive. Lunch Entrees: $7-$16 Dinner Entrees: $12-$30 starfishatlanta.com

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN

Don’t be put off by the mobs of hipsters waiting for a table or the funky menu items with unfamiliar ingredients such as hemp, flax and chia. Though it could easily be mistaken for an ephemeral, crunchy beardo hangout, True Food Kitchen is here to stay—not just because of its good intentions and exemplary karma, but because of its tasty eats. Favorites include the shiitake lettuce cups, spring asparagus toast and the T.L.T. (tempeh, lettuce and tomato) sandwich. Good for the uninitiated are the margherita pizza, steak tacos and Mediterranean chicken pita. Recommended drinks include the non-alcoholic Cucumber Cooler and Medicine Man tea or the buzz-inducing lemongrass margarita, citrus skinny margarita and Strawberry Smash. Starters and vegetable plates: $7-$13 Salads and bowls: $10-$14 (added protein $3-$9) Pizzas and sandwiches: $12-$16 Entrees: $14-$26 truefoodkitchen.com

Southern sensibility meets nouvelle cuisine at Haven Restaurant and Bar in hotfrom-the-fryer Gulf oysters and cornichons on a bed of lemon-scented grits.

Note: Prices and menu items may have changed since original publication.

Hungry for more?

Visit the Simply Buckhead website to read all of our Restaurant Reviews!

SIMPLY HAPPENING

EVENTS

BY: Ginger Strejcek

TICKET TO RIDE

HAPPY DAYS HERE AGAIN AT FIVE-DAY FAIR IN DUNWOODY

Started as a relief effort to help local families devastated by a tornado in 1998, Dunwoody’s Lemonade Days Festival continues to squeeze those proverbial lemons into a refreshingly sweet treat, serving up five days of fun and games this summer after COVID waylaid the signature spring event for two years running.

Head to Brook Run Park on Aug. 1822 to brave thrill rides like the 80-foot Nemesis 360, rock out with the top 10 contestants of Dunwoody Idol, shop crafty creations in the country store, treat kids to pony rides and a petting zoo, and chow down on burgers, BBQ, cotton candy and funnel cakes. Adult beverages are also on tap.

Now in its 21st year, with expanded offerings including more than 30 full-scale carnival rides and a 5K, the fundraising festival still has the sunny appeal of a county fair with a neighborly mission.

“As Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s primary fundraiser, it makes all of our other activities possible. All proceeds go directly back into our community in the form of education, community celebrations and preservation of our history and heritage,” says Hope Follmer, manager of community events for the nonprofit organization.

Admission is free and ride tickets are $1 each. Grab a wristband for unlimited rides ($20 Wed., $25 Thurs.Sun.; valid for day of purchase only). Parking is available at Kingswood UMC, Peachtree Middle School, St. Patrick’s Episcopal, St. Barnabas and Crossroads Church of Dunwoody.

LEMONADE DAYS FESTIVAL

Aug. 18-22 4-10 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.10 p.m. Sat., noon-10 p.m. Sun. Brook Run Park 4770 North Peachtree Road Dunwoody 30338 dunwoodylemonadedays.org

[ NEARBY ]

Go the Distance

NAVIGATE ATLANTA’S INNER CIRCLE ON A 20-MILE RUN

From goats and graffiti to kudzu and construction, the oddities and obstructions on #RunTheATL are not only bragging rights for the runners who complete the 20ish-mile loop around the Atlanta BeltLine; they’re also part of the offbeat appeal. Though the terrain has grown admittedly tamer as the BeltLine progresses, this summer’s seventh annual race, set for July 25, promises just as much gritty fun.

“You have to be a bit crazy to do the course,” says John R. Tackett Jr., who has slugged through mud, escaped ensnarling vines and circumvented road blocks in years past. “Many of the folks doing it are serious runners and OCR [obstacle course racing] participants, and do it for the distance and the uniqueness of the event. Each year, there is something different.”

While the “Green Mile” of kudzu has been cleared, giving way to sweeping skyline views, about half of the route remains unpaved on the former railway corridor circling the city, with a rougher stretch along the northern arc. The course is paced at 20 minutes per mile.

Among the 100 or so runners who show up for this “fun but unforgiving adventure,” Erin Moore has clocked it in four hours, six hours and everywhere in between. “Since the distance and the course are always changing, our mile times do, too,” she says.

Whether going for a personal best or enjoying the sheer sport of it, organizer Matt B. Davis says the run offers an insider track through sights unseen, including 25 neighborhoods. “You will run behind the city,” he says. Registration is required.

SUMMER 2021 #RUNTHEATL

July 25,8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Best End Brewing Company 1036 White St. S.W. Atlanta 30310 $25-$30 runtheatl.com

[ MUSIC ]

We’ve got the Beat

SUMMER CONCERTS CRANKING UP AROUND TOWN

Concert season is back in full swing at outdoor venues in and near Buckhead. Head to Cadence Bank Amphitheatre to catch Wilco on Aug. 14 and John Legend on Aug. 15. The Chastain Park venue offers performances in a lush green setting with lawn and table seating.

In Sandy Springs, music lovers can enjoy a double shot of alfresco entertainment at two series. The lineup at Concerts by the Springs at Heritage Amphitheatre includes 7 Sharp 9 on July 11 and Head Games (Foreigner tribute) on Aug. 8. City Green Live at City Springs features the Tribute-A Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band on July 23 with lawn seating and ticketed tables ($40-$60). A limited number of free tickets are available in pods of four for each series. Dunwoody is also presenting Groovin’ on the Green at Brook Run Park Amphitheater this summer with limited attendance. The next concert is scheduled for July 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.

DETAILS

Brook Run Park Amphitheatre 4770 North Peachtree Road Dunwoody 30338 dunwoodyga.gov

Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park 4469 Stella Drive N.W. Atlanta 30327 chastainparkamp.com

City Springs 1 Galambos Way Heritage Amphitheatre, 6110 Bluestone Road Sandy Springs 30328 citysprings.com

BUZZ

THE FRIENDS EXPERIENCE July 15- Sept. 6

Perimeter Pointe 1155 Mount Vernon Highway N.E. Sandy Springs 30338 $32.50, timed entry friendstheexperience.com Grab your besties for a real-life romp through the set of “Friends,” playfully recreated by Warner Bros. and Superfly X in a touring pop-up featuring 12 rooms of interactive fun, including Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, Joey and Chandler’s apartment and Central Perk. Titled “The One in Atlanta,” the two-story experience invites fans to revisit favorite scenes from the iconic TV show, view original props and costumes, and shop for themed merch.

HEROES, SAINTS & LEGENDS GALA Aug. 19

Flourish Atlanta 3143 Maple Drive Atlanta 30305 wesleywoods.org/foundation/ special-events/hsl/ Support the mission and ministry of Wesley Woods at this 32nd annual benefit that raises funds to provide housing and meal assistance, pastoral care and wellness for senior adults. The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception, followed by a three-course dinner, a program recognizing the 2021 honorees and a Fund-the-Mission finale.

“IN THE TRADITION” July and August

atlantafestivals.com Tune in to exclusive interviews with renowned jazz artists in this free virtual series. Presented by the City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, it kicks off the 43rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, which has been rescheduled to Sept. 5-6. Streaming at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through August on the AJF website, YouTube and Facebook, the lineup includes trumpeter Sean Jones, bassist Ron Carter, singer Jazzmeia Horn and pianist Yuko Mabuchi.