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| Blue Trout Is A Catch by Michelle Thomason There is an old technique for preparing trout that is common in European countries such as France and Germany. It is an “outdoorsman preparation” whereby the fisherman applies vinegar and spices on the fish, turning the skin an iridescent blue upon cooking. The trout becomes a beautiful and simple meal with meat that is perfectly light and flaky. Blue Trout Restaurant, Midtown’s newest offering of tasty cuisine, takes more than its name from the old fishermen’s technique. With a combination of simplicity, tradition and a few new tricks, Fariba and Tommy Todd present an eatery that showcases their experience and talent in a stylish and comfortable setting. Both Fariba and Tommy have continually put their mark on the Atlanta restaurant scene for several years. Fariba was one of the founding partners of the Metroentertainment Restaurant group. They started the group with Einsteins in 1991 and went on to open Café Mythology (which later became the Martini Club), Cowtippers, Cheyenne Grille and Filibusters (now Joe’s on Juniper). Tommy joined the group with the opening of Cowtippers after having served as GM of Vicory’s for seven years. In 1999, after leaving Metroentertainment, and living in New York for a short time while Tommy attended a French cooking school, they returned to Atlanta and in 2000 they opened Atlantic Star in Decatur. Tommy and Fariba excel in the arena of finding a not-so-obvious location and developing a loyal clientele for their restaurants. When they were ready to open a new place, Midtown was their first choice. With Fariba managing the front of the house and Tommy residing as the Chef, Blue Trout introduced itself to Atlanta in June of this year. Their concept of a “neighborhood restaurant” where fresh ingredients are simply prepared and reasonably priced lends itself well to Blue Trout’s location. It is within walking distance of several close-by residences, and with the prevalence of in-town development, the immediate area is quickly becoming a convenient and desirable neighborhood of its own. Blue Trout is also worth the drive for people outside Midtown. It is in close proximity to all the major highways and lends itself well to the downtown business lunch crowd. The first time I visited Blue Trout, the parking lot adjacent to the building was full, but I quickly found a spot right around the corner. There is ample parking on the streets within blocks of the restaurant. The building is a 1920’s storefront, and with the spacious patio in front, Blue Trout’s character is immediately apparent. The restaurant consists of a bar and lounge area, a large dining room and a smaller room with garage doors that open up to the street-side patio. The bar is spacious with plenty of room to mingle and enjoy cocktails before and after dinner. The large dining room showcases art that is for sale. The smaller room is light and airy in the daytime and will be especially nice when it’s cool enough to open the doors leading to the patio. I enjoy lunch, dinner and “cocktailing” at Blue Trout. That is one of the appealing things about this restaurant. It is comfortable whether having lunch with family, dinner with friends or even romantic drinks with someone special. Blue Trout’s menu holds true to the simple style of the whole place, featuring shellfish, a nice assortment of appetizers and salads and ample entrees to choose from that will appeal to a variety of tastes. Rotating Ceviche and Oysters on the Half Shell are favorites. The oysters are served with Tommy’s creation of a red wine minorette for dipping. Appetizers to try are the Goat Cheese Croquette with Tomato Basil Fondue and the French Onion Soup. The croquette is a delicious comfort food and the soup is one of the best I’ve tried. Blue Trout’s selection of sandwiches and salads is perfect for the lunch crowd or a light dinner. The Salmon BLT and the Burger are outstanding, and for lighter fare, try the Portabello Mushrooms and Seasonal Vegetables. Entrees include a simple pasta dish of Buccatini with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil, a perfectly seasoned Roasted Trout and unpretentious Steaks served with French Fries. Sumptuous desserts are provided by The Bread Garden and For Heaven’s Cakes and include Mango Cheesecake, Chocolate Torte (to die for!) and Carrot Cake with an amazing cream cheese icing. Blue Trout plans to start serving brunch in the fall and will feature a dish of Blue Trout with eggs and hollandaise. Also, on the last Saturday of each month the restaurant hosts a Cabaret featuring Lisa Page. Other highlights of the restaurant are a full line of specialty signature cocktails, an extensive list of wines by the glass and frozen drinks. The friendly and enthusiastic staff is helpful in choosing wines or drinks. Tommy offers nightly dinner specials and an especially appealing lunch special will run through August. It features a choice of one of Blue Trout’s signature sandwiches, a side and a soft drink for only $6.00. Blue Trout is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30-11. It is located at 554-A Piedmont Avenue and can be reached by phone at (404) 685-9575. |
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