Quick Bites: Collapsed roof at Blu Cantina, Bulla Gastrobar brings tapas to Midtown, City Barbeque comes to Decatur and more

Food news roundup

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Photo credit: Courtesy Chicken + Beer
FIGHT OR FLIGHT: Ludacris' airport bar and restaurant Chicken + Beer is now serving local beer flights.

Last night, a roof collapsed at Castleberry Hill’s Blu Cantina, injuring six people. The Atlanta Fire Department has not confirmed the cause of the collapse, though a build-up of rain from summer storms is the likely culprit. The restaurant is currently closed for repairs.

Bulla Gastrobar, a Miami-based tapas joint, will open its first restaurant outside Florida in Midtown next month. Pronounced “boo-yah,” the restaurant will occupy a two-level space at the Sixty 11th apartment complex (60 11th St. N.E.) with a large patio and outdoor bar, and serve contemporary tapas, charchuteries and large plates like paella and suckling pig.

Tickets for the 8th annual Southern Chefs Potluck, a benefit feast for Wholesome Wave Georgia are now on sale. Chefs bring goodies to the super-sized picnic at the Inn at Serenbe on Sept. 17. Wholesome Wave increases access to locally grown food for all Georgians by doubling federal and state nutrition benefits at partner markets.

Don’t shoot the messenger. Atlanta Chick-fil-As will cease serving chicken salad sandwiches on September 30. Get ‘em while you can.

Pit boss Elliott Moss from Asheville’s Buxton Hall is coming to Atlanta to cook alongside Jarrett Stieber for an Eat Me Speak Me collaboration with “never before seen dishes from both chefs.” The James Beard nominated duo will be serving from 5 p.m. until the food runs out at Decatur’s S.O.S Tiki Bar (340 Church St.) Bonus: one of the four Atlanta kegs of limited edition “Abstract” black lager from Creature Comforts will be flowing as well.

ASW Distillery is celebrating the release of their new Duality Double Malt, distilled from a mash of 50 percent malted rye and 50 percent malted barley. Be one of the first to try at a tasting with BBQ from chef Kevin Gillespie and crew on August 5 at the distillery (199 Armour Dr. NE).

Attention beer enthusiasts, home brewers, and hop nerds. Hop City West Midtown started a new lecture series held the last Thursday of every month, each time with a different topic/brewer. Coming up next: the ins and outs of hops, with the crew from Scofflaw Brewing leading the lesson. Pull up a chair on July 27 at 6:30 PM. The series is free.

How are you going to celebrate National Fortune Cookie Day? (It’s July 20th, btw.) Doc Chey’s in Morningside and Dragon Bowl near Emory will have special fortune cookies filled with giveaways and you have a 100 percent chance of winning something. We hear there are a couple of big prizes to go with food giveaways.

Got a layover and a hankering to try some of Georgia’s 28 craft breweries and 15 brewpubs? You can get a taste of Atlanta’s best brews without even leaving the airport with a beer flight at Ludacris’ Chicken + Beer in the heart of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The $8 selection of four beers pays homage to the state’s most acclaimed breweries including Three Taverns, Eventide and Second Self.

Atlanta’s first outpost of City Barbeque is looking close to opening in Decatur at 2511 Blackmon Dr. The Ohio-based concept is expected to open in August in the Medlock area with a selection of smoked meats and sides like gumbo, sweet vinegar slaw and corn pudding. The online menu also notes banana pudding and peach cobbler. Mmm.

Wine Spectator magazine released its 2017 “Best of Award” list, honoring restaurants exhibiting outstanding dedication to their wine programs. Atlanta award winners include Umi, Canoe, St. Cecilia, Osteria Mattone, Ray’s in the City and City Winery among a list of other outstanding restaurants. Buckhead’s Aria also brought home the “Best of Award of Excellence.” Kudos to chef/owner Gerry Klaskala and wine director/GM Andres Loaiza. The August issue with a full list hits stands July 18th.