Wine Down

Please join us on Tuesday, February 5 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. to sip your way through the wines of France. Jean-Philippe Bourgeois, a native of France, will be on hand to discuss featured wines from one of the world’s greatest wine producing region. Enjoy wines from the Rhône Valley all the way down to Corsica as well as Champagne and Burgundy. Wines will be available to purchase from H&F Bottle Shop. Come and enjoy 20 wines with light bites for $20 per person. RSVP at rsvp@lizlapiduspr.com.

Valentine’s Day

 Say “I love you” to Watershed on Peachtree. For $75 per person you can enjoy four courses of Southern-inspired farm-to-table cuisine and a glass of sparkling wine.

Book your reservation now because we will fill up at www.watershedrestaurant.com or by calling 404-809-3561.

Chef Joe Truex Thinks He Can Dance

If you’ve dined with us, you know Chef Joe Truex can cook. But can he dance? On Thursday, February 28, Chef Joe will trade in his toque for dancing shoes for the 4th Annual Celebrity Dance Challenge at the Buckhead Theatre, benefitting EDIN. Along with Dance 101 Teacher and Atlanta Hawks Dancer, Desiree Nathanson, Joe will compete for votes in a Dancing with the Stars-style competition. Here’s where you can help. The team with the most votes wins. And votes cost as little one dollar. So click here to start voting for your favorite chef now.

A Perfect Ending

Hey sweets – have you tried our desserts? Watershed’s dessert menu has something that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Pastry Chef Cynthia Long’s decadent creations are the perfect ending to our Southern-inspired farm-to-table meal. Our Very Good Chocolate Cake was recently voted one of Atlanta’s 100 Signature Dishes. And we also get rave reviews for the new Coconut Cake with lemon curd filling; Hot Milk Cake with caramel icing and sea salt; Sweet Potato Crème Brulee; and Cynthia’s Amazing Pecan Sandies with maple marscapone Cream. Seasonal Sorbet and Ice Cream are available as well. With such a delectable assortment, be sure to leave room for dessert.

In the News

In case you missed it, read what the media is saying about Watershed:

Fun in the Sun with Chef Joe Truex

Aren’t you ready to replace your winter coat and gloves with a swimsuit and shades? Well Chef Joe is inviting you to escape the Atlanta cold and join him at the Cap Maison Hotel in St. Lucia March 13- 17. This amazing culinary trip includes a four-night stay, dinner on both Friday and Saturday with wine pairings on Saturday, market tour and cooking class with chef, a boat excursion to Soufriere and a St. Lucian chocolate factory and much more. Becky Lamb Travel has put together this special package for $2,667.00 per couple including taxes. Visit www.beckylambtravel.com for more information or call Becky at 404-378-4452 to book your trip.

Location

Watershed on Peachtree is located at 1820 Peachtree Road. We’re open for Dinner Tuesday -Saturday, Lunch Tuesday – Friday and feature our Southern Brunch Menu on Saturday and Sunday. Complimentary valet parking is available. Reservations can be made at www.watershedrestaurant.com or by calling 404-809-3561.

Photo by James Camp

The Decatur transplant forges on

The story of Watershed and its move from Decatur to Buckhead calls to mind the classic question of nature versus nurture. Would Watershed’s nature, its simple Southern roots, prevail? Or would its new neighborhood nurture it into something entirely new? It’s been almost nine months since Watershed was reborn, and the nurture side is winning.

In the 2000s, Watershed flourished thanks to chef Scott Peacock’s sophisticated, contemporary take on Southern classics. It was the jewel of Decatur’s casual but increasingly ambitious dining scene.

But now, Watershed has literally moved on up, to a high-rise condo building on Peachtree Road. The Buckhead transformation encompasses almost every aspect of the dining experience. In place of the chaotic little Decatur parking lot, there’s a sleek corporate valet. Instead of a homey feel, there are vast street-facing windows, expansive dining spaces, and stark elegance. It’s now Brooks Brothers instead of Birkenstocks, Westminster rather than Paideia, and, well, Peachtree instead of Ponce.

That’s not to say Watershed’s past is entirely forgotten. While executive chef Joe Truex and chef de cuisine Julia LeRoy have mostly done away with the vestiges of the old Watershed, there is still no breaking free from its famous fried chicken. The recipe is literally written on both a quilt on the wall and on the matchbooks handed out at the hostess stand. But if you want actual fried chicken, good luck. As always, it sells out quickly on the one night a week it’s offered, by 6:30 p.m. on my most recent Wednesday visit.

These days, Watershed’s menu extends far beyond the South. Among the array of starters, there are those with clear inspiration from Spain or Japan or France. The “South” shows up only in the form of buttery pimento cheese toast.

Other dishes play off our regional heritage more discreetly. The duck confit, for example, sits atop a soft corn griddle cake, but is paired with a bitter and crisp radicchio slaw. Sure, the South is there, but it doesn’t shout with a Southern accent. Creole arancine, Italian rice balls spiked with smoky tasso pork, shrimp, and a gentle yee-haw of Creole spice, are a delightful nod to Truex’s Louisiana roots. A few starters eschew the South altogether, such as the requisite oysters on the half shell or steak tartare (this is Buckhead after all).

Watershed pushes into more playful territory with dishes like a sea scallop schnitzel. It’s an unexpected pileup of thinly pounded and fried ocean sweetness over a salty sprinkling of anchovy and capers all topped with a fried quail egg. A crab and shrimp cake could have gone the traditional Baltimore crab cake route, but instead looks boldly east, with a spongy, finely minced texture that screams dim sum and salty Japanese seaweed seasoning instead of Old Bay.

The entrées aren’t quite as globe-trotting, and tend to play it safe. There’s the simple comfort of braised brisket over a potato purée, and a straightforward pan-roasted grouper, but neither rise to their elegant surroundings or justify Watershed’s often lofty prices (entrées average about $30). The steak frites at least manage to rise above typical renditions of that bistro staple, thanks to a nice char, a juicy interior, and just enough chimichurri sauce to add an herbal, acidic kick. And a perfect winter dish like the earthy lamb shank ragoût over house-made pappardelle finally let me know that the kitchen is indeed aiming for excellence.

Better still are those signature dishes that draw on Truex’s Louisiana roots. The masterpiece among them is Joe’s jambalaya. Truex cooks each component separately — grilled andouille sausage, seared scallops, fried oysters, butter-poached shrimp — before arranging them seamlessly over a jambalaya stock with sea-salty depth. Likewise, a firm and flaky Acadian redfish gets the full-on Louisiana treatment with a pile of sweet lump crab meat and shrimp, then a spread of crawfish hollandaise sauce that adds a lemony, nuanced spice.

Since reopening, Watershed’s drinks menu has evolved slightly, keeping the focus on an eclectic-but-pricey wine list. A prominently placed cocktail bar focusing on artisan spirits also shows a conscious effort to cater to the Buckhead cocktail hour crowd. If I’m choosing my vices carefully, though, I’m opting for cake instead of cocktails here. Dark and dangerously moist chocolate cake served in a jar, coconut cake, and, especially, hot milk cake drenched in caramel and flaked with salt.

Other desserts prove far less worthy. A sweet potato crème brûlée, for example, tastes too much of jarred baby food, with not enough torched top to offset the mush. And coconut macaroons land with a dry, heavy thud. Maybe Watershed should institute a cake-only dessert policy.

After the last bite of cake, the last sip of coffee or wine, the final thing delivered to your table might come as a slight shock. The bill. On more than one visit, as the price per person climbed up and over $100, I couldn’t help but think, “Holy andouille, that added up fast.” That’s not to say that the food and wine and atmosphere can’t deliver a $100 experience, just that I was left wondering how much of my bill went to pay the Peachtree Road rent. When my meals centered on Truex’s refined bayou cuisine, I didn’t mind the price tag at all. It was worth it. But when I stuck to the safer side of the menu, I couldn’t help but lament that Buckhead might be nurturing Watershed into something less than what it was meant to be.

14 years as a Decatur staple, Watershed restaurant has been revamped and relocated. Headed by chef Joe Truex Watershed is fine dining at its best. Now located on Peachtree in a LEED certified space the ambiance is breathtaking, with a refreshing brunch menu of Southern favorites.

Menu starters include, but not limited to, Country ham and biscuits and the fried pimento cheese sandwich. Fresh coconut pancakes accompanied by coconut syrup complete the traditional breakfast side of the brunch menu.

Watershed’s brunch menu offers a couple of lunch themed items like the crabby shrimp burger. A patty made with crab and shrimp served with lettuce, tomato, remoulade and fries. Also, on the menu is WP burger served with extra sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickled cucumbers.

In addition to brunch Watershed offers a fabulous dinner menu the interior and center placed bar make an excellent choice for cocktail night with friends. Visit Watershed on Peachtree for a great dining experience.

Out to Lunch

Need to make lunch plans with your co-worker or friend? Better yet a mid-afternoon rendezvous with a loved one? Drop by and enjoy our Southern-inspired farm-to-table lunch menu. Try a few of these delectable favorites such as the Smoked Trout Salad with spinach, apples, pecans and parmesan dressing; Fried Pimiento Cheese Sandwich with tomato basil soup; White Truffle Chicken Salad Sandwich with golden raisins, pine nuts and multi grain bread; and Crabby Shrimp Burger with slaw, lettuce, tomato, remoulade and fries. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wine Down

 Thanks to everyone who attended our December Champagne tasting. We invite you to join us on Tuesday, February 5 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. and experience the diversity of wine that France has to offer. Jean-Philippe Bourgeois, a native of France, will be on hand to discuss featured wines from one of the world’s greatest wine producing region. Enjoy wines from the Rhône Valley and all the way down to Corsica as well as sip on a few glasses of Champagne and Burgundy. Wines will be available to purchase from Holeman and Finch Bottle Shop. Come and enjoy 20 wines with light bites for $20 per person. RSVP to rsvp@lizlapiduspr.com.

In the Kitchen with Chef Joe Truex

Ever wonder how Chef Joe whips up his steak frites or crabby shrimp burger? Come see for yourself when he cooks live at the Whole Foods Market in Buckhead on Wednesday, January 9 from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Whole Foods will host a joint “5% Day” with 5% of sales benefitting Wholesome Wave Georgia. Wholesome Wave Georgia believes that all Georgians should have access to good, wholesome and locally-grown food. Their mission aligns with Watershed’s commitment to provide its patrons with the best tasting food from local and organic farmers. Stop by during your lunch hour and watch Chef Joe in action!

Scoutmob Hand-Picked Deal

Whether it’s late morning or early afternoon, brunch is a delicious combination of breakfast and lunch. Come enjoy a special ScoutMob “Hand Picked” one-time only three-course Creole brunch with either a Bloody Mary or Mimosa on Saturday, January 26. Chef Joe will tap into his Louisiana roots for this one! Visit Scoutmob to learn more and purchase this Hand-Picked deal for $35 per person. Brunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The specialty menu includes:

Escape to St. Lucia with Chef Joe Truex

Wouldn’t you like to be on a sunny Caribbean island enjoying delicious food on a sandy beach? Well Chef Joe is escaping the cold to the Cap Maison Hotel in St. Lucia March 13- 17, and is inviting you to join him. This amazing culinary trip includes a four-night stay, dinner on both Friday and Saturday with wine pairings on Saturday, market tour and cooking class with chef, a boat excursion to Soufriere and a St. Lucian chocolate factory and much more. Becky Lamb Travel has put together this special package for $2,667.00 per couple including taxes. Visit www.beckylambtravel.com for more information or call Becky at 404-378-4452 to book your trip.

In the News

In case you missed it, read they’re saying about Watershed:

Location

Watershed on Peachtree is located at 1820 Peachtree Road. We’re open for Dinner Tuesday -Saturday, Lunch Tuesday – Friday and feature our Southern Brunch Menu on Saturday and Sunday. Complimentary valet parking is available. Reservations can be made at www.watershedrestaurant.com or by calling 404-809-3561.

Join us to ring in the New Year with a special 4-course menu and a champagne toast for $75. Make your reservations now at www.watershedrestaurant.com or call 404-809-3561.

The specialty menu includes:

Happy Holidays

We hope you’ll eat, drink and be merry at Watershed this holiday season. We can host your holiday party – large or small – at the bar or in our private dining room. Our private dining space can accommodate up to 50 guests and is appointed with a TV for presentations or picture slide shows. For more information please call 404-809-3561 or email alisa@watershedrestaurant.com.

Watershed gift certificates make great gifts for anyone on your list.

We’re closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Wednesday, January 2.

In the News

Check us out in the latest issue WebMD Magazine. Chef Joe Truex introduces slimmed-down classics to add to your holiday meal including a Sweet Potato Pecan Parfait.

Read through the magazine online here.

It’s On!

Watershed and Chef Joe are battling it out against three other chefs in Modern Luxury’s “4G4 Hunger” campaign through Friday, December 21. Follow Chef Joe (@WatershedATL) as he posts photos, recipes, videos and more from his new Samsung Galaxy SIII to win $4,000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Help us give back this holiday season and click here to vote.

Read through the magazine online here.

Escape to St. Lucia with Chef Joe Truex

Baby it’s cold outside but it’s warm in the Caribbean. Join Chef Joe at the Cap Maison Hotel in St. Lucia next March 13- 17, 2013, for an amazing culinary trip that includes a four-night stay, dinner on both Friday and Saturday with wine pairings on Saturday, market tour and cooking class with chef, a boat excursion to Soufriere and a St. Lucian chocolate factory and more. Becky Lamb Travel has put together this special package for $2,667.00 per couple including taxes. Visit www.beckylambtravel.com for more information or call Becky at 404-378-4452 to book your trip.

Location

Watershed on Peachtree is located at 1820 Peachtree Road. We’re open for Dinner Tuesday -Saturday, Lunch Tuesday – Friday and feature our Southern Brunch Menu on Saturday and Sunday. Complimentary valet parking is available. Reservations can be made at www.watershedrestaurant.com or by calling 404-809-3561.

Hosting loved ones during the hubbub of the holidays can be a challenge, even for the most seasoned professional chefs. Taking a light-hearted approach and letting good ingredients shine is the answer, says Joe Truex, executive chef at Watershed on Peachtree in Atlanta. “When I’m cooking at home I want to make it fun and enjoy myself. I’ve learned to keep my menus simple — and definitely seasonal.”

Truex was inspired to start cooking at an early age. Growing up in Louisiana certainly influenced him. “There’s such a rich food culture there, and I was always exposed to people who were interested in food.” Truex’s mother, “a teacher and a wonderful cook,” was one of those people. “I also had a well-off, retired aunt who lived in a house on our property in rural Louisiana. I was her favorite. She’d give me money to make her things like French toast and eggs.”

After training at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and working in restaurants in Europe and across the United States, Truex was ready to come home. “It’s such a great time for me right now,” he says. “I spent most of my life trying to get out of the South. I did, and I saw the world. I’ve been in Atlanta now for 10 years. As a chef, I’m ready to embrace my roots and my heritage.”

But he’s a changed man (and chef), thanks to his experiences. “The first part of my life was traveling and being exposed to different cultures and points of view. As a chef, I like to reflect that experience in my cooking.” As a result, his personal signature is giving familiar ingredients a creative twist. “And preparing them in a lighter way,” he adds. “I don’t eat the same way I used to, and cooking lighter is also important to me as a chef.”

For this holiday season, Truex offers a simple yet special menu, ideal for entertaining. “Pork is something that’s familiar, and the brining process is easy but adds flavor. The mushroom fricassee is basically a stew that cooks along with the pork, and the pan drippings make the sauce,” Truex explains. Just pull it out of the oven and enjoy time with your guests, he says. That’s what the holidays are all about.

“Roast pork is very classic and Southern. I love mushrooms with pork: The flavors complement each other so well,” Truex says. “Brining the pork increases its flavor and moisture retention. I love that this dish has deep flavors but a light feel.”

ATLANTA – Good Day Atlanta has another great holiday side dish for Thursday! Chef Joe Truex of Watershed on Peachtree stopped by with his recipe for Sweet Potato Gratin.

Information:
Watershed on Peachtree
1820 Peachtree Road Northwest
Atlanta
(404) 809-3561

Recipe: Sweet Potato Gratin

Ingredients

· 2 cups heavy cream
· 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
· 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
· 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
· 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick on a mandoline
· 1 cup gruyere cheese, grated
· Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.

2. Whisk together the cream, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg until smooth.

3. In a 10-inch square baking dish, arrange an even layer of sweet potatoes. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the cream mixture, gruyere cheese and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining potatoes and cream, seasoning with salt and pepper, to form 8 to 10 layers. Press down on the layers to totally submerge the sweet potatoes in the cream mixture.

4. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and continue baking until the cream has been absorbed, the potatoes are cooked through, and the top is browned, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Watershed on Peachtree
The relatively new incarnation of Watershed has a host of option for private parties. A private area can be sectioned off in the rear of the restaurant to seat up to 50 guests or divided in half for a party of 20-30. You also may choose to reserve part of the bar for a mixer with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Watershed on Peachtree’s chef Joe Truex will customize foodie-friendly menus ranging from $35-$65 per person (minimums apply). Alcohol pricing is based on consumption.

We asked Birmingham native and current Buckhead highrise resident Margaret Anthony to talk about what makes her favorite things in the community. Here’s what she told us.

Why I Love Buckhead
I love Buckhead because it’s not what people imagine it to be. If you remember what Buckhead was like when it was the crazy party capital of the South, you need to visit again. Buckhead is transforming from a party district to an everything district. There’s still plenty of partying, but there’s also plenty of shopping, arts, events and – one day – there may even be a Buckhead Atlanta (once known as The Streets of Buckhead).

Where to Eat
If I had to pick my last meal, a top contender would be the filet at Chops (buckheadrestaurants.com). This Buckhead Life mainstay just gets better with time. Watershed (watershedrestaurant.com) is the newest addition to Buckhead’s restaurant scene – a total revamp of the downtown Decatur favorite. Don’t miss the (still-on-the-menu) Very Good Chocolate Cake. The Tree House (treehouseatlanta.com) is a hidden gem with a tiny, neighborhood-sized bar and patio, off the beaten track, with good sandwiches and cold beer. I spend more nights than I can count at The Elbow Room (elbowroomatlanta.com). The patio is fun with summertime cookouts, while the pool table interior is a sports-lover’s dream. Plenty of TVs to keep you occupied.

Where to Shop
Palas Jewelers (palasjewelers.com) was seen on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, but also on the wrists and fingers of Buckhead’s finest folks, Palas has such a range of beautiful pieces at all prices, there’s truly something for everyone. Miller Brothers Ltd. (millerbrothers.com) should keep the man in your life busy while you shop for gems and jewels. The club-like atmosphere is so welcoming, even the guy who hates to shop will find his next great wardrobe with the help of Greg and Robby. No visit is complete without a pass through the myriad of goods at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza (simon.com) The new streetscaping makes the walk between the two across busy Peachtree Road bearable and even pleasant.

Coming Up
All my neighbors are at Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market (peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com) and you should be, too. In the fall, the holiday gifts and chef demos are perfect weekend pastimes. It’s held every Saturday morning through Dec. 15. The Lighting of Macy’s Great Tree on Thanksgiving night is also a must. Don’t sit this one out.