Finally I have some news. First, I have to dispel a rumor. Gus Smith, the retired Smith’s Bakery executive is NOT opening up a restaurant in Pinebrook Shopping Center in the former Gerhardt’s location. Nor is he opening up a restaurant anywhere else.

So just who is? Could it be Gus of the former Gus’ downtown restaurant, and people have the names confused? Or someone else?

If you have the word, please let me know. All of Springhill was abuzz over what turned out to be misinformation.

Flying the Cooper

Cooper Restaurants has bid vice-president Gary Englade good-bye. Gary handled the front-of-house and financial operations for the trio of restaurants. He has been with the Coopers since the early days of their purchase of Ruth’s Chris.

He left on amicable terms to join a steak house chain out of Tennessee that will allow him some potential ownership opportunity from what I am told. David Cooper, Sr. tells me Cooper Restaurants is in the process of reorganizing under the leadership of his son, David, Jr. Many of the duties that Gary and George Panayiotou (who handled the back of house) performed have been assumed by young professionals.

David Jr. has installed an IT person, trainers, a CPA to handle finances, even a part-time operations advisor. Also, when Cooper T’s first opened I gave some background on the research this group did in Memphis on barbecue and their decision to offer this at Cooper T’s. Once they determine the desires of Mobilians for barbecue, the plan is to build an operation for it next to Felix’s on the Causeway.

Ready to be Scammed

Dave Rasp of Heroes tells me he is making progress on his bar/restaurant on Royal Street across from the Riverview, which will be called The Royal Scam, a reference to a Steely Dan album and his Royal Street location. He will serve lunch with wraps, salads and likely a plate special. At night it will be more small plates, tapas style food, mainly turning into a bar. He should be well positioned, being right out the Riverview door and in front of the Hampton Inn planned right behind him. Look for a fall opening.

MiMo progress

If you have driven on Old Shell in MiMo you have seen the progress being made at Naman’s Market and at Doughboys. Naman’s is looking fantastic and impressive. A look inside confirms this is going to be a large and well-stocked operation. I keep being told late fall, but I’m holding my breath until it opens. The addition of Carpe Diem eases my mind, as they are my coffee place of choice. It will allow me to keep my allegiance.

Doughboy has put up his awnings and I see a bit of progress on the inside. I am also told to look for this to open in late fall.

More Starbucks

The Starbucks on Government in front of Office Depot and Tijuana Flats is in the final stages. Starbucks is invading our area, with plans to build up to 16 locations within the next few years. The company just announced plans to double its stores nationwide.

They must know something I don’t, as they will have four locations within just a couple of miles from another. In Springhill, there will be one at Springhill and I-65, behind Atlanta Bread in the Legacy Center, on Old Shell across from Private Collection and another at Old Shell and University.

Must be some coffee-drinking fools living around there!

LoDa musings

I wonder if Samurai J’s is ever going to open on Bienville Square?

Hot Diggity Dogs already bit the dust in the former Al’s location, just a few short months after opening. Was Al right that there was just not the business there or was it the food, operation? A sign on the door says that something called the Firehouse Café will be opening soon.

I had lunch at Three George’s today and while it’s not New Orleans, the muffaletta is quite good and is pressed on a griddle. I asked them to go light on the olive salad and it was very piquant tasting. Their homemade potato salad was fresh, with green peppers and a touch of dill pickle.

Also downtown, the owner of the Gus’ building tells me he is still open to and looking for someone to operate a restaurant there. No word on that whole Brennan’s rumor. I will believe it once it is not only announced but complete. With the success of Liquid and Wintzell’s, it seems to be prime time to re-open the doors to a great space.

When in Houston…

Going to Houston anytime soon? I was there this past weekend and ate at two worthy restaurants. The first was authentic, upscale Mexican at a place called Hugo’s on Westheimer. Written up in Gourmet and Bon Appetit magazines, they had incredible mushroom quesadillas, plantains with mole sauce (a mild, not sweet chocolate sauce) and excellent ceviche.

I also had lunch at the over-the-top Grand Lux Café. Tremendous ceilings and colorful banquettes, along with large windows provide a festive backdrop for some terrific food. Located across from the Galleria, the menu is about seven pages and can be quite challenging to decide. The portions are enormous.

If you go, try the lettuce wraps with a stir-fried chicken and vegetable mixture, the rice rolls, or I had a very good spaghetti carbonara. The menu encompasses it all, from burgers to breakfast.

Kinnon Phillips is Lagniappe cuisine editor. Contact him at kphillips@lagniappemobile.com.

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