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Chef Gary Mennie
debuts Taurus over Peachtree


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Taurus, Brookwood Place at 1745 Peachtree Street
and 25th Street in Midtown, 404.214.0641

www.taurusrestaurant.com

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by hud report staff


Chef and owner Gary Mennie takes the 'Bull by the Horns' with the opening of his first solo American chophouse restaurant, Taurus, “I am excited to be going off on my own to open Taurus. My past experiences have been inspiring and helped me refine my skills as a chef and restaurateur; now it is time to take it to the next level.” Pictured on this month's cover with Mennie are (from left) pastry chef Chris Hagearty, sous chef Jason Paolini, Mennie himself and sous chef Ryan Smith showcasing Taurus' main dining room.

The restaurant, which takes its name from Mennie’s zodiac sign, is an ‘up’scale arena for food, service and ambiance. Three stories ‘up’ to be exact. Overlooking Peachtree Street and a Midtown/Downtown skyline the service is five star and the cuisine; as good as it gets without breaking the bank. Mennie’s vision was to go beyond a standard steak house and offer whole roasted meats at reasonable prices.

The old-meets-new ambiance and 1950s clubby feel was created by designer Tony Akly with an array of textured red fabrics and seating for over 240 guests in booths and banquettes. Along with other intricate details, a traditional bullfighting arena inspires the layout of the main room. An elevated central seating area represents the bullring and plush red velvet banquettes are situated beneath a cascading, circular lighting fixture (with petal shaped wings resembling a bullfighter’s cape) that changes subtle colors throughout the evening.

A private chef’s table, for 8 to 12 guests with a view of the kitchen, is tucked away in its own room and another private dining room for 20 to 35 guests can be sectioned off with glass partitions and has access to it’s own balcony overlooking Peachtree Street.

Taurus features a bar and lounge with live music, nightly cocktail specials and a 60-seat patio wraps the perimeter of the restaurant taking advantage of the three-story view.

Mennie’s imagination inspired the menu with a collection of soups, salads and snacks including roasted tomato gazpacho with herb salad and pickled vegetables and Peekeytoe crab fritters with citrus Dijon vinaigrette. The modernized chop-house-style entrees include familiar cuts as well as new takes on classics. The menu features Mennie’s concept of ‘bone-food’ or select meats, game and seafood roasted on-the-bone for more intense flavor. These items include grilled lamb T-bone with parmesan potato gratin, seared pork filet mignon with spiced sweet potatoes along with steakhouse cuts of fresh seafood such as roasted halibut T-bone. Local favorites are showcased as Mennie’s daily revolving specials or nightly wood-roasts. Each night features a special from whole roasted duck to slow roasted short ribs. $3 desserts include crème brulee, homemade sorbet and mascarpone panna cotta among others.

Mennie is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He has trained with some of the best chefs in the business. He began his training at Maxime’s in New York, then moved to Los Angeles to the Five Star “L’orangerie” and on to Spago in West Hollywood. Working beside Chef Wolfgang Puck, he was exposed to a whole new cooking style and later, under the tutelage of Chef Gunter Seeger, became part of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta. The next step for Mennie, a ten-year step, was his opening of Canoe in 1995, where he has been since.

It has been said that Taurus, more than any other zodiac sign, values the human senses: taste, smell, sight, sound and texture. Chef Mennie, staying true to his sign, hopes to do just that at this new American chophouse.

Taurus is located in Brookwood Place at 1745 Peachtree Street and 25th Street in Midtown, 404.214.0641. Taurus serves lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch and for more information you can visit www.taurusrestaurant.com.