Thursday, July 17, 2008

Tuohy To Leave Atlanta; Woodfire Grill For Sale

Woodfire Grill founder Chef Michael Tuohy has announced that he will leave Atlanta to return to his roots in Northern California. A San Francisco native who has been in the forefront of Atlanta’s burgeoning restaurant scene for the past 22 years, Tuohy will return to the Golden State to focus on California cuisine. 

He is joining forces with the Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group, California’s largest boutique hotel company, and the Rubicon Development Group, on the recommendation of his former boss and mentor, Joyce Goldstein, to launch a farm-to-table restaurant called Grange. Grange will be situated at The Citizen Hotel, a new 200-room boutique property situated in a historic building located one block from the state capital in Sacramento.

At this time, Tuohy’s Atlanta restaurant Woodfire Grill is officially for sale, and has several prospective buyers. Tuohy hopes that the “right buyer” will step forward and carry on with the same philosophy that has made Woodfire a truly special restaurant.

“It is all the wonderful people that I will miss the most: the special longtime loyal customers, many of which I have served and cooked for during my 22 years here, the farmers, the special relationships, staff. It’s very emotional,” said Tuohy.

August 12 is the official six year anniversary date for Woodfire Grill and Tuohy will host his “Farewell Dinner” for his longtime fans and friends in Atlanta. “Of course, I invite everyone to come dine with me in Sacramento!” Tuohy said. “We’re located just one hour from Napa Valley, an hour from the Sierras and approximately two hours north east of San Francisco.”

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