Food & Drink

Bringing the Urban to the Suburbs

Published

11 months ago

June 27, 2022

Isadora Pennington

Evan Hanson (photos by Isadora Pennington)

Evans Urban Market a Welcome Addition to Peachtree Corners

Clean, bright, friendly, enticing. All of these are words that describe the vibe at Evans Urban Market. Located in a storefront which once housed Ten Bistro in the Wellington Center Shopping Strip at 5005 Peachtree Parkway, Evans Urban Market is a refreshing homage to the types of markets and eateries you’re more likely to find on the streets of New York City than in a Georgia suburb.

The space has been significantly transformed since it was purchased and renovated by owner Evan Hanson. This fun and casual eatery officially opened its doors for business in March of 2022. Prior to that time, when it was in operation as Ten Bistro and owned by Hanson’s former husband, it was your typical dark and intimate bar setting.

Today, there is a central L-shaped counter with a register and display cases, all bright and clean and white. The walls and displays are similarly clean and pretty. The ceiling features strands of twinkle lights hanging in a zigzag pattern the length of the restaurant. “I feel like it’s a starry night in here,” she said.

Behind a glass partition are the day’s freshly prepared dishes. Offerings typically include salads, sandwiches and soups, plus specialty meals, such as meatloaf, biscuits, biscuit sandwiches, beef stroganoff, Asian beef with rice and even Moroccan and Belizean cuisine.

Nearby is also a dessert case full of decadent treats like donuts, cakes and cookies. Artists’ works are set up on free-standing shelves, while a selection of dry goods and prepared meals to take home and heat up can be found around the outskirts of the shop. A few small tables are located by the front window and a patio outside offers additional seating.

Evan Hanson, center, flanked by Karin Susskind on the left and Tina Knoedler.

The road to the market

Hanson, the visionary behind this concept, has always loved cooking and baking. She recalled experimenting with brownies, emblazoned with her initials, as far back as eight or nine years old. At the time, Hanson wanted to become a baker. Her mother worried that this would not be a profitable and stable career, so for many years baking was relegated to a passionate hobby in her life.

Several careers and many paths later, today Hanson owns her own restaurant where she is able to use her creativity to craft a vibrant menu of dishes plus custom desserts. “This is a career that has stuck with me,” explained Hanson, who says that owning and operating Evans Urban Market is truly her living out her dream.

Her career includes a variety of positions including sales, teaching, working at Ten Bistro and when she opened Pub Ten, she made desserts for both restaurants. It was during her time with Pub Ten that she developed many of her staple desserts, including the renowned dish called ‘Sweet Heaven from Evan,’ often shortened to Sweet Heaven. This dish, the market’s most popular, features delectable bites of cake topped with mascarpone cream, a chocolate ganache and her mother’s recipe for chocolate pecan brittle.

Following the separation from her second husband, she became determined to find a way to channel her love for baking into a career. So, when she saw the space that was formerly Ten Bistro for sale, she decided to make her move.

“I wanted to do something with cooking and baking. I loved cooking so much but didn’t know if I could sustain doing just baking. I love cooking and wanted to support local artists. So that’s why I ended up doing the gifts too,” explained Hanson.

A family feel and home cooking

She hopes that this shop will function as a sort of one-stop-shop for locals. Whether you just need a quick bite, a prepared meal to reheat at home, desserts, corporate catering or even a gift for someone special, she hopes it fills a void for those who call the neighborhood home. “I used to say that it’s comfort food elevated, but then someone else said it was ‘home cooking that I don’t have to cook.’ I was like ‘oh, I like that.’”

It’s not just the food that is comforting, it is the very atmosphere of this cozy urban market. Clocking in at only 2,000 square feet, Hanson has to be thoughtful when deciding how many local artists she can invite to sell in her shop and who she employs to work behind the counter and in the kitchen.

Her careful selection of crew and employees is certainly a part of why the vibe at Evans Urban Market is so delightful. It’s not uncommon to see a team of only women behind the counter. In fact, the majority of her crew are women, and like Hanson, most are also mothers.

This is part of what Hanson has curated here, a group that feels like a family. They look out for one another and step in when someone needs to attend to a child outside of work. As a result, her 15 staff members are all part time. This allows them to balance their family lives with work and encourages a healthy and, according to Hanson, drama-free work environment. “This is a neighborhood space. We treat the neighbors like we are friends. That’s how people want to be treated. Here you’re not a number.”

Hanson gushed about her staff. “We all get it. We all chip in to help each other. That’s one of the things with this group; they work so hard. This is my dream team. Everybody has a special skill that helps us to succeed. I tell them: this isn’t just my place, this is for all of us.” ■

Food & Drink

Henri’s Bakery and Deli Celebrated its Grand Opening this Weekend [Photos]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 9, 2023

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

This past weekend, Henri’s Bakery and Deli celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Peachtree Corners, marking a new chapter in the story of this Atlanta-based institution. Since 1929, Henri’s has been synonymous with indulgent pastries, savory sandwiches, and scrumptious baked goods.

The addition of the Peachtree Corners location brings their irresistible offerings to an even wider audience. The event saw a great turnout, with customers eagerly lining up to taste Henri’s famous Po’ Boy sandwiches and European-style pastries, as shared on their Instagram page.

The grand opening featured an array of festivities, including live music, free samples, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new location officially. Patrons savored Henri’s mouthwatering creations and were reminded of this family-owned bakery’s rich history and enduring legacy.

The launch of Henri’s Bakery in Peachtree Corners is a testament to the brand’s continued growth and popularity among generations of Atlantans. As they expand their footprint, they maintain their commitment to serving delectable, high-quality culinary delights that have made them a cherished part of Atlanta’s food scene for nearly a century.

Steve Vastakis (Manager) with daughter Ashlyn Greco.

Jason Smith (musician/singer/songwriter/producer) entertains the crowd.

Food & Drink

What’s for Dinner?

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2023

Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by George Hunter

New-style butcher shop aims to help make family mealtime a fun bonding experience.

With his business just past the six-month-old milestone, Jared McFadden hopes the concept of sharing good food that’s locally sourced will resonate with Peachtree Corners residents.

Union Brothers Meat Market opened in September 2022 and along with his staff and family, McFadden is looking to bring a new culinary experience to the area. The philosophy behind the butcher shop stems from getting away from the divisiveness that’s been driving people apart.

“The goal to bring people together. And we think food is a great vehicle to do that,” McFadden said. “The goal isn’t to change people’s opinion, but I feel like, if you understand where somebody is coming from, I think it just makes you more aware, more sensitive, and could hopefully bring unity.

“So that’s where the name ‘Union Brothers’ came from — a way to hopefully unify people, family, friends, whatever, together around an amazing meal,” he explained.

When you think about it, sharing food is a great equalizer, he added, because everybody is around a table with no hierarchy.

“It’s just great food and a great bottle of wine and being able to share fellowship together,” said McFadden.

The ‘make it better’ guarantee

Even though his background isn’t in culinary arts or food management, McFadden believes his experience in Human Resources (HR) is a natural foundation.

“I’m in the people business,” he said. “So if you come to the shop, one of the first things we say is, ‘I want you to have an amazing customer experience.’”

The store is set up to make shopping and choosing the components of a meal convenient. Even though there is an entire wall of spices, rubs and flavorings, there is always someone who can help suggest the right cut of meat for each occasion — and include everything that should go with it.

“We have a ‘make it better’ guarantee — not even just to make it right, but to make it better,” said McFadden. “We want people to have a better experience through our shop.”

To ensure the experience lives up to the shop’s guarantee, McFadden surrounds himself with people who know the meat industry well.

“Our lead butcher, Carey Wise, has 25-plus years of experience. Chris Baler [the butcher apprentice] also has a ton of experience as well,” McFadden said. “I handle the customer experience side, and I have folks who really understand the meat side of the business.”

McFadden, father of three girls and member of Perimeter Baptist Church, said, “I’ve always been very passionate about community. That’s why …I ended up back in Gwinnett County.”

Well before the pandemic hit, he’d had the idea of combining his “foodie” passion with his people-pleasing persona. “I love going to different shops in the city and wanted to bring something a little different to Peachtree Corners,” he said. “There are some great shops around here who do similar things, but I wanted to have a little bit of a different twist.”

Bonding over meals

One example of his innovations is Union Brothers concept of providing all the ingredients for an amazing family meal. It’s an idea that came to him during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We just spent [time making] a lot of meals at home. Then we began to think of trying to cook something different,” he said. “One of the downfalls of our culture over the last 40 years is getting away from the family dinner, …microwaving something and then everybody sits around the TV.”

McFadden is adamant about getting family time back. It is important to not just eat together. He said that preparing meals together is one of the most satisfying bonding experiences.

In addition to locally sourced meats, Union Brothers carries produce, charcuterie, desserts, seasonings, wines and cooking utensils from nearby and/or small businesses. “As much as we can, we try to work with vendors who were either from Georgia or minority business owners,” he said.

With all the great foods and items the shop offers, McFadden doesn’t want customers to feel intimidated by high-quality products. A weekly newsletter offers cooking tips and advice on meal planning and wine pairings.

This summer he plans to add cooking demonstrations, he said.

“Mealtime should be enjoyable, and we want customers to know that now you have someone who can help you make the most of it,” said McFadden. “We even give out our phone number so you can text us with questions.”

Union Brothers Meat Market

5275 Peachtree Pkwy. NW, Ste. 105, Peachtree Corners

unionbrosmeatmarket.com, 770-601-3696

Food & Drink

Gwinnett Burger Week Set for March 19-25

Published

3 months ago

March 9, 2023

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

The Mexican Burger at B&W Burgers, Buns & Brews

Eighth annual celebration will feature limited-time, chef-created burgers at 25 locally-owned restaurants.

Explore Gwinnett has announced the return of its eighth annual Gwinnett Burger Week will take place from March 19 to 25. The weeklong celebration will feature limited-time burger creations for just $10 at restaurants across the county.

“We can’t wait to celebrate the return of Gwinnett Burger Week and look forward to trying new and unique recipes while supporting our locally owned eateries,” said Explore Gwinnett Executive Director Lisa Anders.

“This highly anticipated event is an excellent opportunity for locals and visitors alike to experience delectable chef-crafted burgers from some of the best restaurants in the area, at an affordable price.”

This year, 25 restaurants are participating in Gwinnett Burger Week, each featuring an exclusive off-menu burger throughout the week. A sampling of this year’s offerings from some Peachtree Corners area participating restaurants include:

The Pepper Ranch Burger at Marlow’s Tavern: a hearty hamburger topped with Pepper Jack cheese, fried jalapeños, and smoked chili cream, served on a wheat bun.

The Jack Jack Burger at Uncle Jack’s Meat House: two three-ounce smash wagyu beef patties, each with double-stacked cheese and with secret sauce on the bottom bun, topped with onion, pickle, bacon, and tomato relish purée, all on a buttered potato bun.

The Mexican Burger at B&W Burgers, Buns & Brews: a half-pound ground beef and pork patty with ham, bacon, cheese, avocado, onions, lettuce, and a grilled jalapeño.

The Jack Jack Burger at Uncle Jack’s Meat House

The Pepper Ranch Burger at Marlow’s Tavern

Participating restaurants include:
Lawrenceville
o Cosmo’s Pizza + Social
o Local Republic
o McCray’s Tavern
o Parkside District
o Scrum-did-dly-ump-tious
o The Boujee Southerner Eatery
o Uncle Jack’s Tavern
o Universal Joint
o Village Burger
Buford
o Diesel Tap House
o Over The Top Burger Bar
o Parma Tavern
o Tannery Row Ale House
o The Dawg House
Duluth
o Local on North
o Marlow’s Tavern
o Uncle Jack’s Meat House
Peachtree Corners
o Marlow’s Tavern
o Uncle Jack’s Meat House
Suwanee – Craft Burger by Shane
Loganville – Philanthropy Grill and Ale House
Sugar Hill – The Diner at Sugar Hill
Norcross – B&W Burgers, Buns & Brews
Dacula – Old Fountain Tavern
Lilburn – 1910 Public House

For additional information on the limited-time burger offerings, visit ExploreGwinnett.org/Gwinnett-Burger-Week.

All participating restaurants will have the chance to win the “People’s Choice” award for Gwinnett’s best burger, which will be selected by participating diners. There will also be an optional “Judge’s Choice” award; restaurants choosing to participate will bring their burger to the Explore Gwinnett office for the judges to taste and score.

Get details about this year’s competition at ExploreGwinnett.org/Gwinnett-Burger-Week/voting.