Chef Talk
Chef Scott Conant
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An Iconic Chef Opens The AmericanoLocated in the newly renovated InterContinental Hotel Buckhead Atlanta, The Americano, a sleek and stylish upscale Italian American restaurant, is the latest endeavor from restaurateur/owner celebrity chef Scott Conant, Food Network personality and James Beard Award-winning chef. The Americano features fine steaks (choice of Americano Steak Sauce, Salsa Verde, Truffle Jus, Horseradish Crema), pasta al pomodoro (chef’s signature sauce), home-made pasta, polenta cremosa, caviar fries, Hamachi crudo, tuna tartare, and braised Wagyu beef cheeks, Italian antipasti, Mediterranean seafood, extensive wine list and exquisitely created whimsical cocktails (like Drunken Wifey made with Milagro Tequila, House-Made Limoncello, Elderflower, Italian Herbs). The restaurant serves an al fresco breakfast café with coffee and pastries personalized by Chef Scott.
The elegant and moody décor illuminates a stunning atmosphere embellished with sculptural custom artwork. We sat down with the enterprising chef recently. |
Elegant, moody decor. Sculpture by Peter Deise.
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Menu features a range of innovative dishes.
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Q. How did you get into this career?
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A. I went to a vocational high school in Waterbury, Connecticut and originally applied for the plumbing program. I couldn’t get in because there were so many applicants, so I ended up choosing culinary arts. Around the same time, I started working at a family friend's restaurant and immediately fell in love with the camaraderie of the kitchen. At 15-years-old, I was captivated by food culture and my curiosity continued to grow as I traveled and eventually attended The Culinary Institute of America.
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Q. What was your biggest break? |
A. It’s hard to pinpoint one moment. I’ve been pursuing this career for over 35 years now and feel very fortunate to be surrounded by my teams in Arizona, New York, and Georgia. We continue to grow and evolve, and that’s been a blessing.
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Q. Where do you get your inspirations for your menus? |
A. Everywhere, not necessarily just from Italy. Sometimes it’s a photo that inspires me to interpret the dish in my own style or often, I get inspired by places I’ve eaten while traveling. I do my own research and development and then conceptualize the plate based on the seasonality and market of the restaurant.
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Q. How did you come to choose Buckhead/Atlanta for your newest location?
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A. Atlanta has always been on my radar, ever since I was 19-years-old when I made my first visit. It’s an incredibly warmhearted city and I just love the people.
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Q. After dining at The Americano, we found the staff to be upbeat. What’s your secret to getting everyone in the right spirit? |
A. Introducing a positive culture is crucial for any new restaurant opening; it’s truly all about goodness and happiness. When we’re at our best, we want to make guests feel the way they want to in life…to feel important and be appreciated. We know there are endless options out there and for them to choose to dine with us, we’re appreciative of their presence. Every guest should walk out of Americano feeling like they’ve been truly looked after as one of our own.
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Q. You appear to be fully staffed and your employees motivated and well trained. Are you doing anything different to source and retain great people in this challenging staffing environment?
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A. We are actively on the hunt for new team members. I believe in hiring based on attitudes and then training up to the strengths required by each position. A positive personality will thrive in a work environment with good culture; you’d be surprised how many doors can open and take anyone to places they’d never dreamed of.
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Q. How did you survive during the pandemic? Are there post-pandemic issues now?
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A. Doing business during the pandemic and keeping the restaurants afloat was certainly a challenge, but I believe that self-awareness and self-education is vital for growth. Both on an internal and business level – the more that I continue to learn, the better it makes all of us.
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Q. Your menu is terrific and filled with premium ingredients. How are you handling supply chain and/or inflationary challenges?
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A. Nothing is easy these days and restaurants can’t take anything for granted anymore. We need to stay nimble and be prepared to adapt daily for any product that suddenly is no longer available. As long as we are cooking delicious food and serving it with sincere gratitude, guests will appreciate the love we’ve put into it.
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Q. What are some of the biggest challenges in owning restaurants?
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A. There are too many to list, ha! I would say staffing and maintaining operational costs are probably the most difficult challenges, followed by implementing a strong culture when building the team.
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Q. And what are the biggest “rewards” owning restaurants?
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A. We have the privilege of celebrating some of the biggest moments in people’s lives when they walk in through those doors, whether it’s for a milestone birthday, engagement, promotion, etc. We are caretakers of joy and I think it’s important to love that part of the business.
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Q. Do you have a mantra/slogan that you live by – work and home?
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A. Honesty, integrity, and soul.
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Q. What do you like to do outside of the restaurants? Hobbies?
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A. I love spending time with my two daughters, who are 12 and 9-years-old. We like to watch movies, play volleyball, lounge by the pool, and try out new restaurants together.
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Q. Do you have any mentors? If so, what did you learn from them?
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A. Most of the people I worked for in the past have taught me what not to do, rather than what to do. Observing from the sidelines when I was younger has shaped what kind of boss I strive to be.
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Q. What is one ingredient you always keep on hand?
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A. A high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Can’t live or cook without it.
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Q. What food trend do you wish would go away? |
A. To be honest, I’m not one for trends. Being trendy translates to a void of long-lasting appreciation.
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Q. We heard one of your favorite charities is the Alzheimer’s Association. Atlanta has a yearly fund-raising event called “Dancing with the Stars” for Alzheimer’s. Would you be interested in learning more?
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A. Always.
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Q. What’s next for you?
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A. We’ve got a few things in the pipeline, but nothing I can share just yet. I’m thrilled to be spending more time in Atlanta in the meantime and look forward to welcoming everyone to The Americano.
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The Americano
InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta 3315 Peachtree Rd NE. 404/946.9070 theamericanorestaurant.com/atlanta/ |
Chic full bar with extensive wine list and whimsical cocktails.
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