Rapid-Fire Q&A with Chef Art Smith of Southen Art & Bourbon Bar, Atlanta
When I first met Chef Art Smith at his Atlanta restaurant Southern Art & Bourbon Bar enjoying the morning paper and a cup of coffee, he warmly introduced himself and asked if I would like anything to eat or drink. I politely declined and like a true southerner, he asked again. “Are you sure? Coffee? Tea?”
The chef and restaurateur has cooked for everyone from Barack Obama to heads of state. He is the recipient of two James Beard Foundation Awards and for over 10 years, he was Oprah Winfrey’s day-to-day chef. With all of the accolades and acclaim, he still possesses classic kindness and southern hospitality. Perhaps it’s that charm that adds the extra bit of soul to his renowned southern cooking style.
These days, the famed chef is busier than ever. In addition to TV appearances and cooking for major events, he also runs another restaurant called Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine, in his home state of Florida. The restaurant is a part of the Walt Disney Resort's entertainment complex known as Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) . The husband and father of four is always on the go, but he graciously took time out of his crazy schedule to meet with me to have fun with some Rapid-Fire Q&A.
What did you eat for breakfast?
Omelet and bacon
Celebrity you would love to cook for?
The Pope and Vladimir Putin
Which one is better: Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?
Breakfast for dinner
Have you ever made another chef cry?
No. Probably furious though.
Worst meal ever cooked for you?
I can't remember
Biscuits or cornbread?
Cornbread
Describe your job in one word:
Mr. Delicious. I have shirt that says Mr. Delicious. Everyone loves it.
Fried chicken or fried pork chops?
Fried chicken
Best southern dish of all time:
The layer cake
What’s the first meal you ever cooked?
Bacon BBQ
Describe a meal at Southern Art in one word:
Comforting
Guilty pleasure food?
Chocolate
Have you ever gotten anything thrown at you in the kitchen?
No
Favorite chain restaurant
McDonald's
I love cooking for this holiday:
Thanksgiving
The tastiest healthy food
Quinoa
Complete this sentence: If you want to work in my kitchen you better…
Focus
One food you think every person should try at least once:
Grits
Perfect first date meal:
Pizza because it's shareable and easy to eat.
Name one food that you can’t stand:
Any food that isn't real
Favorite thing to cook on a cold winter day:
Turkey chili
Complete this sentence: If you want to piss me off in the kitchen do this:
Make a mess
If you could only eat one food every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chocolate
One restaurant everyone should visit:
I recently had the pleasure of eating at a late friend’s (Chef Homaro Cantu) restaurant in Chicago. It’s called Moto and they’re doing a kind of modern southern food.
Best midnight snack?
Popcorn
Favorite cooking utensil?
My spatula
Word of advice to aspiring chefs:
Stay focused, stay authentic, stay true and stay delicious. And it doesn't hurt to have social networking skills.
Web: www.southernart.com
Instagram: @chefartsmith