Cole Younger Just Is IN as Beverage Director at The Cockentrice

After leaving Highland Avenue's Last Word in March, Cole Younger Just has found a new gig a half-mile down the BeltLine. Just has been working behind the bar at Krog Street Market's The Cockentrice, and now the restaurant has announced his hiring as beverage director.

Just's take on libations at The Cockentrice "plays off the art of pairing excellent drinks with excellent food," according to a press release. His beverage list includes new beer, wine, and cider selections, and he's mixing up drinks off a revamped cocktail menu. "Learning how to source, and ultimately respect ingredients by preparing them in a way to create a harmony of balance of flavor is how I approach the beverage programs I create," Just said in a prepared statement.

In addition to the hiring, The Cockentrice co-owner and executive chef Kevin Ouzts revealed a new dinner menu on Thursday. Ouzts said the new menu "not only embodies the pure joy I get from cooking, but also gives me more of an opportunity to step away from the kitchen and engage with our diners." Breaking from the meat-centric reputation the restaurant has, "a number of dishes" can now be prepared vegetarian or gluten-free. But, there's still plenty of meat. Ouzts has added an actual "cockentrice," which takes the form of a lamb-stuffed, roasted hen served with cornbread, roasted tomato, asparagus, and game jus.

Take a look at The Cockentrice's revamped dinner and beverage menus below.