Eviction Proceedings Begin on Mary Hoopa’s House of Fried Chicken

Mary Hoopa’s faces eviction in East Lake

After shuttering suddenly last month during what was to be the fried chicken restaurant’s one-year anniversary week, it seems Mary Hoopa’s House of Fried Chicken & Oysters and owner Robert Phalen face possible eviction at Hosea + 2nd in East Lake. The restaurant, now closed and cleared out, owes a little over $18,000 in back rent to the landlord, What Now Atlanta first reported. The dispossessory warrant was taped to the door with a request by the Magistrate Court of Dekalb County requiring Phalen and Mary Hoopa’s owners to answer the court no later than Monday, March 19. Phalen’s upcoming restaurant, Woodward and Park, is slated to open at Larkin on Memorial in Grant Park. Eater Atlanta reached out to Phalen for comment and the status of Woodward and Park. [WNA/EATL]

Queer Eye food guru Antoni Porowski loves chef Todd Richards’ cookbook, Soul

Queer Eye food guru and restaurateur Antoni Porowski really loves Atlanta chef Todd Richards’ cookbook, Soul: A Chef’s Culinary Journey. Porowski was tasked by Food 52 with reviewing Richards’ cookbook and Diana Henry’s How to Eat a Peach. The mini reviews were captured on video. While Porowski enjoyed Henry’s book, he felt Richards truly captured his personal culinary journey and growth as a chef in Soul. Porowski keyed into one particular insight from Richards, who speaks of acknowledging, honoring, and embracing his culinary heritage, calling it a “mic drop moment”. Porowski’s favorite recipe from the book — a coffee rubbed broiled lake perch with tomato aspic in lettuce wraps, because “coffee grounds on fish. I feel like that’s so badass.” [Food 52]

King of Pops kicked out of Decatur Square

People strolling through Decatur Square will no longer see the recognizable rainbow umbrella of popsicle cart King of Pops camped out, Decaturish reports. The Decatur City Commission reinstated a pilot program regarding street vendors, wherein any vendor competing with a nearby “brick and mortar” business will no longer be allowed to operate within close proximity. Birmingham-based Steel City Pops is located just off the square on Church Street. That means, after nearly a decade on the square, King of Pops is out. To be clear, Steel City didn’t ask or push for the ordinance. King of Pops owner Steven Carse says he’s “grateful for the last nine years of support” from residents and the city. King of Pops still has coolers filled with popsicles in area businesses. [Decaturish]

Monday Night Brewing eyes a location in Birmingham

Monday Night Brewing hopes to open a brewpub at the Denham Building, a mixed-use complex under construction in Birmingham, according to AL.com. Everything hinges on the passing of HB 151, known as “Brewery Modernization 2.0”, which would allow Alabama’s breweries to also own and operate brewpubs. If the bill passes, this would be the first out-of-state expansion for the Atlanta-based brewery. Monday Night currently operates two breweries: their flagship location in Berkeley Park in northwest Atlanta and the Garage in the southwest Atlanta neighborhood of West End. [AL.com]