Georgia on our mind
DEPARTURE
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Raise the steak in Atlanta,
breeze into the Baltic, and set
sail on Japan’s Seto Inland SeaSUITE DREAM
Right, at Asmundo di
Gisira, the Proserpina
suite, dedicated to the
goddess of harvest,
has a bed encased in
a granary-inspired alcove
HIGHER CALLING
Below, a ceiling mural by
Maeve Harris at C Ellet’sAtlanta’s dining scene has yet to win
a Michelin star, but with 15 semi-finalists
of the latest James Beard Awards located
here, it’s a city to watch. One venue set
to make an impact is C Ellet’s, a steakhouse
and oyster bar opened by previous James
Beard winner Linton Hopkins and his
sommelier wife Gina. Designed by Square
Feet Studio, the space’s Venetian-style
plaster walls and brass-accented zinc create
a sumptuous backdrop for custom-made
cabinetry. An orb chandelier by Gabriel
Scott hangs over the chef’s table, where
Hopkins prepares a vast selection of cuts,
from Nebraska tomahawk ribeye to Texas
Denver steak, as well as coastal fare such
as shellfish pan roast. Emilee Tombs
The Battery Atlanta, 2605 Circle 75 Parkway,
Suite 400, tel: 1.678 996 5344, c-ellets.comLike many Italian palazzi, Asmundo di
Gisira hides its true beauty behind
an unassuming façade. Converted from
an 18th-century residence near Catania’s
landmark Fontana dell’Elefante, the hotel
takes Sicilian legends as inspiration for
its décor, updating them in contemporary
design language. Ragusa-based Studio
GUM spent seven years on the careful
restoration of the property, retaining
most of its original decorative features
and commissioning local artists to create
works for each of the six rooms and the
public spaces. The result is an intriguing
mix of colourful murals, Italian design
classics from the 1930s to the 1960s, and
unusual sculptures, including a giant foot
by Gaetano Pesce in the Uzeta suite
and a 4m flamingo by Domenico Pellegrino
in the reception area. Yo k o C h o y
Via Gisira 40, tel: 39.95 0978894,
asmundodigisira.com. Rates: from €120Sicilian slice
Photography: Filippo Bamberghi/Photofoyer, Andrew Thomas Lee
ASMUNDO DI GISIRA, CATANIAC ELLET’S, ATLANTA∑ 067
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