On Board at Eos
     Chef Wes Long, formerly of a Vida, has joined Eos, a start-up small plates restaurant.  Judging from the crowds filling the house most nights, Chef Wes has helped give this project a kick start.  The eclectic menu is supplemented by excellent wine service and frequent special events.
1810 Habersham St., 238-2400

Palefsky to New South
     Since meeting Chef Brian Palefsky at the now defunct 45 South, I’ve followed him all over town.  Now, he’s taken a post consulting with Chef John Wood at New South Cafe.  I can’t wait to see the changes.
     New South owner Chef Matt Cohen is now HQ’d across town at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, where he runs the museum’s small restaurant and bases his Creative Catering Alliance, a consortium of Savannah caterers who have banded together to better serve mega-clients requiring service for several hundred up to several thousand.
     Speaking of changes at New South Cafe … in mid-September, the restaurant quietly closed its Lunch Express program and replaced it with a wine bar.  It’s the first step in a strategic ploy to elevate the restaurant to a fine dining destination.
2601 Skidaway Road, 233-7568

Ruth’s Chris.  No, Really...
     Ruth’s Chris General Manager Michael Ambrose is interviewing service staff for the steakhouse’s first Savannah location as I write this piece.  He says opening of the News Place anchor is planned for early to mid-November.  Ambrose brings years of private club management to the game and considerable wine knowledge — he’s co-host of XM Radio’s “Wine Crush” program.

Congrats Chef Joe!
     With nearly five decades of cooking to his credit, Chef Joe Randall is a walking culinary encyclopedia, a history lesson on the professionalism African Americans have earned in America’s top kitchens — and a remarkably warm and generous human being.
     Those credentials are legacy enough, but Ebony magazine recognized Randall as one of the top chefs in the nation at its third annual Taste of Ebony event in Atlanta held Oct. 30. Randall served as a featured chef.  The event celebrates leading African-American chefs and restaurant and food industry experts from across the nation.
     Randall, 62, has been featured in Southern Living, the New York Times and dozens of other publications for his culinary expertise, particularly in the area of African-American heritage cooking.  Through the years, he has also appeared on HGTV, The Food Network and TurnerSouth.  He is the author of “A Taste of Heritage: The New African-American Cuisine” and the past president of the United Culinary Association, an African-American caucus that is part of the American Culinary Federation.
Chef Joe Randall’s Cooking School, 5409 Waters Ave., 303-0409

Roher Is Top Chef
     The inaugural Green Fest 2008 held in mid-September featured a culinary showdown between Cha Bella and New South Cafe.  Each chef presented four courses, which were judged on taste, appearance and creativity — as well as “green influence.”
     Chef Matt Roher, owner of Cha Bella and Earth to Table Catering, was declared the winner with dishes such as a salad of Brandywine tomatoes, Gulf Coast lump crab and farm peas.  I was especially fond of a dish that showcased Carolina scallops and braised pork belly over baby mustard greens and Carolina Gold “Broken Rice” risotto.
102 E. Broad St., 790-7888

Meet the Wine Maker
     Talented young Italian winemaker Luda Fedrigo of L’Arco Wines will be the guest of honor at a dinner featuring his wines on Nov. 11, 7 p.m., at Elizabeth on 37th.  Terra Verus Importer’s Steve Lawrence represents L’Arco wines in the United States and also will be on hand.  This promises to be a sell-out event.  $135 per person.
105 E. 37th St., 236.5574

Food Scene is compiled by Tim Rutherford, who also writes about restaurants for Savannah Magazine. He operates a Web site, www.savannahfoodie.com, which features local and regional dining reviews and breaking food news.  You can e-mail Tim at savannahfoodie@comcast.net.