Welcome to the Blog for Sol Restaurant

Ok, either it's crazy genius or just plain CRAZY, but we are going to blog about our decision to start a restaurant, and YOU, the future patron are going to be privy to the entire process. Why are we doing this? To put it most simply, SOCIAL MEDIA. It's the way word gets out. It's the way you can share an idea, your thoughts, your dreams. This restaurant, it is our dream, and the quickest way I can think of to get word of it to everyone, to really build interest in it, is to share the process with everyone BEFORE it is even open, to give everyone the chance to look forward to this great thing we are creating and sharing with the Athens community, both locals and students. We will be posting pictures of everything we are doing, writing about all of our trials and tribulations, and updating you on things like how soon we will be opening, special events we are planning, and more. We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about us and what we are doing.

Who are we? Our names are Todd and Tuti Wilson. I was born and raised in Ohio and Tuti was born in Miami, FL (her family came to Miami after Castro took power and she is a first generation Cuban American.) We met in 8th grade at Athens Middle School when Tuti moved to Athens. We went to high school, then college and married and moved to Miami, FL in 1994 after graduating from OU. We lived in Miami for 10 years then decided to move back to Athens in 2004. Why? That was the question many people asked us. That is a hard one to answer, too. Really, Athens is a very unique place. There are ALL kinds of people from all over the world, yet it is a small town and relatively safe and quiet. It is a good place to raise a family, and a great place to be exposed to the entire spectrum of the human condition without traveling the world. You can be different here. You can be anything here. You can do about anything here if you set your mind to it. We love Cuban food, and have always talked about starting a restaurant. Now we have set our mind to it.

About a year ago, Tuti (who had not worked full-time since we moved back to Athens) wanted to open a food buggy to test the waters. I agreed and we got a buggy, painted it and started serving gourmet Cuban cuisine on Richland Avenue at Stop N Cop carryout in January of this year. We later moved uptown spring quarter, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Those who have tried the food have said things like, "This is the best best thing I've ever eaten" and "I used to be a chef, and this is the best food in Athens." responses like this prompted us to reconsider our timeline for opening a restaurant (which was 2-3 years) and do it the same year as we started the buggy. We have signed a lease for the restaurant location at 33 North Court Street (the former Restaurant Salaam location) and are working on renovating it for Sol Restaurant. Several years back, before we were even seriously considering opening a restaurant, we commented when dining there one evening what a perfect location it would be for a Cuban restaurant. Must have been fate. We love this location for many reasons. It is easily accessible from uptown, it is a wonderfully intimate space, with is drop down to below street level and its brick walls that speak to the history of the building and Athens. We think you are going to really like what we are doing with it.

Regarding the food, those of you have tried it from the Chica Chica Chop Chop buggy already know what to expect. It is fresh, it is delicoius, it is different from anything else you can get. For those who haven't, let me explain a little bit about it. Cuban food, while of a Hispanic origin, is completely different from the Hispanic food most Americans have been exposed to, Mexican. While Cuban food uses many different spices, citrus, and other ingredients to give it a flavor unlike any other food, it is not SPICY. Cuban cuisine is a blend of cuisines from many different countries; at the core is Spanish cuisine, and influences from the Caribbean, Africa, and even Asia (most specifically China) have helped to form its unique flavors. While many of the ingredients are familiar, they are combined in a way unlike any other cuisine. So, Cuban cuisine is actually sort of a fusion already, but we will be doing even more things with it. Not all dishes will be strictly Cuban food as it is presented traditionally at the Cuban dinner table (though we will make extensive use of authentic Cuban recipes handed down from Tuti’s family.) Some will be our spin on traditional Cuban dishes, and others will be inspired by other tropical areas and cultures as well, that reflect aspects of our experiences in South Florida. Many people who tend to shy away from "ethnic" food find Cuban food entirely different from anything they have ever eaten, yet so delicious and familiar enough that they instantly fall in love with it (that's what happened to this gringo!) We are billing the restaurant as Cuban fusion cuisine, fine dining which is slightly upscale, though the environment will be comfortable, casual, and intimate. We will also have a lunch menu, which will focus on gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads. That is what we want to share through our restaurant, a bit of Cuban culture and cuisine. When you come to Sol Restaurant, it will be about more than a meal, it will be an EXPERIENCE. One unlike anything else you can get in this part of the country. Come a beautiful sunny day in summer or a dreary, cold and blustery day in winter, there will be a warm and tropical place for you to take refuge, dine, relax and feel like you are somewhere entirely different...Sol Restaurant.

Please feel free to pass along a link to our blog to anyone you think may be interested in what we're doing. Thanks to everyone for your support and check back frequently for updates!