GEORGIA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/31/19

 

Inaugural Georgia Seafood Festival Announces Celebrity Chef and Judge Lineup

Held at The Battery Atlanta, the Georgia Seafood Festival will feature cuisine from Georgia’s Coastal seafood scene, live entertainment and educational exhibitions

 

VIP tickets available here

The Fresh District announced today the celebrity chef and judge lineup for the inaugural Georgia Seafood Festival. The Georgia Seafood Festival will take over The Battery Atlanta, 800 Battery Ave SE, on November 9, 2019 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. and aims to celebrate Georgia’s booming commercial seafood industry. Festival attendees will enjoy cooking demonstrations, drink eclectic seafaring cocktails, and immerse themselves in interactive educational experiences from the Georgia Aquarium, UGA Marine Extension, and Georgia Grown. A variety of fresh, sustainability sourced seafood, with a focus on Wild Georgia Shrimp, will be available for sampling, along with some of Georgia’s most well-known vendors.

Culinary stars from across Georgia will display live cooking demonstrations for attendees including:

  • Chef Pano Karatassos, executive Chef of Atlanta’s acclaimed Kyma restaurant and Corporate Executive Chef of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group;
  • Chef Fred Flu, owner of The Fluniversity and featured on Food Network’s Cooks vs. Cons;
  • Chef Guy Mitchell, former guest Chef for the White House Chef, former Executive Chef for the Philadelphia Eagles, and creator of The White House Chef Tour;
  • And Chef Chantel Mines, Executive Chef at The Lost Druid Brewery and 2nd place winner of the Mason Dixon Master Chef Competition.

Additionally, the following Chefs will compete for a coveted slot in the 2020 World Food Championships in Dallas, Texas:

  • Chef Lisa Washington, Good Day Atlanta contributor and Healthy Living Contributor for 104.7 The Fish;
  • Chef Scottie Johnson; personal Chef and owner of Blessed and Highly Favored Cuisine;
  • Chef Marshall Rodgers; Corporate Executive Chef for Goldbergs Corporation and former Executive Chef for Sweet Auburn BBQ;
  • And Chef Joseph Martin, owner of ANGELFIRE7 BBQ and winner of several grilling and smoking awards.

Celebrities and personalities including Brian Jordan, former outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and former safety for the Atlanta Falcons, Mike Cloud, President and CEO of the World Food Championships, Brady Lowe, creator of PeachFest and founder of Taste Network, Cochon555, and Piggy Bank, Linda Carmichael, Founding CEO of FoodTheFire, President Emerita of the Atlanta Food & Lifestyle Bloggers’ Society, and Editor-in-Chief of Do.Food.Better, Delano Massey, CEO and Founder of Jacob’s Eye Marketing Agency, Chef Pano Karatassos and Chef Guy Mitchell will serve as judges send one lucky Atlanta Chef to the 2020 World Food Championships.

Chef Jernard Wells, host of New Soul Kitchen on CLEO-TV, will host the Compete Wells
Cooking Competition – the first qualifying event for the 2020 World Cooking Championships. The winner of the competition will receive a coveted ‘Golden Ticket’, guaranteeing them a spot to compete in next year’s Championships and a chance to win the grand prize of $100,000. Chefs will compete head-to-head in a timed cooking challenge featuring Georgia seafood and local ingredients. Each chef will prepare a judge’s plate scored on execution, appearance and taste and be given one secret ingredient that must be featured in their dish.

“The Fresh District is excited to announce the participation of some of Atlanta’s most talented chefs and celebrity judges for the inaugural Georgia Seafood Festival,” said Delano Massey, festival founder and CEO of the Fresh District. “This festival will give attendees a unique culinary experience that will transport them to Georgia’s coast as they sample some of the freshest seafood our state has to offer.”

The Georgia Seafood Festival is brought to you by the Fresh District and The Battery Atlanta. The Fresh District is a fresh-food movement which promotes fresh, local and sustainable food systems in urban environments and raises up generations of smart, innovative participants in the industry.

General admission to the festival is sold out, however, attendees can purchase tickets that offer a variety of sampling options. For more information and to purchase tickets online, please visit gaseafoodfest.com.

2019 UNCORKED ATLANTA WINE FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/25/19

Park Tavern at Piedmont Park

Noon

Join us on Saturday, November 16th for the next edition of Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival at Park Tavern overlooking the beautiful Piedmont Park!

From 12:00pm – 4:00pm enjoy complimentary wine and craft beer tastings (over 50 varieties), music performances, and fun wine-themed activities.

Tickets Include the below and were $48 at the time of posting:

  • Souvenir Uncorked Atlanta Tasting Glass
  • Complimentary Wine and Craft Beer Tastings (50+ varieties)
  • DJ and Music

Food will be available for purchase. Tickets here.

3RD ANNUAL BUTCHER AND BREW FEST

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/21/19

Saturday, November 9th at 2 pm

Butcher & Brew Fest 3 will be held in Alpharetta on Saturday, November 9 from 2-6pm. Celebrating the best of craft beer, the third annual event will feature food from Butcher & Brew, live music by Fire & The Knife, games and more. Butcher & Brew Fest 3 will bring together 30 craft breweries from Atlanta and around the world; highlights include Creature Comforts Brewing Co., SweetWater Brewing Company, Terrapin Beer Co., Allagash Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing and Wicked Weed Brewing.

General admission tickets can be purchased for $40 here and include entrance to the festival as well as unlimited pours from more than 60 beer choices and entry into a raffle for a Big Green Egg. Plus, a portion of proceeds from Butcher & Brew Fest 3 will be donated to Giving Kitchen. For more information, please see here.

HAVEN’S ANNUAL FALL PATIO PARTY 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/13/19

HAVEN RESTAURANT & BAR TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL FALL PATIO PARTY ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30

Celebrate Halloween & Cap Off Patio Season at HAVEN with Seasonal Bites, a Selection of Beer & Wine & Live Music

$35 Includes Food & Drink; No Reservations Required

 HAVEN Restaurant and Bar, the upscale neighborhood eatery in Brookhaven celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, will host their beloved annual Fall Patio Party on Wednesday, October 30. Each year, the restaurant marks the beginning of patio season with a spring party and end of patio season with fall party. The gathering on their spacious outdoor patio features seasonal food, drinks and live music.

This year’s affair will be Halloween themed and run from 7-10pm, and HAVEN’s Executive Chef Joe Macy will grill seasonal bites on the patio’s Big Green Egg. The menu will feature BBQ favorites like Sliced Brisket, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Grilled Scallops and Shrimp, Hot Dogs and Smoked Chicken Wings alongside sides including brussels sprout apple slaw; field pea and farro salad; roasted sweet & fingerling potatoes, beets and squash; green salad; mac and cheese and a selection of beer and wine. Guests can enjoy live tunes from local cover band Grose, Hill & Callahan and are invited to dress in their best Halloween costumes for a chance to win first, second or third place prizes.

Reservations are not required, and attendance to the event is $35, which is inclusive of food and select beer and wine. Cocktails will also be available for purchase. For guests who wish to stay for dinner after the party, reservations can be made for a table inside the restaurant where the regular menu will be served (please call 404-969-0700 or visit havenrestaurant.com).

BOCADO CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/13/19

BOCADO––THE ACCLAIMED LOCAL RESTAURANT IN ATLANTA’S WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD––CELEBRATES TENTH ANNIVERSARY WITH FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS & DEBUT OF NEW DESIGN

On October 22-24, the Restaurant Will Feature Anniversary Giveaways, Half-Priced Burger Stacks, Ten Percent Off Select Dishes, $10 Cocktails & More

Reimagined Interior Features Composed, Casual Design with Rich Color Palette, Intimate Seating & Revamped Bar Area

BOCADO, the acclaimed local restaurant on Atlanta’s Westside, announces the debut of its new design and a lineup of celebratory food and drink specials and giveaways in celebration of its tenth anniversary. From Tuesday, October 22 through Thursday, October 24, BOCADO will offer half-priced Double Stack Burgers during lunch and dinner, $10 dinner cocktails and ten percent off favorite dishes in which ten percent of proceeds will be donated to the Covenant House Georgia. Additionally, ten lucky customers at the restaurant will win $50 BOCADO gift cards each day during the three-day period.

A longtime neighborhood staple along West Midtown’s bustling Howell Mill Road, BOCADO has been transformed to feature a composed, casual design welcoming locals and visitors alike to gather and share a meal at one of Atlanta’s most beloved local dining destinations. Upon entering the newly redesigned 3,000-square-foot restaurant, guests are greeted with a rich color palette of deep blues and greens complemented with warm wood furnishings, plush upholstery and classic touches.

Blue velvet curtains draped from the ceiling divide the once open area into two intimate dining spaces. Here, guests can cozy up in the tall, button-tufted leather booths that carve out BOCADO’s side wall, or opt for a seat along the navy, velvet-backed benches that run parallel with accompanying wood tables and chairs at the center of the space. Everything within is illuminated by a series of elegant light fixtures that emit a soft, warm glow as the restaurant moves from lunch to dinner and late night service.

BOCADO’s expansive bar––celebrated for its inventive craft cocktails and wide selection of beer and wine––has also been reimagined. Tucked away at the restaurant’s back, the bar is outfitted with a row of mid-century leather stools, dark oak shelving and a wood-lined ceiling with recessed lighting, serving as a quiet corner escape for those looking to lounge and imbibe.

“It’s exciting to share BOCADO’s new look with Atlanta,” says owner Brian Lewis. “Over the past decade, we’ve been lucky to grow with the surrounding Westside neighborhood and be inspired––both on our menu and in the redesign––by the neighbors and friends we’ve met along the way. We’re honored to continue creating a welcoming space where our guests can enjoy a delicious meal together, and can’t wait to celebrate with the community.”

Housed in a former woodworking shop, BOCADO first opened on Atlanta’s Westside in 2009. In the decade since its installment, the restaurant has garnered local and national acclaim for its seasonally driven and locally sourced food menu highlighting small and shareable plates, sandwiches––like the famed Double Stack Burger––larger entrees and sides, as well as a drink program of creative craft cocktails, beer and wine.

Please visit bocadoatlanta.com and follow along at @BOCADOatl for the latest news (and giveaways).

ROSWELL FOOD & BEVERAGE FESTIVAL SHEDS LIGHT CULINARY EXCELLENCE OF THE ROSWELL AREA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/9/19

All-inclusive culinary tasting experience with local Roswell and vicinity bites and libations, chef demonstrations, wine 101 seminar, even a whole animal breakdown!

Sunday, October 27th 2 pm (1 pm VIP)

Connexion Shopping Center

Atlanta, GA – You are cordially invited to a culinary experience and cutting-edge event where attendees, Roswell chefs, and spirit experts gather for a spectacular food and beverage adventure. Our indulgent all-inclusive tasting will take place in the Connexion Shopping Center Parking Lot (where From the Earth Brewing Co. is located) on Sunday, October 27th from 2-5 pm (VIP 1 pm). Guests will feast on a delicious journey tasting bites and beverages from Roswell’s finest restaurants, breweries, cafes and local joints.

The Roswell F&B Festival has been created to further highlight one of Roswell’s core industries and tourism products throughout the City: our amazing food and beverage offerings. Spearheaded by Tim Stevens, owner of From the Earth Brewing Co., the Roswell F&B Festival Committee is made up of representatives from the community’s breweries, restaurants, wine markets, City of Roswell Special Events Committee, and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Recognizing that a true single-day food event has not occurred in quite some time, the committee has organized a 4-hr event, with an additional hour of VIP access. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP and can be found here. General admission includes 2 pm entry, unlimited food and drink tastings, and a killer F&B experience, while VIP includes early entry, VIP lounge by 13 Hub Lane, reserved wine selection, limited release beers from FTE like the Kentucky Cosmonaut, a whiskey barrel aged Imperial Stout, as well as a Berliner Weiss, and more.

Roswell F&B Festival’s prime focus will be on local chefs and independently-owned restaurants. Participating restaurants will offer samples of a variety of menu offerings throughout the day. Beer, wine and cocktails will also be served throughout the event, and participants can expect to learn more about appropriate wine pairings and craft beer in general. However, most notably, the festival is different than a traditional “Taste of” event, in that it will feature interactive demonstrations throughout its duration. Attendees can expect to see demonstrations that include ceramic smokers, open fire cooking, mixology, and whole animal breakdown, to name a few. The event will also include a butcher demonstration, Wine 101 seminar, cocktails and beer from Roswell’s local bartenders and breweries.

Restaurants include From the Earth Brewing Company, The Mill Kitchen & Bar, Ceviche, Vin 25, Bistro VG, Foundation, The Grub Gastro Pub, Citizen Soul, and many more, while also featuring a collaboration beer by From the Earth Brewing Company, Variant, and Gate City for everyone to taste!

More information: https://www.roswellfandb.com/

SECOND ANNUAL ¡VIVA TEQUILA! FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/6/19

Small-Batch Tequilas and Bites from Atlanta’s Best Chefs Bring True Taste of
Mexico’s Culture to Piedmont Park

Promenade at Piedmont Park at Noon

ATLANTA  – On Saturday, Oct. 26, famed tequila importer and connoisseur Juan Bonilla and Atlanta event producer Sean O’Keefe are hosting the second annual ¡Viva Tequila! Festival, a one-of-a-kind tequila tasting experience and cultural extravaganza that pairs 25 top Atlanta restaurants with 25 of the world’s finest boutique tequilas. Attendees also will enjoy live music and other performances, plus local and imported artisan goods. The high-end and high-spirited festivities, which benefit the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance, take place under the tents at The Promenade at Piedmont Park.

“Our goal is to give guests a completely different understanding of how the spirit works in a gastronomic context. Many people have bad experiences with tequila when they are younger, but we are trying to teach them to give tequila another chance,” says Bonilla. “The greatest reward is how people’s perceptions change once they realize how good quality tequila tastes and how well it pairs with different types of food.”

The tasting event begins at 12:00 p.m. and includes unlimited access to small bites and top-shelf tequila pairings until 5 p.m. Offering incredible value, general admission ($75) to the ¡Viva Tequila! Festival also includes a DJ, live entertainment from traditional Mexican dancers to Mariachi bands, and vendors showcasing paintings, artifacts, clothing and jewelry. For attendees who want to continue the fun and experience live music plus even more exceptional tequilas, VIP tickets ($150) include access to the ¡Viva Noche! After Party from 6-9 p.m. In its inaugural event in 2018, the festival hosted 2,000 attendees and expects closer to 5,000 this year.

A portion of the festival’s proceeds benefits the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and educating women, their families and the health care community about risks, symptoms and treatment of ovarian cancer leading to earlier detection. Bonilla feels strongly about serving high-quality products that won’t increase the risk for diseases, and GOCA’s cause is one that is close to his heart.

Participating restaurants include, Casa Cielo, Loca Luna, Eclipse di Luna, Cabo’s Mexican Grill, Santa Lucia Brizilian Steakhouse, Seven Tequilas Mexican Restaurant, HOLA! Taqueria and Bar, La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant, Zocalo Mexican Kitchen and Cantina and Doraku. Each is paired with premium tequila brands not widely available in the United States such as Don Nacho, Don Fernando, Mi Tierra, Padre Azul, Don Celso and Siempre tequilas.

Differentiating itself from the multitude of other food and beverage festivals throughout Atlanta, the ¡Viva Tequila! Festival is a sipping event that showcases tequila’s diversity and how the spirit can be elevated with specific food pairings from Atlanta chefs. Bonilla is encouraging his guests to try food with the tequila and seeks to separate the spirit from the “shots on Cinco de Mayo” stereotype.

“People in the United States don’t see tequila as something you eat with, it’s seen as more of a party drink, but the reality is it’s one of the most expensive spirits on the planet,” says Bonilla. “We’re trying to get people to recognize why it tastes so good and the cost behind it.”

Bonilla’s family owned a great deal of land in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Michoacán, where tequila is produced, and he became passionate about and highly involved in the tequila industry from a young age. With first-hand experience farming and cooking the agave plants to producing the tequila, he went on to serve as an ambassador for the spirit and has been a tequila and mezcal importer for the past decade. Bonilla also holds one of the largest collections (over 400 bottles) in the world. “It’s so much more than the spirit for me; tequila represents the culture of Mexico,” he says.

For Bonilla, educating consumers is a year-round initiative that doesn’t end with the ¡Viva Tequila! Festival. He also offers a more intimate tequila dinner series throughout the year at local Atlanta-area restaurants to increase awareness and enjoyment of tequila in a different setting, and leads small group trips to Mexico for travelers interested in visiting distilleries and learning how tequila is produced.

The Promenade is an open-air venue located on the Greensward Path in Piedmont Park. Tickets to the festival are available for purchase on Eventbrite. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend.

ATLANTA MAGAZINE 5TH ANNUAL WHISKEY FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/22/19

Flourish Buckhead

Thursday, October 17th at 6 pm (VIP) and 7 pm (GA)

On Thursday, October 17, Atlanta magazine’s 5th annual Whiskey Festival returns! Guests will enjoy top-shelf whiskey, bourbon, & rum samples, signature cocktails, live music, cigar rolling vendors, an Atlanta magazine rocks glass, liquor infused desserts, delicious southern food that complements the tasting experience, and more!

In addition to sampling the finest whiskeys, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and talk to master distillers, spirits ambassadors, and the owners of some of the most talked about whiskeys—including top shelf standbys and the newest up and comers who are generating a lot of buzz. For an updated list of the participating spirits, please visit the event page.
The event is 21 and up.

VIP: $100
VIPs get entrance one hour early, allowing them to enjoy the festival from 6-10pm. Along with early entry, ticket includes unlimited top-shelf whiskey, bourbon & rum samples, signature cocktails, live music, cigars, delicious foods that complement the tasting experience, an Atlanta magazine rocks glass, and more!

General Admission: $75
General admission can enjoy the festival from 7-10pm. Ticket includes unlimited top-shelf whiskey, bourbon & rum samples, signature cocktails, live music, cigars, delicious foods that complement the tasting experience, an Atlanta magazine rocks glass, and more!

Brands Pouring at Whiskey Festival
Bacardi Angel’s Envy Bourbon and Rye
Baker’s
Basil Hayden’s dark rye
Basil Hayden’s
Belle Meade Bourbon
Blade & Bow
Bookers
Buchanan’s
Bushmills 10 Year Whiskey
Bushmills 16 Year Whiskey
Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whisky
Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
Bushmills Red Bush Irish Whiskey
Chef Brulee Chocolates and Gateaux
Crown Royal
1800 Cristalino
1800 Milenio Tequila
Glen Morey
Glengoyone
Gran Centenario Leyenda
Grander Rum
Heaven Hill
Heritage Distilling Co. Brown Sugar Bourbon
Independent
Jim Beam Peach
Johnnie Walker
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia
Knob Creek Rye
Knob Creek Single barrel
Knob Creek
Lazy Guy Distillery 5th Article 1887 Rye Whiskey
Lazy Guy Distillery Side Track Bourbon
Lazy Guy Distillery Threesome Whiskey
Legent
Maker’s Mark
Michter’s Distillery
Old Dominick
Old Elk Distilleries, LLC
Pendleton 1910 (12 Yr. Rye) Whiskey
Pendleton Director’s Reserve
Pendleton Midnight Whiskey
Pendleton Original Whiskey
Proper 12
Rabbit Hole
Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur
Ron Barcelo
The Sexton Irish Whiskey
Uncle Nearest
Virginia Distillery Company
Woody Creek Distillers Rye
Woody Creek Distillers Bourbon

TASTE OF ATLANTA 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/22/19

Featuring Over 100 Local Restaurants, Cooking Demos & Classes from Chefs Including Jonathan Waxman of Brezza Cucina & Chef Todd Richards of Chicken + Beer, Saturday Night Concert from Yacht Rock Revue & More
 
October 18, 19 & 20, 2019 at Historic Fourth Ward Park
 
Tickets Available Here

Taste of Atlanta, the city’s award-winning food, craft beer, wine and spirits festival showcasing the local restaurant scene, announces this year’s festival programming and restaurant lineup here. Taking place over three days from Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20, 2019 at Historic Fourth Ward Park, the 18th annual festival will feature more than 100 restaurants throughout the weekend. Plus, there will be a Friday Opening Night Party, on-stage cooking demos, cooking classes and new this year, Food Districts, a more expansive VIP Tasting Experience and a Saturday night concert from one of Atlanta’s favorite local bands, Yacht Rock Revue.

Opening Night Party (October 18): Kicking off on Friday with the Opening Night Party hosted by Chef-Owner Nick Leahy of AIX and Tin Tin, the evening will showcase a roster of well-regarded local chefs who focus on sourcing ingredients locally and cooking seasonally. From 7:30-11pm, participating restaurants, including Tiny Lou’s, Bellina Alimentari, KR Steakbar, Table & Main, Mission + Market and dozens more, will serve tastings alongside wine, beer, cocktails and live music from Moontower. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will support Georgia Grown’s restaurant partnership program.

Main Tasting Events (October 19 & 20): Bringing together chefs from neighborhoods across Atlanta and representing dozens of cuisines, Taste of Atlanta will serve as a destination to try bites from over 100 restaurants all in one place. General Admission featured restaurants include Barcelona Wine Bar, Joella’s Hot Chicken, Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Poke Burri, Sweet Spot and more. Among the restaurants in VIP Tasting Experience – an exclusive area of the festival offering all-inclusive tastings and pours from craft beer, wine and cocktail makers – are 9 Mile Station, Golden Eagle, STK, Casi Cielo and 5Church. Plus, this year’s Best Bartender Competition, presented by Bulleit Bourbon, culminates at the festival with finalists sampling their creations in VIP Tasting Experience as well as presenting alongside chefs leading cooking demos and classes.

Food Districts (October 19 & 20): This year’s festival will feature categorized Food Districts, including:

Buford Highway – Offering the international cuisines of Atlanta’s most diverse culinary corridor, this Food District presented by WeLoveBuhi will feature bites and sips from Northern China Eatery, Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea and more.

Tailgating – Guests can check out game day bites from restaurants such as City BBQ, Shake Shack, Taco Mac and Three Dollar Café while watching the football games of the day! Plus, the Atlanta Falcons and 92.9 The Game will be there adding to the game day spirit.

Hartsfield-Jackson Lounge – Attendees can swing by the lounge to get a taste of what the busiest airport in the world has to offer! Chicken + Beer, TGI Fridays, Atlanta Chophouse & Brewery and others will be serving tastes.

Brunch All Day – Festivalgoers can enjoy brunch all day, every day at Taste of Atlanta. Restaurants, including Waffle House, The Little Farmhouse Cafe and Simon’s Restaurant, will be dishing up the city’s best brunch dishes at this Food District presented by The Extreme Bean.

Chef Demos (October 19 & 20): Attendees will also get an inside view into the Atlanta culinary world at Chef’s Table and Home Plate Stages, where chefs will demonstrate how to prepare mouthwatering dishes and provide tastings of their creations. For a full demo schedule, please see here.

  • All Things Fall with Brezza Cucina’s Culinary Legend Jonathan Waxman & Executive Chef Andrew Cacioppo – The duo is teaming up at Taste of Atlanta to teach attendees all about cooking fall recipes with local and seasonal ingredients, including a Roasted Fall Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, Lamb Chops and a Warm Shrimp Salad. Plus, they’ll be serving a seasonal cocktail to pair.
  • Somms and Sous – While head chefs tend to receive the glory, the behind-the-scenes heroes who help keep kitchens running are the sous chefs. Taste of Atlanta is putting some of the city’s best sous chefs front and center as they demo how to prepare bites that are paired with wines selected by their restaurants’ sommeliers. Not only will attendees learn how to cook, they’ll get the chance to explore pairings with wines of Germany and Bordeaux.
  • Burger Brawl with Budweiser – There’s no doubt that restaurants all across Atlanta dish up tasty burgers, but who will receive the top honor at Taste of Atlanta? Guests are invited to watch as burger joints duke it out for ‘Best Burger.’

Cooking Classes (October 19 & 20): Sponsored by The Cook’s Warehouse, Garnish & Gather, Hammer Stahl and Sprouts Farmers Market, The Kitchen Workshop offers hands-on cooking classes led by Atlanta chefs, where cooks can learn to cook at individual stations. All classes are first-come, first-served and free to join with a Taste of Atlanta ticket. Please see here for the full list of classes.

  • It’s All in the Cookware! – Festivalgoers can join Mary Moore, Founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse, and Bobby Griggs of Hammer Stahl in the kitchen as they prepare Wild Mushroom & Marsala Chicken with Angel Hair Pasta. Participants will learn how to make the classic Italian-American dish using the cookware brand’s latest products.
  • South Meets East – The brilliant chefs of Northern China Eatery will teach participants how to make Dan Dan Noodles with a peanut sauce made from Georgia Peanuts. Plus, Don Koehler from Georgia Peanut Commission will be on hand to talk shop about Georgia Peanuts in this awesome mash-up of South meets East.
  • Rue Po’ Boy – Chef Darrell Johnson, founder of creole and cajun bistro food truck NOLA Creations and winner of Food Network’s ‘The Great Food Truck Race,’ will take center stage with his famed Shrimp Po’ Boy. Attendees will learn how to prepare the fan favorite firsthand during this workshop.
  • Dinner at Home with Garnish & Gather – Atlanta’s local meal kit company Garnish & Gather invites Taste of Atlanta attendees to join them in cooking a farm-to-table recipe highlighting seasonal ingredients.

Georgia Grown Pavilion (October 19 & 20): Chefs, restaurateurs and food producers will welcome attendees to learn about Georgia Grown products and ingredients through food conversations, mini culinary demos and of course, recipe tastings. Programs include Cathy Conway of Avalon Catering demoing a recipe with Decimal Place Goat Cheese; Ellijay Mushrooms showcasing their passion for growing shiitake mushrooms; Chef Jennifer Booker highlighting local apples and honey; Author Rebecca Lang talking pecans and more.

Saturday Night Concert with Yacht Rock Revue (October 19): Taste of Atlanta will continue into the evening on Saturday, October 19 with a concert from one of Atlanta’s favorite local bands, Yacht Rock Revue. The famed seven-man band will be crooning classic hits and Halloween tunes. Plus, local food trucks, such as Che Butter Jones, YoJay’s Yogurt Treats and Zubi’s Taco Kitchen, will be selling bites for purchase alongside drinks from beverage tents throughout the concert. Gates open at 7pm, and tickets can be purchased here.

Tickets to Taste of Atlanta can be purchased here. Prior to the festival, ticket holders will receive wristbands equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, making Taste of Atlanta a cashless festival. The wristbands are pre-loaded with Taste Points which can be used for drink and merchandise purchases as well as food tastings, ranging from one to three points each. Wristbands track tastes sampled and provide attendees with a post-event tasting list, giving all ticket holders a customized roundup of restaurant recommendations for future dining out.

SECOND SELF BEER 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/16/19

Saturday, October 12th at Noon: All-Day Celebration will Include Outdoor Tap Trucks & Collaboration Beers Including a Chocolate-Inspired Beer Benefitting Disaster Relief for Puerto Rico

Local Atlanta brewery Second Self Beer Company is hosting their five-year anniversary party at their Westside taproom (1317 Logan Cir NW) on Saturday, October 12 from noon-10pm!

Celebrating a half-decade since opening on Atlanta’s Westside, Second Self invites the community to an all-day event featuring 30 different beer offerings both inside the tasting room and outside on the lawn at various tap trucks. In the words of Co-founder and Beer Architect Jason Santamaria, “Since we opened our doors in 2014, we’ve worked with a number of  local businesses in the community that have played an important role in our story.” As a way to say “thank you,” Second Self will roll out unique beers during the party that have been developed through creative collaborations from friends like United Distributors Craft Team, Hop City, Brick Store/Leon’s, Atlys Media, Pulp Hot Sauce, Blue Hominy PR, and World of Beverage Grayson.

Two additional friends of Second Self will also be celebrating their one-year anniversary: local Puerto Rican pop-up restaurant, Mi Abuelas, and coffee roaster Slow Wave Coffee. The three have collaborated to create a hot chocolate-inspired beer for the festivities named El Velorio (translated ‘The Wake’). The beer is reflective of the common cultural practice of serving hot chocolate at a Puerto Rican funeral, and proceeds from each sold will go towards benefitting disaster relief for Puerto Rico. Following the party, Second Self will carry the remaining supply of this beer at their taproom and will sell some in limited distribution.

Other Atlanta organizations also joining in on the fun include Georgia English Bulldog Rescue, Carnival ATL, Terminus Legion, Go Kickball and Friends of the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue, as well as a handful of vendors such as  Illegal Food, The Real Mexican Vittles and Psychedelic Snow Co, in which guests can purchase bites to pair with their beers.

Three different ticketing options, General Admission, VIP and Designated Driver, are available for attendees to purchase on Eventbrite prior to the anniversary party and at the door day-off. General Admission tickets ($25) will provide six drink tickets and a take-home souvenir glass. VIP tickets ($75) will include the same souvenir glass in addition to two 16 oz cans of The Wake, unlimited pours throughout the party and entry one hour early as first tasters. Those who plan to drive but still partake in the fun can purchase Designated Driver tickets ($5) and enjoy a selection of non-alcoholic beverages including Cirrus CBD mocktails, coffee, and hot chocolate.

As two Georgia Tech graduates and fraternity roommates who took a leap of faith to open a brewery in their hometown, Jason Santamaria and Chris Doyle have seen a huge growth in their business in just five short years. What began as a small taproom has since expanded twice, with increases in production capabilities and growth into markets across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. The team is determined  to not stop at beer but to become a beverage incubator in the South, with a diversity of drink offerings.

Tickets here.