For 18 years, Taste of Atlanta has drawn thousands of restaurant participants and hundreds of thousands of excited, hungry guests to gather together and taste delicious bites, experience stage demonstrations, and enjoy live entertainment. This year, the script has flipped, and the Taste of Atlanta team is unveiling Atlanta’s Must Eat Menu Items 2020 from October 23 through December 23, 2020. Everyone will be directed to order take-out, delivery and dine-in from more than 200 of our city’s beloved restaurants.

 

To encourage spending at local restaurants, Taste of Atlanta will launch Restaurant Bingo inspired by Atlanta Food Bingo.Diners will play by spending $20 minimum at any five (5) participating restaurants on a themed Bingo card to win gift cards and prizes. Receipts will be shown to collect prizes. Restaurants do not have to be “in a row” on the game card–diners simply choose any 5 restaurants they wish to patronize. We encourage everyone to play all Bingo cards.

 

The bingo cards help promote Atlanta-based, nonprofit partners such as: #ATLFamilyMeal, Giving Kitchen, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Second Helpings Atlanta, Global Growers, Atlanta Pride, and Les Dames d’Escoffier. Each organization will be featured on the center square of different Bingo cards.

Nine (9) themed Bingo cards will be announced over nine (9) weeks and can be found at Taste of Atlanta as follows:

 

Iconic Dishes, LGBTQ+-Friendly, and New Around Town

 

Black-Owned, ITP, and OTP

 

Women-Owned, International, and Desserts

 

Taste of Atlanta Founder Dale DeSena shares, “Once the pandemic put a hold on organized festivals, we’ve thought day and night how we can creatively pivot while supporting chefs and restaurateurs all around town. This new, virtual experience will give the Atlanta community an opportunity to come together, support our restaurant community, and gather around our tables to reconnect.”

 

Traditionally, all restaurants have paid a participation fee to be part of Taste of Atlanta. This year’s event is free of charge to restaurants. All dollars generated by Taste guests go directly to the restaurants themselves.

 

The restaurants were chosen by well-known Atlanta writers, publicists, food bloggers, and influencers who were asked to submit their favorite, “Must Eat Menu Items” in and around town.

 

Check out the Taste Of Atlanta website for “soon to be announced” classes, cooking and mixology demos, and timely “At the Table” conversations with local chefs to learn about a restaurant’s history and hear how their “Must Eat Menu Items” were created. The promotion will help drive food purchases at restaurants by working in tandem with chefs and owners to offer restaurant-created meal kits large enough for two. Meal kit recipe cards will be posted on Taste of Atlanta’s website for those who may want to take the class at a later date.

 

The first 1,000 people to register their email at Taste of Atlanta will receive a $10 DoorDash discount code for their next purchase. Supplies are limited, so sign up early.

A special thank you to our sponsors DoorDash, Georgia Peanut Commission, Hope Springs Distillery, Popmenu, and Old Dominick Distillery, who have helped support our pivot and enhance the experience for our guests.

 

About Taste of Atlanta

2020 marks the 19th year of Taste of Atlanta, our city’s largest, most well-known, food and drink festival showcasing the local restaurant scene. Each year attendees can expect three, fun-filled days of bites and beverages from more than 100 of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants, alongside live, on-stage cooking demos from top chefs. The wildly popular Friday Night Kick-off Party features chef hosts, and outstanding food and music. In lieu of our traditional festival, the Taste of Atlanta team will host Atlanta’s Must Eat Menu Items 2020 to show our commitment to supporting and celebrating Atlanta’s restaurant community.