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2019 Taste of Atlanta

Date: Friday, October 18th to Sunday, October 20th

Time: Varies

About: 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.

More Information:

https://www.freshtix.com/events/taste-of-atlanta-2019

HAVEN RESTAURANT: BBQ CHIPS AND MUSTARD SEEDS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/14/19

What do BBQ Chips and Mustard Seeds Have In Common? Find out here!

On a corner off Dresden, Haven Restaurant sits in the middle of the Brookhaven action. From their impeccable staff, to the fresh linens, well-priced offerings, and the warm ambiance, everything about Haven is inviting and welcoming. Their chef, Joe Macy, said that he wants his menu to reflect, “food that people could share and be social with, like their deviled eggs and brussels sprouts.” That’s how Haven feels, like a place you take your friends, your family, and share a meal. Come on in. Let’s share a meal together.

Cue the excitement, because we found them. We found our favorite deviled eggs in Atlanta to date! There are two reasons these deviled eggs stand out, first is the crumbled barbecue chips that give them a crunch and salt. Yes, crumbled BBQ chips! The second and thing that did it for us on top of that were the mustard seeds. They gave it a richer flavor and a pop at the end! It was like eating fish roe, which was his original idea, but with the added zing. Beyond that the filling was just egg, mayonnaise, lemon, tobacco, and Worcestershire for added zip and color. I (Liz) at them all, so now we must go back so John can get one. Darn.

We didn’t realize how egg-centric our brunch was until we ordered our entrees: Avocado Toast, Sunday Hash, and Steak and Eggs. Egg-celent! Puns aside, we really enjoyed each dish for an entirely different reason. Let’s start with the Avocado Toast. This healthy option may look healthy, but don’t think for a minute it is low on taste. Layered bread, guacamole, hard boiled eggs, and tomatoes, it was a good balance of creamy, crunch, and savory. The guacamole was creamy, bread had a good crunch to it, while the eggs were savory, and the tomato gave it acidity and balance. It also came it an arugula salad. It was slightly salty and peppery, so it made an amazing topping for the toast. Yes, we’d recommend putting it on your toast. It’s gives it a WOW factor!

If you’re looking for something savory and hearty, go with the Sunday Hash. From the potatoes to soak up all the flavors, sweet peppers and onions, savory short rib, and topped with a runny egg, there’s a lot of flavor in this dish. The savory short rib was tender with a slight char and all that good au jus from it seeped into the potatoes and vegetables and gave it a richer flavor. Then, the sweet peppers and onions gave it a balance. It was something you could sit by a roaring fire with and a good cup of coffee. If you get this, try getting all the ingredients on your fork in one bite for the best bite possible. OMG. Worth it! As far as the steak and eggs, it was John’s choice and the steak was tender and well-seasoned. It came with potatoes and eggs and was a good breakfast staple that anyone could enjoy. Especially steak connoisseurs like us!

What is a brunch without something to sip on? We’re always down for a mimosa, and we loved the size and balance of juice and champagne on this one! It was just right. We also tried the Brookhaven Botanical, which was cucumber vodka, mint, grapefruit (citrus) that rounds it out. When you first sip it, it’s cool and refreshing from the mint and cucumber flavor of the vodka, then has a little sweet from the fruit to balance it out. A good sipping drink!

We ended our time chatting with Chef Joe Macy for quite a while about all the above food, beer, and everything in between, we felt like he really cares about his food and his customers. This place feels like family. The seal of approval comes when you decide you’re going to take your mom there! Mom, are you ready?

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/

3RD ANNUAL RHYTHM AND BREWS FESTIVAL

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

Festival features live music, food, craft beer and wine

Saturday, October 26th at 5:30 pm

GREENSBORO, GA —Reynolds Lake Oconee and OPAS (Oconee Performing Arts Society) are excited to present the third annual Rhythm & Brews Festival. The festival will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Reynolds Lake Oconee’s historic Sandy Creek Barn.

Headlining the 2019 festival are five world-renowned rock stars, including Scott Stapp of Creed, Jason Scheff of Chicago, Emmerson Hart of Tonic, Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon and Don Barnes of .38 Special. Each veteran musician will be accompanied by the Nashville-based band SIXWIRE.

General admission is $150 and includes access to the craft beer and wine tasting, concert and shuttle service. For guests seeking the ultimate Rhythm & Brews experience, VIP tickets are available for $250 and include general admission access plus exclusive VIP amenities including a tasting experience inside the Sandy Creek Barn with special wine offerings, a VIP hospitality suite at the concert with complimentary food offerings, a dedicated cash bar and comfortable seating that includes a reserved seat during the concert.

“With a great music line up and more tasting and food options than ever before, this year’s Rhythm & Brews Festival is the don’t miss event of the fall,” said Ginger DiMascio, Business Director for OPAS.

The beer and wine garden will provide more than 30 craft selections for tasting and several award-winning food trucks will be on-site to provide culinary pairings. Guests must be 21 and older to attend.

Last year the festival brought in a total of 1200 attendees, doubling from its inaugural year in 2017. The festival has quickly become a local favorite event for residents and visitors alike, all while enhancing the cultural enrichment in the Lake Oconee area.

For more information on the festival and parking, visit http://www.opas.org/rhythm-brews.

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.

Wildwood Revival 2019

Date: Friday, September 27th to Sunday, September 29th

Time: Varies

About: Already setting the stage with a thoughtfully curated lineup announced earlier this Summer, Wildwood Revival is living up to its moniker as the “anti-festival” going beyond the music and announcing the schedule for the sixth annual event’s workshops and experiences. Ranging from a Gospel brunch where you can bring your instrument to a kayak river excursions, grilling demos, yoga, an artisan market and more. And while select experiences and workshops come free as a part of your ticket, there is limited space to certain activities, and Wildwood Revival ticket holders are encouraged to sign up in advance. A full list, with descriptions and sign up links, of workshops and experiences can be found at wildwoodrevival.com/experience.
The full Wildwood Revival Experience includes:
THE LINEUP: Lucinda Williams, Shovels & Rope, Mandolin Orange, Son Volt, Langhorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band, Rayland Baxter, Rebirth Brass Band, The Texas Gentlemen, Charley Crockett, Lilly Hiatt, T. Hardy Morris, Super Doppler, Cedric Burnside, Illiterate Light, Revel in Dimes, and Georgia Mountain String Band. Performers take the stage in the Pecan Grove as well as inside the farm’s open-air barn. Beyond the stage lights, there are late-night picking sessions around the campfire where the best stories are often sung.
THE EXPERIENCES: Camping via tent, trailer or RV, a dance party to wrap up the festival on night two, a selection of local food and craft beer, an artisan market meets cultural revival, featuring handcrafted leatherwood, unique jewelry, vintage clothing, herbal apothecary, kitchen wares, modern-folk pop art, magic performance, tintype antique photography, yoga, a spectacle of badassery with purpose known as South East Women Wrestlers, all our favorite B’s with the Bluegrass brunch- booze, biscuits and banjos courtesy of Georgia Mountain String Band, guided river expeditions and the Gospel Brunch for One and All, featuring a host of the weekend’s artists and even you (bring your instrument).
THE WORKSHOPS: ASW Distillery tasting, featuring Fiddler Bourbon, Resurgens Rye, Duality Double Malt, Tire Fire Single Malt, and Armour & Oak Apple Brandy (free),  Creature Comforts’ Taste of the South bottle collection tasting (free), Fire + Flavor Grill Experience, featuring Chef Patrick Fosgate (free), carry your positive affirmations on your wrist by making your own Mala bracelet ( $20), explore the world of herbal infusions with Cedarhill Homestead ($15), craft your own path to relaxation with an herbal bath bomb class ($15), learn about the healing properties of native plants and have a place to hang them on an herb drying mobile ($15) a portion of the proceeds will be donated to United Plant Savers, and take your mixology game from the Garden to the Glass when Cherokee Moon Mixology brings botanically-inspired cocktails, featuring Cathead Distillery and other spirits home ($15).
Celebrating what’s old is new again, Wildwood Revival embraces its history as a cultural revival; making it a true antithesis to what people have come to think of festivals. The intimate gathering is returning September 27th through 29th on historic Cloverleaf Farm just outside of Athens, Georgia. All ticket options to Wildwood Revival include three full days of music and are still available. VIP tickets include access to a 7,000- square foot Antebellum Mansion that includes gourmet catered meals, complimentary alcohol, private restrooms, and an outdoor courtyard. The farm opens Friday at 12 p.m. and music starts at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $92.

More Information:

https://wildwoodrevival.com/

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.

Wild Heaven West End and Gardens: FINA, You Had Us at Walking Taco!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/20/19

Wild Heaven West End and Gardens introduces new beers and in-house fine foods: FINA.

There was a time we had never been to West End, but with the recent trend to open restaurants, bars, and breweries down there, it’s becoming a must visit locale for anyone interested in Atlanta’s food and drink scene. Case and point: Wild Heaven West End and Gardens. Now with their second brewery and internal FINA fine food, you can sit for a drink, grab a bite, and enjoy the gardens and atmosphere this location has to offer. What we enjoyed most was the hospitality, of course, they have great food and great beer, but their moto is Serve Your Neighbor and they take that to heart. Eddie was so personable, and we really got to chat with him about his passion for Wild Heaven’s beer, as well as their new FINA restaurant. Beyond that, nestled next to Monday Night Garage, Boxcar ATL and Hop City, as well as another brewery coming down the road, you could make a day of it. Did someone say day trip?

Let’s start with what Wild Heaven is known for, their beer. They have staples from their Decatur brewery like Eschaton (Liz’s all-time Wild Heaven favorite), Emergency Drinking Beer, Ode to Mercy, and a ton of others, but what Eddie expressed to us was this location was going to be their more exclusive beers, almost like their “lab” to create and try new things. Garden Beer is a good example! While we were there, Westy was one of their exclusive brews, as well as the Garden Beer series in collaboration with the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The first Garden Beer was lemon, this one called Season Two was peach. That was my (Liz’s) favorite beer we had all day. It was one of those you could work in your garden and sip on all day with a light sweetness, but nothing overbearing. With light peach notes, but enough hop back-bone to support it. The other beer, Westy, almost came off with some Granny Smith apple notes, followed by some hop bitterness. It was well-balanced! I (Liz) don’t usually like IPAs but their Wild Monster Double IPA with prickly pear, which makes it red, is one of my favorite IPAs ever! It’s slightly sweet with the pear, but also has a good balance. I’d get any of these again. John’s favorite was Altair IPA. He said it was smooth and drinkable for an IPA. He got two. That tells you something. Solid beers, check!

Before we get to the food, we’d like to share a story Eddie told us about how Eschaton became a staple beer for Wild Heaven. Back in Athens, Eddie mentioned that he and Eric had an underground supper club called the 4-course man. Clever. One of these nights, Eric did an beer dinner and Eschaton was the one that really caught on that night, and these years later, is still being brewed in the original Wild Heaven location. We loved hearing about how it came about, since that is my(Liz’s) favorite Wild Heaven beer!

There are two words you need to know about FINA, Wild Heaven West End’s in-house fine food establishment: Walking Taco. Yes, they have deliciously creamy guacamole, their Al Pastor Mexican Pizza is creamy, dreamy, and loaded with delicious pork, and their pork rinds are crisp with a KILLER salsa. We’ll get to some of that, but we’d like to highlight the Walking Taco. Eddie mentioned that this comes out of Chicago and is all the rage. No one we’ve mentioned it to has ever heard of it, even one of my friends whose boyfriend lives in Chicago, but it’s really going to catch on. Mark our words, this will be a huge deal! Why you ask? Think about this: take a bag of Fritos with all their salty, crispness, and smoosh all that good taco meat, cheese, pico de gallo, onions, cilantro, and sauce into that bag. Grab a spoon. See where we’re going? It’s crispy, crunchy, salty, sweet, creamy, dreamy, spicy all in one place and if we were asked if there was one food you could have every day for the rest of your life, THIS would be it. Plus, it’s only $4. We’re in love.

Beyond the Walking Taco phenom, we really enjoyed the chicken wings. They were crunchy, large, and had a lemon-peppery dry rub that was tangy, salty, sweet, and had a good bite to them. We were told they were brined for 2 days, roasted, and then dried. Yum. Also, the Salsa Macha that they have with their pork rinds is KILLER. Pork rinds tend to be very salty and take-on whatever dip you put with them. That’s the beauty of using them in that way, this sauce was sweet, very spicy on the back, and so rich that it cut through that salt and really left a meat flavor on the tongue. We want to buy this sauce to go on all our meats! Eddie, are you listening? Put it in a bottle? Finally, we’d like to mention they have a wood-burning pizza oven that Eddie said would NOT be used for pizza. We look forward to the future culinary surprises that FINA will offer, and don’t be surprised if something Lebanese or middle eastern comes out of it.

Whew, we’re stuffed and happy until next time.