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NIGHT MARKET HOLIDAY EDITION 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/25/19

COZY UP WITH COCKTAILS, BITES & SHOPPING AT DECEMBER’S NIGHT MARKET
Top Culinary Talent, Live Music and Artisan Vendors Return for Night Market’s Outdoor Holiday Edition

The Home Depot Back Yard

Thursday, December 5th 6pm

Next month at December’s Night Market, The Home Depot Backyard will be taken over by the smells, sounds and bright colors of a globally inspired market, featuring Atlanta’s top culinary talent, live music, and a colorful array of artisan vendors to kick off the holiday season. Crackling fire pits will invite guests to cozy up where they can enjoy the evening under the stars sipping cocktails and shopping the curated market for the perfect gift. Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta outside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the market offers visitors the chance to experience all the international feel and fun without the trouble of fitting their gifts and treats in their suitcase.

“On the heels of our most successful market to date, Night Market is delighted to welcome even more of Atlanta’s top chefs and one-of-a-kind artisan vendors for December. We wanted to create a festive twist this month and truly make it special for the holiday edition, making it a unique experience even for guests who have attended before,” said Latonda Henderson, Director of Community Activation at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “Despite the open-air setting, the market maintains the same intimate feeling as if you were celebrating the holidays in your friend’s backyard.”

While sipping on holiday-inspired cocktails prepared by celebrated mixologists, Tiffanie Barriere and Kellie Thorn, guests will also be able to shop a unique selection of goods at the artisan market, curated by local favorite, Indie Craft Experience. Here they can spoil friends and family (or grab a little something for themselves) with unique finds from the market pop-up, all while supporting local businesses including Atlas Candle Co., Fox + Fern Botanicals, Paper & Piece, and more.

Visitors will have the opportunity to mingle with some of Atlanta’s top chefs and enjoy dishes from restaurants including American Cut, Brezza Cucina, Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, Hattie B’s, Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Holmes, Honeysuckle Gelato, Kyma, Shake Shack, Spotted Trotter, Sweet Auburn BBQ and Wheelies Tiny Donuts.

Free to attend. Food and beverage tickets are $25 in advance/$40 onsite and include tokens to sample 2 beverages and 3 food items. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thehomedepotbackyard.com/night-market.

Butcher and Brew Fest 2019

Date: Saturday, November 9th

Time: 2 pm

About: The 3rd Annual Butcher & Brew Fest 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.

More Information:

https://www.butcherandbrewfest.com/

NIGHT MARKET AT HOME DEPOT BACKYARD: EAT, SIP, SHOP UNDER THE STARS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/1/19

The Home Depot Backyard Hosts Artisan Vendors, Live Music, and Top
Culinary Talent in November 7 Installment of Monthly Market

Picture yourself strolling under twinkling lights, sipping on a custom cocktail from top Atlanta mixologist, Tiffanie Barriere and you notice the smell of dishes from some of the city’s most celebrated chefs wafting through the air. At Night Market at The Home Depot Backyard, guests can experience just that – a vibrant, open-air neighborhood gathering. The market is designed with inspiration from the famous street fairs and bazaars of Europe and Asia and once guests step inside, they will feel instantly transported into a kaleidoscope of delicious flavors, colors and sounds.

Having launched in October in the heart of downtown Atlanta, just outside of bustling Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Night Market offers expansive greenspace, enticing guests to come shop, drink, eat, and stay a while. Here visitors have the chance to engage and converse with incredible culinary talent including chefs from The Federal, The Spotted Trotter, Sweet Auburn BBQ, Shake Shack, American Cut, Honeysuckle Gelato, Wheelies Tiny Donuts and Hattie B’s to name a few. Guests will also be able to shop an impressive selection of goods at the artisan market, curated by Atlanta favorite, Indie Craft Experience, to a soundtrack of live music provided by the Sundogs.

“At Night Market, we want our guests to feel as if they’re attending a backyard party with close family and friends,” says Latonda Henderson, Director of Community Activation for Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “Our goal was to create this personal experience where you can walk up to renowned chefs and beverage experts and swap recipes, pick their brains and just chat as if you were at a friend’s house. The culinary talent we have selected for each Night Market are all part of the movement to elevate Atlanta’s reputation as a top foodie destination, and to be able to have this interactive experience with them is really special.”

Food and beverage advanced tickets in advance are $25 or $40 at the door.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thehomedepotbackyard.com/night-market.

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.