Tag Archive for: free

GETTABITE FOOD DISCOVERY APP LAUNCHES AMID TOUGH RESTAURANT LANDSCAPE, END UP HELPING THE INDUSTRY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/25/20

Relevant for today’s times, GettaBite app came roaring into the market with over 5k downloads in the first three months of 2020 after an early 2020 launch. They also garnered 300,000+ total deal views every month with 1,000+ restaurant deals featured weekly. People loved it and it quickly became their go-to app! So, going gangbusters would be a good term to describe the success of GettaBite. Then the pandemic hit. But, the founders Evan and Rain of GettaBite didn’t let that stop them from getting deals to it’s rabid fanbase and they pivoted to to-go deals, while offering restaurants free exposure during the tough time. Yes, FREE! GettaBite To-Go was born. Here’s how it worked:

“Restaurants can email GettaBite at contact@gettabiteapp.com or send in their pick-up/delivery offering through the app itself and GettaBite will post the offerings on the app for hungry Atlantans to see at no charge to the restaurant,” according to the Press Release from PR Firm, Via Failla.

Here’s what Co-Founder Rain Li said about this, “Around mid-March, Georgia had just started to close dining rooms due to coronavirus. It was like the whole restaurant industry went belly up overnight. That was particularly difficult for local businesses when they don’t have the resources like the chain restaurants do to cope with the lockdown. We were brainstorming that week as soon as we found out about the closures, trying to think of ways we can help the industry in the next 24 hours. Within a few days, the Gettabite To-go feature went live, free of charge for restaurants. We’ve dedicated a special section in our app showcasing, in real-time, restaurants that are open for takeouts and delivery or featuring deals on gift cards. The turn around time from the moment a restaurant contacts us to the app showing their deals can be as quick as in less than 30 mins. The following weeks we saw so many restaurants reaching out to be featured on our app and our users continuing to use our app even though they can’t dine in or do happy hours anymore. That was kind of light in the darkness moment because we saw a surge of people getting takeout/deliveries just so they can keep their local restaurants in business. There will always be crises in the world, it’s comforting to know your community will have your back no matter what. GettaBite has always been about connecting people and it was a validating moment for us as a company and members of our community.” This has become one of their most memorable experience to date from development to implementation with the app. We love that they did this so quickly to help the restaurant industry in their time of need!

So what exactly IS GettaBite? Are you looking for something new place for dinner or even a special deal on some tacos? You know we are! Enter: GettaBite. It’s the Atlanta based to-go and food deal app that’s made you’re next food adventure easier! From the brains of co-founders Evan Walker and Rain Li, who came up with the idea in college, it navigates all those food deals for you, so you don’t have to do it yourself! When you open up the GettaBite app it becomes readily apparent that you can find every type of food, deal, happy hour, discount available in your area. What’s amazing is as you move new deals will pop-up. Plus, something that Co-Founder Evan Walker said in the interview we conducted stuck with us, he said, “GettaBite is for people who want to get the most out of life without life getting the most out of their bank account. It’s free food discovery and we’ve done the hard and tedious work for you. Discover away.” If you know us, you know we’re all about the adventure, whatever that adventure may be. Food adventures shouldn’t have to stop right now OR break the bank. You could use it every day, especially those days where you turn to your partner, friend, or family member and say, “what do you feel like today?” This solves the ho-hum, cumbersome conversation that just ends up with you at the Mexican restaurant AGAIN. So, how does it work, and does it really work, you may ask?

Based on personal experience, it’s as simple as two words: download and open. We’re not kidding! We downloaded the app, opened it, and started finding deals near our house in minutes. That day we were looking for a good deal on our anniversary dinner, and wouldn’t you know it Bulla Gastrobar in Midtown was offering 35% off all their menu items and we wouldn’t have known without the app. Plus the cherry on top was the $25 pitcher of their white sangria! We also saw that a place we wanted to try in Chamblee, LaGarde Eatery was offering 10% off take-out. On another occasion, we found a great happy hour deal! It’s easy to navigate, just type in a key word or scroll around, you’ll find it. Co-founder Evan Walker had this to say about what he wants you to know about the app, it’s also happens to be one of his biggest accomplishments, “With respect to our users, it’s giving people access to information they didn’t previously have access to. Most restaurant specials are sitting on a chalkboard inside the restaurant. We’ve made that information accessible in an instant from any smartphone.”

Now, that we’ve enticed you this far wouldn’t you love to know more? We talked recently to the team at GettaBite and had an interesting conversation about everything from how they started, their favorite thing about the app, their most memorable moments, and the future of Gettabite. Let’s see what they had to say, shall we?

Adventures in Atlanta: How Did you get the idea for GettaBite?

Evan Walker: The idea for GettaBite struck me when I was in college. While eating at a restaurant with a friend, I was surprised to see how expensive my bill was when it came. My burger, fries, and a drink totaled $16 without a tip. As a broke college student, I knew eating out like that wouldn’t be sustainable or practical. But to me and my friends, eating out was an opportunity to wind down, laugh, talk about life, and enjoy one another’s company away from other distractions like TV, games, and the like. Who doesn’t love getting a bite with their best friends? A few weeks after my expensive burger incident, I found myself at another restaurant ordering another burger. This time was different, however. When the bill came, it was $6 total. It turned out this restaurant had a special that night for half off burgers and fries, so my buddies and I walked away with happy stomachs and happy wallets. Once I got home that night, I started researching all the other weekly specials in town and compiled a list. I began asking friends if they knew any of these specials by heart. No one did. I realized right then and there something was missing in the marketplace. That something is GettaBite.

Adventures in Atlanta: What’s your favorite thing to share with users about GettaBite?

Evan Walker: You know that moment when you first start feeling hungry, but don’t know what you want? That’s the moment we want to capture. True food discovery that doesn’t cost you anything. These aren’t coupons you buy for a later date. These are real time deals and specials that anyone can participate in at no additional cost. It’s information that makes deciding where to eat better and easier for everyone involved. Instead of searching the whole web or scanning your phone’s GPS for nearby food, GettaBite has already done all that work for you and presents you with a food discovery tool loaded with deals that are rewarding in both a gustatory and financial sense. AND it’s free.

Adventures in Atlanta: What have been your most memorable experiences throughout the development and implementation of GettaBite?

Evan Walker: I have been extremely fortunate to work together with wonderful and talented people. From brainstorming with our PR/Marketing team to designing GettaBite with my Co-founder and CTO Rain, I’m lucky to be constantly learning from (and surrounded by) passionate and intelligent people. Probably the most rewarding experiences to date are implementing new features and strategies together with our team and seeing the results roll in. Banal as it may be, the people are what make it worthwhile to me. Virtually everyone I’ve worked with to date on GettaBite, I would consider to be a good friend of mine.

Rain Li: Around mid-March, Georgia had just started to close dining rooms due to coronavirus. It was like the whole restaurant industry went belly up overnight. That was particularly difficult for local businesses when they don’t have the resources like the chain restaurants do to cope with the lockdown. We were brainstorming that week as soon as we found out about the closures, trying to think of ways we can help the industry in the next 24 hours. Within a few days, the Gettabite To-go feature went live, free of charge for restaurants. We’ve dedicated a special section in our app showcasing, in real-time, restaurants that are open for takeouts and delivery or featuring deals on gift cards. The turn around time from the moment a restaurant contacts us to the app showing their deals can be as quick as in less than 30 mins. The following weeks we saw so many restaurants reaching out to be featured on our app and our users continuing to use our app even though they can’t dine in or do happy hours anymore. That was kind of light in the darkness moment because we saw a surge of people getting takeout/deliveries just so they can keep their local restaurants in business. There will always be crises in the world, it’s comforting to know your community will have your back no matter what. GettaBite has always been about connecting people and it was a validating moment for us as a company and members of our community.

Adventures in Atlanta: What’s the one thing you’d like everyone to know about GettaBite?

Evan Walker: GettaBite is for people who want to get the most out of life without life getting the most out of their bank account. It’s free food discovery and we’ve done the hard and tedious work for you. Discover away.

Adventures in Atlanta: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment with GettaBite?

Evan Walker: It’s two-fold. With respect to our users, it’s giving people access to information they didn’t previously have access to. Most restaurant specials are sitting on a chalkboard inside the restaurant. We’ve made that information accessible in an instant from any smartphone. On the restaurant side, the sense of accomplishment is knowing that people are going to a specific restaurant because of a deal they saw on GettaBite. That’s a very real and tangible thing, especially amid the global pandemic we are facing. It feels good to know we are helping businesses in an industry that took a huge hit.

Adventures in Atlanta: Will you continue to have the to-go offers featured or will you change that out as the market changes?

Evan Walker: Only time will tell how the market will adapt and recover from this global pandemic, however GettaBite’s mission has always been to bring people together at restaurants in order to enjoy great food at a great price. There is something essential and human about gathering together over food. We hope to get back to that essential way of life as the situation improves. Until then, we will continue to do what we can to provide our users with to-go offers.

Rain Li: That depends on how the market changes. We would like to think that once the virus is over things will go back to normal, but that probably won’t be the case. Whatever it is, we will continue to be agile and adapt fast in the direction that benefits our users and restaurants.

Adventures in Atlanta: What future goals do you have for GettaBite? 

Evan Walker: We believe people in every major city should be able to discover food deals, happy hours, and specials in their respective cities at the touch of a button. We are entering another wave of technological achievements that are unprecedented. Some companies are looking to colonize Mars, some to prevent aging, some to create Artificial Intelligence, and yet happy hours are still only on available on chalkboards. GettaBite’s goal is to change that and to upgrade the way we discover food.

Rain Li: Some of our future goals involve releasing new features that will help users get the information they need quickly as well as enhancing the locality aspect of our app. We are constantly seeking feedback from our users and adjusting our product to better address people’s needs. Our vision is to create a platform that enhances the communities and cultures that already exist surrounding food, it’s all about connecting people.

Gettabite coming to your city? The possibilities are endless. Download the app here or from the app store/google play.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET CELEBRATES ITALIAN CUISINE WITH POP-UP, TRATTORIA-SYTLE DINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND COMING TO ATLANTA – FEBRUARY 20TH!!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/10/20

National Grocer Invites Customers to Experience ‘A Little Italy’ With Unique Italian Products and Ingredients 

 

On Feb. 20, Whole Foods Market customers in New York, Los Angeles, Austin and Atlanta can indulge in an evening of Italian culinary discovery at intimate pop-up dinners co-hosted by the grocer’s cheese, wine and culinary experts alongside Italian cheesemakers and prosciutto suppliers. Each ‘A Little Italy’ event will feature an authentic, family-style meal composed of six courses, including Cacio e Pepe featuring Pecorino Romano with Parmigiano Reggiano grated tableside and Osso Buco served over creamy rosemary polenta.  

 

“Our dedicated team members travel throughout Italy to bring the finest traditionally-produced Italian items to Whole Foods Market stores, and we’re excited to offer these authentic products together on a dinner menu for one night only,” says Whole Foods Market Vice President of Specialty Cathy Strange. “We want our guests to feel like they’ve been invited for a meal in Nonna’s kitchen.” 

 

‘A Little Italy’ dinner guests will also enjoy curated wine and prosecco pairings to complement each of the six courses. At each dinner experience, American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professionals will take on an 80-pound Parmigiano Reggiano wheel-cracking demonstration, all while explaining the craftsmanship that goes into producing the Northern Italian favorite. In addition, during the antipasti course, Italian suppliers will shave prosciutto on-site for sampling and pairing; during the dessert course, trained baristas will expertly pour Allegro Coffee using state of the art La Marzocco espresso machines. 

 

Starting Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. ET, customers can reserve a coveted, complimentary dinner seat—first come, first served—by visiting: 

 

Authentic Italian Offerings and In-Store Promotions 

 

“If you aren’t able to score a seat to ‘A Little Italy,’ we invite you to experience our extensive assortment of delicious Italian products – all of which meet our rigorous quality standards – at your local Whole Foods Market store,” Strange said. “Visit select stores on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. local time to watch a hand-selected wheel of authentic Italian Parmigiano Reggiano be cracked live. It’s our annual celebration of the ‘King of Cheeses!’” 

 

Whole Foods Market invites food lovers to live la vita bella by embracing its unique assortment of Italian offerings. From Whole Foods Market Italian Gelato, to 365 Everyday Value Italian Olive Oils, to imported offerings like Principe Prosciutto Di Parma and Peroni Beer, Whole Foods Market offers a wide selection of authentic ingredients, products and specialty items to take any Italian meal to the next level. 

Whole Foods Market shoppers can also enjoy special offers on the following Italian specialties, starting Feb. 12:  

 

·         15% off Bertagni Fresh Pasta – From Bologna, by the oldest producer of filled pastas in Italy. Rich, flavorful, classic easy-to-cook pastas that feel homemade. 

·         $2 off per lb. IGOR Gorgonzola Dolce – A creamy, tangy blue with a delicate flavor and subtle sweet notes. Matured for at least 50 days.  

·         30% off Mitica Parmigiano Reggiano – Hand-selected from specific farms across Reggio-Emilia, Modena and Parma and always hand-cracked in-house. This raw-milk cheese is made from milk collected from autumn through spring and aged a minimum of 24 months.  

·         $3.99 per lb. Made-In-House Italian Sausage for Prime Members – Spiced to deliver big Italian flavor—add to red sauce, on pizza or as a stuffing for peppers. Choose varieties made from Animal Welfare Certified pork or chicken, in hot or mild. Product not from Italy. 

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.

2019 Carnival ATL at Second Self Beer Co

Date: Saturday, June 22nd

Time: Noon

About: Carnival ATL is coming to Second Self for a family-friendly celebration, featuring games, prizes, fun activities, an artist market and music, to benefit Giving Kitchen! DAY PARTY! Pints of Second Self’s signature Thai Wheat and ATaLe will be sold for $3 each, and The Real Mexican Vittles will be selling delicious bites. The event is free to attend, and carnival tickets (available for pre-purchase below) are $3 each. Prizes include Second Self Beer Co. merch, Dames and Dregs Beer Festival VIP and GA tickets, Dames and Dregs Beer Festival T-Shirts, Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House Gift Cards ($50 value ea), Dinner for 2 @ PokeBurri, Punch Bowl Social Gift Cards.

More Information:

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/carnival-atl-14433177936

ATLANTA UNITED TAILGATE PARTY MAY 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/3/19

Marietta Street across from Hudson Grill, Next to Park Bar

Sunday, May 12th 11 am

Join Atlanta Sport and Social Club and 680 The Fan Atlanta’s Sports Station on Sunday, May 12th as we gear up for Atlanta United FC vs Orlando City SC!

Our pregame tailgate party is the BEST way to get you game ready. Tickets include complimentary Margaritas from Lunazul Tequila, beer from Modelo Especial, and live music from All That. Plus we’ve got all your favorite tailgate games, along with a few special surprise giveaways throughout the afternoon.

The Atlanta Sport and Social Club tailgate is a 21+ event. RSVP required for entry. RSVP HERE!

FOOD BY DESIGN EVENT SERIES 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/1/19

PONCE CITY MARKET TEAMS UP WITH MUSEUM OF DESIGN ATLANTA TO PRESENT FOOD BY DESIGN EVENT SERIES

Series Will Feature Talks with Leading Designers, Local Chefs & Farmers & Cover Food, Design, Urban Agriculture & More

Atlanta’s iconic Ponce City Market is collaborating with Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) to present Food by Design, an upcoming series of events and panel discussions covering food, urban agriculture, design, culture and more.

Food by Design will be hosted at The Plaza, Ponce City Market’s BeltLine-adjacent, glass structure. The free events will be open to the public, and all except the Dinner by Design conversation will coincide with the Ponce City Farmers Market held weekly on Tuesdays. Following Food by Design events, attendees are invited to peruse the market’s selection of locally grown produce, products from artisanal food makers and tastes from guest chefs.

Kicking off on Tuesday, May 14, the ongoing series will include:

Food for Thought: Innovation in Urban Agriculture – Tuesday, May 14 at 6pm
Join MODA and Ponce City Market for a discussion on the innovations in urban agriculture currently underway in Atlanta. Food for Thought will explore these efforts through the lens of design and innovation in order to understand how individuals and organizations are prototyping, testing and making the food system healthier, sustainable and more equitable. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy light bites, popsicles from King of Pops and complimentary “The Ivey League” cocktails made by Likewise’s Beverage Director Ben Richardson, who will incorporate local honey from three newly installed beehives at Ponce City Market. Following, Food for Thought will feature a panel of urban agriculture innovators, including:

  • Mario Cambardella, the City of Atlanta’s first Urban Agriculture Director. During the event, he will talk about the innovative projects underway by the City of Atlanta.
  • John Gordon from Friends of English Avenue Urban Farm, an urban farm on English Avenue that offers 100 percent of its food proceeds to English Avenue residents through a food co-op.
  • Nuri Icgoren, Founder of Urban Sprouts Farm, a formerly foreclosed property that’s now a flourishing farm and becoming home to an urban agricultural hub that serves as an entrepreneurial incubator for food and farming enterprises.
  • Kim Karris, Executive Director of Food Well Alliance, the organization that co-founded the Food Innovation Network for entrepreneurs, educators and community organizers using food as a transformational tool in collaboration with the Center for Civic Innovation.
  • Abiodun Henderson, Founder of the Gangstas to Growers, a program focused on empowering formerly incarcerated and at-risk youth through agriculture, employment and entrepreneurship.

Please see here to register and learn more.

Dinner by Design: A Discussion About Restaurant Design – Saturday, June 1 at 2pm
Held in conjunction with Atlanta Design Festival, Ponce City Market and MODA are bringing together some of the city’s top restaurant designers for a rapid-fire discussion on June 1 at The Plaza at Ponce City Market. Moderated by Doug Henderson, Co-owner of Switch Modern, the event will feature panelists from some of Atlanta’s leading restaurant design firms, who will talk about the role of design in creating an environment that enables and enhances the dining experience. Panelists will include John Bencich of Square Feet Studio, Smith Hanes of Smith Hanes Studio, Dan Maas of ai3, Skylar Morgan of Skylar Morgan Furniture + Design and Tim Nichols of NO Architecture.

After the discussion, attendees will be invited to visit restaurants designed by panelists and housed within Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall. Please see here to register and learn more.

Talk With Your Mouth Full: Poetry & Stories About Food – September 10 at 6pm
MODA and Ponce City Market are teaming up with Ryan J and Nate Mask, the award-winning, spoken-word artists who tour as “Nobody Likes Us, But We’re Here Anyway,” to curate a food-focused poetry slam and storytelling session. The event will highlight Atlanta poets and storytellers, and feature an open-mic portion, inviting guests to share their stories about food. Nobody Likes Us, But We’re Here Anyway have performed in over 45 cities from coast to coast. In 2018, Ryan and Nate were members of the National Poetry Slam Group Piece Champion Art Amok Slam Team, and both are members of the Art Amok and Java Slam teams. Please see here to register and learn more.

Later this year, MODA and Ponce City Market will host a special Food by Design supper club, where guests can enjoy a seated dinner and discussion highlighting diversity and inclusion in Atlanta’s food scene. Additional details to be announced.

For more information about the upcoming Food by Design series, please visit www.museumofdesign.org.