Tag Archive for: gather round

GATHER ‘ROUND FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/12/22

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Taste the Soul of the South at the Second Annual Festival, Created to Celebrate
Southern Food, Drink, Music, and Art

                                 

 It’s time to eat, drink and dance your way through Atlanta’s top culinary and drink offerings. Gather ‘round, the food, drink, music, and art festival that debuted last fall, is returning for its second year this September, from Thursday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 2. The four-day festival will be held in Atlanta’s west side at select locations of Lincoln Property Company’s Echo Street West including Westside Motor Lounge, Guardian Works and Guardian Studios, with each day packed with food, drink and culture, and proceeds benefiting organizations Speed Rack and Giving Kitchen.

Founded by Southern Culinary & Creative, Gather ‘round is a 4-day event full of intimate and collaborative food, drink, music, and art experiences. With music having a high seat at the table this year, guests are invited to gather and experience some of the South’s top culinary talent, along with artisans and creators of all kinds, through taste and sound. Proceeds from the weekend will benefit Speed Rack, a bartending competition aimed at empowering women in the bar industry, with funds raised being given to Giving Kitchen, the non-profit partner that provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources, on their behalf.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring back Gather ‘round to the Atlanta community this year,” said Elizabeth Feichter, co-founder of Southern Culinary & Creative. “We’ve worked closely with the South’s most creative culinary talent to put together a delicious weekend attendees will be talking about for years to come. From experiencing Atlanta’s pop-up culture and tempting your taste buds with Southern brewers while swaying to sounds that define the South to experiencing intimate, curated dinners and dancing the last day away on the Westside at a disco day party, there’s something for everyone. We can’t wait for you to Gather ‘round with us once again.”

Throughout each day, Gather ‘round has curated events that guests are invited to take part in. From the opening party on Thursday to dinners, drink tastings, seminars and music on Friday and Saturday, to the closing disco day party celebration on Sunday, there’s something for every Southern lover. Details on each day are below.

Thursday, Sept. 29: Soul of the South
Held at Guardian Works at Echo Street West from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., this kickoff party is not to be missed. Soul of the South will feature a showcase of Atlanta’s hottest concepts from the pop-up scene curated in partnership with Punk Foodie, a tasting experience with the region’s top breweries, a cocktail and DJ pairing exploring the classic cocktails and musical genres that define the South, and an art exhibition by Guardian Studios also at Echo Street West. With over 35 stations of food and drink, the night will be full of delicious offerings for all. This event is $100 per ticket and includes unlimited food, drink, music, and art, with a full line-up and details here.

Friday, Sept. 30 & Saturday, Oct. 1: Sound & Flavor Dinner Series
A collaborative dinner series blending sound and flavor.

El Ponce’s Cena de Remezclas, (Remix Dinner), held at La Palapa at El Ponce, will be a journey of sound and flavor, with ingredients remixed to highlight tastes that will delight and inspire a delicious evening. This creative, flavorful meal will find you dancing the night away after filling your bellies as you sway to the best of DJ Rasta Root and go on a journey through the rich history of Mexican cuisine, along with a spirits selection curated by local bottle shop Elemental Spirits Co. – Friday, Sept. 30. More details can be found here.

Nicks Westside: Music Meets Food dinner, hosted by Nick Leahy and featuring chefs Duane Nutter of Southern National and Bruce Moffett of Moffett Restaurant Group, will dazzle your taste buds with a curated menu and sounds from each chef’s hometown. The inspired multi-course lineup will showcase their favorite music from the South and will be paired with a cocktail and/or wine selection to compliment the evening. Tickets are $125 per person and all-inclusive. – Friday, Sept. 30. Details and tickets located here.

One Flew the Coop, a dinner hosted by Chef Cedric McCroery (One Flew South) and featuring Chef Demetrius Brown (Heritage Super Club), Chef Allen Suh (One Flew South), and Arield Powell & Ray Samson (Bar Vegan), will take guests on a culinary journey inspired by the Blues music of the Mississippi Delta. The creative Sound + Flavor dinner will offer an immersive food and beverage experience paired with the introspective, soulful blues music that pays homage to the land that brought this passionate and fiery music to life. The interactive evening will kick off with a welcome cocktail and passed bites created by each chef, followed by a four-course, seated menu. Tickets are $125 per person and all-inclusive. – Saturday, Oct. 1. Additional information can be found here.

South Got Something to Say, held at Westside Motor Lounge at Echo Street West, will feature an incredible lineup of award-winning chefs and barkeeps as they create an unforgettable 10-course meal paired with cocktails, wine and beer. With an all-star roster from across the South, including Brittany Anderson of Richmond, VA, Ferrell Alvarez of Tampa, FL, Michael Gulotta of New Orleans, LA, Rebecca Masson of Houston, TX, Erika Moore and Raquel Ravenell of Atlanta, GA, and J’Nai Williamson of New Orleans, LA, the evening will be a living example of the profound influence the South has had on food, drink, music, and culture. Along with the inspired meal, the evenings will celebrate the diverse culture of the South and soundtracks that define it, from jazz, blues, soul, funk, country, and rock and roll. Tickets are $125 per person and all-inclusive. – Saturday, Oct. 1. Additional information here

Saturday, Oct. 1: Behind the Bar
Cocktail lovers unite. Behind the Bar, held at Westside Motor Lounge, includes tastings and technique masterclasses with premium spirit partners and top-shelf talent, including Kellie Thorn, Keyatta Mincey Parker, Lynnette Marrero, Meaghan Dorman, Tiffanie Barriere and more. Six beverage seminars and masterclasses will take place over three sessions. Topics include Cocktails + Confections, Throw It Back Y’all: Retro Cocktails, Get Low to Get Down: Low ABV, Everything That Sparkles: Mixing with Bubbles, The Soulful Spirits of Latin America, and The History of the Cocktail According to Gin. Session intermissions will include additional tasting opportunities, light bites, and shuffleboard and music from the expansive Westside Motor Lounge courtyard. A $125 ticket includes three sessions and is all-inclusive. Find more details here.

Sunday, Oct. 2: Apermoutho: A Disco Day Party
Closing out the Festival will be Apermoutho, an unforgettable disco day party from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Westside Motor Lounge and features the nationally recognized Speed Rack bartending competition. A $100 ticket includes unlimited light bites, Low ABC cocktails, natural wines and light drinking beer and a soulful disco soundtrack. The spectator-friendly Speed Rack competition is one of the most influential and community-connecting programs in the field and is aimed at empowering women in the bar industry. The weekend will come to a close with the crowning of the Atlanta bartender champ on this first of four regional tour stops. To purchase tickets, visit here.

Gather ‘round presenting sponsors are PNC and Lincoln Property Co., with many more organizations also sponsoring. For more details and tickets for this unforgettable weekend, head here. Interviews and photography are available upon request.

GATHER ROUND ATLANTA 2021

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/28/21

Thursday, October 14 to Sunday, October 17

Epicurean Hotel and all over Atlanta

Gather ‘round, a celebration of Southern food, drink, music and art is launching ticket sales on Friday, July 16 for its inaugural weekend in Midtown Atlanta, October 14 – 17th, 2021. Curated and produced by Southern Culinary & Creative, the four-day festival brings together the best of the region with 60+ talent, offering guests a chance to meet and eat with the South’s most prestigious chefs, beverage experts, artists, makers and entertainers.

“With a dedication to supporting the community and giving back to the people and places who nourish us, Gather ‘round is proud to champion the Atlanta-based hospitality organization Giving Kitchen as a beneficiary of the event and a primary nonprofit partner of Epicurean Atlanta. We wanted to curate an experience that encapsulates the full spectrum of culinary and creative interests in the community, and we’re working closely with some of the South’s top chefs, beverage experts and artists to bring this delicious adventure to life,” says Southern Culinary & Creative Partner Elizabeth Feichter. “We look forward to welcoming culinary enthusiasts for years to come, as Gather ‘round flourishes into an annual event cherished by the community.”

The soon-to-open Epicurean Atlanta, as the Presenting Sponsor, will play host to Gather ‘round. With a laser focus on delivering an authentic culinary experience to every guest, Epicurean Atlanta is the perfect venue for this celebration with its state-of-the-art Epicurean Theatre, 178-guest rooms and suites, and 1-acre rooftop events lawn. Epicurean Atlanta and its executive chef Ewart Wardhaugh are thrilled to collaborate with talent from its sister properties for the weekend including the team from Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, FL with chefs Habteab Hamde, Carlise Lopez, and Hannah Thomas and Wine Director Eric Renaud, as well as chefs Adam Hyatt (Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, Epicurean Hotel, Tampa, FL), Chad Johnson and beverage manager Chris Belk (Haven, Tampa, FL).

Award-winning talent that call the region home will be featured throughout the weekend’s lineup including Ferrell Alvarez (Rooster & the Till, Nebraska Mini Mart, Gallito Taqueria, Tampa, FL), Brittanny Anderson (Brenner Pass, Metzger Bar And Butchery, Black Lodge, Leni, Richmond, VA), Cory Bahr (Parish, Monroe, LA), Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar, Houston, TX), Gerald Sombright (Knife & Spoon, Orlando, FL), Shuai Wang (Jackrabbit Filly, North Charleston, SC), and more.  In addition, Atlanta’s very own Justin & Jonathan Fox (Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q), Tiffanie Barriere (The Drinking Coach), Miles Macquarrie (Watchman’s, Kimball House), Claudia Martinez (Miller Union), Craig Richards (Lyla Lila), and Maricela Vega (Chicomecoatl) among many other local favorites will guarantee Gather ‘round will delight and inspire guests throughout the weekend’s events.

SIGNATURE EVENTS

Gather ‘round will feature four signature events held throughout the weekend inviting guests to break bread as Southern makers, artisans and creators of deliciousness bring their craft to life.  Each of the four signature events will be fully immersive, as the space, culinary offerings and details are woven thoughtfully together to tell stories of the South and deliver guests epicurean discoveries by the forkful. On Thursday evening, Awaken Your Senses will delight the palate with unforgettable dishes and beverage pairings to awaken the Epicurean adventure ahead.  On Friday, Tomorrow’s Table will offer modern takes on both Southern cuisine and craft, featuring rising and well-known talent from around the region with beautifully presented dishes, libations, paired wines, and engaging artistic performances and installations curated by the Hambidge Creative Arts Center. Sip will spotlight the bond between music and drinks, complete with the perfect bite to pair, celebrating classic Southern cocktails and curated Soundtracks playing to the musical culture of the South as guests enjoy a tasty Saturday night. To close out the weekend, Punch Brunch will toast to Sundays in the South with the ever-beloved and large-format concept of the Southern punch.  Combined with savory and sweet comfort food for this seated brunch service, we will top off this indulgent morning with a soulful Southern musical performance and delicious pastry bites featuring chefs from around the region while enjoying beautiful views from the Sky Terrace event lawn at the Epicurean.

EPICUREAN THEATRE MASTER CLASSES

Presented by The Local Palate, this entertaining, educational kick-off series of five interactive, deeply immersive seminars will take place throughout the weekend, acting as a forum for open discussion on a wide range of topics. Learn the latest in sustainability from two Gulf-seasoned chefs, explore the iconic dishes of Buford Highway, or taste the nuances of natural wine with these latest topics and trends in food media. Guests are sure to leave inspired and satiated with each delectable discovery.

TAKE COVER: A COLLABORATIVE DINNER SERIES

In this collaborative dinner series, award-winning guest talent from around the South will gather in Atlanta’s top restaurants to create unexpected collaborative menus, featuring dishes inspired by multiple cuisines and visiting talent’s culinary personas.  Each multi-course meal, complete with beverage pairings, promises a culinary cover guests won’t want to miss.  Among the experiences, get ready to join the Fox Bros. as they work alongside visiting chefs Ming Pu and Shuai Wang to interpret Asian flavors into Southern smoked favorites or partake in a music-to-your-mouth journey of European flavors during Craig Richards collaboration with Chrysta Poulos and recent Top Chef participant, Brittanny Anderson.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting GatherRoundATL.com. Gather ‘round weekend rates are also available at Epicurean Atlanta and can be reserved here. For a full list of Gather ‘round talent, please follow the link here.

The well-being of patrons, sponsors, team members and talent is the event’s top priority. In preparation for Gather ‘round, the team will continue to closely monitor health and safety updates and recommendations from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health as related to the pandemic and any other potential health risks to stay aware of. The team will evolve and adapt as needed to ensure the health and safety for all involved and will ensure the set up and guest and talent experience for the event is maintained at the highest standards.