By Elizabeth Montgomery
Ever wanted to learn how to blend wine to create your own personal bottle? Or how to cook the perfect steak? All your questions could be answered at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. Back for its fourth year, the event welcomes the community to wine, dine and learn May 29-June 1.
Inspired by the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, co-founders Dominique Love and Elizabeth Feichter brought the festival to the South to showcase Southern talent and cuisine.
“The South is the driving force of American food trends,” Love said. “We want to spread the gospel of Southern food and drink.”
Love and Feichter said they have a vision to inspire foodies from all parts of the region to come, “eat, drink and explore.”
Tasting tents
Relocated to Peachtree Walk between 12th and 13th streets, tasting tents this year will include food, wine and spirits spanning from Texas to the District of Columbia, along with international flavors. Taste the South’s best barbecue, bourbon, breakfast, pork, seafood, snacks and cheeses under tents and in seating areas while enjoying live music.
International wines from Spain, Puerto Rico, France, Australia, Mexico and Chile will be available for tasting. Craft beer tastings include Highland Brewing Co. in North Carolina, Three Taverns in Georgia and Starr Hill in Virginia. Southern spirits from Tito’s Handmade Vodka out of Texas, Belle Organics in Georgia, and Southern Comfort out of Louisiana will be available; ID is required for all alcoholic beverages.
The South reigns supreme in barbecue. TripAdvisor named Georgia, North Carolina and Texas as the top three states for barbecue in America earlier this month. Chefs from 14 of the South’s barbecue restaurants will take part in the tent tastings throughout the weekend, including Georgia’s own Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and SMOKE out of Texas.
Dinner events
May 29 kicks off the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival with the “pig out” coastal-style party at JCT Kitchen & Bar, 1198 Howell Mill Road. Enjoy an oyster roast and fish fry prepared by 13 Southern chefs, beach-inspired drinks and music. Dinner served at 7:30 p.m.
On the nights of May 30 and May 31, the Food & Wine Festival will celebrate a day of tent tastings and culinary classes with dinner events.
On May 30, a unique festival dinner takes place at the Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road. Dine on a meal of Southern tradition and inspiration from 31 chefs including “Top Chef” contender Kevin Gillespie, who opened his new restaurant, Gunshow, last May. Dishes include sausage-stuffed Manchester farm quail and duck andouille gumbo. Dinner served at 7:30 p.m.
Dinner will be located at a private residence the night of May 31, with the address provided after ticket purchase. Blackberry Farm — Tennessee's luxury hotel, spa and brewery — will honor three Southern chefs while providing a decadent dinner prepared by Joseph Lenn, Blackberry Farm's James Beard Award-winning chef. Allan Benton of Benton's Country Hams in Tennessee, Jennifer Perkins of Looking Glass Creamery in North Carolina and Jason Shaw of Georgia Olive Farms will be honored. Dinner served at 7 p.m.
Special event
On May 31, Kevin and Kent Rathbun, owners of Atlanta restaurants KR SteakBar, Rathbun's, Krog Bar and Kevin Rathbun Steak, will cook alongside 10 chefs from across the region. The event will be held at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, 349 Peachtree Hills Ave., beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $85 per person.
Culinary classes
Chefs of the South showcase their skills to the public starting at 10 a.m. each day at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, 1065 Peachtree St. Over the course of the weekend, 100 culinary classes and demonstrations will be held — ranging from how to barbecue crab, to distilling bourbon, to the health benefits of eating raw chocolate, to wine blending.
EVENT PREVIEW
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, May 29-June 1
Southern chef classes and demonstrations
Loews Atlanta Hotel, 1065 Peachtree St.
1-2:30 p.m. May 30
10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 31
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. June 1
Tasting tents
Peachtree Walk between 12th and 13th streets
3-6 p.m. May 30
2-5 p.m. May 31
1:30-4:30 p.m. June 1
Tickets
Single-day tickets start at $185 and three-day passes start at $525.
VIP “Connoisseur” tickets are also available.
Tasting tent tickets are $100.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com in advance, or during the event at the welcome center located at the corner of Juniper and 11th streets adjacent to the Loews Atlanta Hotel.
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