Chef Keira Moritz of Pacci Ristorante, one of the featured chefs at The Atlanta Food Rave
Here are a few upcoming food events you may want to add to your calendar!
Friday, August 27, 2010The Atlanta Food Rave, a fun evening featuring delicous food samples from some of Atlanta's hottest chefs. Cocktails will be served at a premium open bar featuring Three Olives Vodka, Leblon Chachaca, Tapena Spanish Wines, and live entertainment will round out the evening. The featured chefs for the evening are Chef Keira Moritz (Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge), Chef Lance Gummere (The Shed at Glenwood), Chef Alex Friedman (P'cheen International Bistro & Pub), Chef Delroy Bowen (GA International Convention Center) and Chef LaToya Starks (Norrish Personal Chef and Catering Services). Not only will you get to sample each featured chef's tasty offerings, you will also be judging as they compete to win the title of best chef of the evening, The Rave Review. The event will be held this Friday from 7-11 PM at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery in Midtown. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit The Atlanta Community Food Bank. Tickets are $55 per person, but quantities are limited and they will not be sold at the door. Purchase your tickets now before the event sells out! For more information, visit http://www.atlantafoodrave.com/. Purchase Tickets
Saturday, August 28, 2010 Here's a fun way to beat the heat this weekend: The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival, coming to Piedmont Park this Saturday from 1-7 PM. The event will feature live music, multiple vendors serving up delicious ice cream, food and beverages, and a Kids Zone with fun activities for the young ones. Leaving no stone unturned, the festival also will feature health and fitness activies (no doubt to burn off all the ice cream and treats you'll consume). For more information, visit the event site at http://www.atlantaicecreamfestival.com/.
Saturday, August 28, 2010 The first ever Morningside Summer Block Party happens this Saturday between 12:30-9PM in the parking lot between DBA Barbecue and The Original El Taco (1190 N. Highland Avenue at Amsterdam Ave). DBA, Vali Thai and El Taco will be serving up food, Abita beer and cocktails for purchase. There will also be a designated kids area for the young ones, and live music all day Advance tickets are only $5 ($10 at the door) and kids 14 and under are admitted free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Firehouse #19 in Virginia-Highland. Purchase Tickets
Sunday, September 5, 2010 Ohh...I think I'll be including this in my Labor Day weekend plans-The 5th annual Atlanta Carribean Jerk Festival at Panthersville Stadium in Decatur from 12 PM-11 PM. Live reggae, soca and calypso music, a jerk cook-off to crown Atlanta's next Top Jerk Chef, plus a new addition for this year's festival-a celebrity jerk cook-off! There will be tons of family friendly activities and of course plenty of delicious Carribean fare-everything from curried goat to roti! The event will also feauture a variety of fruit and craft vendors. I love Carribean cuisine, so this event is right up my alley! Admission to the event is only $10, and kids under 12 get in free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister Cities Foundation and other charities. Free parking will be available at the event. For more information, visit the event site at http://www.atlantajerkfestival.com/
This past Wednesday I finally had the opportunity to experience a Black Tie Barbecue Secret Supper, this time in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. A little background on Black Tie: this local full service catering company is the realization of the dreams of two couples (Spencer & Allison Humphrey, Neil and LaToyin Rollins) with a love of cooking and entertaining. After experiencing job layoffs in 2009, both families made the decision to join forces and pursue their passion. Black Tie is quickly becoming an Atlanta success story and their Secret Suppers (which they hold periodically) have become quite popular. I had the pleasure of meeting both couples a few months ago while attending a food and wine "conclave" at Montaluce Winery & Estates-great people!
The location for this Cinco de Mayo themed secret supper was Relics & Rarities, an ice cream parlor/vintage car & memorabilia gallery in downtown Decatur. When I arrived, I ran into Patti Davis (a great lady and blogmistress at Anatomy of a Dinner Party) and her husband. I'd met Patti a few months prior when she hosted a macaron workshop (taught by Helen of Tartelette) in her home. We were a little bit early, so we decided to take time to look around and check out some of the restored classic cars.
The whole evening was a lot of fun. There was music, games and even a bit of comic relief. Mingling was strongly encouraged-I had the chance to meet a few new folks as well as chat with a few familiar faces who were in attendance. The dinner menu included a nice spread of grilled shrimp, pulled pork and marinated skirt steak tacos (plus a vegetarian station featuring black bean quesadillas).
Sides included some delicious grilled corn on the cob (rubbed with an herbed butter and cheese), black beans and bbq chicken nachos. Oh those nachos...I'm still daydreaming about them. I have been doing the meatless thing for the past few weeks so I didn't partake of the tacos (although I really wanted to), but I have to confess that I had a weak moment and ate a few bits of the chicken in the nachos. If the little bits I had are any indication, let's just say that I can't wait to try more of Black Tie's barbecue once my "meatless" month is over (May 21st, not that I'm counting down or anything). Everything was delicious, right down to the margaritas (my compliments to the folks behind the bar).
If you haven't attended a Black Tie Secret Supper, you should try one in the future. You'll be in for a fun evening of socializing and great food. I spoke to quite a few people on Wednesday night that have attended multiple secret suppers and keep coming back because they love the food, the service and the atmosphere. I know I'm already looking forward to the next one! Check out their website and join their mailing list to be informed of future Secret Supper events. You'll also find more information on their catering services and menus (while it's their specialty, you'll find that they aren't just about the BBQ).
In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, this particular secret supper was much less formal than usual-please check out my friend Patti's writeup of a previous Black Tie Secret Supper here at her blog Anatomy of a Dinner Party. It was a real swanky affair!
