Foodie Events: Atlanta Food & Wine Festival 2015

 

 

It's back!  The 5th annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival kicks off today and runs through the weekend.   Taking place in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, the festival boasts a variety of interactive events and dining experiences featuring some of the top chefs, sommeliers and restaurants in the South.  You can opt for a 1 day or 3 day pass (or special Connoisseur passes for the serious 'foodie'). Participate in one of several classes throughout the weekend, enjoy the tasting tents or take in a fine dining experience during special evening dinners featuring award winning chefs such as the Rathbun Brothers, Shaun Doty (Bantam + Biddy) and more.  Festival attendees can even download a handy 2015 mobile app to view schedules, maps, purchase tickets and more.  There are several ticket and event options available to customize your festival experience. While some events have already sold out there are still other great festival events to choose from so hurry to secure your spot!   For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the event website at atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

Indulging My Sweet Tooth

I normally don't have much of a sweet tooth, but I recently indulged a bit while attending The Broke Socialite Does...Sugar Coma Festival.  The event brought some of Atlanta's best bakeries, caterers, ice cream shops and restaurants together under one roof (Le Fais do-do on Atlanta's westside).   Since I'd missed previous tours, I figured that I needed to have the full Sugar Coma experience at least once.  This was the perfect venue and opportunity to do so!

Talk about sensory overload-I didn't know where to start sampling!  The venue was jam packed with everything from cakes and pastries to truffles and tarts.  Cotton candy, petit fours, little marshmallows, brownies, and cupcakes.  Tons and tons of cupcakes.  Cupcakes as far as the eye could see...

Somehow I made my way to the Peacecake table, which is where I began my sampling.  I was really impressed with the Vegan & Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes and their Gluten Free Brownies.  Delicious stuff!  You can order their Organic, Vegan & Gluten free brownie, muffin, cupcake and cookie mixes online at their website, www.mypeacecake.com.

There were so many treats to sample and after a few I'd had my limit (I tihnk I may have suffered from Red Velvet Overload).  Among my favorites:  a mini pear frangipane tart from Konfections by Kristina,  the Whoopie Pies from West Egg Café, and a wonderfully refreshing Meyer Lemon Sorbet from High Road Craft Ice Cream and Sorbet (love!).   I'm kind of kicking myself for not sampling their Citrus Ginger sorbet (which received raves from several Sugar Coma Fest attendees).  A delicious Patrón Margarita cupcake from CEO Custom Cakes (purchased at the Sugar Coma Marketplace) was the perfect ending to a sweet afternoon.

Taste of Atlanta 2010

Blessed with a rare Saturday off, I was one of many who flocked to Tech Square for the annual Taste of Atlanta festival this weekend.  This was my first time experiencing the food fest since it moved to its current location and I had a great time.  I've never been much for huge crowds, but I was able to maneuver through the sea of festival attendees fairly easily. 

I decided at the last minute to "splurge" on a VIP ticket.  Although I missed out on the VIP swag bags (that's what I get for running late), I did enjoy some of the other perks.   Always up for a tasty cocktail, I sampled a mojito made with VeeV Acai Spirit that was absolutely fantastic. Also under the VIP tent was one of my favorite "tastes" at the event: a coconut panna cotta with Malibu rum, mango gelee and caramelized pineapple salsa served by Paces 88 American Bistro (so good that I have to admit to having a second "helping"). 

 

Scenes From Atlanta Greek Festival 2010

The baklava sundae, one of the popular treats at the Atlanta Greek Festival

We were blessed with picture perfect weather along with some fun "foodie" events around town this past weekend.  There was the first ever Battle of the Burgers on Saturday and the Field of Greens festival (a celebration of locally grown organic and sustainable produce) at Whippoorwill Hollow Farm in Walnut Grove (Savory Exposure has some great shots from the event here).  Being the cheeseburger fanatic that I am, I had planned to attend Battle of the Burgers but my work schedule forced me to miss out.  I'd forgotten that Field of Greens was scheduled for this past Sunday (I hate that I missed it!), but I was not going to let this weekend go by without getting into something.  With that in mind, I headed out to attend the final day of the Atlanta Greek Festival.

It was a fun afternoon full of great music, great live entertainment and (of course) great food.  I enjoyed hanging out with fellow festival goers at the "sports taverna" set-up,  where we were able to catch up with the Falcons and Braves games simultaneously.  But let's get back to the grub-I mean, that was the main attraction as far as I'm concerned.  A friendly lady at the concession ticket booth urged me to try the Greek potatoes and the lamb sandwich.   Since I'd had lamb earlier in the week (more on that in an upcoming post), I decided to pass on the sandwich but I did heed her advice and tried the potatoes:  deep fried wedges tossed in lemon juice, herbs and spices and served with tzatziki sauce.  I'm glad I listened to her because these were very good!  However, by the time I polished them off I was too full to partake in any more festival treats.  I wound up taking home the rest of my Greek goodies: souvlaki (juicy grilled marinated pork) and a mezze sampler which included loukaniko (sausage), tiropita (cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach & cheese pie), kalamata olives and feta cheese.  I couldn't leave a Greek fest without taking home some sweets, so I picked up baklava and melomacarona (a delicious crumbly spiced cookie soaked in honey syrup).

Melomacarona

All in all, it was a great way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon.  I don't know why it took me so long to check this festival out, but I'm already looking forward to next year. 

Foodie Events: Celebrating Ice Cream and Carribean Jerk, plus The Atlanta Food Rave

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, 2010  The 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/