2012 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
This past weekend we attended the second annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. Fortunately, I did not have to travel very far to attend this event. Hosted at the Loews Hotel and neighboring streets in Midtown Atlanta, this festival features the highlights and culinary heritage of Southern food and drink.

WIth Virginia Willis & Meredith Ford Goldman at the Opening Toast
While there was plenty of pulled pork, country ham, wild Georgia shrimp and bourbon (and more bourbon) to go around, these traditional Southern ingredients were often hijacked over the weekend and taken on a journey around other parts of the world as chefs added their unique spin with global influences at the Tasting Tents and theme dinners.

These two guys know how to change up the traditional Southern flavors – Matt Jamie & Chef Anthony Lamas
One such example was the dinner we attended at Cardamom Hill, Spice Route Influences. Chef Asha Gomez (Cardamom Hill) combined her specialty dishes from Kerala (which highlight this “lush coastal state of South India rich in spices, coconut, and seafood”) with guest chef George Mendes’ Portuguese influenced flavors (Aldea, NYC). At Aldea, Chef Mendes’ menu is inspired by the Iberian Peninsula. His dishes often feature shellfish, salt-cured cod, Iberian-cured hams and rice.

Thursday evening’s Spice Route Influences dinner at Cardamom Hill
This collaboration between Gomez and Mendes was complimented with cocktail pairings prepared by Mixologist Gina Chersevani from Hank’s Oyster Bar in Washington, DC. The five course dinner included dishes like House-Cured Bacalhau with Coconut Mousse, Tomato, Coriander Seeds and Leaves (Chef Mendes) paired with a Bombay 54. This cocktail was an unusual mix of Bluecoat gin, coriander, cilantro syrup, coconut and lime and paired nicely with the fish.
Keral Boatman’s Curry, prepared by Chef Gomez, was served with The Brig, a lethal combination of Ilegal Mezcal and house-made spiced ginger lemon soda. It was an interesting evening with unique dishes and cocktails infused with smoky and onion flavors. At one point, everyone at the table ordered a glass of wine for a simpler pairing with the food and a fear of the aftermath of the cocktails in the morning.

Bi-Coastal Cocktail and Early Tomato Gazpacho
Friday morning at the festival began with an opening toast to the organizers of the event, the Loews Hotel and the City of Atlanta. Next up were two class sessions followed by the Tasting Tents in the afternoon. Many of the sessions focused on all things Southern but there was a nice mix with international offerings. Cast Iron Cooking Techniques, Southern Cakes and Pies and the Fellowship of the Country Ham were just a few of the discussions about the art of Southern cooking and traditions. Then there were wine tastings with wines from the Mediterranean (Reds from the Med) and cooking sessions using Latin inspired heat and spices to create unique flavors and even a chat about Kimchi (a Korean spicy cabbage dish) and Meze, the Greek dining custom.

Cast Iron Cooking – Chef David Guas

Ryan Mullins – Reds from the Med

Reds from the Meds showed a little blush with some not so red offerings
Looks like another fun and amazing time!
I’ve noticed moonshine popping up in our local liquor stores as well. And why not, with our emphasis in food on locally grown and artisan produced?!
That looks like a wonderful time!
Beautiful photos! It was great to see you there on Friday. Can’t wait for next year!
As always, a beautifully written and photographed post, and more for me to kive vicariously through. I’ve never had moonshine, but I did toss kilos of cookies after drinking half a bottle of southen comfort when I was14, just to get drunk quickly. Moonshine would probably make pigs fly for me.
Love this post, and not just because I get to be in it. Your photos crackle and sparkle, delivering the energy and fun of that amazing and delicious weekend along with the basic images. What a treat to see you two and visit under the big top! My family decided to come down Saturday to celebrate Mother’s Day with me, so I didn’t get to catch up with you two again after all. Can’t wait to visit more, with our pals, and cook!
I never heard of a Swineatologist before and am fascinated! LOVE the photos and descriptions of every detail. Looks like it was delicious in every way. Look at you and sweet NANCIE! Just adore that lady. A reunion must be planned for the summer:)
I so wanted to go, but the timing was a little off this year. I kept watching and hoping the planets would align, but no such luck!
Oh my goodness! Look at all of those amazing dishes and drinks! I would have parked myself in front of the roasting lamb. Also, the plates from Cardamon Hill sound intriguing.
sounds really fun… i have to go next year!