2012 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
Friday afternoon provided the first opportunity to get a glimpse of the Tasting Tents and other festival participants and sponsors. There was a nice flow and number of people that afternoon. We enjoyed creative bites prepared by several chefs and restaurants, in addition to the more traditional barbecue and fried chicken. There was also what seemed an endless supply of wine, bourbon and other spirits, including moonshine, which has roots in Appalachia and the north Georgia mountains. Craft cocktails are definitely the “in” thing right now and there were plenty to go around.
Saturday afternoon brought on the crowds as everyone headed to the Tasting Tents following the morning sessions. We enjoyed a few nibbles and a local brew or two and then welcomed the air conditioning at the Loews Hotel just in time for the Southern Cocktail Hour and cocktail throwdown, emceed by Chef Edward Lee (Louisville, KY).
We enjoyed a little bit of our own tour of Atlanta that evening with Chef Anthony Lamas (Louisville, KY) and one of his cooks from Seviche, A Latin Restaurant, Tina. After hitting a few of our local favorites (Local Three, Canoe and our own wine cellar), we enjoyed a relatively low key evening before the last day of the festival.
Sunday brought the rains but apparently not dampened spirits as the Tweets continued from the final day of the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival. The event’s second successful year was retired at a closing party in the Westside Provisions District at Abattoir, Bacchanalia and JCT Kitchen & Bar.
Still recovering from the festivities in New York the prior weekend, I chose to stay home on Sunday and do some much needed catching up. I enjoyed the two days we attended the festival. It was enough time to get a real feel for the event, attend a few sessions and experience many of the chef’s creations along with the various wines and spirits offered.
I have one suggestion for the festival organizers. It would be nice to have a larger venue for the Tasting Tents next year. With the continued success of the festival and positive press coverage from this year’s event, visitors will come in even greater numbers to Atlanta next year. On the second day, Saturday, I thought it was too crowded to really enjoy the tents with the large number of people in attendance. I heard a number of people make the same comment. That’s just my humble opinion.
If you are in Atlanta next year for the festival, I would suggest a pass for a day or two and attending a few of the special events for a good perspective of what the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival has to offer.
Disclosure – We were guests of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at these events. I was not paid to write any posts and the opinions expressed are my own.
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!