The BEST thing about Summertime in Atlanta is all of the Festivals! OMG there are so many to choose from and they cover every category that you can name! One of my favorites is the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. This Festival has it all including Master Classes, Cooking Demonstrations, Wine Tasting, Tasting Tents, Music and more.
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival 2018
I attended the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival last year and fell in love with this event. It is the biggest gathering of Southern foodies in Georgia. This is the 8th year and it just keeps getting better.
The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival was created in 2010 to shine an international spotlight on the rich food and beverage traditions of the southern US from Texas to the District of Columbia – Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Program
The entire event kicked off on Thursday, May 31st and went through June 3rd. I attended on Friday. I started off at Atlanta’s Loews Hotel just in time to sample some interesting Asian Cuisine and talk wine with some Virginia Wine Makers
My aim, however, was to head straight to the Tasting Tents. I learned last year that this was my favorite part of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. The Tasting Tents are fantastic. Imagine having access to 2 entire blocks of gourmet food, wine and other libations. I’m talking major food brands from all across the Southeast in 2 Blocks of Tents full of everything I Love!! But, alas the Tent Opening was delayed due to storms in the area. So I enjoyed a nice glass of Reisling at the hotel bar while I waited.
Once the all clear was given we were shuttled to a special area of Piedmont Park and it was time for the fun to begin! I did a quick Periscope Vid once I entered the Tents just to give my audience the lay of the land
#afwf18 #foodie #Atlantafoodwine #atlanta #piedmontpark #friyay #friday https://t.co/OMLNBXZpah
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 2, 2018
I tasted so many things that I had never had before like: a Barley Salad, Chocolate Candies with Beer infused into the caramel center, Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies and Muscadine Jelly to name a few things.
I tasted melt in your mouth Short Ribs and Sliders and baked goods and a plethora of cocktails. Starting with a Bloody Mary from Charleston Mix. I did wine shots and it was just so much that only my pictures can tell you the story.
This year even with threat of thunderstorm and extremely muddy feet it was still loads of fun (and my feet were really smooth & soft from the mud bath afterwards). The Tasting Tents include some of the regions top food and drink product makers. It was an all-you-can-indulge situation. I met so many very cool people as we sludged around from food to cocktails and back again.
There were so many Foodmakers there and I tasted so many delicious things, that it was hard to keep track of who made what. Most of what I tasted was fantastic. Here are a few of the bites.
Some of the food and drink product makers that stood out to me:
Four Roses Bourbon
Offered a drink called “True Faith”. It was smooth and minty in all the right places with Bitter Mint Syrup and Mint Sprig garnish.
Charleston Mix – The South’s #1 All Natural Bloody Mary
Middleton Made Knives
These brothers make their own Chef Knives. Their craftsmanship is incredible.
Paulk Vineyards (Paulks Pride)
They had wonderful non alcoholic Muscadine Juice & Jams
I really could go on forever with what I tasted and sipped. Once again AWFW18 pulled off a great event. I had a wonderful time exploring Southern Cuisine. I saw nothing but smiles and happy faces. I can’t wait to see what they bring to it next year and I will be sure to have my rain boots handy. As I have said many times in this article, I don’t feel like the rain “dampened” anyone’s spirits at all.
For more on Atlanta Food and Wine Festival head to the official page.
What is your favorite Atlanta Festival?
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