NEWS: Atlanta Food Happenings-October 2016 Edition

[From Emily at Melissa Libby PR]

GEORGIA CHAPTER OF NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY HOSTS
THIRD ANNUAL HARVEST FOR A CURE EVENT ON OCT. 20 
Gourmet Food and Wine Gala Unites Discerning Tastes with Giving Hearts
to Benefit MS Research

ATLANTA– On Thursday, Oct. 20, the third annual Harvest for a Cure will take place at Mason Fine Art to benefit the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, an organization that supports research to help treat and end MS globally. Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors, attendees will experience an extravaganza of gourmet food, vintage wines and a luxury raffle in an effort to reach a goal of $500,000 raised to fund critical research initiatives and advocate for change.

This one-of-a-kind evening features 17 of Atlanta’s most talented chefs and 18 sommeliers and mixologists working together to pair culinary creations with wines from the personal cellars of top local wine collectors. Each food station is paired with a private wine collection, and guests sample delicious food and beverages while surrounded by stunning contemporary art.

 “The great thing about Harvest for a Cure is that it’s an event that people living with MS can actually enjoy,” says John Carlos, president and chief operating officer of National Distributing Company and longtime supporter of the National MS Society. “It’s exciting to see all the chefs and volunteers coming together to help while also creating such an elegant food and wine experience for attendees.”
Carlos, who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 28, and his wife Elaine are both on the board of trustees for the National MS Society and have been involved in Harvest for a Cure since its inception in 2014. Like Carlos, Harvest for a Cure chef chair Gerry Klaskala has a personal connection to the cause: his lifelong friend Mike has struggled with MS since the age of 27.

 “Over the years, Mike’s mobility has diminished little by little,” says Klaskala. “To talk to him, though, you’d think he just won the lottery.  He has that kind of positive attitude. The more I’ve spoken to people about this event, the more I’ve discovered just how many people’s lives are touched by MS. They’ve got a cousin or a friend or a brother who struggles with the disease. My wish is for researchers to find that MS cure in Mike's lifetime.”

Roy A. Rangel, president of the Georgia Chapter of the National MS Society, agrees. “Harvest for a Cure is a celebration of hope that we will soon be a world free of MS. We have made several enhancements to this year’s event, such as a high-end raffle and a digital experience that our guests and supporters are really going to enjoy,” he says. 

In order to reach the half-million goal in fundraising, this year’s Harvest for a Cure features an extravagant raffle. A new digital experience includes a MS Wine Event App, whereby attendees can access event details and raffle item information. Additionally, Alpharetta-based IT company Convergent is providing digital signage throughout the event and at each food station.

Participating chefs and pastry chefs include:

• Gerry Klaskala, Aria
• Kathryn King, Aria
• Chris Grossman, Atlas
• Carla Tomasko, Bacchanalia
• Matthew Basford, Canoe
• Landon Thompson, Cooks & Soldiers
• Todd Ginsberg, The General Muir
• EJ Hodgkinson, King + Duke
• Pano Karatassos, Kyma
• Chris Hall, Local Three
• Derek Dollar, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails
• Jay Swift, Noble Fin
• Ian Winslade, Paces & Vine
• Kevin Rathbun, Rathbun’s
• Matt Swickerath, Valenza
• Zeb Stevenson, Watershed
• Todd Richards, White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails

Sommeliers and Mixologists include:

• Andrés Loaiza, Aria
• Caleb Hopkins, Atlas
• Andrew Harris, Bacchanalia
• Jordan Smelt, Cakes & Ale
• Matt Bradford, Canoe and Canoe’s Cellar Door
• Silvio Garcia, Cherokee Town & Country Club
• Nick Quinones, Cooks & Soldiers
• Eric Crane, Empire Distributors
• Mercedes O’ Brien, Gunshow
• Miles Macquarrie, Kimball House
• Kristine Lassor, National Distributing Company
• Adrianne Keremes, O-Ku
• Perrine Prieur, Perrine’s Wine Shop
• Michael O’Connor, Quality Wine & Spirits
• Linda Torres, The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead
• Sarah Pierre, The Shed and 3 Parks Wine Shop
• Phillip Cooper, Vin25
• Joon Lim, Vine Vault

All funds raised during Harvest for a Cure help improve the lives of people living with MS by sponsoring local programs and services and accelerating worldwide research projects to help put an end to the debilitating disease. Mason Fine Art is located at 415 Plasters Avenue in Atlanta. For additional information, visit www.mswineevent.org.

About Multiple Sclerosis:
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and the body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving closer to a world free of MS. Learn more at nationalmssociety.org.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter:
The National MS Society helps people affected by MS through a 50-state network of chapters. The Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education, and provides programs and services that address challenges of individuals and families living with MS, helping them move forward in their lives. The Georgia Chapter helps improve the lives of people living with MS by raising millions of dollars annually through annual fundraising events including Bike MS, Walk MS and The Harvest for the Cure event. For more information or to learn how to help end the disabling disease of MS, please visit MSgeorgia.org.

[From Morgan at Melissa Libby PR]

TIN LIZZY’S CANTINA TO OPEN IN EAST COBB IN OCTOBER

Atlanta’s Favorite Cantina to Bring FlexMex Flavor to The Avenue East Cobb in October

ATLANTA– Atlanta-based Tin Lizzy’s Cantina continues to grow across the metro area. Tin Lizzy’s plans to bring its lively atmosphere, chilled margaritas and famous FlexMex cuisine to The Avenue East Cobb in October.

This marks Tin Lizzy’s 13th location overall, following the recent successful launch of two South Carolina outposts in Columbia and Greenville. Tin Lizzy’s is already well-known as the No. 1 spot for fun food, fresh flavors and specialty cocktails, with nine existing locations throughout metro Atlanta and one in Augusta, Georgia.

Tin Lizzy’s is actively looking to hire experienced local managers and dedicated employees to work in the new location. Qualified candidates are encouraged to visit tinlizzyscantina.com/work.html for more information and send resumes to Colleen Spahr at colleen@tinlizzyscantina.com.

About Tin Lizzy’s Cantina
Tin Lizzy’s Cantina offers delicious FlexMex cuisine. For the unfamiliar, FlexMex resembles Tex-Mex, but is comprised and influenced by many cultures, and is also an attitude or experience that evokes a feeling of belonging and pure awesomeness. Known for fun food with unique flavors, the Atlanta-born and -based restaurant and bar serves more than 25 soft tacos, quesadillas, specialty skillets and more. Diners can customize their meal with a variety of fresh ingredients and enjoy one of the many specialty margaritas or cocktails from the bar. For more information about Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, visit tinlizzyscantina.com.

[From Emily at Melissa Libby PR]

DON’T MISS OUT ON TASTE OF ATLANTA
Tickets Going Fast for 15th Annual Food Festival Featuring Celebrity Chefs,
Can’t-Miss Demonstrations and More, Oct. 21-23

ATLANTA– Anticipation is building for the 15th annual Taste of Atlanta, taking place Oct. 21-23in Midtown at Tech Square. The city’s essential food festival is marking this milestone anniversary in style, with celebrity chef appearances, dynamic demos, a kickoff party on Friday night and a VIP Grand Tasting Experience featuring a top-notch selection of craft beers, cocktails and wines—not to mention craveable creations from more than 90 of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants.

Single-day general admission tickets are $25, and the VIP Grand Tasting Experience is $75. Tickets to the all-inclusive Friday night kickoff party are $65 general admission and $80 VIP. Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets now at Freshtix.com/TasteofAtlanta before prices increase on Friday, Oct. 7, or before they sell out. Guests who purchase early receive the added convenience of having their RFID wristbands delivered in the mail, allowing food lovers to easily add additional Taste Points ahead of time and breeze through the entrance on festival days.

One of the biggest draws over the weekend will be the main food stages, where two of Atlanta’s most popular celebrity chefs are holding court. On Saturday, Tregaye Fraser hits the Kitchen Workshop stage to share her culinary journey as the winner of the most recent season of “Food Network Star” and newest co-host for the upcoming season of Food Network’s talk show “The Kitchen Sink.” On Sunday, Atlanta native G. Garvin will divulge tips, techniques and tastes on the Chef’s Table stage. Garvin is an acclaimed cookbook author and James Beard nominee for Outstanding Personality/Host known for his shows “Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin,” “G. Garvin: The Road Tour” and “Georgia Roadtrip with G. Garvin.” 

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome back G. Garvin to Taste of Atlanta,” says founder and CEO Dale DeSena. “His enthusiasm for the Atlanta food scene is infectious, and he goes above and beyond to give festivalgoers a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Fraser and Garvin top a list of essential events that includes:

• A barcraft competition in which mixologists vie for the title of Best Bartender
• A celebration of local, seasonal flavors with chef Nick Melvin of Venkman’s and Royal Food Service
• Hands-on cooking tutorials at no extra cost by local chefs at the Kitchen Workshop
• Grilling demonstrations on the Big Green Egg Grilling Stage, hosted by Francine Bryson and “Fatman” Kevin Jenkins of “Chef and the Fatman”
• A foodie extravaganza silent auction benefitting Open Hand, which provides comprehensive nutrition care for those dealing with chronic conditions

Taste of Atlanta’s Friday night kickoff party benefits Georgia Organics and features drool-worthy bites from the likes of St. Cecilia, O-Ku, Hampton + Hudson and 20 other top restaurants. The good times roll through the weekend with tasting opportunities from over 90 hometown favorites including Bellwoods Social House, Desta Ethiopian Kitchen, The Pig & The Pearl and more. For the ultimate in ATL bites and bevs, the VIP Grand Tasting Experience grants exclusive access to even more restaurants, including King + Duke and Southern Art and Bourbon Bar, as well as the most extensive selection of more than 180 craft beers and wines from Three Taverns Brewery, Orpheus Brewing, SweetWater Brewing Company, Monday Night Brewing, New Belgium and many more, curated by the local experts at Hop City.

More details on the festival continue to be released. In the meantime, visit TasteofAtlanta.com, follow updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and sign up for the fun, foodie Bite of News newsletter to discover all the exciting news as it is announced.

[From Lauren at Phase 3 MC]

Seventh Annual Sunday Supper South Brings Together Female Chefs to Benefit the James Beard Foundation

 Culinary elite collaborate for “Witches of Eastwick” themed dinner hosted by renowned chefs

Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison

ATLANTA– American novelist John Updike once said, “Wickedness was like food: once you got started it was hard to stop.” Guests will indulge that inner wickedness on Sunday, October 30, with the return of Sunday Supper South, the annual family style supper celebrating the distinct flavors of the South and benefitting the James Beard Foundation. The seventh annual event will transcend years past as the culinary roster will celebrate an award-winning line-up of female chefs. In the true spirit of the season and furthering the theme of female comradery, the dinner will conjure inspiration from The Witches of Eastwick, the classic film based upon John Updike’s novel of the same name.

Revered hosts, executive chef-owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison, will welcome the female line-up of James Beard award-winning chefs, nominees and semifinalists to Ponce City Market, and together they will create a one-of-a-kind dining experience, honoring the essence of Southern flavor and cuisine. 

Sunday Supper South acts as a philanthropic platform of the emerging Southern culinary community and provides support to the James Beard Foundation Scholarship Fund, in addition to local and regional nonprofits that champion access to healthy food options and education on nutritional choices.

The event draws inspiration from the successful “Sunday Supper” tradition established by Chelsea Market in New York City and symbolizes the south’s commitment to shaping communities. Guests will gather around large, communal tables under the historic building’s original train trestle to share a family style meal representing the rich, culinary, all-female talents of the south. Funds for Sunday Supper South directly benefit the James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program as well as local and regional culinary nonprofits.

Chefs Quatrano and Harrison, the acclaimed duo behind Atlanta’s contemporary culinary destinations Bacchanalia, Floataway Café, Star Provisions, Little Bacch and W.H. Stiles Fish Camp, will be joined by Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall chefs as well as their own family of acclaimed chefs to serve as the host chef team: 

• Zibaa Sammander, Star Provisions, Atlanta, Ga.
• Carla Tomasko, Bacchanalia, Atlanta, Ga.
• Evelyn Ling, Bacchanalia, Atlanta, Ga.
• Eaksuree Poonsiripukdeekul, W.H. Stiles Fish Camp, Atlanta, Ga.
• Stella Dillard, Star Provisions, Atlanta, Ga.
• Yesenia Justiniano, Floataway Café, Atlanta, Ga.

The distinguished group of award-winning female guest chefs will include:

·         Savannah Haseler, Twain's Brewpub & Billiards, Comet Pub & Lanes, Decatur, Ga. 
·         Erika Council, Southern Soufflé, Atlanta, Ga.
·         Rebekah Turshen, City House, Nashville, Tenn.
·         Cheryl Day, Back in the Day Bakery, Savannah, Ga.
·         Asha Gomez, Spice to Table, Atlanta, Ga.
·         Whitney Otawka, Greyfield Inn, Cumberland Island, Ga.
·         Kathleen Blake, The Rusty Spoon, Orlando, Fla.

·         Hilary White, The Hil, A Restaurant at Serenbe, Atlanta, Ga.

The site for the seventh annual Sunday Supper South, Ponce City Market is a historic mixed-use community hub focused on artisanal food, fashion, residential lofts and unconventional office space. Ponce City Market combines 259 residential flats with approximately 550,000 square feet of Class-A loft office space and 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants including the Central Food Hall, which is home to established chefs and emerging new talent from across the country.

Sunday Supper South will be held on Sunday, October 30, beginning with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a seated dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $250 for James Beard Foundation members and $275 for non-members. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call 404.365.0410, ext. 22, or visitwww.sundaysuppersouth.com.

[From Emily at Melissa Libby PR]

[From Morgan at Melissa Libby PR]

GET INTO THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT AT THESE ATLANTA RESTAUR”HAUNTS”

Spooky Specials and Creepy Contests Highlight October Offerings

ATLANTA-Atlanta’s most bewitching bars and restaurants are getting into the Halloween spirit. Whether you’re looking for a creepy costume contest, frightfully good food or some spellbinding seasonal drink specials, these horrifying hotspots are serving up plenty of tempting treats.

Midtown/Virginia-Highland

With its arresting neo-Victorian décor and chef-driven modern American menu, 5Church Atlanta is the perfect spot for a Halloween weekend party. Enjoy plenty of both on Saturday, Oct. 29 starting at 10 p.m. as 5Church hosts a costume contest with a $500 prize. DJ Black Box Disco will keep the joint jumping. Admission and valet parking are free. 404-400-3669; 5churchatlanta.com.

Atkins Park Restaurant and Bar in Virginia-Highland offers a full lineup of events. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, any child in costume at dinner receives a free kids’ meal. Thursday, Oct. 27 brings the annual pumpkin carving contest, with scary movies playing on TVs throughout the bar. As if that weren’t chilling enough, each participant receives a complimentary Pumking beer from Southern Tier Brewing, and the staff will tap a special cellared keg of Southern Tier’s Warlock imperial stout. Registration starts at 9 p.m. with festivities beginning at 10 p.m. Pumpkins are limited, so make sure you arrive early. On Saturday, Oct. 29, DJ Lion hosts and performs at Atkins Park’s annual Halloween party and welcomes the Halloween in the Highlands pub crawl with a complimentary shot for each crawler. Halloween night on Oct. 31 brings a costume contest with a $500 cash prize. 404-876-7249; atkinspark.com.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, Hand in Hand hosts a Halloween pumpkin carving party beginning at 8 p.m. with KBS from Founders Brewing Co. on tap. On Saturday, the Virginia-Highland area’s quintessential neighborhood tavern and restaurant greets the Halloween in the Highlands pub crawl with a complimentary shot for participants. 404-872-1001; thehandinhand.com.

All Halloween weekend (Friday through Monday), HOBNOB offers food and drink specials including the “Mold and Mildew” appetizer (duck nachos with corn tortillas, date and fig jam, Havarti cheese and tomato pesto, $12), the “Murderous Meatloaf” entrée (with basil mashers, tomato and red pepper relish and Bloody Mary sauce, $14), a pumpkin spice cheesecake dessert ($6) and pumpkin ale beer specials. There’s also a “Night of the Drinking Dead” Halloween party on Sunday, Oct. 30 with a live DJ and a costume contest with fun prizes. Event starts at 7 p.m. 404-968-2288; hobnobatlanta.com.

Buckhead/Sandy Springs

Wander over to Gypsy Kitchen on Saturday, Oct. 29, for a free “Day of the Dead”-themed bash featuring shocking drink specials (including $5 El Jimador pumpkin spice margaritas), a live DJ and an out-of-this-world costume contest. Starts at 9 p.m. 404-939-9840; gypsykitchenatl.com.

There’s nothing scarier than missing out on the annual Halloween party at Johnny’s Hideaway, which takes place on Thursday, Oct. 27. Buckhead’s favorite happening haunt will once again feature a costume party with $500 in prizes. 404-233-8026; johnnyshideaway.com.

The Southern Gentleman invites you to come dressed as your favorite bloodsucker for its vampire costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 29. Rub elbows with Draculas or “Twilight” characters while enjoying complimentary blood punch, grab bags and screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” from 5-9 p.m. and “Interview With the Vampire” at 9 p.m. 404-939-9845; thesoutherngentlemanatl.com.

Multiple Locations

Marlow’s Tavern is serving Gourd Vibrations, a devilishly delicious chocolate pumpkin porter from Gate City Brewing, as a perfect complement to its menu of classic sandwiches, salads, burgers and entrées. Available at Marlow’s Avalon, East Cobb, Northlake, Roswell, Sandy Plains, Woodstock and Vinings locations. Availability is limited, so call your local tavern for more information. marlowstavern.com.

Bring your little ghouls and boys to Willy's Mexicana Grill from Saturday, Oct. 29 through Monday, Oct. 31 for a special Halloween treat. Kids 12 and under who show up in costume will receive a free kids’ combo with each adult entrée purchase. Valid for one per child per adult entrée. This offer is good at all locations except the airport. willys.com.

If you'd like to invite Bella Vivere to cover & share your restaurant's media events, tastings or parties, feel free to shoot me an email at bellavivere {at} gmail {dot} com-Thanks!