Taste of Atlanta is only a couple of weeks away. This year’s food fest, held October 25 through 27 at Tech Square, features samples from more than ninety local restaurants, four stages of cooking demonstrations, a barcraft competition, and a “Taste Revival” kickoff event hosted by Ron Eyester of Rosebud, the Family Dog, and Timone’s.
Friday night kickoff
Titled “Local Chefs, Smokin’ Jams,” Taste Revival tickets cost $70 (or $95 for a V.I.P. ticket) and include live music by Parker Smith and the Bandwith, as well as musically inspired eats created by chefs like Ford Fry, Drew Belline, and Shaun Doty. The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. (or 6:30 p.m. for V.I.P.), and the proceeds benefit Georgia Organics. Read on for a glimpse at what they’ll be serving and why.
Steven Satterfield of Miller Union
• Grilled Hakurei turnips, cippolini onions, Benton’s bacon, and wilted turnip greens
• Inspired by “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple
Adam Evans of the Optimist
• Octopus and smoked chicken thigh skewers
• Inspired by “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow
• Tandoori chicken with coconut braised collards
• Inspired by “I’m No Angel” by Gregg Allman
Keith Schroeder of High Road Craft
• Smoked sugar sweet potato, vanilla fleur de sel ice cream, mascarpone mousse, candied bacon, and thyme brittle
• Inspired by “Johnny Appleseed” by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
The main event
Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for V.I.P) Tech Square will be filled with booths offering samples from restaurants like Ocean Prime, Chai Pani, and the Spence. These “tastes” can be purchased for one to three tickets, depending on the offering. The $30 (or $40 at the door) admission cost includes ten tickets, and additional tickets are available for $1 each. The $75 (or $85 at the door) V.I.P. ticket price includes access to beer, wine, and cocktail tastings. Tastes served will include:
1 Kept
• Grilled pork tenderloin, Logan Turnpike Mills grits, broccolini, cherry orange compote, and garlic jus
• Deviled quail eggs with bacon jam
Buttermilk Kitchen
• Fried Egg BLT with pickled green onions and lemon mayonnaise
The Family Dog
• Braised Springer Mountain chicken chili
King Duke
• Merguez sausage, cheese curd, roasted chiles, and dates
• Smoked Cotechino, fall squash and spicy greens
One Flew South
• Seared lamb sausage with German-style potato salad and shallots
Rosebud
• Tempura eggplant chips with curry ketchup and feta
