The sign says “The end is near.”
While the Rapture never took place, this weekend I died and went to food heaven.
The first (hopefully annual!) Atlanta Food & Wine Festival ran from Friday until Sunday. My friends weren’t into going, so I decided to go it alone. In the end, I am SO glad I did.
Doing things alone really forces you to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Which I did – lots of very cool fellow food and wine lovers.
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Day 1
Friday night I glammed it up to attend a party at The W Hotel called “Break the Rules.”
Pre-event, hoping someone will talk to me
The food was created by Nathan Lippy and his team. Nathan is an up-and-coming chef and video blogger from FLA. He, his wife, and sister were nice, down-to-earth, fun people. They even let this loaner tag along with them through the tasting tents! 🙂
Everything was delish AND I found people to hang with, no problemo.
Check out his blog here. Nate has some out-of-the-box food and media ideas. He also hosts the world’s first interactive cooking show!
My Top 3 dishes of the night:
1. Cereal Milk Pana Cotta – Nate’s pana cotta was flavored with cereal. And yes, it tasted like cereal milk. In a good way.
Check out the serving tray!
2. Beer-Battered Fried Pineapple with Avocado Chipotle Cream – This one was my favorite, mostly for the spicy avocado cream (you know I’m a sucker for spicy food). The serving tray method added to the cool factor.
She let me have seconds
3. Bacon, Fried Bananas, and Vanilla Ice Cream with Maple-Rum Sauce – Sweet, salty… need I say more?!
Bacon. It’s not just for breakfast.
There was SO much to taste, but I somehow managed. I’d like to thank my 5-mile morning run and my second stomach.
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Day 2
Saturday the Foodster group trekked out to Wonderland Farms where we hung out with the owners, Sheldon Fleming and Deborah Summerville.
These two are in incredible pair – it is so rare to met people so passionate about their work. Wonderland Gardens is located in a lower-income area of Atlanta where obesity and related diseases are prevalent. Sheldon and Deborah bring in local youth and adults to educate them on nutrition and wellness. They even offer hands-on education!
Speaking of hands-on… I farmed! Sort of. We tilled the land, planted a few veggies and herbs, and even braided garlic. I couldn’t use a camera while farming, but Nate came by to take some pics (check out his FaceBook page for more shots!).
Talking with Sheldon
Then it was lunchtime. We feasted on BBQ courtesy of Nathan Lippy and the guys at Community Q BBQ (1361 Clairmont Rd. Decatur, GA, 404-633-2080). The group was also treated to cold beers and a brief education from Atlanta’s own Sweetwater Brewery.
@BBQGeek makin’ ribs
The summer pea salad was my favorite side
Dried cherry slaw, summer peas, marinated cucs, hedge hog mushrooms, a rib (they still creep me out), and smoked chicken.
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As if that wasn’t enough, I hauled it back into the city just in time to take part in a Sommelier Roundtable.
Buuuutttt… I have to get on a plane, so more on that (and some awesome, affordable wine suggestions for you!), as well as the tasting tent extravaganza tomorrow.
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I’ll never hesitate to go to an event alone again – I had the BEST time this weekend!
Would/have you ever gone to an event alone? How about dinner or a movie?
Yum! I want to try everything you mentioned. You look hawt in your dress lady!
I was sooo happy to hear about all the fun you had this weekend, and it was awesome getting to meet you(what a crazy way that happened!). “Hoping someone will talk to me” Ha! That’s just funny. Who wouldn’t?! I’ll second Alayna’s last comment, you’re gorgeous! Those eyes…..aye carumba!
I am SO happy you are going it alone…I find that especially with things like that, you end up being surrounded by people who are there because they have the same interests, so at least you have that common ground to spring a conversation from!
Cereal Panna Cotta and Bacon + Bananas + Maple is giving me ALL sorts of ideas right now…
I wish I could be there to go to these events with you!
As for doing other stuff alone, I have been to the movies alone quite a few times…and I’ve thought about going out to eat by myself. I think it would be a good way to really focus on my meal. I don’t really have any qualms about what other people think (I don’t think!) but perhaps that would be a good social experiment?
How fun! Great job glamming it up – love the outfit!
I bet those ribs went well with Sweetwater 420 or their Sweet Georgia Brown. That brewery hosts and attends a lot of fun events.
Even my veggie self finds all that food to look delish!
And yes, I’ve been to a movie (once) and dinner( multiple times when I travelled for work) by myself . Kinda weird at first, but it gets better… 🙂 Have a good one!
Wow.. I love both of the serving ideas for the food on day one. That skirt.. hilarious. I think I would be super nervous that I would fall.. and lsoe EVERY last bit of food. Knowing me..and my lack of coordination.. it would likely happen too!
We did check out her shoes – they let her wear flats. I would have busted a$$ in heels!
What a foodie weekend! I like going out of my comfort zone and doing things alone sometimes, it really can be a fun experience! I LOVE your dress and your hair!
The serving tray …er girl (LOL!) was so creative as well as the pana cotta.. mmm!
So jealous of your foodie experiences! And I LOVE that outfit!
You are super gorgeous!! Love the dress and shoes!!!
Sounds like a great time filled with yummy food!!
I would go alone to an event if it was something I had been dying to do 🙂
You’re so sweet! And hi-larious. I would go to any event with you. 🙂
What a great event! If I wanted to go somewhere I’d go even if it were alone. Glad you had a wonderful time 😀
Wow. Looks like a ton of fun. I think the summer pea salad would have been my favorite too! Right up my flavor alley.
It was so nice meeting you in our pop up store this weekend. You were so passionate about your food (even though you don’t look like you could possibly have room for it in your tiny body). We were all so jealous that we couldn’t go to the festival. Next year we will definitely close the shop on Saturday and spend all day Sunday there. I hope they extend the hours that the tents are open.
As for going alone, don’t ever miss anything because you can’t find someone to go with. Before you know it you will miss out on life if you do. Some of the best people I ever met were when I ventured out alone.
Lisa! It was great meeting you too. Your jewelry is amazing – I was telling my sister all about it. Hope to see you again soon!
Drooling…
ummmm can we hang out? so flipping cool!!!!! I love the first two serving methods from the tasting and am kind of curious to see more of your pix from the event!
and HOLY SMOKES GIRL! THAT DRESS!!!! You look awesome =)
Let’s DO hang out. 🙂 Food and Wine Fest in Cayman? LOL!
You look great in that dress! Glad you had such a good time. Let me know if you end up doing any volunteering at Wonderland Farms like you were talking about. I’d be interested in doing that too.
Will do! I’m planning to give them a call when I get back in town.
Um, you are the cutest. You look so adorable in your little black dress! And what a fun time! I would’ve eaten myself into an oblivion there!
You’re too sweet! 🙂