Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Tasting, Tasting 1-2

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Saturday and Sunday I visited the tasting tents at the Food and Wine Festival.  I miiiight have snuck in Saturday… shhhh!

The gates of heaven

The food was all good, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more variety.

There’s only so much fried chicken and BBQ I can consume.

Indian-Spiced Fried Chicken and Waffles = worth it

An exception to the “too much fried” rule is the above Indian-Spiced Fried Chicken and Waffles by Asha Gomez of Spice Route Supper Club.  I have GOT to check out one of her events ASAP.  Rumor has it she may be looking for a restaurant space…

Celeb Highlight: I got to meet Chef Norman Van Aken (the father of fusion… I shook his hand!).

Food Highlight: The beer, cheeses, and desserts (duh).

Best beer – New Heaven

The cheese spread (pun intended)

Coming to Whole Foods ATL soon!

I wish I’d done a better job remembering to photograph… there’s was just so much to eat! 🙂

My favorites beer/cheese/dessert:

  • Wild Heaven Craft Beers – I’d had these before, but Invocation and Ode to Mercy are the two brews offered by this new Decatur, GA-based brewery.  If you find them, drink them immediately.  It’s the best new beer I’ve tasted in a long time.
  • Sweet Grass Dairy’s Truffled Chevre – Decadently delicious.  There’s no other way to describe this.  Need proof?  They are complete OUT for the season.  🙁
  • The Hungry Peach’s Peach Cobbler Cupcake – Moist, flavorful, light… dignity is the only thing that kept me from devouring their whole display
  • High Road Craft Ice Cream – Every flavor was good (I shamelessly sampled everything), but if I had to cheese I’d say don’t miss the Caffeine Cacao and the French Toast (JUST like your mamma’s… in ice cream-form).  Good news for Georgian’s – they are coming soon to Whole Foods!  #godblesswholefoods

I had a great time hanging out with 2 new friends on Saturday and the Lippy crew on Sunday.  (Nathan’s wife, Chelsee = coolest chick ever.)

Me and Nathan Lippy. Our hair matches a little.

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If you ever wonder if your “clean” way of eating really makes a difference, eat like I did all weekend.  Monday I woke up feeling like crap.  Too.  Much.  Rich.  Food.

I seriously almost hurled during the flight to my client meeting.

At least it was better than it would have been: I ran 5 miles Saturday morning, took an hour walk that afternoon, played 2 ball games Sunday morning, and then ran 3.5 miles.  I should re-name this blog Run-Eat-Repeat. 🙂

I’m trying to mini-detox this week.  It’s not working so well since I’ve been traveling, but I’m definitely eating much cleaner than I did this weekend!  Monday I drank my breakfast (not in a noon-game tailgating way) before rushing to the airport:

Some days, you just need a green smoothie.  This was one of those days.

I did my P90X Ab Ripper X (best ab workout ever, btw), followed by my 75 push-ups (are you doing yours?!).  Then chugged enjoyed this refreshing smoothie.

Mango-Almond Smoothie

  • 1/2 champagne mango
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 C fresh spinach
  • 1 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1 tsp Maca
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • water (adjust to desired consistency)

Put it in a blender.  Pour into glass.  Top with your favorite crunchy treat (I love this low-sugar citrus-granola).  

Drink up!

***

More like what I gorged on this weekend… but whatever… 🙂

Even though we’re already mid-week, this may be a timely discussion question given the upcoming long weekend…

How do you detox after a weekend of indulgence?

Nectar of the Gods

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Saturday afternoon I had the opportunity to attend a Sommelier Roundtable at the Food & Wine Festival.  Special thanks to my new friend, Corinne, for helping me make that choice!

 

A Sommelier is a wine professional.  A certified sommelier must take courses and pass exams to earn the formal title.  There are 4 levels of certifications, the highest level being Master Sommelier.  Only 180 people have ever earned the title of Master.

Participants in the Sommelier Roundtable included:

 

The session was attended by yet another Master Sommelier, Andrea Robinson.  She is one of 15 women to have been appointed a Master Sommelier.

Needless to say, I was starstruck.  Thankfully, they were serving wine.

Ready to taste

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So what did we taste?

1. Rose Brut

Name: Alfred Gratien Brut Rose Champagne

Notes: This champagne (Did you know that to be called a “champagne,” the wine must originate from the Champagne region of France?  Otherwise, it’s just sparkling wine) was pleasantly crisp, lots of strawberries and raspberries on the nose, some minerals, tiny bubbles and a deliciously yeast-y finish (think fresh breakfast rolls).

Price: ~$70

My Rating (1-5): 4.0

2. Lebanese Red Wine

 

Name: 2001 Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar, Red

Notes: An interesting blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, and Cinsault from Lebanon (who knew they made wine in Lebanon?!).  It was extremely dark in color.  Heavy on the nose, strong woodsy/licorice taste with a nice spice at the beginning.  It packed a surprisinglysmooth finish… though I thought it died a bit too soon.

Price: ~$30

My Rating (1-5): 3.0

 

3. Syrah

Name: 2006 Joubert-Tradauw Syrah

Notes: Intoxicating coffee scent.  Hints of plum as the wine opened up.  Long, smooth, cocoa-filled finish.  Complex layers, not one to sip on a hot day.  Would love to drink with a fillet or dark chocolate.  This bottle will definitely impress at a dinner party!

Price: ~$20

My Rating (1-5): 4.5

4. Sherry

 

Name: Lustau Dry Oloroso Don Nuno Sherry

Notes: I’m not a big sherry drinker, but this changed my mind.  Caramel with a hint of burnt orange on the nose.  More citrus at the beginning, then the caramel intensifies and some nuttiness is apparent.  Well-balanced flavors, toasted nut flavor on the end.  Unlike many sherries, there is no overpowering alcohol taste.  We were given an almond to eat as we tasted – this made the flavor really pop and left me dreaming of enjoying a glass with a simple chocolate-hazelnut tart.

Price: ~$28

My Rating: 4.2

 

Can you guess which sommelier chose which wine?

  1. Rose Brut – Heath Porter
  2. Lebanese Red – Clint Sloan
  3. Syrah – Steven Satterfield
  4. Sherry – Virginia Phillip

 

All of the wines were so different – it’s hard to choose a favorite.  This will not be the last time I have that Syrah though!  Or the sherry.

If you are interested in learning more about Sommeliers, click here.

***

I am carving wine after this post.  Which means it’s past time to hit the gym.  🙂  Tasting tent recap tomorrow!

Are you a wine drinker?  What’s your favorite region/grape… or other beverage?

 

 

Food Heaven

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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.

***

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?

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