It’s crunch time. You have to make a dining decision to impress a hot date, an important colleague or your notoriously picky family. You’re taking all the factors in consideration and suddenly, you’re stuck, You can’t think past fast food, much less of a place that your guests might actually like.
That’s why you have to check out the Taste of Atlanta. The festival is not only an incredibly enjoyable experience but also a way to research area restaurants. And by research, we mean a chance to sample as much food as your appetite (or budget) allows. With more than 70 participating restaurants, there’s something to please even the most finicky eaters. In fact, you should be able to impress your friends and family with this event alone.
Taste of Atlanta takes place Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 at Atlantic Station. Admission, which includes ten taste coupons, is $25 in advance and $35 at the gate. VIP tickets are $75 in advance and $95 at the gate and include 20 taste coupons, as well as admission to the Wine Experience at the Twelve Hotel and to Bowling and Brews at Ten Pin Alley.
At the festival, restaurants offer tastes for one, two or three coupons. Additional coupons cost $1.
Here are ten reasons you absolutely must attend the Taste of Atlanta:
1. See exactly why the event has been ranked among the top 20 festivals by the Southeast Tourism Society and the reasons it’s considered one of the country’s best food fests.
2. Make a list and check it twice. We’re not talking about who’s naughty and nice but rather which restaurant booths you’ll want to make a beeline for. The participating eateries range from Artistry to Zaya and it pays to plan ahead when deciding which ones you’ll want to try.
3. Even if you live OTP (we know, it happens), you’ll still want to come to Taste of Atlanta. As you already know, the suburbs are home to notable restaurants, too, such as Garrison’s Broiler and Tap at John’s Creek and Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament at Discover Mills.
4. Find restaurants to fulfill all your food fantasies, from down-home barbecue from Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q to cuisine from around the world served up by places such as Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante, Geisha House, Imperial Fez, Mediterranean Grill, Rosa Mexicano, Sal Grosso Brazilian Steakhouse, Taverna Plaka and the Tenth Thai Cuisine and Lounge.
5. Discover the neighborhood favorites that local residents may have been keeping a secret, like The Feed Store in College Park and Six Feet Under Pub, which has locations in Grant Park and on the Westside.
6. Get inspired by the live cooking demonstrations. While the chefs aren’t going to cover the basics like boiling water (you’re on your own for that one), they will provide how-tos that even neophytes can understand.
7. Check out celebrity chef Trisha Yearwood, who will take the stage with her mother and sister to prepare recipes from her cookbook, “Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen."
8. True foodies might rather catch up with “Top Chef” finalist Richard Blais, who will bring his culinary creativity to the festival. Expected the unexpected from this local favorite.
9. There’s no way you’ll strike out during Bowling and Brews at Ten Pin Alley because beer and bowling is always a winning combination. Only the VIP tickets include admission this event, but it should be well worth your hard-earned cash. You’ll have the chance to sample a variety of brews and learn more about beer from host Matt Simpson, a beer sommelier and managing editor of TheBeerCellar.com.
10. If you prefer wine, head over to the Wine Experience at the Twelve Hotel, which is also part of VIP admission. Sipping on wine and taking in one of the educational seminars are perfect ways to relax after a busy afternoon of tasting some of best of Atlanta cuisine.
Oct. 11-12 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Atlantic Station
Admission is $25 in advance and $35 at the gate. VIP admission is $75 in advance and $95 at the gate and includes entrance to Bowling and Brews and the Wine Experience.
