Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

Saturday, May 30, 2015

What better way to start off a Saturday morning than by sitting in on a discussion about pairing hand crafted cocktails with chocolates? Follow that up with discussions on South African wines, barbeque, healthy Italian options, trash fish, insects and truffles, and so much more.

The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival was held over the weekend and tons of foodies, myself included, came out in droves to learn and taste all that there was to offer. Chefs, brewers, wine connoisseurs, cocktail crafters, master babequers, fisherman from all over the nation were in Atlanta to share their knowledge and their passion with those in attendance. It was a wonderful way to start off the weekend!

Emma Blumstein (left) and Mark Gockowski try a sampling of cocktails and chocolates during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Emma Blumstein (left) and Mark Gockowski try a sampling of cocktails and chocolates during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chloe Johansen (right) and Spencer Applegate listen to Bartholomew Broadbent speak before tasting their first sample of wine during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chloe Johansen (right) and Spencer Applegate listen to Bartholomew Broadbent speak before tasting their first sample of wine during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Avarita Hanson (right) and William Alexander sniff their first wine sample during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Avarita Hanson (right) and William Alexander sniff their first wine sample during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Orchid Paulmeier (left) slices brisket during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Orchid Paulmeier (left) slices brisket during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Dena Marino speaks about her career after demonstrating how to prepare freshly sourced ingredients to cook healthier Italian dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Dena Marino speaks about her career after demonstrating how to prepare freshly sourced ingredients to cook healthier Italian dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

An Italian inspired dish created by Dena Marino during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

An Italian inspired dish created by Dena Marino during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Chris Lilly stirs a pot of gumbo during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Chris Lilly stirs a pot of gumbo during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Chris Lilly (left) speaks with Mary Lehner after finishing his demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Chris Lilly (left) speaks with Mary Lehner after finishing his demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Matt Bolus (center) puts together his samples of biscuits with ham and whiskey jam with the help of Shelly Peterson (right) and Kay Mshinda during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chef Matt Bolus (center) puts together his samples of biscuits with ham and whiskey jam with the help of Shelly Peterson (right) and Kay Mshinda during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

A crowd of people enjoy the sunshine outside on the balcony in between sessions during the Atlanta Food &; Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

A crowd of people enjoy the sunshine outside on the balcony in between sessions during the Atlanta Food &; Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

A dish filled with different species of seafood that was once considered worthless sits in front of a crowd of people before the start of the Trash Fish: A Chef's Treasure demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

A dish filled with different species of seafood that was once considered worthless sits in front of a crowd of people before the start of the Trash Fish: A Chef’s Treasure demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

PJ Stoops (left), and chefs Kevin Johnson and Bryan Caswell talk about what was once considered worthless fish during Trash Fish: A Chef's Treasure demonstration at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

PJ Stoops (left), and chefs Kevin Johnson and Bryan Caswell talk about what was once considered worthless fish during Trash Fish: A Chef’s Treasure demonstration at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

One of the plates served in the Trash Fish: A Chef's Treasure demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

One of the plates served in the Trash Fish: A Chef’s Treasure demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Jason Ham (left) and his wife Leslie try chocolates infused with crushed grasshopper while sitting in on the Bugs & Chocolate demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Jason Ham (left) and his wife Leslie try chocolates infused with crushed grasshopper while sitting in on the Bugs & Chocolate demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chocolates, created by Nicole Patel, include ingredients such as meal worms (bottom), grasshopper (left) and crickets (right two) in the Bugs & Chocolate demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Chocolates, created by Nicole Patel, include ingredients such as meal worms (bottom), grasshopper (left) and crickets (right two) in the Bugs & Chocolate demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Greg Vanker (left) tries a sampling of beer as he, Lauryn Shabanowitz and others sit in on The Rebel Brewer demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Greg Vanker (left) tries a sampling of beer as he, Lauryn Shabanowitz and others sit in on The Rebel Brewer demonstration during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown on Saturday, May 30, 2015.