2016 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

Sunday, June 5, 2016

The mecca for foodies in the city each year is the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. This year I got to hang out at the Lowe’s Hotel and Piedmont Park on Sunday for brunch, tasting tents, samples of delicious cocktails and food, music and even a pop up vineyard.

If you enjoy the Atlanta food and restaurant scene then you should definitely check it out next year!

Kevin Gillespie (right) laughs with Kevin Rathbun before brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Kevin Gillespie (right) laughs with Kevin Rathbun before brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chef Kevin Rathbun prepares his beef in a dude rag as a part of brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chef Kevin Rathbun prepares his beef in a dude rag as a part of brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Champagne is served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Champagne is served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Revolution donuts are served as part of brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Revolution donuts are served as part of brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The Charlie Wooton Project play at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The Charlie Wooton Project play at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

People wait for brunch with cocktails in hand during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

People wait for brunch with cocktails in hand during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Bloody Marys are concocted as people gather for brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Bloody Marys are concocted as people gather for brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Blueberry topped mini pancakes are prepped to be served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Blueberry topped mini pancakes are prepped to be served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

One of the dishes served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday is fried quail in a Tennessee hot chicken style with a jalapeno cheddar biscuit and dill pickles.

One of the dishes served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday is fried quail in a Tennessee hot chicken style with a jalapeno cheddar biscuit and dill pickles.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs prep their brunch dishes during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chef Kevin Gillespie explains the rules of brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chef Kevin Gillespie explains the rules of brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Cocktails and food at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Cocktails and food at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs explain their dishes as they pass them out at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday

Chefs explain their dishes as they pass them out at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday

All sorts of yummy dishes are served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

All sorts of yummy dishes are served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs explain their dishes as they pass them out at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday

Chefs explain their dishes as they pass them out at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday

All sorts of yummy dishes are served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

All sorts of yummy dishes are served at brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Volunteers help serve brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Volunteers help serve brunch during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The crew at Virgil Kaine squeeze lemons at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The crew at Virgil Kaine squeeze lemons at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The line for the tasting tents in Piedmont Park starts to wrap around the sidewalk during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The line for the tasting tents in Piedmont Park starts to wrap around the sidewalk during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The Lowe's Hotel chefs prep their take on an octopus po boy at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The Lowe’s Hotel chefs prep their take on an oyster po boy at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Octopus sliders at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Octopus sliders at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The guys at Farm Burger prep their decimal place goat cheese grit cakes at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The guys at Farm Burger prep their decimal place goat cheese grit cakes at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Photo: Jonathan Phillips    Smoked trout sliders at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Smoked trout sliders at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Grabbing a bite to eat at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Grabbing a bite to eat at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Guests make their own plates at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Guests make their own plates at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Thousands of people invade Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Thousands of people invade Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The crew from Fourth Ward Distillery pour drinks at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The crew from Fourth Ward Distillery pour drinks at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

People come to White Oak Pastures' table to try the grub at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

People come to White Oak Pastures’ table to try the grub at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Seafood R'evolution's Payton Warren scoops out a Mississippi styled seafood gumbo at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Seafood R’evolution’s Payton Warren scoops out a Mississippi styled seafood gumbo at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Toasting to good times with Cathead cocktails at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Toasting to good times with Cathead cocktails at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Strawberry summer salad from the chefs at Wind Creek Casino and Resort at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Strawberry summer salad from the chefs at Wind Creek Casino and Resort at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Hollandaise sauce covers crab stuffed eggs at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Hollandaise sauce covers crab stuffed eggs at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

A little fire to give the right feel to the crab stuffed eggs at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

A little fire to give the right feel to the crab stuffed eggs at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

It's not all food at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday. Take a taste of Bullet Bourbon.

It’s not all food at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday. Take a taste of Bullet Bourbon.

Steel drum music is the perfect backdrop at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Steel drum music is the perfect backdrop at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Grilling chicken at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Grilling chicken at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs scoop out spoonfuls of paella out of a giant skillet at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs scoop out spoonfuls of paella out of a giant skillet at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Truffles from French Broad Chocolates sit on display at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Truffles from French Broad Chocolates sit on display at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs make food for the masses at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs make food for the masses at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs make food for the masses at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

Chefs make food for the masses at the tasting tents in Piedmont Park during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The pop up vineyard at 14th St. in Atlanta as part of the 2016 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The pop up vineyard at 14th St. in Atlanta as part of the 2016 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The pop up vineyard at 14th St. in Atlanta as part of the 2016 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.

The pop up vineyard at 14th St. in Atlanta as part of the 2016 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sunday.