Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is my frenemy.
It knocks me down, and still I come back for more.
It’s not just the wine talking though! Â Its the food. Â It’s #strangebutgood, it’s perfectly executed, it’s stuff you’ve never imagined… it’s the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.
Here is just a fraction of the goodness we sampled over 3 days.  Some of it I couldn’t slow down enough to photograph.  I can’t even believe there is so much fabulousness in the world.
1. Smoke Fried Chicken with Sriracha Syrup & Bacon Cornbread from One Hot Mama’s in Hilton Head, SC
2. Frito Pie (brisket chili, cheese, and Fritos… it’s oddly delicious) from Fox Bros. BBQ in Atlanta
3. Sesame Lamb Ribs from Bacon Bros. Public House in Greenville, SC (best ribs of the weekend!)
4. Wine penis… I know it had a more proper name, but that’s all I can remember 😉
5. Brisket, mustard seed deliciousness, sweet chili, and a brush of mustard from Smoke in Dallas, TX
6. Tamale in a mini-skillet (so cute, but I can’t remember who did it!)
7. Artichoke Tabbouleh with sprouted chickpea & lentils from Metropole in Cincinnati, OH
1. Duck Fat Caramels from Olive & Sinclair
2. Dill Pickle Chicken Rinds (which we dubbed “chicken bacon”) with Pimento Cheese from Proof on Main in Louisville, KY
3. Crostini with whipped PORK BUTTER and Meyer lemon sea salt from Cured in San Antonio, TX
4. Bourbon Nib Brittle from Olive & Sinclair
5. (Vegan)Â Peach Slider, Raspberry Sprinkle, and Maple Bourbon Buttermilk doughnuts from Revolution Doughnuts in Atlanta
6. Indian Pancakes from Chai Pani in Atlanta and Asheville
7. Frozen Milk Custard with beets and a cookies crumble (I wish I could remember who made this because it was incredible!)
8. Naked Pig Beer from Back Forty Beer (best pale ale I’ve ever had)
9. Banana Pudding. Â Just yum.
The last pic is from Sunday morning’s “Rise & Shine” class.  Aaron Deal, Executive Chef at The River and Rail in Roanoke VA, and Lionel Vatinet, Master Baker & Owner at La Farm Bakery in Cary NC, led the class.  Deal prepped Croque Madame while Vatinet gave us bread making tips.  I was closer to the egg so I missed a lot of the bread… but I didn’t miss the lesson of the day from Vatinet (even funnier in his thick French accent):
What’s the difference between Croque Monsieur and Croque Madam?  Madame has TWO eggs.
Tee hee. 😉
The egg on the Madame was a quail egg. Â The quail farmer was there to help crack the eggs! Â They had a special scissor tool that helped to shell them. Â I didn’t realize it, but quail eggs are thicker than regular eggs. Â If you don’t have the special tool, you’ll need to cut around the top with a sharp knife to open it.
Another learning was about getting the eggs out of the pan.  Deal used a small cookie cutter to remove and plate the perfect orbs of #yolkporn glory.
I have to praise the tender house-made ham and the impossibly light, airy goat chevre.  It was a texture party with the egg and Vatinet’s lightly toasted bread.  Vatinet also brought his white chocolate bread.  If you ever get the chance to taste it… run, do not walk.  It is one of the best breads I’ve ever had.Â
So… I know I said on last week’s WIAW post that after my Swiss vacation gluttony I’d be back on track… but you understand why I had to go rogue again.  Next week, I swear! 😉
Check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!
***
Blend is just 2 days away!!! Â Who’s going?
Do you have a frenemy?
Have you ever had a quail egg?
You are my frenemy. Remember? And also just told meg earlier Im going to try my hardest to catch you all via skype so say hi!
Now as for these eats- even I’m getting #strangebutgood creativity running in my head
May 15-17, 2015. Be there.
I could not and would not touch any of this food with a ten foot pole, BUT…. My nose would get IT ONNNNNN (raunchy style) with ALL OF THE SMELLS at the Food & Wine Fest!!!
**And can you do me a favor… Print out a picture of my face, stick it on a STICK and carry it around with you at Blend?!?!?! CAUSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!
Next year you have to come. Lucie is too!!!
I WANT IT ALL!
Whoa!!!! Food overload! My belly is oddly hungry and full all at the same time.
Welcome to my world!
Oh wow – peach sliders, raspberry sprinkle, and maple bourbon buttermilk doughnuts, Indian Pancakes and Frozen Milk Custard with beets and a cookies crumble – holy moly – just wow!!!
Apparently I need to check out revolution donuts and Chani Pani!
For sure! Indian people even love it!
Oh wow, that looks absolutely amazing! Glad you got to enjoy it. Are you going to Blend again? Have an awesome time! I hope to join you all next year.
I think you had a good excuse to miss this year… but we better see you in Boulder!!!
Wine penis sounds delicious. 🙂
#twss
Wow looks like lots of fun. My husband would love all of that food. I’m usually ok at those things bc I am a vegetarian so not as much temptation. Except chocolate I like chocolate
It would be tough as a vegetarian, but not impossible. Wine is vegetarian – haha! Revolution even had a vegan doughnut!
I can’t even handle so much deliciousness in one post, I don’t even know where to start. Maybe with the whipped pork butter?! That sounds amazing.
I will see you TOMORROW! 😀
It was surprisingly good! I wish I could have brought a jar to Blend!
EAT ALL THE FOOD!!!! You would have to roll me out of there a happy woman! 🙂
Not going to BLEND this year, and I am sooooo sad about that!
Come next year!!!
I think events like this are so cool for introducing new flavors, ingredients, dishes. Sometimes being a vegetarian does have a few drawbacks – unless it’s a vegetarian festival 😉
Ahhhh food coma just looking at all that deliciousness! I think the Croque Madame would be an amazing breakfast right this second. I’ve had a quail eggs before, topped on a fancy dish at a restaurant… I didn’t know they were that hard to open, interesting. Have fun at Blend!
It was fantastic – I was so full but I had to finish it!
OMG I am so jealous!! That all looks like so much fun!!
Wow this all looks amazing! And now I’m super hungry!
I’m still full. LOL!
Mmm…quail egg. On tartar. Yum! See YOU tomorrow! 🙂
Oh, I want to go to a Food and Wine Festival!!! And, that eecard at the beginning is so funny – love it!
Wow. I would have to try everything. That is why I do horrible at festivals because I feel like I need to try it ALL and boy does it all look amazing.
It’s important to bring a friend so you can split everything… but you’ll still be stuffed.
Chocolate has become my frenemy- I just can’t stay away!
Is that festival the same time every year? Because I could probably totally plan a mini-weekend getaway next summer (you may just have to beg Mark to loosen the purse strings).
Yep! You should totally come. Ask for a ticket for your birthday!
OMG I need to do that hahah!!! That looks amazing the food lol! I will actually be seeing you at Blend yay!! I’m a non blogger going & am so excited!! Not excited about this early flight haha 😉
It was so nice to meet you!
I always love seeing pictures from food festivals.. I feel like it keeps me up to date on what is going on in the foodie world! The picture that stuck out the most to me was the one of the donuts! They look so bright and delicious 🙂
I got distracted by the wine penis and saw nothing else. I can’t help it, and the man catching it all in his mouth is incredible. Next year, I want to see you getting your wine penis on.
Oh, I did. There just weren’t pics. 😉