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| Taste of Atlanta | |
|---|---|
| Name | Taste of Atlanta |
| Caption | Food festival in Atlanta, Georgia |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Founders | Porterhouse Media Company |
| Dates | Annually (spring) |
| Genre | Food festival |
Taste of Atlanta Taste of Atlanta is an annual culinary festival held in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), showcasing regional and national restaurants, chefs, and food artisans. The event brings together participants from the Southeastern United States, featuring demonstrations, tasting sessions, and competitions that attract visitors from United States metropolitan areas and tourism markets. Organizers collaborate with local institutions and media partners to highlight trends in dining, hospitality, and beverage culture.
The festival was founded by Porterhouse Media Company amid the 1990s expansion of city festivals, paralleling events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, and the Taste of Chicago. Early editions featured restaurants from Buckhead (Atlanta), Midtown Atlanta, and Inman Park, and it evolved alongside institutions such as the Southeastern Foodservice Expo and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. Over the decades, programming adapted in response to industry shifts exemplified by the rise of chefs associated with the James Beard Foundation, television personalities from Food Network, and culinary education at institutions like The Culinary Institute of America and Georgia State University hospitality programs.
The festival format includes tasting pavilions, chef demonstrations, and panel discussions akin to programming at the James Beard Foundation Awards and the Gourmet Magazine symposiums. Activities have incorporated wine seminars with presenters from Wine Spectator and beer tastings featuring breweries like SweetWater Brewing Company and Atlanta Brewing Company. Demonstration stages often host chefs who have appeared on Top Chef, Iron Chef, and Chopped, while masterclasses reference techniques found in works by Julia Child, Thomas Keller, and Alice Waters. Ancillary features have included live music with acts associated with venues like the Fox Theatre and pop-up collaborations with restaurants from Decatur, Georgia and Roswell, Georgia.
Notable participants have ranged from local restaurateurs to nationally recognized chefs such as alumni of The Food Network and awardees of the James Beard Foundation Awards. Past chefs and personalities connected to the festival include chefs who have worked in kitchens overseen by Eric Ripert, Gordon Ramsay, and José Andrés, and local figures from establishments tied to neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland and Old Fourth Ward. Celebrity guests have included authors and television hosts associated with Cook's Illustrated, Saveur, and Bon Appétit.
Attendance figures have mirrored trends reported by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and data compiled by regional tourism bodies, drawing tens of thousands of visitors in peak years comparable to attendance at the Atlanta Greek Festival and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Economic impact assessments cite benefits to hospitality sectors represented by the Georgia Restaurant Association and lodging measured in reports similar to those by the U.S. Travel Association. Vendor sales, sponsorship agreements with companies like Coca-Cola Company and local partners, and media exposure have contributed to restaurant bookings and culinary tourism across Atlanta and the Metro Atlanta region.
The event has been held at venues linked to the Atlanta BeltLine, outdoor spaces near Piedmont Park, and convention facilities associated with the Georgia World Congress Center depending on scale and weather. Scheduling typically aligns with spring calendars that include events such as Atlanta Dogwood Festival and the Atlanta Jazz Festival, aiming to capture peak tourism windows promoted by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. City permitting, park access policies, and collaboration with municipal departments have influenced site selection across neighborhoods like Midtown Atlanta and Downtown Atlanta.
Competitions have included people’s choice awards, chef battles, and mixology contests drawing bartenders certified by organizations like the United States Bartenders' Guild. Judging panels have incorporated critics from publications such as Atlanta Magazine, editors from Eater (website), and representatives of the James Beard Foundation. Award categories have recognized best appetizer, best entree, best dessert, and best newcomer among restaurants and food trucks comparable to honors given at the Food Truck Fest circuit and regional culinary showcases.
The festival partners with nonprofits and community organizations such as Share Our Strength, local food banks, and culinary education programs at Kennesaw State University and Atlanta Technical College to support hunger relief and workforce development. Fundraising initiatives have included charity ticket packages and silent auctions benefiting local charities like the Atlanta Community Food Bank and scholarship funds tied to hospitality training programs. Volunteer programs draw students from institutions including Emory University and Georgia State University to assist in event operations and community outreach.
Category:Food festivals in the United States Category:Culture of Atlanta