Welcome to the Charc Tank. Hear a tale of two butchers that begins with a farmer. Many people have no idea how an animal gets from the pasture to the plate, and Southern chefs are reviving the lost art of butchery. In this seminar, participants will develop an understanding (and hopefully, appreciation) of culinary butchery from beginning to end and enjoy charcuterie at its finest.
Aperitifs, an important part of many European dining traditions, are appetite-stimulating beverages that are sipped before a meal – like an alcoholic appetizer. Light, clean and crisp, they are designed to prepare the palate for the meal without being overwhelming or sedating. American drinkers have likely sampled the European aperitif in the form of a Martini, Ameircano, Manhattan or Negroni. During this class, participants will taste and appreciate a variety of aperitifs, while learning their purpose and history in Southern culinary traditions.
While the art of making cocktails is often heralded, the science is often overlooked. Temperature, diffusion and dilution are all important terminology in this seminar. Known for innovation and exciting flavor profiles, William Grant & Sons has a reputation for their revolutionary style and attention to the smaller details, including the what, why, and how of making a great cocktail. Cocktail master and brand ambassador Navarro Carr will give participants a behind-the-scenes look into the world of mixology. Make sure you brush up on your Periodic Table knowledge, because it’s gonna get pretty scientific.
Common questions asked of the cocktail lover: Shaken or stirred? Single or double? Neat or on the rocks? This tasting seminar continues the cocktail tailoring and will ask participants a simple question: “Goat or Sheep?” To the delight of Southern cheese fans, two experts in their craft will lead guests through an exploration of the expansive world of cheese, cocktails, and the pairings of the two.
It’s the Spirit of the Gods, yet often overlooked in terms of its use in cocktails. During pre-Prohibition times this grape-based spirit was the base for many a punch, sour, and many of our contemporary whiskey-based drinks (even mint juleps!). In this tasting seminar lead by an expert on the subject, guests will explore the world of cognac - what it is, where it went, and why it should be included in everyone's drinking repertoire.
Portuguese wine styles have evolved significantly over the past two decades but have maintained the unique characteristics of classic Portuguese varietals. The Douro wine region reflects this uniqueness, and in this tasting seminar, guests will get to experience this "well-kept secret" for themselves.
Atlanta restaurateur Anne Quatrano has been at the forefront of Atlanta’s culinary scene since the opening of her flagship restaurant, Bacchanalia. In her newest adventure with the affectionately named W.H. Stiles Fish Camp (after her 4x great-grandfather), her meticulous attention to detail remains a theme, but there’s a new star of the show – seafood. In this seminar, guests will learn this leading lady’s seafood secrets as she demonstrates how to use a whole shellfish.
Embedded in every conversation about feeding people is a concern few have considered: the loss of agricultural biodiversity—a reduction of the diversity in everything that makes food possible: from soil to seed to pollinator, from plant to fish to animal. In this tasting seminar, learn how eaters can help save the diversity we need to keep our food system going - by smelling, tasting, touching, hearing and looking. Author Simran Sethi and chocolate maker Ben Rasmussen will explore the terroir of chocolate and how we can save foods by savoring them.
Hear it through the (Georgia) grapevine. In our small corner of the world, in the higher altitudes of the Southern region, Georgia-grown grapes are thriving. The soil is producing award-winning vintages that are quite unlike the stereotypical sweet muscadine Georgia wines. In this tasting seminar, attendees will learn about the surprising, yet delicious, truth behind the acres of European vinifera that are growing right in our backyard.
She’s Kentucky’s first female Master Distiller since Prohibition, and she’s coming in with a bang. Marianne Barnes is leading production at a new distillery in a Castle with an inspiring Key ingredient. Seminar participants will be led on an exploration through the world of gin and gin distilling. From the botanicals and the infusion process, to a story of Southern revival, guests will leave feeling totally GINspired.
We’ve all been there… rummaging through the mini-bar trying to see what we can make using only the resources (read: liquor) that are immediately available. Join local cocktail genius, as she invites you into her own home-away-from-home for Festival Weekend, for some hand-made libations and good conversations. You’ll never rely on the hotel bar again.
Experiential diners, looking beyond their local watering (and dining) holes for something a little bit different, have helped sustain the meteoric rise of the Pop-Up dinner. Pop-Ups offer guests more than a taste of food, but the chance to interact with chefs, sample a unique dish or menu, and quench the growing thirst exciting culinary experiences. In this panel discussion, guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at the newest restaurant trend taking the country by storm and discuss the ins-and-outs of running a Pop-Up from three experts on the subject.
Two chefs, experienced in the world of “Cooking Light,” are setting out to disprove the notion that all Southern food is created unhealthy. In this journey through the world of cleaner Southern cuisine, guests will learn a new way to use iconic southern ingredients and explore the healthier varieties of the dishes that we know and love. Paula Deen lovers, beware.
Pastry Chef Kelly Fields said it best: Here in the South, our portions are bigger and our pastries are sweeter! Southerners like Fields, Donovan and White are among the chefs that are dedicated to conserving traditions through food, and their confectionary delights fit easily into a larger Southern story of preservation and evolution. During this seminar, participants will learn the complexities of all the sweet things (starting with sugar, and including honey, syrup, and sorghum) and taste pastries that are so yummy you’ll find yourself driving to New Orleans for more.
Tailgate Checklist: Beer, Wings, Burgers, Chili… Vegetables? The veggie is typically not the first food item to top a tailgater’s grocery list, but Chef Rob McDaniel is prepared to change that. Guests will have their eyes and stomachs opened to a new side of grilling, using whole vegetables rather than whole hogs. Learn how to use the whole veggie, from root to stem, and integrate the vegetable into your favorite Southern Saturday tradition.
