The Tasting Tents are what comes to mind for many when they think of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. You know, the big white tents and mouth-watering samples of food and wine for days. Like every year, I knew this was something that could not be missed, and I relished the off-duty time spent with the team in the Tasting Tents on Friday night.
This year, the Tasting Tents called Atlanta Botanical Garden home; which I couldn’t have been more thrilled about. The beautiful expanse was the perfect location for the crowds to visit and eat/drink to their hearts’ content…it was really a wonder why the tents hadn’t been located there in previous years! The flow of the tents was really well done; spread out just enough to not feel claustrophobic or like you were walking for miles between booths and culinary “trails.” I don’t know about you, but the Tasting Tents have the ability to overwhelm me (I don’t really enjoy crowds), but that was not the case at all this year.
With over a hundred talented vendors set up at the Tasting Tents, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. As you walk in, you think “where to even begin?!” But as a seasoned Tasting Tents attendee, I knew the ones I absolutely had to visit (Revolution Donuts‘ infamous peach sliders—warm donuts sliced in half with fresh Georgia peaches—are always on the top of my list, and I of course gravitate to any and all wineries). But the Tasting Tents are also a time for exhibitors to unveil new, unexpected twists to their usual cuisine (Fox Bros took a breather from their popular smoked meats and barbecued only seafood this year, proving their never-ending ability to impress), as well as a time for new talent to be discovered…I was so impressed to stumble upon wineries from as far as New Zealand and South Africa in attendance.
Did you make it to the Tasting Tents this year? I’d love to know what your favorites were! And of course if you’re reading this and your mouth is watering (mine is), do make a point to attend next year. You’ll leave with happy hearts and full bellies, I promise. Truly, MKR
