Worth Noting

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: The Tasting Tests

Scenes from a must-visit stop during the festival weekend
Filed Under > Travel

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Waiting on MarthaATL Food & WineAFWF16, Waiting on MarthaBlueberry buttermilk bitesTito's at Atlanta Food & Wine FestivalATL Food & Wine Festival Peach sliders at Atlanta Food & Wine FestivalWaiting on Martha's Atlanta Food & Wine Festival recapGeorgia peaches at The Tasting Tents 2016-06-16_0011 2016-06-16_0009 Wine at the tasting tents, Waiting on Martha

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

SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE

 

 

Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha 

It’s All Easy: A Day with Williams-Sonoma & Gwyneth Paltrow

A Fun-Filled Afternoon in the Williams-Sonoma Kitchen
Filed Under > Everyday Entertaining

It's All Easy cookbook by Gwyneth Paltrow2016-06-01_0001Cooking with fresh avocadosAt Williams-Sonoma cooking with It's All EasyWilliams-SonomaCooking class at Williams-Sonoma It's All Easy: Zuni Sheet Pan Chicken recipe Cooking with Williams-SonomaVegan chocolate mousse recipe from It's All Easy cookbookWilliams-Sonoma essentialsWaiting on Martha team cooking class Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook It's All Easy

We’re huge fan girls of Gwyneth Paltrow (or GP as we like to call her) around here.  Like HUGE.  So naturally, we didn’t even pretend to play it cool when we received an invite to celebrate GP’s newest cookbook, It’s All Easy, at the gorgeous new Williams-Sonoma in Ponce City Market last week.  

I’ve always considered WS as the quintessential one-stop that truly understands the comforts of cooking, of a gathering and of a home. To me, it’s simply my happy place. I go there to not only find all of my kitchen and entertaining necessities, but I’m the most inspired to relish in flavors and seasonings of some of my favorite recipes when I’m wandering through the store.  I first visited the Williams-Sonoma in Ponce City Market to celebrate its grand opening several months ago, and still to this day the store quite literally takes my breath away when I walk through its doors.  

So you can see how the culmination of attending a private afternoon with my team at this store and trying three recipes from GP’s book and learning a handful of expert tips (like only crank the Spiralizer four times so the noodle isn’t too unruly or long to eat!) was really a day of pinch-me moments! 

The cookbook itself is simply STUNNING (I didn’t even think it was possible for her to top her others, It’s All Good and My Father’s Daughter, but she definitely did).  Inside, you’ll find pages upon pages of beautiful imagery that envelope 130+ approachable recipes that get back to simple, classic and healthy flavors.  Fanning through, I was so inspired to get in the kitchen to recreate so many of the dishes at home. 

Chef Jake was wonderful enough to whip up the recipes for us that were—yes, incredibly easy—yet all still so rich in flavor. (P.S. Can we talk about MAJOR dream job working for WS and my husband’s favorite BBQ place here in Atlanta?!) We all took notes as he masterfully whipped up the Zuni Sheet Pan Chicken (which just took under an hour…which, honestly seemed unheard of with such a large roasted chicken!), Zucchini Cacio e Pepe (SO easy and simple, made with a Spiralizer), and a Chocolate Mousse with Cashew Cream. 

We’ll be sharing the chicken and zucchini noodles tomorrow here on the blog, so stay tuned and come hungry.  But since it’s Monday and every Monday is better with a giveaway, we’re giving away one copy of It’s All Easy and GP’s favorite Spiralizer below.  Good luck, friends!  Truly, MKR

P.S. Williams-Sonoma hosts monthly Cookbook Club events where you can learn to cook recipes from the latest cookbooks like we did with It’s All Easy.  Check out upcoming events at your local store here.  xo

SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha | This post is in collaboration with Williams-Sonoma, a brand we love and adore.  All opinions are 100% our own. 

Just Discovered: 10 Great Etsy Gift Ideas

We've Got Our Eye On These Unique, Personalized Gifts For Any Budget
Filed Under > Worth Noting

I am always on the hunt for the perfect gift to give. I definitely inherited my love for gifting from my mom, who has taught me that adding a little personal touch, or simply taking the time to find the perfect something for someone (read: not a gift card) can really go a long way.  I may even like giving gifts better than receiving them!  Crazy, I know. 

But so on our recent Etsy kick (this recent roundup ignited our love for the site), we’ve found countless great gift ideas that could work for any budget, any occasion, you name it. And an added bonus: you’re supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs while you’re at it!  Click through the slideshow above to find ten great Etsy gift ideas that have caught our eye here at WOM. Cheers, Kat

SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE

 

 

Hand-Blown Glass Vessel

Hand-Blown Glass Vessel

Give them something they can use forever, and always think of you. A hand-blown piece like this gorgeous glass vessel makes for a great lasting gift for a friend, family member, boss, coworker and more.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Herb Watercolor Paintings or Prints

Herb Watercolor Paintings or Prints

Art like these watercolor pieces make for great gifts for even the hardest people to buy for.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Moroccan Wedding Blanket

Moroccan Wedding Blanket

A handmade Moroccan wedding blanket makes a wonderful gift to celebrate the happy couple.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Beautifully Painted Sugar Cookies

Beautifully Painted Sugar Cookies

Cookies are never a bad idea, especially when we're talking about these Hump Day sugar cookies. Check out this entire bakeshop...they're almost too beautiful to eat!

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Delicate Gold Necklace

Delicate Gold Necklace

Delicate, everyday additions like this gold necklace would make a sister, daughter, friend or coworker thrilled.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Embroidered Mexican Clutch

Embroidered Mexican Clutch

This fun, handmade embroidered clutch in vibrant pink will make statement all summer long. The entire shop is worth checking out for more gift ideas, too!

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Monogrammed Mouse Pad

Monogrammed Mouse Pad

This adorable monogrammed mouse pad would be the perfect gift for a coworker or friend.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Handmade Ceramic Ring Dish

Handmade Ceramic Ring Dish

Put this ceramic ring dish under "go-to gift ideas." Its one-of-a-kind shape make it special, unique find.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Made-to-Order Letterpress Cards

Made-to-Order Letterpress Cards

Letterpress cards like these made-to-order ones can be a thoughtful gift that they'll enjoy for weeks and months to come.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY
Vintage Woven Basket

Vintage Woven Basket

Woven baskets can be a unique, anything-but-generic gift to consider. Consider vintage versions like this one.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA ETSY

Featured image, Etsy

Copyright © Welcome by Waiting on Martha  /
Back to Top