Location: JIM R. MILLER PARK
MARIETTA, GEORGIA
A fantastic festival finale sponsored by Atlanta News First, with live music and a variety of delectable restaurants, farmers, artisans, and food trucks. There will be a variety of beverages for purchase, stroll the Georgia Grown Member Village, check out the Audi Marietta display, see what’s cooking on the Georgia Grown and Celebrity Chef stages AND the Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge! A family friendly event with something for everybody in the family, including a free Kids Zone. There will be a variety of adult beverages available for purchase, including beer, wine and cocktails. Adult tickets also include 10 tasting credits (5 Tokens).
The Silent Auction, benefitting SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, will continue through Sunday, so make sure to check it out!
Tickets per person: $25 March/Gate
Children 12 and Under Free
Event Type: Indoor/Outdoor, Rain or shine.
Attire & Info: Casual attire, family friendly.
Free kids’ zone courtesy of Fun-Fare
Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Eight of the area’s best bartenders and mixologists will be competing for the title of “Georgia’s Best Whiskey Cocktail!” Chosen bartenders must create a signature cocktail featuring either Basil Hayden or Knob Creek as the primary spirit ingredient, and no other whiskey brand. Participants will be provided with product to create their beverage.
Eight (8) contestants will be selected on Friday, March 17, 2023 and will be notified via email. The competition will be professionally judged.
1st Place: $1,500.00 AND a write up in the April issue of Cobb Life Magazine
2nd Place: $500.00
3rd Place: Prize Package
Registration is now open, click here to sign up.
Meet the Judges
Tiffanie Barriere is the bartender’s bartender, an influencer and educator who has been awarded with some of the beverage industry’s highest honors. The Bar Smart graduate is a Tastemakers of the South award-winner who spent seven years as the beverage director of One Flew South the “Best Airport Bar in the World.” As an independent bartender she is known for creative and innovative cocktail menus for pop-dinners and bar consultancy clients; hosting mixology classes around the nation and connecting culinary and farm culture with spirits. As a leader, she is a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Grants Committee, the James Beard Beverage Advisory Board, and a member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier.
Randy Hayden: With 28 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry across the Southeast, Atlanta-based
beverage expert, Randy Hayden, has pioneered the beverage programs at Slater Hospitality’s innovative rooftop concepts including The Roof at Ponce City Market and Rooftop L.O.A. After entering the industry at only 16 years old, Hayden began bartending at 18 and quickly became the head bartender at Roy’s, James Beard Award-Winning Chef Roy Yamaguchi’s restaurant. He went on to open eight restaurants with Yamaguchi and later aided in opening Kevin Rathbun’s Steakhouse. He ventured into consulting for celebrity chef restaurants in Florida and Nashville, before returning to Atlanta, where he joined the Slater Hospitality team in 2016. Through perseverance and dedication to his craft, he became the first Beverage Director for Slater Hospitality and continues to curate unique, seasonal beverage programs to complement every concept. He believes a beverage program should be focused and balanced, fully rounded with no weak points, and equal attention to all
aspects.
Garn McCown, 2022 Best Whiskey Cocktail Challenge Winner: Born and raised in Atlanta, Garn McCown worked his way through high school and college at Georgia Tech in restaurants and bars as early as 14-years-old. He began his spirits career in small restaurants, dive bars, and clubs, where he continually strived to learn and grow. This fueled his passion for craft cocktails, quality spirits, ingredients, and cutting-edge techniques. Garn truly began his craft cocktail endeavors at Bluepointe in the Buckhead Financial District of Atlanta, continuing to grow and learn at both high-volume and craft programs with Kimpton Hotels, Seed Kitchen and Bar, Marriott Hotels, The Pool Hall, The Aviary, and Gypsy Kitchen & The Southern Gentleman.
Master of Ceremonies:
Beth Burrows,
American Whiskey Ambassador for Beam Suntory
“Georgia Celebrity Chef Stage”
Sponsored by Publix
Georgia’s most celebrated chefs will present cooking demonstrations throughout the day, with demo recipe tasting bites for the first 50 people in attendance.
Chef/Authors will be immediately signing their cookbooks at the adjacent, Celebrity Author’s Signing Table
SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
Demo:12:30-2:15pm ~ Matthew and Tia Raiford, Chefs, Farmers, Authors
As students at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, Tia and Matthew married and created Strong Roots 9 in 2021, and live at Gilliard Farms in Brunswick, Georgia, stewarding 50 acres of land purchased by Matthew’s great-great-great grandfather Jupiter Gilliard in 1874. and collectively possess over 60 years’ experience in the foodservice industry. Strong Roots 9 is the first wellness omni brand for people of color; The Raifords grow, curate, and cultivate products, services and experiences that nourish the body, mind and soul from the Black lens. Through their food and beauty product lines, events on their farm and nationally, and consult businesses on how to create food experiences that are holistic, educational, and culturally inclusive they are honoring the past through their impact on the future.
Matthew’s book, “Bress ‘N’ Nyam will be available for purchase and autograph immediately following the Raiford’s demo.
Georgia Grown Member Demo Stage
12:15-1:00 ~ Jar Masala: Chicken Tikka Masala Go Juicy: Strawberry Mockrita
1:45-2:30 ~Natalie Keng, Author and “Sauce Maven” GlobalHearth.com: Gameday Meatball Stir Fry
3:00-3:45 ~ Brooksmade Gourmet Foods
Live Music Stage Presented by
Superior Plumbing
Main Stage, 12:00 – 2:00 Acoustic, J. Scott Thompson
J. Scott Thompson is an audience favorite endearing himself to crowds nationwide (and quite a few in England!) with his warm, easy going personality, powerful voice, and fresh style of Americana songwriting. Pulling from his Southern roots, Thompson writes from the heart and speaks to the soul with songs influenced by his Dad’s record collection of James Brown, Sam Cooke, The Beatles, and Otis Redding. A prolific songwriter and captivating performer, Thompson combines a southerner’s knack for storytelling with a dose of southern charm making lifelong friends and loyal fans wherever he goes.
Official Grocer
Official Beef of the GF+WF
Participants
(Our featured participants are being finalized and will be updated as they confirm their participation)
Food Truck Participants:
Beverage Participants
(Our featured participants are being finalized and will be updated as they confirm their participation)
Sunday/Funday will feature several Cash Bars and The Sunday/Funday Lounge.
