The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
7 FOOD EVENTS WINE, OYSTERS, MORE: INDULGE IN AUGUST
Who doesn’t dream about a night full of chocolatey goodness?
Dive into summer wine
One of Ponce City Market’s newest venues is City Winery, which is offering a Summer Wine School series. The August class is all about the wines of Washington state. Tasting flights may include sparkling, rose, white and red wines from Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley. You’ll sip and talk about the area’s history as a wine-producing region; wine law; the geography, soil and climate; the grapes that grow there; and you’ll learn about food and wine pairings. 7-9 p.m. Aug. 10. City Winery, 650 North Ave., Atlanta. citywinery.com/atlanta/ tickets/city-winery-wine-schoolwashington-08-10.html.
Dig into Louisiana specialties
Louisiana native Scott Serpas knows his way around Cajun and Creole food, and Southern food in general. He’s ready to share that knowledge to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank, with a demonstration class and wine tasting at the Ansley Mall location of the Cook’s Warehouse. The evening should be spicy, delicious and fun. 7-9 p.m. Aug. 15. $55. The Cook’s Warehouse — Midtown, 1544 Piedmont Road, Atlanta. engage.acfb.org/site/Calendar?id=109504&view=Detail.
Make it a chocolate evening
At 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20, “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” is playing at the Fox Theatre as part of the Summer Film Festival. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered at foxtheatre.org/shows-and-events. Have an evening of full chocolate immersion by stopping by Cacao Atlanta’s new store, Twigg & Co., in Inman Quarter, just 2 miles away from the Fox. (Twigg & Co. is open 2-10 p.m. Saturdays.) You can design your own chocolate bar or frozen banana, with toppings ranging from gummi bears to goji berries. 299 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-330-0686, facebook.com/twiggandco.
Get ready for months with an “r”
Actually, it’s not true that you should eat oysters only in months that have an “r” in their names. Come to Slow Food Atlanta’s oyster education class and debunk that myth as you dive deep into the subject. The experts at Kimball House will talk about what makes oysters taste the way they do, and will introduce you to the nuances of shell and shape. The class is $5 for Slow Food members or $35 for others. 2-3:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Kimball House, 303 E. Howard Ave., Decatur. slowfoodatlanta.org/upcoming-calendar/2016/8/21/slow-food-forthought-shuck-it-oyster-education-at-kimball-house.
West Africa meets New Orleans
The food of Louisiana is getting lots of attention this month. G.G. Gibson of GG’s Fine Foods is teaching a class on the West African influence on New Orleans cuisine. She’ll be demonstrating the recipes for a fourcourse meal, including shrimp and okra stew, and then everyone will dine on the results. The class is at Buckeye Creek Farm and many of the ingredients will be right from the farm. The farm’s Liz Porter will be offering tours as well. This is the first in a series of six classes. Sign up for one or for all six. 2-5 p.m. Aug. 27. Buckeye Creek Farm, 2115 Jeb Wheeler Road, Woodstock. 678-499-0511, ggsfinefood.com.
Summer Shade in Grant Park
On Aug. 27 and 28, the Grant Park Conservancy will welcome you to Atlanta’s oldest park for the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival. Like any good festival, they’ll have live music and an artists market, but you also will be able to shop at the Grant Park Farmers Market, which is putting on a special Saturday market along with its usual Sunday hours. The festival will have a VIP pavilion with wines by European Cellars, beer from Starr Hill Brewery, and food and beverage seminars, including one on the art of building a cocktail. There’ll be at least two dozen food trucks offering everything from vegan Caribbean food to decadent ice cream and cupcakes. Check out the full schedule at summershadefestival.org.
Party in Piedmont Park
Atlanta is known as city where you can eat your way around the world. Festival Peachtree Latino is making the journey easy by bringing food from Jamaica, Colombia, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Peru and Brazil to Piedmont Park on the last Sunday of August. You can dance the afternoon away listening to the live bands, play sports on the park’s fields, browse the artwork offered for sale, and enjoy plenty of delicious food throughout the day. Special pavilions will showcase Atlanta restaurants and Georgia wine. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 28. Piedmont Park, Charles Allen Drive and 10th Street, Atlanta. festivalpeachtreelatino.com/home.html.