{"id":5435,"date":"2016-11-07T15:25:16","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T20:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=5435"},"modified":"2016-12-07T15:48:14","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T20:48:14","slug":"taste-of-hartsfield-jackson-shows-culinary-appeal-of-worlds-busiest-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/taste-of-hartsfield-jackson-shows-culinary-appeal-of-worlds-busiest-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Taste of Hartsfield-Jackson shows culinary appeal of world’s busiest airport"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Anika Robertson
\nSenior Editor\/Assistant Public Relations Manager<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Hundreds gathered Wednesday, Nov. 2 to enjoy the second annual Taste of Hartsfield-Jackson, a fundraising feast that featured more than 30 restaurants and eateries from throughout the world\u2019s busiest airport.<\/p>\n

The event, held in the Domestic Terminal atrium, offered a rare opportunity for the public to sample food from some of the best concessionaires in the Airport \u2014 all without booking a flight or going through security.<\/p>\n

All proceeds from the event benefited Silence The Growl, the United Way of Greater Atlanta\u2019s program to combat childhood hunger.<\/p>\n

Interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council Jr. welcomed the crowd and showed appreciation for the continued support of the ATL concessions team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Taste of Hartsfield-Jackson is a premier food festival showcasing the diversity of ATL\u2019s options,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to thank our food and beverage concessionaires, not just for their participation today, but for all they do to make our concessions program one of the best in the aviation industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ticket books were sold in groups of 10, and each ticket afforded a taste of cuisines from around the Airport. More than half of participating concessionaires are based in Georgia, including Ecco, Grindhouse Killer Burgers, Papi\u2019s Cuban & Caribbean Grill, The Pecan Bistro, Fresh To Order, Fly Burger and Atlanta Chophouse.<\/p>\n

With more than 90 items to sample \u2014 including angus beef sliders, macaroni and cheese, braised pork on focaccia and Mediterranean rice with chicken \u2014 event-goers had many choices to make while grooving to live music by the Darren Winters Ensemble. Bakery Piece of Cake offered large slices of red velvet cake for two tickets, causing crowds to clamor for the popular dessert.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important that passengers and employees understand the quality of food that we serve at this Airport as well as the number of options available,\u201d said Concessions Marketing Manager Demetria Wideman, who planned the event. \u201cAllowing so many brands to come to the atrium introduces them to an audience that (they) may otherwise never reach. The exposure that an event like this gives them is phenomenal. So the Taste gives our restaurants the best of both worlds \u2013 the opportunity for exposure while raising money for a great cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Taste also featured a chef\u2019s competition, where culinary artists served their best meal from their respective regions and took part in a timed challenge. Pamela Place of Atlanta Chophouse served Baltimore, Md.-style crab cakes, Rich Bolton of Delaware North served Manhattan-inspired surf and turf, and One Flew South represented Philadelphia with a gourmet philly sandwich with ribeye, handcrafted cheese \u201cwhiz\u201d and pickled toppings.<\/p>\n

Jared Hall, executive chef of One Flew South, was named winner of the \u201cchef showdown.\u201d Restaurant Phillips Seafood won the \u201cBest Taste\u201d honor with its lobster bisque and crab cakes.<\/p>\n

G. Gavin, celebrity chef and owner of One Flew South, served as a judge for the chef competition and was impressed by the talent displayed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe competition, it was fascinating,\u201d he said. \u201c(There) was a lot of really good food. I think that the chefs took pride in everything they did, and you could see it in the food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also declaring his allegiance to ATL cuisine, Steak Shapiro, host of \u201cAtlanta Eats\u201d and the chef showdown, said: \u201cI think it\u2019s just a great testament (to what) the Mayor and the City started building years ago, which is (that) we can have some great food stories happening right out of our Airport. So it\u2019s a perfect forum to showcase how proud we are about what\u2019s happening food-wise at the Atlanta Airport.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Taste

The second annual Taste of Hartsfield-Jackson drew hundreds of guests \u2014 and more than 30 concessionaires to the Domestic Terminal atrium on Wednesday, Nov. 2. For more images, click here<\/a>. Photo by the Decisive Moment Photojournalism<\/p><\/div>\n

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