Monday, July 30, 2012

Southern Summer


This week at PRFM…
Join us for live music from Clark Brown, and pick up some of this season’s newest produce: eggplant, peppers, okra, and beans!     

Chef Demo with Jenn Robbins 
of Avalon Catering
10:00 a.m. on 8/4
Chef Demos are sponsored by
Whole Foods Market
Chef Jenn Robbins was born and raised in Atlanta where she grew up active and hungry for tasty food! Her culinary interests led her to “the other South” when she enrolled in the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin. Her first professional kitchen work? With none other than Texas legend Kent Rathbun at Jasper’s Austin (y’all might be familiar with our own legendary Rathbun brother, Kevin). Speaking of Kevin…when Jenn moved back home to Atlanta, she joined the kitchen of Kevin Rathbun Steak, where she worked until deciding to follow her foodie passion to the world of catering. Now with Avalon Catering under Chef Cathy Conway, Jenn develops personalized menus and experiences for their clients. Jenn’s considerable talents combined with her love of using high quality local ingredients makes this chef one to watch—so come on over this Saturday and do just that!

Foodie news you can use…

Dine Around to Support PRFM
Join PRFM and eight other farmers markets as we celebrate Farmers Market Month this August. When you dine with our partner restaurants on the dates and times below, 5% of sales will benefit PRFM. A great way to eat well and do well, we’d say!

August 10: 5 Seasons Restaurant & Brewery, Westside (dinner specials only)
August 14: Farm Burger, Buckhead (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
August 18: The Grand Hyatt, Buckhead (6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) *Tour the Peachtree Road Farmers Market with Chef Thomas McKeown at 9:30 then head over for lunch!
August 26: 4th & Swift, Old Fourth Ward (5:30 to 11 p.m.)
August 30: Souper Jenny, Buckhead (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)


- Jennifer Maley

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Culinary Arts


This week at PRFM…

Chef Demo & Cookbook Signing
with Rebecca Lang 
10:00 a.m. on 7/28
Chef Demos are sponsored by
Whole Foods Market
You won’t want to miss acclaimed cookbook author and food writer Rebecca Lang! Here’s why. She’s got the chops—Rebecca is a former apprentice of Southern food goddess Nathalie Dupree and holds a culinary arts degree from Johnson and Wales University. She’s got the props—her published cookbooks include Quick-Fix Southern (2011), Southern Entertaining for a New Generation (2004), and Mary Mac’s Tea Room (2005); she’s also a contributing editor for Southern Living and her writing and food styling have been featured both locally and nationally. She’s got the peeps—Rebecca has served on the board for the Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, and is a member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals, The Southern Foodways Alliance, the James Beard Foundation, and Georgia Organics. Last, but certainly not least, she’s got some killer ingredients to work with: sweet corn and tomatoes. Y’all come.

Kids Learning Patch
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sponsored by The Captain Planet Foundation
Stop by the Kids Learning Patch tent for a family-friendly demo & activity! This week, it’s “Veggie Prints,” where kids will use vegetables and paint to make “culinary art.”

Foodie news you can use…

Dine Around to Support PRFM
Join PRFM and eight other farmers markets as we celebrate Farmers Market Month this August. When you dine with our partner restaurants on the dates and times below, 5% of sales will benefit PRFM. A great way to eat well and do well, we’d say!

August 10: 5 Seasons Restaurant & Brewery, Westside (dinner specials only)
August 14: Farm Burger, Buckhead (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
August 18: The Grand Hyatt, Buckhead (6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) *Tour the Peachtree Road Farmers Market with Chef Thomas McKeown at 9:30 then head over for lunch!
August 26: 4th & Swift, Old Fourth Ward (5:30 to 11 p.m.)
August 30: Souper Jenny, Buckhead (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)


- Jennifer Maley

Farmers Market Dine Arounds

9 ATLANTA FARMERS MARKETS TEAM UP 
TO CELEBRATE LOCAL FOOD IN ‘DINE-AROUNDS’
Dining events to be held exclusively at area restaurants
that support Georgia farmers

In August, nine community famers markets will join forces to celebrate Atlanta Farmers Market month through a series of dine-around events in Atlanta. Events will take place at establishments that support Georgia-gown farmers and produce.

Local farmers market managers have joined forces to support local farmers and markets in honor of August Farmers Market Month.  The Farmers Market Managers Working Group (FMMWG) was formed for managers to serve as a resource for each other, with the principle goal of getting more people to look to their local farmers as a primary food source and their community farmers markets as the place to purchase. With so much of the food in stores coming from all over the world, it can be very confusing for shoppers to figure out when and where to buy Georgia grown, farm fresh goods.  Farmers market managers who work directly with local farmers are excited to help more people say, “I know my Farmer”.

Participating Farmers Markets & Dine-Around details are as follows:

*  August 3, 5:30 - 7:30 at Clarkston Community Center (Vendors include Tamale Queen, Katmandu Kitchen, Nazifa's Bakery & CaribPops)

*  August 14, 11am-10pm at Farm Burger, Decatur

*  August 06,Dinnerat Urban Cannibals, East Atlanta
*  August 07, All Day at Grant Central East, East Atlanta
*  August 8, All Day at Dakota Blue, Grant Park 
*  August 13, All Day at Tomatillos, East Atlanta
*  August 19, 4-9pm at The Shed at Glenwood
*  August 20, Dinner at Urban Cannibals, East Atlanta
*  August 28, All Day at The Porter, Little Five Points

*  August 22, 5-10pm at Wahoo! Grill, Decatur

*  August 1, Dinner at  Rosebud Restaurant, Morningside
*  August 19 , Dinner at Cakes & Ale Restaurant, Decatur

*  August 10, Dinner Specials Only at 5 Seasons Westside, Westside
*  August 14, 11am-10pm at Farm Burger Buckhead, Buckhead
*  August 18, 6:30am -2pm The Grand Hyatt, Buckhead (Tour the Peachtree Road Farmers Market with Chef Thomas Mckeown at 9:30 then head over for lunch!)
*  August 26, 5:30-11pm at  4th & Swift Restaurant, Old Fourth Ward
*  August 30, 11am- 10pm at Souper Jenny, Buckhead

*  August 03, 5-7pm, Feed Store, Atlanta

*  August 13, Dinner at Enzo's Pizzeria, Tucker
*  August 16, All Day at Old Tucker Fountain, Tucker
*  August 21, All Day at Roly Poly, Tucker 
*  August 22, Dinner & Food only at Local 7, Tucker

“Now more than ever, our consumption must be community-based; not commodity-based.  A sustainable local food system is critical to the future of Georgia's health, environment, and economy- a fact imperative not only when shopping for groceries, but also when dining out. We applaud restaurants that support Georgia’s hard-working farmers each and every single day.” –Alice Rolls, Executive Director of Georgia Organics
“We pride ourselves on offering our customers locally-sourced food from Georgia farmers. Our dedication to local food is a win-win for every person who walks into a Farm Burger- they get to enjoy fresh produce that is in-season and we get to make a direct impact on the local economy.” –George Frangos, owner Farm Burger.

“As the state’s largest producer-only farmers market, we have a deep-seeded appreciation for restaurants that recognize the value of creating menus around local produce. Their commitment to fostering community by shopping local is a testament not only to their values, but is also a response to the growing awareness of their customers.” –Lauren Carey, Director of Peachtree Road Farmers Market.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Red Hot Summer


This week at PRFM…

Chef Demo with Ford Fry
of
JCT. Kitchen and Bar 

10:00 a.m. on 7/21
Chef Demos are sponsored by
Whole Foods Market
Check out just how amazing we think Ford Fry is here. What’s new since then? Oh, not much…just his opening of Decatur’s new fave restaurant, No. 246. Oh, and another opening on the Westside—The Optimist, maybe you’ve heard of it? Also, a partnership with the fabulous Taria Camerino (Sugar-Coated Radical) and rumors of a new Buckhead spot in the works. Right now, whether you’re looking for Southern farmstead, seasonally-inspired Italian, or the freshest seafood ITP, Chef Fry’s got you covered. And, as you’ll see below, he’s gearing up for another killer Tomato Fest. Suffice it to say, you won’t want to miss this week’s demo, y’all.

Foodie news you can use…

Get ‘em while they’re hot! Tickets are on sale now for this Sunday's Fourth Annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival at JCT. Kitchen! For the drool-worthy details, check out their swanky website at www.jctkitchen.com/tomatofest. Tickets are $70 per person and benefit Georgia Organics. Buy ‘em here before they sell out!

We’re cheesy and we know it. Take a look at our recent shout-out on Atlanta Magazine’s blog to read all about the incredible cheeses now on offer at your Peachtree Road Farmers Market!


- Jennifer Maley

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Savor the Season


This week at PRFM…

Chef Demo with Thomas McKeown
of Grand Hyatt Atlanta 

10:00 a.m. on 7/14
Chef Demos are sponsored by
Whole Foods Market
If you ever joined Chef Thomas McKeown on one of his farmers market tours at PRFM, you know just how passionate he is about local foods. You also know that he’s a pretty smart, fun, and talented guy. What can we say? He makes an impressive impression. You’ll want to stop by the demo tent and check out how this European born and trained chef creates delicious dishes out of the sustainable ingredients indigenous to the South. Chef McKeown highlights local and organic as the executive chef at Grand Hyatt Atlanta’s Cassis restaurant and oversees all of the hotel’s weddings, social gatherings, and corporate shindigs. He’s also a member of Hyatt’s Sustainable and Responsible eating team—yes, that is a thing, and yes, it is very cool. What else is cool, you might ask? Local goat cheese mousse, Georgia organic heirloom tomato jam, and crisp crostini with olive oil. See how it’s made and try a tasty sample this Saturday! P.S. Chef demo recipes can be found here, updated after each PRFM demo.

Canning with Martha!  
Tomatoes and Peaches
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
New this year at PRFM, join us for a series of seasonal canning demos with expert Martha McMillin. Up this week, learn how to can tomatoes and peach preserves. Who says you can’t enjoy the season’s juicy, yummy produce later in the year? Well, nobody’s going to say it after this demo! Martha has received her certificate from the FDA’s Better Process Control School at UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—so if you’ve been nervous about canning, stop by Martha’s tent and learn all the tips and tricks that will put you at ease and impress your friends!


- Jennifer Maley

Thursday, July 5, 2012

All in the (Food) Family

Photo by Our Labor of Love
Chef Demo with Jeb Aldrich
of 4th & Swift – 10:00 a.m. On 7/7

Chef Demos are sponsored by
Whole Foods Market
Like father, like son?  If we're talking about two of our city's best chefs' talents for dishing up some mighty fine, market-driven food...then, yes. Not only is chef Jeb Aldrich the chef de cuisine at 4th & Swift, he's the son of its executive chef and owner Jay Swift. And though cooking might be in the blood, Jeb's also got sweat (we can't speak to the tears) in the game: classically trained at Johnson & Wales, stints at Rainwater (with chef Swift) as well as Canoe and the much-lauded Joël, and work in Austria and Italy. Three years ago, after honing his skills in these prestigious kitchens, he joined his dad at 4th & Swift to create seasonal menus from the highest quality ingredients. Stop by the demo tent this Saturday to enjoy chef Jeb's deliciously refreshing tomato melon gazpacho!

Also this week...
Attention, market shoppers: turn your greens into some green! Just buy seven different veggies at the market and not only will you have made good healthy choices, you'll also be entered to win a $20 gift card to PRFM! Stop by the info tent and show us your seven to enter.


- Jennifer Maley