Southern Food Tour Features JCT. Kitchen & Bar, The Optimist and American Spirit Whiskey

On Thursday, October 11, four of Atlanta's best chefs will pour on their Southern culinary charm for the Southern Food Tour, a guided walking tour aimed at building awareness and community around Southern food heritage. 

Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Adam Evans of The Optimist, Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia and Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene are all participating. Each chef will prepare one of their restaurant's most iconic Southern dishes and will share their unique stories of what Southern food means to them. 

The chefs also will pair their dish with a whiskey cocktail from American Spirit Whiskey. Space is limited to 30 guests; tickets are $200 per person and are available online. More info on Facebook.

Homemade Ice Cream For a Cause

Don't let this yummy opportunity melt away; come for the market and stay on! Slow Food Atlanta and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market are a dipping duo as they host their 2009 Ice Cream Competition on Saturday, June 27 from noon until 1 p.m. in the garden of the Cathedral of St. Philip on Peachtree Road. Taste all of the ice cream submissions and vote for your favorite ice cream, homemade the old-fashioned way with maybe, just maybe, a funky modern twist on flavors. Ice cream makers include amateurs and renowned local chefs, including Ron Eyester (Food 101 Morningside), Jake Rothschild (Jake's Ice Cream), Shaun Doty (Shaun's), Cynthia Wong (Cakes & Ale), Ford Fry (JCT. Kitchen & Bar) and Chrysta Umberger (Restaurant Eugene). Tickets are $10 per person (children under five are free) and will allow ticket holders to taste each flavor and submit a vote for the winner. Proceeds benefit Slow Food Atlanta and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. Purchase tickets online or at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market Saturday morning. Interested ice cream makers should contact Judith Winfrey to complete registration. For more information about this event, email Meryl Arnett or call her at 770-503-6063.

P.S--Word on the street is that Meryl makes some tasty ice cream and will be competing; don't miss out!