Joey Ward of Gunshow is a 2018 StarChefs Rising Star; Taste His Talent at Gala Feb. 20

Gunshow executive chef Joey Ward is on the 2018 class roster for StarChefs Atlanta Rising Stars. The honor comes with spoon, fork and swizzlers attached: Ward and his talented classmates -- Atlanta’s top chefs, sommeliers and bartenders -- will prepare tastings and pour drinks for guests to savor while sauntering around the 2018 Atlanta Rising Stars Gala at SunTrust Park on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Preview the tempting menu here. A VIP reception opens the evening at 5:45 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and the Tasting Gala from 7-9:30 p.m. Ward plans to wow gala guests with Lone Mountain Wagyu tartare, brioche, white truffle emulsion and egg yolk. He’s not going it alone. Compadre and Cocktail Cart Conductor Mercedes O’Brien joins him, treating imbibers to a smooth, java-ish cocktail of Grey Goose vodka, faux’presso, coffee liqueur, Chinese black bean vermouth and burnt sugar. Buy tickets online and come taste why these men and women are Atlanta’s StarChefs. General admission is $85 per person; VIP tickets are $125 per person (plus small service fee). A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency assistance to Atlanta restaurant workers.

MLA On The Town

Here we are, cutting up with the stars. Erica, Mandy, Suong and Tuan saw what Atlanta's culinary Rising Stars can do at the recent Star Chefs awards and tasting gala at The Goat Farm.

Atlanta’s Rising Stars Shine At StarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue

This Wednesday, June 13, you can acquaint yourself with Atlanta’s culinary up-and-comers by attending the 38thStarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue. The tasting gala and awards ceremony will be from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at The Goat Farm Arts Center. Chef Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina will be one of the event host chefs. For the tasting you will be able to enjoy wood-fired Virginia clams with crispy pork belly and croutons prepared by Rising star recipient Adam Evans of JCT Kitchen & Bar and now of The Optimist. Two other culinary up-and-comers, Woodfire Grill Pastry Chef Chrysta Poulus and Taria Camerino, owner of Sugar-Coated Radical and Pastry Chef at The Optimist, will be honored as Rising Stars. In addition to the tasting and awards, guests will be able to enjoy the work of acclaimed local artist David Baerwalde. Tickets are $85 each but when you purchase your tickets online and use the discount code RSATL12 at checkout, you will shave $10 off that ticket price. StarChefs.com is “the magazine for industry insiders” covering chefs, recipes, jobs and more.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @antoinette_b

As one chews, so must one tweet - with mouth closed. After all, it's the fingers doing the talking when Antoinette Bruno of StarChefs.com tweets (@antoinette_b) live from her tastings. The editor-in-chief of the online magazine is surely up on all of her eating and tweeting etiquette. The magazine offers up bigger helpings.