Get out of Dodge and High Tail It to an Afternoon in the Country with Les Dames d’Escoffier International on Nov. 6

Mountain roads are clogged with folks looking for seasonal color. Psst. On Sunday, Nov. 6, you’ll find more vibrant seasoning, appetizing colors, fall flavors, heaps of entertainment and rake in silent auction luxuries at an Afternoon in the Country spreading over Foxhall Resort & Sporting Club in Douglasville. Fork into foods from some of these locals – Bellina Alimentari, Chicken and the Egg, Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar, Marlow’s Tavern, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Ormsby’s, Seed Kitchen & Bar and White Oak Pastures – and taste fine wines and microbrews. The 16^thannual event hosted by Atlanta Les Dames d’Escoffier International overflows from big-top tents onto the resort’s expansive lawns. Buy tickets online, $125 for adults 21 and over; free parking. No children’s activities this year. Dig up details on our blog.

Gotta Get Out of the City for an Afternoon in the Country November 6

Goodbye city slick, hello country casual. Atlanta chefs are heading out of town for an Afternoon in the Country on Sunday, November 6 from 1-4 p.m. The culinary corps includes chefs from Bellina Alimentari, Chicken and the Egg, Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar, Marlow’s Tavern, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Ormsby’s and Seed Kitchen & Bar who will join other top chefs, caterers and local farmers (including White Oak Pastures and Milton’s Acre) to present enticing fare in a tasting format along with fine wines and premium micro-brews. The 16^th annual event, hosted by Atlanta Les Dames d’Escoffier International, unfolds under the big-top tents on the expansive lawns of Foxhall Resort & Sporting Club in Douglasville. Lots of space and lots of entertainment: live music, one-of-a-kind cake raffle stocked by top pastry chefs and a silent auction flying high with exclusive dining and travel packages and food and wine merchandise. (Note: no children’s activities planned this year.) Buy tickets online, $125 for adults 21 and over; free parking.

Graze Away an Afternoon in the Country with Atlanta’s Best Chefs and Les Dames d’Escoffier International on November 8

Slip away from the urban jungle and head south to Chattahoochee Hills to nibble, nip and while away an Afternoon in the Country with Les Dames d’Escoffier International - Atlanta Chapter (LDEI|ATL). Continuing a 15-year tradition, autumn’s most eagerly anticipated gourmet gathering will draw Atlanta’s top culinary and local farm talent to big-top tents set on the beautiful grounds of the Inn at Serenbe on Sunday, November 8. A sampling feast awaits attendees perusing the 100 tasting stations for creations by Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, Joey Ward of Gunshow, Andreas Müller of Revival, Olivier Gaupin of Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar, Doug Turbush of Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar, and Matthew Ridgway of The Southern Gentleman -- not to mention the fine wines and premium micro-brews. Entertainment spans all ages with live music, a cake raffle featuring sweets from the city’s most talented pastry chefs, hayrides, children’s activities and an extensive silent auction offering exclusive dining and travel packages, food and wine merchandise and original art from prominent local artists. Event proceeds benefit Georgia Organics, Wholesome Wave, Global Growers Network, The Giving Kitchen, The Wylde Center, The Atlanta Community Food Bank and LDEI|ATL’s scholarship fund for women in the culinary, beverage and hospitality arts. Idyllic Serenbe will be clean and serene after the anticipated 2,000 attendees head home because LDEI|ATL is committed to sustainability and zero-waste practices. Tickets cost $125 for adults, $50 for ages 16 to 20 and $35 for ages 13 to 15. Tickets for children 12 and under are free. Add a dash of tech by downloading the Afternoon in the Country app for iPhones and smartphones. 

13th Annual Afternoon in the Country Celebrates Under the Big-Top Tents November 3

Skip the city and head to the country to indulge in the company of Atlanta's top chefs, gourmet eats and an atmosphere that can't be beat under the big-top tents at the 13th Annual Afternoon in the Country. Presented by Les Dames d'Escoffier International - Atlanta Chapter (LDEI),The Inn at Serenbe is the place to be this Sunday, November 3 from 1-4 p.m. Gardens and meadows galore provide a tranquil background for those lucky enough to get a ticket to the sold-out event. Who's on the list, you ask? Culinary kings like Aria, Bantam + Biddy, Gunshow, King + Duke, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Marlow's Tavern, No. 246 and The Optimist, just to name a few. For an even sweeter treat, top Atlanta pastry chefs create sweet-tooth cravings for all ages. Aside from food and fine wine, the event will also feature micro-brews, hayrides, children's activities, live bluegrass music by DriveTrain and upscale retail. Plus, a silent auction sends guests home with dining and travel packages, food and wine goodies and artwork by prominent artists. Proceeds from the event support LDEI Atlanta's philanthropic, educational scholarship and grant initiatives. 

Don't Wait Until It's Too Late: Get Tickets Now for Afternoon in the Country at Serenbe on November 4

  

Each year, tickets sell out fast to the Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI)-hosted Afternoon in the Country at Serenbe. With good reason too, since the event features chefs and food from Atlanta's top restaurants, caterers and farms along with wines, micro-brews, select retailers, live bluegrass, a silent auction, children's activities, hayrides and more in the beautiful gardens surrounding the Inn at Serenbe near Palmetto. Net proceeds benefit the Atlanta LDEI Scholarship Fund for women. Click here to purchase tickets today!

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

This week's Appetizing Aperture (a scrumptious salted caramel cake by Angie Mosier) is a delicious memory from a past Afternoon in the Country! Lucky for us that the event returns to Serenbe on Sunday, November 6 from 1 - 6 p.m. With sweet and savory bites from Bold American, Briza, Double Zero Napoletana, South City Kitchen, La Tavola Trattoria, JCT. Kitchen,No. 246, White Oak Pastures, Marlow's Tavern and more, it's bound to be a tasting guests won't soon forget!

Spending the Afternoon In The Country

With the perfect fall weather lately, I can't think of a better time to get out of the city and enjoy the countryside. This weekend, I plan on doing just that at the 10th Annual Afternoon in the Country at Serenbe. The annual Sunday afternoon event -- on November 7 this year -- features some of Atlanta’s best chefs, area farmers, premium micro-brewers and select retailers. I'm looking forward to checking out JCT. Kitchen & Bar, The Cook’s Warehouse and Woodfire Grill among many others!

Even better, food and wine are just the tip of the iceberg at this outdoor party. Drivetrain plays bluegrass, and there’ll be a pastry chef- supplied cake raffle, hayrides, food and wine merchandise, original art by prominent artists and a silent auction where dining and travel packages are up for bidding. Proceeds from the afternoon event benefit Les Dames d'Escoffier International and the Atlanta Chapter’s scholarship fund as well as Georgia’s organic farming community. Purchase tickets now before the event sells out!

Les Dames Afternoon in the Country

The 8th annual Afternoon in the Country event was held this past Sunday at Serenbe, near Palmetto, Georgia. More than 35 chefs from Atlanta's best restaurants, select retailers and local wineries set up tastings inside the tents on this beautiful property. This is certainly not your run-of-the-mill food and wine event, instead of wearing formal attire, jeans and boots were encouraged! It was a gorgeous day to be outside, and especially enjoying tasty cuisine and fine wines.

Other highlights of the event included live music, a one-of-a-kind cake auction, hayrides and silent auction. Among my favorite tastings of the day were bbq sliders from Holman and Finch, braised beef from White Oak Pastures, Low Country boil with pickled okra (yum!) from the restaurant on Serenbe and desserts from Joel. Proceeds from the event went to benefit the Atlanta Chapters of Les Dames d'Escoffier.