This weekend will mark the 12th anniversary of Taste of Atlanta, the food
tasting fest that takes over the streets at Tech Square near 5th and Spring
in Midtown with a block party Friday night and going full days on Saturday and
Sunday. The fest offers culinary samplings from more than 90 restaurants in
the metro Atlanta area along with music, cooking demos, classes, wine and spirits.
Making his debut at the fest is Duane Nutter, executive chef at One Flew
South, an upscale restaurant at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International
Airport's Terminal E. The Morgan City, Louisiana native who grew up in
Renton, Washington near Seattle and who once set out to be a comedian, will
be featured on Sunday at his restaurant's booth. On the menu will be lamb sausage and German potato salad.
It's hard to miss Chef Nutter with his 6'6 mid sized frame and wearing his
white chef coat and hat. He chuckles as he relates a story of how visitors
to the city will see the ad for One Flew South on the city channel in their
hotel room and come to the airport area seeking to dine at the restaurant.
"They don't realize we are really in the terminal and the only way you can
dine with us is if you are here to catch a plane."
One Flew South bills itself as "The first upscale dining experience at the
world's busiest airport." Whereelse in an airport can you get roasted pork
belly, grouper, salmon bruschetta, lamb sausage, shrimp and grits and sushi.
While the fast food fare might be the choice for those on the run, the
traveler with a little more time to dine like those on international flights
who have longer layovers between flights or east coast fliers on their way
to the west coast feel right at home at the restaurant.
There are regulars who come in every week, business travelers who know the
menu so well they call ahead with their selections and sit in the same seat
on every visit. Or they trust the chefs so much they say okay make me up
something special.
It's not uncommon the chef says for a huge Air Korea Airbus international
flight with 400 plus passengers to comes through the airport and the
restaurant is packed with travelers from the airbus. In addition to the
southern classic food he serves up, the restaurant is unique as it has a
sushi bar. "We operate two concepts in one place," he says.
As executive chef it's his job to create the menu and handle many aspects of
the restaurant. He not only makes sure the food is southern cuisine, the
spirits has to likewise be home grown. He selects the bourbons from local
cities. "I felt it was my duty to showecase the entire southeast. "When
you land here you'll get to taste not only Georgia food but you get the
southeast." He gets the bacon from Tennessee and meats and other foods from
Kentucky, Texas and the Carolinas.
Chef Nutter came to Atlanta after seeing his idol Chef Darryl Evans on
television. Chef Evans was the first African American chef in the Culinary Olympics. Once Chef Nutter completed culinary school, he moved here and had the opportunity to work with Chef Evans at various restaurants. That was 20
years ago and he and Chef Evans remain friends today. In fact Chef Nutter
still communicates on facebook with his high school teacher who convinced
him culinary school would be a great move for him and actually drove him to
visit the school.
Also participating in the event is Morelli's Icecream with their 300 flavors
of icecream owned by David Sargent and Clarissa Morelli. They have three
locations, two in the East Atlanta and one in Dunwoody and are considering
opening a new location in the Atlanta airport. The flavors of ice cream
change daily so there is an element of surprise when you visit. Could be
creative flavors like, Krispy Kremier, Smurfette Chocolate Chip, Breakfast
in Bed, Key Lime Pie, Honey and Prunes, Black Rasberry Chip
or old time favorites Strawberry,Butter Pecan and Vanilla.
Taste of Atlanta opens Friday October 25 with the block party from 6:30-10:30
admission is $95 for VIP and $70 for general admission. VIP is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The fest opens on Saturday and Sunday from 11-6 p.m. and the cost is $30 in advance and $40 on site for general admission. For more information on VIP tickets and a> list of participating restaurants visit www.tasteofatlanta.com