Chefs Unite for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® Atlanta

On May 8, Atlanta’s culinary elite will once again unite for Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation^® Atlanta, the city’s premier benefit dedicated to ending childhood hunger. The highly anticipated 26^th annual tasting event, which supports Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign to end childhood hunger in America, will feature gourmet samples from Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs and mixologists, as well as live, silent and beverage auctions, wine tastings and live entertainment all set against the dramatic live backdrop of the Georgia Aquarium ballroom. Tickets are now available and proceeds benefit one important cause: making sure all children in this nation have the healthy food they need, every day.

Date:

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Location:

Georgia Aquarium

255 Baker Street NW

Atlanta, Georgia 30313

Time:

7:30 to 10:00 p.m. for General Admission

6:30 to 10:00 p.m. for VIP

Admission:

$250 for General Admission; $350 for VIP

MAX’S WINE DIVE ALANTA NAMES EXECUTIVE CHEF AND GENERAL MANAGER

Midtown Atlanta’s highly anticipated new restaurant, MAX’s Wine Dive, is proud to announce the addition of an executive chef, general manager and a tentative opening date of May 15, pending construction and licensing completion schedules.

Leading the culinary team is Executive Chef Jason Hall, formerly of Saltyard and Livingston Restaurant notoriety. Chef Hall brings deep southern heritage and dynamic experience to the Midtown-based restaurant. Over the years, Chef Hall developed his culinary prowess in concepts ranging from casual eateries to five-star dining rooms. Hall’s one-of-a-kind artistic talent complements MAX’s Wine Dive’s famous gourmet comfort food classics, while his innovative style inspires his seasonal creations.

“I thoroughly enjoy the process of cooking and creating exceptional experiences for guests,” says Chef Hall. “I’m thrilled to bring the MAX’s Wine Dive concept to Atlanta and showcase my style of gourmet comfort food.”

At the helm of front-of-house operations is General Manager Jonathan (Jon) McAloon. A Chicago native, Jon has worked in both fast-casual and full-service upscale cuisine in Chicago, New York and San Francisco and joins the MAX’s Wine Dive team after spending two years as a multi-unit manager for Atlanta spots The Big Ketch and Milton’s Cuisine and Cocktails.

“After working in the industry for 20 years, there isn’t anything I haven’t done or seen in this business,” says Jonathan. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing people and form lifelong relationships and am ecstatic to continue this journey within the truly unique culture of MAX’s Wine Dive in Atlanta and the growing landscape of eclectic dining options in Midtown.”

MAX’s Wine Dive and its renowned “gourmet comfort food” concept with six locations in Texas and a mantra of “Fried Chicken and Champagne… Why the Hell Not?!?,” features a dual-sided menu consisting of “Wine Dive Classics” on the left and a location-specific, seasonal menu on the right. The seasonal, chef-driven offerings change two or three times a year and are unique to each location as they are designed and created by that particular restaurant’s executive chef and culinary team. Additionally, the restaurant is known for serving spectacular wines from around the world, providing the perfect juxtaposition to each dish.

MAX’s Wine Dive’s “Classics” menu items include the famous Southern Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, collard greens and Texas toast (consistently recognized as one of the top-10 fried chicken dishes in the country); The Fried Egg Sandwich with truffle oil, applewood-smoked bacon, Gruyère, lettuce, tomatoes and garlic black truffle aioli, sandwiched between two pieces of artisan sourdough; MAX ‘n Cheese consisting of cavatappi pasta tossed in truffle cream with provolone, Gruyère and Parmigiano-Reggiano; and Nacho Mamas Oysters with crispy fried Gulf Coast oysters and garlic aioli on crispy MAX’s wonton chips, habanero salsa and cilantro.

MAX’s Wine Dive Atlanta is located at 77 12^th St. NE, Suite 6B, Atlanta, GA, 30309.

PodPonics Announces the Official Launch of Lettuce Buy Local

PodPonics, an innovative leader in urban salad-mix production, announces the official launch of its first consumer product, Lettuce Buy Local. The delicate mix of greens is pesticide free, kosher, non-GMO and conveniently comes washed and ready-to-eat. Sustainably grown in Atlanta, Lettuce Buy Local offers consumers superior produce that is more nutrient-dense and eco-friendly as lettuce is packaged and delivered within hours of harvest.

“The goal of PodPonics has always been to improve local communities through sustainable urban farming technology,” said Matt Liotta,PodPonics founder and CEO. “With the official launch of Lettuce Buy Local, we are providing tangible results as Atlantans now have a better choice for readily available, fresh and flavorful lettuce.”

Packaged in a 5-ounce clamshell container, the fresh and flavorful product is currently available in two mix varieties: Green Mix with green romaine and green lollo, and Encore Mix with green romaine, green lollo and red lollo. Both product varieties are sold in select Whole Foods and Kroger locations throughout Atlanta and in the surrounding suburbs. 10-ounce packages of each variety are coming soon to stores.

As a genuine advocate for the local food movement, Lettuce Buy Local is a weekly vendor at several Atlanta market locations, including the Decatur, Piedmont Park, Georgia Tech, East Atlanta and Grant Park Farmer’s Markets. Both the Encore Mix and Green Mix are available in 5-and-10-ounce clamshell packages at each market. For more information on store locations, in-store product demonstrations and news, follow Lettuce Buy Local on Facebook.

PodPonics anticipates additional Atlanta grocers and markets in their distribution plan for 2014 and continued growth of globally based farming efforts.

With a strategic team of industry experts and leaders, along with the promise of expanded farming capabilities for Atlanta, PodPonics is beginning to operate on a global scale. As part of its sustained growth model, the company is actively building urban farm locations internationally. Its second farm is under construction in Dubai and subsequent farms are expected in other countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

About PodPonics

PodPonics is the future of farming. The Atlanta-based company answers the growing consumer demand for local food by producing it in urban centers, using an approach that does not require arable land. PodPonics utilizes a proprietary system that integrates advanced hydroponics, proprietary lighting, irrigation and nutrient technology with process control. Their growing system eliminates pesticides, reduces cost, improves product quality and creates local jobs while answering the strong and growing demand for locally produced, natural foods.

The PodPonics approach to next-generation urban agriculture provides a number of advantages over traditional farming, including year-round crop production, much higher crop density, predictable results and the elimination of crop failures caused by weather or pests. PodPonics meets these goals using far less water and oil than traditional agriculture, without employing harmful pesticides. The benefits of the approach include providing a healthy, natural product grown in a controlled environment at or near the point of consumption. For more information on PodPonics growing technology or crops, please visit www.podponics.com.