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The food festivals are coming fast and furious these days. Thanks to Georgia Organics, who just BLEW YA MIND with the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival, we have another one this evening.  Entitled “To Live And Die In Atlanta,” tonight’s event features stalwarts like Hugh Acheson and Carvel Grant Gould.  While I don’t expect Richard Chance to pop up and start blowing people away, the event does sound like a big deal.

There’s an emphasis on farm-to-table cooking, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have room for food trucks.  The Incredible Flying Soup Mobile will be there as will the bursting at the seems Yumbii Taco Truck.  Details after the jump!

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Attack of The Killer Tomato Festival for $500 please Mr. Kebert Xela …

Answer: Jay Swift, Anne Quatrano, Hugh Acheson, Chris Hastings, Kevin Gillespie, Bruce Logue.
Question: Who are just a few of the awesome chef’s showing up at this years Attack of The Killer Tomato Festival?

Yes ladies and gents … it is that time again.  Thanks to the good folks over at Georgia Organics, the Killer Tomatoes are back.  Just like last year, the event will land at the Westside Urban Market, home to places like JCT Kitchen and Star Provisions.  From 1pm – 5pm on Sunday August 8th, you’ll be able to indulge yourself in a sea of all things red.

To further wet your whistle, check out Savory Exposure’s recap of last years event.  When you’re done with that, go check out Running With Tweezers flickr set.  Tickets are $45 for Georgia Organics members and $50 for those of you who are not.  However, prices go up this Saturday (to $65)… so I suggest you buy them now! Full details just after the jump!

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Last Thursday, foodies, lawyers, socialites, and professional lame wads came out in full force for the Food Truck Extravaganza in the Souper Jenny parking lot.  Even with a who’s who of ATL, the most important guests were most definitely Muffin Sudbery & The Sexy Popsicle girls.  Armed with fistfuls of cash, a feverous need for grub, and a seemingly endless amount of stomach space, these four women took to the festival like Al Bundy takes to a Hondo marathon.

Thankfully, the ladies were nice enough to bring me a stash of pictures and a handful of samples to check out.  While recapping an event you can’t attend in the future may make you feel teased and taunted, fear not … all of this food is available with a little bit of patience and good detective work.

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Breaking news: On Thursday, April 22nd, Buckhead’s Souper Jenny will be cancelling their Grilled Cheese Night.  Instead, proprietor Jenny Levison will be hosting the Super Secret Underground Food Truck Extravaganza (from 6pm to 9pm).  Yes, it seems that the food truck craze that is just now inundating our daily lives is getting another big push from “fringe” to “mainstream.”

The previously mentioned Incredible Flying Soup Mobile will be there, serving up Nantucket lobster rolls and shrimp posole.  In addition, my favorite popsicle dude (The King of Pops) and Black Tie Barbeque will be on hand, fighting with The Good truck, Taqueria del Sol, and The Pickle for your stomach space.  In fact, there will be a few more vendors and FREE WINE!!!! (while supplies last).  Woot!

Most importantly, this is a street food affair – so leave your plastic at home. Get there:

Souper Jenny Restaurant Address & Information

56 E. Andrews Dr, Atlanta, GA 30305 // Souper Jenny website // Souper Jenny menu

Supper clubs aren’t new.  Supper clubs in Atlanta aren’t new.  What is new is all the mainstream attention being dolled out on these underground dining destinations.  While the inertia behind every supper club can be as unique as the food served up, almost all of them carry an absolute truth:  to give people a chance to throw an Eephus pitch curve ball in their dining experience.

                                                                                                                         ryan, his sister, and mom

A few days ago, Bob Townsend of the AJC wrote a little piece on the phenomenon.  In it, Townsend recapped a recent meal with chef Ryan Hidinger at his Staplehouse dinners.  With help from his wife and partner Jen and sous-chef Ben Barth, Ryan is hoping to spread the word about his upcoming restaurant.  They are come as you are people, so don’t be shy about contacting them through the Staplehouse website/blog.  Their 10-seat dinners are so popular that they often sellout inside of a minute or two, but if you can score a seat, they are well worth it.  I was lucky enough to sneak into one of their earliest dinners, it was a dinner worth remembering.  But don’t take my word for it … you can trust the daily candy vote for all things cool in Atlanta. More reading … so clicky clicky por favor!

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Souper Jenny, aka Jenny Levison, has a pension for good food and cute names.  Enter her newest endeavor: The Incredible Flying Soup Mobile:

That little red power pack has been spotted outside Souper Jenny for a few days now, but that pic comes straight from Jenny herself.

Food Trucks have come up a few times around these parts.  We all know they are a hit outside the ATL, but due to some red tape (and a few other issues), Atlanta really hasn’t gotten in on the trend.  Things are definitely changing.

While The Green Van is still ramping up, Levison is just about ready to throw herself into the phenomena first hand.  There are just a few minor details to be ironed out, but it looks like this baby is ready to roll.  I’ll stay on top of this, but you might be able to glean information for yourself if you follow her on twitter or check in on the SJ website.  As she won’t be cooking on the truck itself, we’ll have to wait for more information on exactly what you’ll find in that Radio Flyer on steroids!

It’s getting darn cold out there, so what better way to ease the pain of the dropping thermometer than with a visit from Jenny Levison, Atlanta’s soup queen.  [Errr… well, the conversation is nice … but actually, her soup is what will actually do the trick].

Levison’s Souper Jenny has long garnered the attention of the Buckhead dining scene.  However, that notoriety extends beyond the scope of the 30305.  In fact, in the recent Best of The Big A series, AJC readers named Souper J’s the best soup in the Dirty.

On most any given day, you’ll see SJ cavorting around her shop with a carefree and friendly manner.  Meanwhile, she manages to put together some very cool underground dinners, get on national TV (video below), and put out a cookbook.  Oh yeah, she tweets as well!

She took the time to answer our little questionnaire, and in doing so, Levison’s approach to good tasting, straightforward food really shines.  Jenny has been swinging a ladle since ‘98, so like they say: “The woman knows!”  Alright, take a few minutes out of your day and check her out.  And with that, welcome to ITCK!

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I was apprehensive to say the least.  High-brow, underground supper clubs strike a strange cord with me.  On the one hand, it’s kind of cool to hit up a private event that requires a trip to the piggy bank.  On the other hand, there is something snob-elitish about events that come with a $150 price tag, all white garb, and a super secret location (as this one did).  Mind you, supper clubs come in all shapes and sizes.  However, this one clearly went the way of “deep thoughts … by F. Scott Fitzgerald.”

Atlanta has it’s fair share of private dining events and one such purveyor of said events is a woman by the name Jenny Levison.  Known around these parts as “Souper Jenny,” there is a Buckhead sandwich shop which bares that moniker.  Jenny’s shop is a warm and friendly place, and that led me to believe that my fears would be quashed when the event rolled around.  In addition, I hear that entry into one of these seatings [sic] is as hard to come by as a golden ticket into Wonka-ville.  However, that’s due to demand, and not any pretense.  As it follows, when the opportunity to attend one of these events presented itself, I jumped.  It was an evening of firsts, and the experience is worth a recap.

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Today’s lunch excursion took me to Souper Jenny.  Flying solo, the idea of ordering two sandwiches all by my lonesome intimidated me.  As luck would have it, my 2:00 was in Buckhead and Souper J allowed me to meet the two sandwich requirement without having to gorge myself.  I have dined at SJ a handful of times; and, it seems the daily sandwiches are designed to be enjoyed with a side or two.

I strolled in at approximately 1:15 and immediately took note of my fellow patrons.  Of the 30 or so people inside, I was the only dude (sans an hombre behind the counter).  Ah, Buckhead Mommies do love this place!  But … would I?

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Sandwich Shop Stops: quick, say that again three times!  So after a LOT of research, I have come up with a list of 20 spots to visit.  Two places that I want to try are named… but not included in that twenty.  I really wanted to focus on locally owned and operated Atlanta joints; however, I did include three franchises.  Details after the jump!

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