Atlanta’s vibrant food and hospitality community will take center stage Sunday, Nov. 1, when Giving Kitchen transforms the floor of State Farm Arena into what promises to be Atlanta’s largest dining room for the second annual Atlanta Hawks Forkside Seats fueled by Georgia Natural Gas.
The James Beard Award-winning nonprofit, which provides support to food service workers facing crisis, will bring together more than 30 Atlanta restaurants, chefs, bartenders and beverage partners for an unforgettable evening celebrating the city’s culinary identity.
This year’s event, themed “True to Atlanta,” will celebrate generations of Atlanta’s food scene, bringing established culinary institutions and emerging talents together around one table.
“Forkside Seats is a love letter to Atlanta’s dynamic food scene and a celebration of the Southern hospitality that makes this community so special,” said Allison Padilla-Goodman, CEO of Giving Kitchen.
The evening will begin with an elevated cocktail hour featuring handcrafted drinks, wines and bites from Atlanta favorites, including Bankhead Seafood, COSM, Holeman & Finch, Magic City Kitchen, Ruki’s Kitchen, Tandoori Pizza & Wing Co., Woody’s and Your 3rd Spot.
Guests will then enjoy a four-course dinner on the State Farm Arena floor. Bread service will come from Mary Mac’s Tea Room and Bomb Biscuits, while Chef G. Garvin, the arena’s Chief Culinary Officer, will curate the salad course. The main course will feature creations from chefs representing restaurants including Canoe, The Deer and The Dove, The Iberian Pig, Kamayan ATL, Local Three Kitchen & Bar, Nakato Japanese Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris, Southern National, Table & Main and Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours.
Desserts from Cake Pharmacy, Sweet Auburn Bread Company and The Chai Box will cap the meal before an evening of music and a live auction benefiting Giving Kitchen.
Every ticket directly supports Giving Kitchen’s mission. Since 2013, the organization has assisted more than 41,000 food service workers, including more than 8,000 children in their households, and provided more than $17 million in financial assistance. Today, its support reaches workers in all 50 states.
With Forkside Seats, Atlanta’s culinary community will not only celebrate what makes the city unique but also give back to the people who help make its hospitality culture thrive.
