For all of the time we share in this space almost year-round about the Savannah Food and Wine Festival, it is not lost on me that most of you (us) are procrastinators. For the majority of you, there is no chance you are going to give much thought to where you will be on November the 9th if the calendar only says it’s May 22nd. I get it. We all get it, but I am here to tell you (in October) that if you enjoy food and have enjoyed the events surrounding the Savannah Food and Wine Festival, then you need to grab some tickets pretty soon. The festival is celebrating 5 years. The events are getting better and better, and larger and more diverse. Sell outs shouldn’t surprise anyone. In fact, tickets for Saturday night’s ‘Dinner in the Park’ in Forsyth Park are already all gone.
It would be easy for me to wax poetic for 4 more paragraphs about the Thursday night Secret Savannah Speakeasy event at the Georgia State Railroad Museum. I will only say that it has probably become the most popular party of the week in a fabulous setting. This party features some of the best culinary talent from not only Savannah but a few sprinkled in from around the South. The cocktails are always a hit and the scene is pretty tough to beat with so many attendees going all out to dress in period attire.
Friday night’s Q Masters Event will once again be a huge hit. Last year it was held out on Indian Street near Service Brewing. This year it has been moved to the Georgia State Railroad Museum to allow everyone ample space to enjoy some great BBQ. Some of the South’s best will be represented. B’s Cracklin from here in Savannah, Savannah’s Gottlieb Brothers, Southern Soul from St. Simons Island, as well as Charleston’s Rodney Scott and many many more. Last year there wasn’t a bite of food that wasn’t off the charts great. A good time and very much worth the $55 price tag. Tickets are limited, however. Grab ’em soon.
Tuesday night’s Whiskey at the Whitman is a beautiful event overlooking Forsyth Park and benefiting The 200 Club of The Coastal Empire, a group that supports families of local law enforcement and first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This is a pretty high-end event with excellent spirits for sampling and bites from great chefs from not only both sides of the Savannah River, but Atlanta will also be represented and Kansas City.
Last but certainly not least, Wednesday night’s James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinner has positioned itself as the best wine dinner of the year in Savannah. The James Beard Foundation has helped Savannah draw some major talent over the years, with this year being no different. Including Steven Satterfield, Best Chef Southeast in 2017, Hugo Ortega, Best Chef Southwest in 2017 and Rebecca Wilcomb from New Orleans, who was named Best Chef South in 2017. That event will be held at the always beautiful Westin Savannah Harbor and promises to once again be among the best meals in Savannah for 2017.
Of course, there are a ton of other events that week including Master Classes at Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table, Grand Tastings and of course Taste of Savannah, which we will talk about in a couple of weeks.
That’s enough right there to fill your plate for now. There is a lot to consider, but really it is all good. It just depends what your favorite flavors are for the week. It is, after all, our best week in food. Don’t say we didn’t give you a heads up.
See you on TV
Jesse
