Category Archives: Away Game

Chef Bradley showed me Michael’s beets last night in the walk-in, all prepped and shrink-wrapped, ready to go to Hotlanta with Schwartz!

We were in the car driving to the beach to celebrate Empire State South Pizzeria, talking about hunting trips, doves and such, when it occurred to chef Ryan Smith that he and Hugh Acheson should invite Michael to come cook at his benefit dinner for Share Our Strength coming up Sunday, November 11.  A quick check of the calendar revealed the Schwartz would be in the vicinity, and a few emails later, Michael was set to join the chefs in Atlanta!

Hosted by the nation’s finest restaurants, the No Kid Hungry dinner series brings renowned chefs together to prepare a multi-course meal for a great cause: ending childhood hunger in America.  In Florida alone, 28.4% of children are food insecure, that’s over 1.1 million children who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.  Thanks to this series, guests enjoy memorable meals, learn more about the work of Share Our Strength in an intimate setting, and have the opportunity to participate in auctions that include one-of-a-kind culinary, travel and lifestyle lots.

“Chef Ryan Smith has become a real champion of our work through his participation in our No Kid Hungry dinners in Nashville and Raleigh and now by hosting his own event in Atlanta,” shared SOS co-founder Debbie Shore.  ”We’ve always believed that at the core of our work was a desire for people to share their strength and Ryan is a shining example of that.  Everyone at Share Our Strength is grateful to him for helping us to make No Kid Hungry a reality, not just in his hometown, but across the country.”

So basically if you are in Atlanta this weekend, you best be at Empire State South! Trust us, the line-up is ridonk, the hosts have the most, and from the looks of the kitchen, which made a nice long cameo on Top Chef: Seattle’s premiere last night, they have plenty of room to put out a great meal!  Click here for tickets, and check out the amazing menu coming together below.  Since some of their names may be new to you if you’re not from the area, we thought you might like to get to know the chefs better by following them on Twitter, so we’ve conveniently linked to their handles, too.

Sunday, November 11, 2012
Empire State South
999 Peachtree Street NE, #140
Atlanta, GA 30309

5:30pm – Cocktail Reception
6:30pm – Multi-Course Seated Dinner and Live Auction

HOST CHEF
Ryan Smith, Empire State South, Atlanta, GA

GUEST CHEFS
Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner, Raleigh, NC ~ On-the-sleeve French-inspired, honest southern food with diner decor
Aaron Deal, The River and Rail, Roanoke, VA ~ 2009 James Beard Rising Star finalist, originally from North Carolina and previously worked with Tony Maws at Craigie on Main.
Josh Keeler, Two Boroughs Larder, Charleston, SC ~ grocery, deli, restaurant and craft beer bar… locavores through and through, from farm meat and eggs to local soy candles
Michael Schwartz, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Miami, FL

Menu-in-Progress

Passed: Ryan Smith
TBD!

First: Michael Schwartz
Smoked, Pickled & Raw Baby Beets  woodland gardens red mustard greens, whipped robiola, toasted pumpkin seeds, warm anchovy vinaigrette

Second: Josh Keeler
Capers Inlet Clams  smoked oxtail, marrow, barley miso, friarellos

Third: Ashley Christensen
Pickled Carolina Shrimp  white acre peas, smoked tomato, avocado, fried sour dough

Fourth:  Aaron Deal
TBD!

Fifth: Ryan Smith
TBD!