Atlanta Foodie: Buick Regal Discovery Tour

To follow up my Taste of Atlanta experience, my best foodie friend Cassena (CeeCee) invited me to the Buick Regal Discovery Tour. I admit I was on the fence about attending (when I think of Buick's I think of duece and a quarters, and "grandpa cars") but once she said food was involved, I was sold!

Lobby of the W Atlanta Perimeter


That's CeeCee!

The event was really well organized, we got to test drive the 2011 Buick Regal (definitely NOT grandpa's car!) but let's get to the food, right?! The event was broken down into sections; Mixology, Travel, Desserts, and a cooking demo.

MIXOLOGY

Mixology was led by Michael Green, who has been on The Today Show, MSNBC, Food Network, and featured in Fine Living Magazine. His job consists of everything alcoholic, lol! He is super funny (but I guess it's had not to be when your full of "spirit" at 10am) and he gave us a great mocktail/cocktail recipe as well as taught us how to make our own simple syrup (not wasting my money on THAT anymore!). I will provide the recipes later on this week.

TRAVEL

Planning a long driving trip? Well visit www.roadfood.com and Michael Stern will tell you the best places to stop to get that regions delicacy. Tips he gave on how he found the best places to eat;

Roll down your windows and stop where the food smells so good your mouth waters!
Eat where you see the local fire and police eat, they are locals, they know what's good!
When you stop to eat in a town, ask what is good to eat between there and your destination.

DESSERTS


She is saying she's gonna fatten me up... I'm game for all you can eat cake!

Hailing from Decatur, the cake lady brought a smile to ALL of our faces. Cake Cafe Atlanta, Inc. is the place to be! We learned how to make a quick but cute cupcake dessert in wine glasses (don't be surprised if I serve it at my next dinner party!) and she told us the secret behind all of her "Fat-free, Carb-free, Colestrol-free" cakes, gourmet popcorn, cobblers, and cupcakes. You'll have to stop by her shop to find out! BTW, she gives out free samples at her bakery! Forget Publix! Support the Cake Lady!

COOKING DEMO
The cooking demo was done by none other than Season 2's winner of "Top Chef Masters", Marcus Samuelsson. One of the most recent highlighted events he cooked for was the State Dinner for President Obama (what can top that?!) and was named Best Chef in New York in 2003. He is also on a mission to change our public schools lunch menu. No more nasty frozen pizza??? I'm all for that! Visit his cause at www.foodrepublic.com.


Yes we did snag a front row seat! CeeCee was drooling all over the table and it wasn't just for the food, lol!

He prepared Shrimp and Red Grits, which was delicious...

But during the Q&A potion he offered dishes from the batch he was actually preparing. We made it our goal to get that plate!

Mission Accomplished! Well actually the guy next to us got the plate, but he was kind enough to share it with us! Point is... best shrimp and grits... EVER. The flavors were layered, everything kind of "popped" in your mouth. Recipe coming soon. Make it and you won't be disappointed... unless you make it wrong, lol!