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Community Corner

Local Restaurants Compete in 'Culinary Arts' Competition at Taste of Alpharetta

Over a dozen local restaurants will step up to the stage and offer their best to the judges throughout the event.

The 23rd Annual Taste of Alpharetta this Thursday, May 9, will feature more than 50 amazing restaurants serving up their specialties for 40,000 food lovers who gather at the city's largest dinner party. 

Once again, Alpharetta will play host to the event, which invites patrons to enjoy great food, a culinary arts competition, live music, three Fun Zone areas and more, in the historic district of downtown Alpharetta on Milton Avenue, Roswell Street, Old Roswell Street, Canton Street and Old Canton Street.

Restaurants will prepare their best dishes and participate in the Taste of Alpharetta’s Culinary Arts Competition, which offers the chance to take prizes in the categories of Best Appetizer/Salad, Best Fast Casual Entrée, Best Fine Dining Entrée, Best Dessert, Best Presentation and Best Decorated Booth.  

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The People’s Choice Award is open to all 2013 Taste of Alpharetta participating restaurants. The award will be presented to the winning restaurant based on the number of popular votes received from festival goers. Ballots will be available at the culinary competition tent through 7 p.m. so stop by the stage and place your vote!

Best Booth award will be presented to the judge’s choice of best decorated booth area.

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The Culinary Arts Stage located on Roswell Street and hosted by Steak Shapiro from CBS Atlanta’s Atlanta Eats will feature select candidates in each category preparing their signature dishes live on stage. Culinary Judges for the 2013 competition include:

  • Atlanta Cuisine on Tap editor, Tom Maicon;
  • recipe developer and food stylist Ashley Baughman;
  • TV Chef, author and restaurateur Hans Rueffert;
  • and the People’s Voice and Foodie Candice Belle Isle. 

Here's what to expect from the Culinary Arts Stage throughout the evening:

5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Best Appetizer/Salad                                 

Appearing on the Culinary Arts Cooking stage:

  • 5 Seasons
  • Andretti's
  • The Flying Biscuit
  • Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails

Competing in this category and preparing in their booth:

  • Bite Bistro & Bar
  • 3 Brothers Restaurant
  • Another Broken Egg               
  • Cuzi Fresh Café
  • Noche Tequila & Tapas Bar
  • Andretti’s

5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. - Best Fast Casual Entrée                                        

Appearing on the Culinary Arts Cooking stage:                    

  • Cuzi Fresh Café
  • Bite Bistro & Bar
  • The Flying Biscuit
  • Wildflour

Competing in this category and preparing in their booth:   

  • Another Broken Egg               
  • Fresh Lettuce
  • Noche Tequila & Tapas Bar
  • Bite Bistro & Bar
  • Ruby Tuesday
  • Sid’s Pizza
  • Egg Harbor Cafe

6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Best Fine Dining Entrée                                       

Appearing on the Culinary Arts Cooking stage:

  • Atlantic Seafood
  • Bite Bistro & Bar
  • Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails

Competing in this category and preparing in their booth:

  • Wildflower

6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. - Best Dessert                                                          

Appearing on the Culinary Arts Cooking stage:

  • Bite Bistro & Bar
  • Cuzi Fresh Cafe
  • Wildflour 

All Culinary Awards will be presented on the Music Stage located on Milton Avenue at 8:30 p.m. 

Admission is free to get into the Taste of Alpharetta and the event offers free shuttles and parking.

  • Park and Walk (no shuttle service): Police Athletic League / PAL (Access from Haynes Bridge Road just past Publix), and Milton Center (86 School Drive at Independence High School / old Milton High School).
  • Park and Shuttle: Wills Park Equestrian Center (on Wills Rd), Wills Park at Wacky World (on Old Milton Parkway to the right of the Alpharetta City Pool).

The event is sponsored by the city of Alpharetta, Awesome Alpharetta, Superior Plumbing, Publix Super Markets Charities, Appen Newspapers, DeVry University, Quantum., Atlanta Eats, Arrow Exterminators, YP.com, Suntrust, Georgia Power, Operation CrossFit, Milo’s, Atlanta Cuisine on Tap, 92.9 The Game, Kiss 104.1, 97.1 The River, WSB 95.5FM/750AM; B95.5FM, Power 96.1, Kicks 101.5FM, Talk 920AM; 98.9 The Walk, 104.7 The Fish, Radio Disney, All News 106.7FM.

Individual food tickets are sold from several booths stationed throughout the event area.

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