• >> events
  • >> food & drink
    • >> Best Food Trend

    Best Food Trend

    BestofWinnerMast
    Creative Loafing has been presenting Atlanta’s Best People, Places and Events since 1972. These are some of the past winners for this category:

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2017
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2017 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Poke

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2017
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2017 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Mindfully Sober Subculture
    There is a new sort of sustainability being talked about among our food and beverage community — an industry with a well-documented tendency toward substance abuse. A MINDFULLY SOBER SUBCULTURE is emerging with the message that drugs and alcohol need not go hand-in-hand with restaurant work. This year,more...
    There is a new sort of sustainability being talked about among our food and beverage community — an industry with a well-documented tendency toward substance abuse. A MINDFULLY SOBER SUBCULTURE is emerging with the message that drugs and alcohol need not go hand-in-hand with restaurant work. This year, local chefs Nick Melvin and Sean Brock have shared their journeys toward sobriety with a badge of honor. The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival offered a “Chill Space” for chefs and bartenders to be spirited without the spirits. Restaurateur Steve Palmer started Ben’s Friends, a support group “offering hope to the F&B industry.” Named for late chef Ben Murray, the group meets at 11 a.m. every Sunday at Westside’s O-Ku to bring the community together with “open ears, hearts, and minds.” The tone is communal, not preachy, and we think that’s pretty great. www.bensfriendshope.com/atlanta. less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2016
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Coffee
    The Atlanta COFFEE scene has reached critical mass. Craft shops have penetrated most parts of town, from the chic confines of Ponce City Market (Spiller Park) to the far depths of downtown (Ébrik Coffee Room). Westside? Take your pick among a half-dozen shops within a few block radius. But that’smore...
    The Atlanta COFFEE scene has reached critical mass. Craft shops have penetrated most parts of town, from the chic confines of Ponce City Market (Spiller Park) to the far depths of downtown (Ébrik Coffee Room). Westside? Take your pick among a half-dozen shops within a few block radius. But that’s not all. Cold brew specialists (Banjo, Blue Donkey, Wanderlust) seem to be stalking every farmers market in town. Even local micro-roasters (Radio Roasters, East Pole) are gaining traction. Starbucks seems to be noticing, too — it recently upgraded one of its midtown Atlanta shops to “Reserve” status, featuring exclusive small-lot roasts and your pick of siphon, Chemex, pour-over, or Clover brewing. less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2016
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » Oral Pleasures » Reader’s Pick
    Farm to table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2015
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Farm-to-table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2015
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Farm-to-table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2014
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2014 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Farm-to-table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2013
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2013 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Farm-to-table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2012
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2012 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Food Trucks

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2011
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Farm to table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2010
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Locavorism
    Runner-up: Burgers

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2009
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2009 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Offal
    Mmm, livers. Yuumm, tripe. Sweetbreads? Oh, yeah. More and more restaurants are jumping on the OFFAL bandwagon, and that’s just fine with us. While many upscale restaurants (as well as ethnic spots) have been serving organ meats for years, the past year has seen an explosion in whole-animalmore...
    Mmm, livers. Yuumm, tripe. Sweetbreads? Oh, yeah. More and more restaurants are jumping on the OFFAL bandwagon, and that’s just fine with us. While many upscale restaurants (as well as ethnic spots) have been serving organ meats for years, the past year has seen an explosion in whole-animal cooking, most notably at Holeman & Finch Public House and at Abattoir, the new restaurant from Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison. The good news is that the public seems to be gobbling it up with gusto, meaning this is a delicious trend that’s not going away anytime soon. Chicken hearts, anyone? Yes, please … . less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2009
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2009 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Organic/sustainable

    Runner-up
    Farm to table

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2009
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2009 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Offal

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2009
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2009 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Organic/sustainable

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2008
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2008 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Farm-to-table cooking
    The hottest trend this year is also the best: FARM-TO-TABLE COOKING has finally taken off like wildfire, from such swank establishments as Home to neighborhood eateries such as the Shed at Glenwood. Both our Restaurant of the Year and Best Overall Restaurant have farm-to-table cooking as the underpinningmore...
    The hottest trend this year is also the best: FARM-TO-TABLE COOKING has finally taken off like wildfire, from such swank establishments as Home to neighborhood eateries such as the Shed at Glenwood. Both our Restaurant of the Year and Best Overall Restaurant have farm-to-table cooking as the underpinning of what they do, and it’s likely you’ll see more and more of this in the coming months. What does it mean for you, the diner? Better, fresher food; less of your money leaving the state and going toward fuel costs; and a stronger food community. less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2007
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Southern Cooking
    It seems absurd, but until the last year or two it was difficult to find good SOUTHERN COOKING outside the city’s soul-food cafes. The exceptions were Watershed and Horseradish Grill, but they’ve been joined now by JCT Kitchen and Bar, Rare, and Sweet Lowdown. Restaurant Eugene’smore...
    It seems absurd, but until the last year or two it was difficult to find good SOUTHERN COOKING outside the city’s soul-food cafes. The exceptions were Watershed and Horseradish Grill, but they’ve been joined now by JCT Kitchen and Bar, Rare, and Sweet Lowdown. Restaurant Eugene’s Sunday suppers pay homage to our regional tradition, and Quinones at Bacchanalia also features a Southern accent. All these restaurants endeavor to use local ingredients and, besides preparing traditional dishes, most also do creative riffs on the food of our mothers and fathers. less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2007
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Southern Cooking
    It seems absurd, but until the last year or two it was difficult to find good SOUTHERN COOKING outside the city’s soul-food cafes. The exceptions were Watershed and Horseradish Grill, but they’ve been joined now by JCT Kitchen and Bar, Rare, and Sweet Lowdown. Restaurant Eugene’s Sunday suppersmore...
    It seems absurd, but until the last year or two it was difficult to find good SOUTHERN COOKING outside the city’s soul-food cafes. The exceptions were Watershed and Horseradish Grill, but they’ve been joined now by JCT Kitchen and Bar, Rare, and Sweet Lowdown. Restaurant Eugene’s Sunday suppers pay homage to our regional tradition, and Quinones at Bacchanalia also features a Southern accent. All these restaurants endeavor to use local ingredients and, besides preparing traditional dishes, most also do creative riffs on the food of our mothers and fathers. less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2006
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2006 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
    Meat and Cheese Plates

    BEST RESTAURANT TREND


    Americans are finally learning to eat at a leisurely pace. Over recent years, more and more restaurants have been forgoing the three-course format for more free-form dining options like tapas and sushi. This year, we especially love how many restaurants are offering MEAT AND CHEESE PLATES as the start to a meal, or accompaniment to a bottle of wine (or three) for a group of friends. New restaurants such as Enoteca Carbonari and Krog Bar offer a wonderful selection. At the Fifth Group’s new restaurant, Ecco, the gorgonzola dolce and the spicy coppa are not to be missed.

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Year » 2006
    Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2006 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
    Tapas

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Tapas

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Upscale Ethnic Restaurants
    We’re continually dazzled by and thankful for the ever-evolving diversity of the city’s mom-and-pop ethnic eateries. But in the last two years, the opening of numerous UPSCALE ETHNIC RESTAURANTS has signaled a leap forward in the evolution of our food scene. Kyma, Nam, Nan Thai Fine Dining, Salamore...
    We’re continually dazzled by and thankful for the ever-evolving diversity of the city’s mom-and-pop ethnic eateries. But in the last two years, the opening of numerous UPSCALE ETHNIC RESTAURANTS has signaled a leap forward in the evolution of our food scene. Kyma, Nam, Nan Thai Fine Dining, Sala and Fogo de Chao highlight the list of ventures whose chefs strive for true reflections of their represented cultures’ cuisines. Served in swanked-out settings, just the way Atlantans like it, we get glamour “and” authentic chow. What will be the next cuisine to get a makeover? Indian? Moroccan? Korean? We can’t wait to taste. less...

    Best Food Trend BOA Award Winner

    Tapas

    Browse Winners by Category

    After Dark
    After Dark
    Cityscape
    Cityscape
    Consumer Culture
    Consumer Culture
    Index
    Index
    Oral Pleasures
    Oral Pleasures
    Poets, Artists & Madmen
    Poets, Artists & Madmen
    Departments