Omnivore - Dirty South Wine announces the Riding Dirty” challenge”

Just received a press release from our friend Hardy over at Dirty South Wine. Seems he’s planning a pairing challenge:

Atlanta, GA — Dirty South Wine, Atlanta’s top wine blog, has announced the 2008 “Riding Dirty” Atlanta Wine Pairing Challenge.  Fifteen of Atlanta’s top  restaurants will prepare a wine and food pairing to be served at their bar for under $25.  The goal of the challenge is to showcase the restaurant’s skill and creativity in wine pairing, while presenting incredible, affordable combinations for  the Atlanta dining public.   Restaurants must choose a glass of wine from their current list of by-the-glass  wines, and the food may be either a small plate or appetizer from their standard menu. The pairings will be served to the judges at the participating restaurants and will be evaluated based on three criteria:  taste, creativity and value.    The judges are:   1.  Matt Richardson (aka Rowdy Food) 2.  Broderick Smylie (ATL photographer http://broderickphoto.wordpress.com/) 3.  Hardy Wallace (publisher of www.dirtysouthwine.com).

All pairings will be chronicled and written up on Dirty South Wine.  At the end of  the challenge, an overall winner will be named, and the 2008 “Riding Dirty” award presented.  Along with the overall winner, several subcategories will be announced as well.   The following Atlanta restaurants have agreed to participate:   Holeman & Finch, Joel, ARIA,  ENO, Woodfire Grill, Toulouse,  VITA, Repast, La Tavola,  Top FLR, VINE, Canoe,  Dogwood, ONE. Midtown kitchen, and the ISAW charity  (International Society of Africans in Wine).  The tastings will occur throughout the month of November, and winners announced on December 3, 2008.  Progress in the “Riding Dirty” Challenge can  be followed at www.dirtysouthwine.com, and updates and news can be followed on Twitter under #dty (for Dirty).