Omnivore - Goat Farm hosts 6th annual Killer Tomato Fest this Sunday

• Alyssa Pointer
• A clip from 2013’s celebration- purple Cherokee tomato gazpacho with heirloom tomato and lump crab salsa, green tomato granita, and tomato chicharones. Prepared by Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina.

[http://clatl.com/atlanta/jct-kitchen-and-bar-attack-of-the-killer-tomato-festival/Event?oid=11085205|JCT. Kitchen & Bar’s Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival returns this Sunday, July 20 from 1-5 p.m. If you’ve gone in recent years, you’ll recall the hordes of sweaty, tomato-loving festivalgoers crammed into the courtyard behind JCT. Across-the-bridge expansion notwithstanding, it’s safe to say the festival has outgrown its Westside Provisions District home. This year, the 6th annual Killer Tomato Fest will take over the nearby Goat Farm Arts Center for the day, instead. The new locale will give the 52 participating chefs, 19 mixologists, and more than 30 local farmers more space for tomato-concocting, and, for the couple thousand festivalgoers expected to attend, more space for tomato-eating. (Fun fact: Organizers expect to go through an estimated 6,400 pounds of tomatoes this weekend.)? ? ?
Each chef is paired with a local farm and tasked with creating a dish using that farm’s tomatoes. Mixologists craft signature tomato cocktails. Judges go around evaluating each creation and, at the end of the day, pick the best tasting dish and drink overall. Attendees hang out and devour everything in sight.

This year, judges include Garden & Gun deputy editor Dave Mezz, Esquire food and travel correspondent John Mariani, Tasting Table creative director Todd Coleman, and Food & Wine associate food editor Ben Mims. Proceeds from the event will benefit Georgia Organics, as usual. This year, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Giving Kitchen, too.

Live music and entertainment from DJ Brian Poust, the B-53s from Athens, and ATL chef band Five Bone Rack are also on the agenda. If after all that you’ve got some fight left in you, JCT. Kitchen is throwing an after-party 5-9 p.m.

Parking will be limited. Organizers strongly encourage carpooling, services such as UBER, and taking public transportation. Yes, you can take MARTA to the Goat Farm, and yeah, it requires getting on a bus.

Tickets are available online through Xorbia. Buy them for $70 in advance or pay $85 at the door.

For more information, visit killertomatofest.com.]