The 4th annual Sub-Zero Wolf are also shownAtlanta Food and Wine Festival is this weekend and even though this is the first year I’ve participated, I’ve heard so many good things about it. My friends at Ballard Designs are the official home furnishings sponsor of the festival and I was invited to a breakfast on Thursday as one of the opening previews for this year’s event and I’ll also be attending tomorrow as a media person. I’m really looking forward to exploring the tasting tents, classes, and events.
Foodies from all over the country will be coming in to experience this celebration of food and wine in Atlanta and the focus will be on our Southern region’s cuisine and will take guests on a culinary journey through the South’s rich food and drink history. With 100 classes taking place this weekend, many topics will be tackled but the focus will be all about food. Founded by Elizabeth Feichter and Dominique Love, the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival is garnering attention from all over the world. I’m happy to be invited to browse the festival on Sunday and I’ll be blogging about my experience later too.
William Peace from award winning Atlanta design firm, William Peace Designs worked with Ballard Designs on all the styling of the connoisseur lounge on the 14th floor of the Loew’s Hotel, the official host hotel for the festival in Midtown.
Loved seeing Ballard Designs products in place, mixed in with antiques and collectibles.
They have such beautiful pieces of furniture and fabrics too.
Breakfast would not have been complete without a little bit of Southern. Biscuits are made for breakfast!
Delicious spread of food. I can hardly wait to taste some of the offerings in the tasting tent on Sunday.
Fruit tray.
A special kitchen was installed on the 14th floor of the Loew’s Hotel just for the festival from Kingdom Woodworks. Isn’t this gorgeous?
Sub-Zero Wolf are also sponsors.
Fresh flowers always sets the mood.
Beautiful display of glasses.
Outside on the grilling terrace, Ballard Designs set up some of their gorgeous outdoor wicker furniture. Doesn’t this look inviting?
The Big Green egg will be front and center on the grilling terrace.
I’ll be back later on to report in on the Food and Wine Festival firsthand. You still have time to grab a ticket for Sunday if you are in the area. I know it’s going to be fun!
What a wonderful event….the Ballard rooms are gorgeous!…
Rhoda, I’ve followed your blog since your humble beginnings but this promotion for Ballard has me rethinking that. Seeing their last few catalogs, the prices they are charging for the low quality furnishings they provide makes me think they are suffering from delusions of grandeur…… ie Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware prices for cardboard furnishings seems a bit over the top. Although I totally understand your need for the income advertising on this blog provides I would have thought you’d be a bit choosier as to whom you promote. I’ve enjoyed your blog and am sorry to see this but as I said, I understand your need for the revenue. Hoping it’s worth it……..
Hi, VBG! I know you have been with me for a long time and I do appreciate that. Thank you for that. And I understand your words about promoting companies and all of that and I get it too. Yes, I do work with a lot of different companies, some are pricier than others. I usually shop Ballards backroom where deals are found and I hear you on expensive prices. We have worked with Ballards at our Haven conference for 2 years in a row now, so I have developed a good relationship with the people and the company and I do like their catalogs and products, but I do get that it is too pricey for many people too (and I know you have to look at quality/vs. pricing too). Thank you for voicing your opinion in a nice way.
Thank you for allowing honest dissent in your blog comments Rhoda, that’s very important to me. Thank you as well for your thoughtful reply, I appreciate you taking the time to explain your relationship with Ballard. It sounds as though the working relationship you have with the company is a good one and I can see why you’d want to cultivate that. Having made quite a few satisfactory purchases for both our homes from Ballard’s catalog and several from the Ballard Backroom in the Roswell area in the last 5-6 years I can’t say I don’t like their products, and know you’re correct that there are some bargains to be found at the Backroom stores. Having said that……. shopping at the Backroom has shown me the quality of the furniture sold by Ballard, making me very happy that, even at their older more ‘reasonable pricing’ up to a year or two ago, I never ordered any.
Rhoda I have always enjoyed your blog and generally read and explore all of them. I’m not going to cut off my nose to spite, etc…. so I’ll continue to read and enjoy and hope you’ll continue to write informative, helpful posts showcasing your creative ideas. VBg