The inaugural Saint Simons Food & Spirits Festival, to benefit Hospice of the Golden Isles, will be held September 21 through 23 on Saint Simons Island, GA. This festival is the first of its kind in the area and will be headlined by James Beard award-winning television personality, cookbook author and grand dame of Southern cooking, Nathalie Dupree and her co-author, Cynthia Graubart.
Additional culinary luminaries scheduled to participate include Ford Fry, chef and restaurateur of Atlanta restaurants no. 246, JCT. Kitchen and The Optimist; Libbie Summers, lifestyle expert, blogger at Salted and Styled and author of The Whole Hog Cookbook; and Saint Simons’ own beekeeper, Ted Dennard, founder of Savannah Bee Company.
Event highlights include:
· First Bite kick-off reception on Thursday, Sept. 20 in the courtyard of Halyards Restaurant.
· Friday Night Festival Feast hosted by Sea Island. Executive chef Jonathan Jerusalmy and guest chef Ford Fry will present a five-course dinner featuring local foods, specialty cocktails and fine wines.
· Saturday festivities at Gascoigne Bluff include The Market, which features a farm stand, retailers and a juried arts and crafts show, free to the public.
· Southern Specialties Cooking Class, presented by Elegant Island Living and led by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart, held in the Harbour Room at Coastal Kitchen.
· Local Flavors Tasting Tent featuring 25 local chefs and restaurants, craft beers, artisan spirits and fine wines.
· VIP Riverside Sporting Club will televise SEC football and guests will enjoy food from Frederica, Little Saint Simons and Sea Island as well as libations from the mixologists at the King & Prince. In this venue, festivalgoers will also have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with festival talent.
· Culinary Creations Demo Tent featuring Ted Dennard, Libbie Summers, Ford Fry, Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart.
· Lowcountry Concert with bluegrass and rock-n-roll from the Mosier Brothers and the eclectic, soulful sounds of Mudcat. Local restaurants will sell coastal favorites and during the concert, football viewing will continue and VIPs will enjoy pub grub in the Riverside Sporting Club.
· SPIRITual Sunday Brunch at Halyards. Chef and owner Dave Snyder and his team will serve a multi-course meal featuring recipes from invited culinary talent, who will be seated among the guests.
