Demos, Canning, and Bees (Oh, my!)

This week at PRFM…

Stock up on Labor Day favorites like hot dogs and other grillin’ meats, buns, peppers, lettuce, melons, cucumbers, herbs, desserts, and much more!

Chef Demo with Whitney Otawka

of Farm 255 – 10:00 a.m. on 9/1

Chef Demos are sponsored by

Whole Foods Market

You might recognize Chef Whitney Otawka from her recent run on Top Chef Season 9, or from accolades like being named a “2012 Atlanta Rising Star Chef.” If it’s not clear by now, we’re talking about one seriously talented local chef—and this Saturday under our demo tent, you can check out for yourself just how lucky we are to call her one of our own! So, we won’t hold it against Whitney that her culinary journey started across the country, when she was taking French classes at the University of California-Berkeley…she responded to an advertisement for a waitress position at a local French creperie; with no waitressing experience, she was hired instead as one member of a two-person kitchen, and the rest, as they say, is histoire. Whitney continued her training in California restaurants until she moved to Athens (Georgia, y’all) in 2005. She quickly worked her way up to sous chef at Hugh Acheson’s 5&10, then for a while worked simultaneously as chef de partie at Linton Hopkins' Restaurant Eugene. She also took time to stage in several kitchens across New York, including the renowned restaurants Per Se and Le Bernardin, and also traveled to learn from chefs and winemakers across Europe. In 2010, Whitney took a unique opportunity to serve as executive chef at the stunning Greyfield Inn of Cumberland Island. It was from there that she headed to Top Chef, and we’re glad she’s now returned to her southern roots to serve as executive chef of Athens’ Farm 255 (us Atlantans know these fine restaurant folks through Farm Burger). You won’t want to miss this chef demo, where Whitney will show you how to bring new flavors to rustic cuisine, all while using the season’s best ingredients. Super-star, indeed.  

Canning with Martha! 

8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

New this year at PRFM, join us for a series of seasonal canning demos with expert Martha McMillin. Up this week, preserve the last of the summer peaches, tomatoes and more! Who says you can’t enjoy the season’s juicy, yummy produce later in the year? Well, nobody’s going to say it after this demo. Martha has received her certificate from the FDA’s Better Process Control School at UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—so if you’ve been nervous about canning, stop by Martha’s tent and learn all the tips and tricks that will put you at ease and impress your friends!

Also, bees.

Metro ATL Bee Keepers will be on hand with their observation hive, a bee suit for kids to try on, cool equipment, and of course…some (very) local honey to taste!

- Jennifer Maley