Southern Springtime

This week at PRFM...

Photo by Heidi Geldhauser

Chef Demo with Woody Back
of Table & Main
10:00 a.m. on 5/3
Chef Demos are sponsored by
COUNTRY Financial
Kentucky native Woody Back isn't just one of the nicest people you'll meet. He also happens to have some serious chef chops, from his devotion to responsibly sourced ingredients to his work with folks like Tom Colicchio and Linton Hopkins, he is the real deal. Join him under the demo tent this Saturday for some real tasty tips.

Happy Nest Kids’ Activities
Check out the Happy Nest tent for family fun from 8:30 a.m. to noon!


- Jennifer Maley

Celebrate with us this Saturday!

This week at PRFM we celebrate our seventh birthday in style! Join us for the announcement of our reusable bag design contest winner, birthday cake and hats, farm animals, and chef demo by our founder Linton Hopkins (we thought he was busy last year, but this year he's launching Eugene Kitchen—bringing his restaurants' from-scratch pantry products to the masses—and a pre-prohibition style beer in collaboration with Red Hare Brewing). Cheers, y'all!


- Jennifer Maley

PRFM Reusable Bag Design Update

PRFM Bag Design Winner To Be Announced,
Birthday Celebration Planned for April 26

The Peachtree Road Farmers Market and COUNTRY Financial are gearing up for a party on Sat., April 26 as the Market celebrates its seventh birthday and COUNTRY announces the winner of this year’s reusable bag design contest.

Three Atlanta high school students have been selected as finalists for the “Grow Your Own Way” themed bag design contest. The finalists are:

· Kinley Davis, 9th grade, Grady High School
· Tahj Mitchell, 11th grade, Mays High School
· Mei Nathan, 9th grade, Grady High School

The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship from COUNTRY; the two runner-ups will receive a $500 scholarship.

The winning design will be unveiled during the Market’s seventh birthday celebration, which will include cake, birthday hats and a singing of “Happy Birthday.”

A demonstration by Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene is also planned, along with a visit from our farm animal friends featuring baby goats, chickens and a pony, weather permitting.

For more information on the contest, visit www.CountryFarmersMarkets.com.

About COUNTRY Financial
COUNTRY Financial (www.countryfinancial.com) serves about one million households and businesses throughout the United States. It offers a full range of financial products and services from auto, home and life insurance to retirement planning services, investment management and annuities.

About Peachtree Road Farmers Market
Founded in 2007, Peachtree Road Farmers Market is the largest producer-only farmers market in Georgia. Peachtree Road Farmers Market is proud to have more GA farmers selling their own goods than anywhere else in state. Housed in the parking lot of The Cathedral of St. Philip, this centrally-located weekly market brings the community together around local food. To learn more about how Peachtree Road Farmers Market aims to grow, nourish and inspire the community, become a Twitter follower, Facebook fan, blog reader and visit http://www.peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com

Spring is in the air (and at the market)

This week at PRFM...

Stock up on Easter treats this Saturday! Obviously eggs and carrots. But what about pea shoots to add flavor and color to any dish? We've got what you need for a perfect spring meal, savory or sweet, so hop on over. Also, come early to see David Bromstad of HGTV's Design Star and Color Splash filming a piece about how awesome the farmers market is! Also, live music.

Chef Demo with Adrian Villarreal
of The Spence
10:00 a.m. on 4/19
Chef Demos are sponsored by
COUNTRY Financial
You’ve heard of Richard Blais? Check. You’ve heard of his buzzed-about restaurant The Spence? Check. Here’s the chef that Blais trusts to craft an ever-changing, whimsical menu inspired by what’s fresh now. Adrian Villarreal brings to the table family inspiration (from Mexico) and classic training (from Le Cordon Bleu Paris). Growing up he prepared large family meals with his grandmothers and great aunt, then worked part time at his uncle’s restaurant. After graduation in Paris, Villarreal gained experience at Le Doyenne and La Maree before heading to the U.S. for a show-stopping start as chef de partie with Atlanta’s much-acclaimed (and much-missed) Joël. He later worked as executive chef at TAP before joining Blais at The Spence. Check out his demo this Saturday and pick up a couple new tricks (we’ve heard he’s got a few up his sleeves). You'll also pick up a spicy mushroom taco with pea shoots, spring onions, and herbs.


- Jennifer Maley

Demo + Corn Pups = Saturday Made

This week at PRFM...

Chef Demo with Terry Koval 
of Wrecking Bar Brewpub 
10:00 a.m. on 4/12 
Chef Demos are sponsored by 
COUNTRY Financial  
Professional skateboarder. That was 2013 Market Mash-Up winner Terry Koval’s first dream, one that led him to San Francisco from his home in Greenville, SC. Good thing for us he changed course in career—thanks to the California farm-to-table movement—and in location—heading back to the South and joining us here in Atlanta. He’s since worked at local favorites like Buckhead Diner, Canoe (with mentor Gary Mennie), and both Lobby and Room at TWELVE. PRFM fans of Farm Burger might be interested to know that Chef Koval was a creative force in conceptualizing those delicious grass-fed burgers. He now brings his love of all things local and seasonal to Wrecking Bar Brewpub, where his menu is accented by house-brewed craft beer and a revitalized historic building. He’s not just inspired at work, either—his family’s got four chickens at home (Puffy, Poppins, Snowflake, and Buttercup). Don't miss this Saturday's demo, when chef Terry will show us how to whip up a spring salad with beer mustard vinaigrette. 

After you check out the demo, look for the chef's pop-up tent, where chef Terry will have Riverview Farms cheddarwurst corn pups on offer for just $3 a pup!


- Jennifer Maley

April 5 is Opening Day!

It just doesn't feel like spring has sprung until Peachtree Road Farmers Market opens for the season. Good thing that’s happening. This Saturday. So ready your shopping bags, y’all, cause it’s going to be a great year at the Cathedral of St. Philip. The eighth season will welcome a few new faces: Serenbe Farms (certified organic produce), ColdLife Organic Juices (made with locally grown veggies), Earth Biscuit Crackers (hand-cut, flavored crackers), Verdant Kitchen (certified organic ginger and turmeric = ginger snaps, ginger ale, ginger syrup, and ginger bites), and Garnish & Gather (meal kits featuring local ingredients from PRFM farmers).Check out all of our vendors here and come on by to meet them this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Opening Day Happenings
Join us at 8:30 for the opening bell and blessing.

Happy Nest Kids’ Activities
Check out the Happy Nest tent for family fun from 8:30 a.m. to noon!

Photo: Our Labor of Love

Chef Demo at 10:00 a.m.
with Jeb Aldrich of 4th & Swift
Chef Demos are sponsored by
COUNTRY Financial
Like father, like son? If we're talking about two of our city's best chef talents...then, yes. Not only is Jeb Aldrich the chef de cuisine at 4th & Swift, he happens to be the son of its executive chef and owner Jay Swift. And though cooking might be in the blood, Jeb's also got some proven sweat in the game (we can't speak to the tears): classically trained at Johnson & Wales, stints at Charleston’s Peninsula Grill and Atlanta’s Rainwater, Canoe, and much-lauded Joël, plus work in Austria and Italy, to be exact. Five years ago he joined his dad at 4th & Swift to create seasonal menus from the highest quality ingredients. Stop by the demo tent this Saturday—it’ll be almost like sitting on 4th & Swift’s new patio, only with a few more friends and farmers around.


- Jennifer Maley