Atlanta Chef/Restaurateur Ford Fry Hosts Fourth Annual JCT. Kitchen Attack of the Killer Tomato Fest

ATLANTA -- On Sunday, July 22 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., JCT. Kitchen & Bar is hosting an event to celebrate some of? the South?s best chefs, farmers and mixologists, who will join forces to benefit Georgia Organics in the fourth annual JCT. Kitchen Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival.

Tickets are now on sale and cost $60 per person ($50 for Georgia Organics members). Beginning June 15, tickets will cost $70 per person. Tickets can be purchased online through Xorbia. A total of 1,400 tickets will be available for attendees. Last year?s festival raised close to $40,000 for Georgia Organics.

?I am more excited than ever about this year?s Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival,? says Ford Fry, owner/chef of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246 and The Optimist. ?It has been incredible to see how much this event has evolved since 2009, and I am so proud to organize it each year,? he adds.

The festival will once again be held at JCT. Kitchen & Bar and will spread out over the pedestrian bridge that connects Westside Provisions District with White Provision to feature 37 chef participants, 12 mixologist participants, and 30+ farmers.

The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival is also an excellent opportunity for chefs and attendees alike to meet some new producers and develop longstanding relationships in order to further support the local food movement. The connection that is built between the participating farmers and restaurant professionals during this event is one that often leads to long term sourcing of locally grown produce as well as continued education for the culinary community and its diners.

?There is truly no other event like this in the Southeast in terms of the amount of local farmers who participate,? says Will Moore of Moore Farms, a longtime farmer participant in the JCT. Kitchen Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival who is known for providing some of the best heirloom tomatoes and other Certified Organic vegetables in the region. ?The tomato festival is a wonderful way to honor small-scale sustainable, organic food producers and our earth-friendly methods of farming. We are very particular about our growing practices, and this event enables us to share our tomatoes with so many attendees so they can taste the difference that our production methods make,? he adds.??

Each featured chef will be paired with a local farmer like Moore to create a yummy tomato dish for attendees to sample, while the featured mixologists listed below will stir up their own signature cocktails. Participating chefs include:

Jay Swift of 4th & Swift

David Larkworthy of 5 Seasons Brewing Company

Tyler Williams of Abattoir

Gerry Klaskala of Aria

Andy Carson and Carla Tomasko of Bacchanalia *Won ?Best Tasting Dish? in 2011

Shaun Doty of Bantam & Biddy

Todd Ginsberg of Bocado

Carvel Grant Gould of Canoe

Tandy Wilson of City House (in Nashville, TN)

Ryan Smith of Empire State South

Whitney Otawka of Farm 255

Terry Koval of Farm Burger

Harper McClure of The Federalist (in Washington D.C.)

Cooper Miller of The Feed Store

Christopher Schmidt of Floataway Caf??

Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar

Brent Banda of La Tavola Trattoria

Eric Ottensmeyer of Leon?s Full Service

Zeb Stevenson of Livingston Restaurant + Bar

Chris Hall of Local Three

Steven Satterfield of Miller Union

Donald Sargent of Morelli?s Gourmet Ice Cream *Won a ?Special Mention? in 2011

Drew Belline of No. 246

Adam Evans of The Optimist and Oyster Bar at The Optimist

Andrew Smith of Ormsby?s

Nick Rutherford and Molly Gunn of The Porter

Hector Santiago of Pura Vida *Won ?Best Presentation? in 2011

Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun?s, Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar

Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House *Won ?Best Booth? in 2011

Ron Eyester of Rosebud and The Family Dog

Scott Serpas of Serpas True Food

Drew Van Leuvan of Seven Lamps

Jessica Hanners of Souper Jenny

Christopher Neff of Sprig

Eddie Hernandez of Taqueria del Sol *Won ?People?s Choice for Best Tasting Dish? in 2011

Chris Marconi of West Egg Caf?

E.J. Hodgkinson of Woodfire Grill

Participating mixologists include:

Kevin Bragg of 4th& Swift

Ryan McLaughlin of Abattoir

Clay Webb of Bacchanalia

Kellie Thorn of Empire State South

Jarina Naone of Floataway Caf?

Jerry Slater and Callie Schlosser of H. Harper Station

Andy Minchow of Holeman & Finch Public House???

Lara Creasy of JCT. Kitchen & Bar, No. 246 and The Optimist

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Miles Macquarrie of Leon?s Full Service *Won ?Best Tasting Cocktail? in 2011

? ? ? ? ? ? ? Stuart White of Miller Union

? ? ? ? ? ? ? Paul Calvert of Pura Vida *Won ?People?s Choice for Best Tasting Cocktail? in 2011

? ? ? ? ? ? ? Brian Stanger of Woodfire Grill

High-profile judges including Garden & Gun Deputy Editor Dave Mezz, Esquire restaurant features writer?John Mariani and actor David Miller, who played Mason Dixon in the original ?Attack of the Killer Tomatoes? movie, will be choosing the best dish, best beverage and best table decorations during the event. The festivities will also include food writer, stylist and photographer Angie Mosier and registered dietician, author and food journalist Carolyn O?Neil as co-masters of ceremonies, as well as live entertainment from The Spazmatics and local chef band Five Bone Rack. Don Julio? Tequila, Farmer?s Botanical Small Batch Organic Gin, Kanon Organic Vodka, Ole Smoky Moonshine, Wild Heaven Craft Beers, Uinta Brewing, Melwood Springs, Atlanta Foods International and White Provision will be sponsoring the event. For more information, visit www.killertomatofest.com.

??The JCT. Kitchen Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival is probably the single biggest experience in the state of Georgia that introduces consumers to sustainably produced local food and to the farmers who produce it,? says Georgia Organics Executive Director Alice Rolls. ?Making that connection is critical to push for a smarter food system, and it?s amazing that the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival can do so while also being the most fun and tastiest event in town!?

Georgia Organics is a member supported nonprofit connecting organic food from Georgia farms to Georgia families. The organization is increasing the number of organic farmers in rural and urban areas, increasing the number of children participating in farm to school programs, and increasing the number of Georgians eating organically grown, local food. These links improve public health, support local farmers and strengthen Georgia?s environment. For more information on Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org or call 678-702-0400. Georgia Organics office is located at 200-A Ottley Drive in Atlanta.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar is located in Atlanta?s Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18. To make a reservation, call JCT. Kitchen & Bar at 404-355-2252 or visit www.jctkitchen.com.

osu basketball dale sveum jets broncos thursday night football johnny jolly johnny jolly demi moore and ashton kutcher