By Sydney Sevdalis
On the evening of the summer solstice, 60 guests gathered at Little Bear for an unforgettable celebration of Georgia’s food traditions, local agriculture, and the people who make both possible.
Hosted by Slow Food Atlanta as a fundraiser for Slow Food USA, the sold-out dinner featured an extraordinary four-course menu created by Michelin Young Chef Award and Slow Food Snail of Approval winner Jarrett Stieber, whose thoughtful cooking showcased the peak of Georgia’s early summer harvest.
Guests began with heirloom tomatoes paired with fresh herbs and house-made accompaniments before moving into a beautiful combination of peaches and potatoes. The evening continued with Five Lilies Chicken, Chef Stieber’s Chinese banquet-inspired dish that layers five members of the onion (lily) family with his signature Jewish culinary flair, before concluding with his take on traditional lokshen kugel (an egg-noodle casserole), a comforting finish that honored both heritage and seasonality.
While the food was remarkable, the evening’s greatest success may have been what happened before the first plate was ever served. In the weeks leading up to the dinner, members of the community stepped forward to sponsor ten local farmers with complimentary seats at the table. These were not simply guests, they were the very people whose hard work helped grow the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and ingredients being served that night. Farmers from Diamond Hill Farm, Dayspring Farm, Love is Love Farm, and Hickory Hill Farm joined the evening as honored guests, representing the incredible diversity of Georgia agriculture and the people who make our local food system thrive.
Watching farmers dine alongside chefs, supporters, and neighbors created exactly the kind of community Slow Food Atlanta strives to build. Conversations flowed easily between neighbors as growers shared stories about this year’s crops, guests learned more about Georgia agriculture, and new friendships formed over beautifully prepared food. For one evening, the people who spend so much of their lives nourishing others were themselves celebrated around the table.
The dinner also demonstrated something deeply encouraging: Atlanta’s food community is eager to support the people who feed us. By sponsoring farmer seats, guests helped ensure that those who spend countless hours planting, harvesting, and caring for our local food system could simply relax and enjoy an evening where they were the guests of honor.
As the sun set on the longest day of the year, the meal served as a reminder that great food is about much more than what is on the plate. It’s about relationships, stewardship, gratitude, and investing in the people who make a thriving local food system possible.
Follow @slowfoodatl if you would like to join our Georgia Agritourism events with other foodies.
