ATLANTA, September 2006—AMERICASMART-ATLANTA—the home of the nation’s most exciting gift and home furnishings product collections—is also a top choice for the nation’s leading gourmet retailers and the product their customers demand. In an effort to recognize these superior gourmet products, AMERICASMART conducts annually the Best of Atlanta Awards as a feature component of the Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market® featuring The Atlanta Gourmet Market®.
Several of Atlanta’s top culinary experts—Chef Robert Gerstenecker, executive chef of the Four Seasons/Atlanta; Chef David Silverman of Strip; Executive Chef Nathan Slatteryof Rosa Mexicano; Chef Nico Romoof b.e.d/Atlanta; and Beth Weitzman, editor-in-chief of Jezebel magazine—sampled and judged dozens of gourmet products, selecting those with distinctive tastes and innovative packaging.
Winners were selected in 13 product categories. The 2006 Best of Atlanta Awards winners are:
Best Packaging
1st Place: Sugar Marsh Cottage Specialty Confections Executive Gift Box
2nd Place: Carolina Plantation Rice Aromatic Rice
3rd Place: Chocolate Graphics of Alabama Personalized Chocolates
Best Chocolate
1st Place: Toffee to Go Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee
2nd Place: Knipschilot Chocolatier Chocolates
3rd Place: So Sweet Chocolates Ornament Lolly
Best Candy
1st Place: Graffiti Zoo Backstage Calicos
2nd Place: Toffee to Go White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Toffee
3rd Place: Sugar Marsh Cottage Specialty Confections Sweet Almond Toffee
Best Condiment/Relish/Sauce
1st Place: Sims Foods Wickles Pickles
2nd Place: Nine Sons Rising Blueberry Ice Cream Topping
3rd Place: Cherith Valley Gardens Red Raspberry Wasabi Mustard
Best Salad Dressing
1st Place: Knipschildt Passion Fruit & Ginger Syrup
Best Dessert
1st Place: San Saba River Pecan Co. Pecan Pie In-A-Jar
2nd Place: Flathau’s Gourmet Cookies Cinnamon Snaps
3rd Place: Sugar Marsh Cottage Specialty Confections Chocolate Dipped Coquilles
Best Snack
1st Place: Flathau’s Gourmet Cookies Cheddar Chipolte Cheese Straws
2nd Place: The Savannah Cookie Co. Hoot n’ Holler Cheese Poppers
3rd Place: Old World Gourmet Cowboy Crunch Trail Mix
Best Jam/Jelly
1st Place: Authentic Italian Products Acacia Honey
2nd Place: Pepper Patch Peach Butter
3rd Place: Nine Sons Rising Peach Preserves
Best Kitchen Accessory
1st Place: Woman’s Exchange of Memphis cookbook Compliments Of
2nd Place: Elmwood Inn cookbook The New Tea Companion
3rd Place: Buster’s Rub
Best Healthy/Low Fat
1st Place: Authentic Italian Products Frozen Unfiltered Olive Oil
2nd Place: Salem Baking Company Moravian Spice Cookies
3rd Place: Nine Sons Rising Strawberry Topping
Best Hot Beverage
1st Place: Fireside Coffee Butter Rum Coffee
2nd Place: Elmwood Inn Teas Serene Green
Best Cold Beverage
1st Place: Fireside Coffee Coconut Crème Coffee
2nd Place: Old World Gourmet Southern Sunset Tea
Best Soup/Base Mix
1st Place: Raven’s Nest Specialties Chili Grande
2nd Place: Gullah Gourmet, Inc. Gullah Gullah Gumbo
Best of Show/September 2006 The Atlanta Gourmet Market
Sugar Marsh Cottage Specialty Confections
Atlanta, GA
Best of Show/September 2006 Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Sea Turtle Soaps
Southport, NC
For more information on AMERICASMART-ATLANTA and its annual markets, please call 1-800-ATL-MART or visit AmericasMart.com.
# # #