Jun 7, 2023

Summer 2023 Atlanta Market offers gourmet programs, demonstrations

Summer 2023 Atlanta Market will present gourmet programming, including a series of live cooking demonstrations and GCX:Connect, a full slate of education and events presented by GC Buying Group, July 11-17 at AmericasMart Atlanta.

“Atlanta Market is a top spot for all things gourmet — with a full range of gift-oriented housewares, tabletop and specialty foods, complemented by top chefs making signature dishes in the interactive JURA Gourmet Demonstration Kitchen,” said Karen Olson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of International Market Centers (IMC). “IMC’s continued partnership with GC Buying Group also offers Atlanta Market buyers and sellers an exclusive opportunity to source, learn and network with an even wider range of industry leaders through GCX:Connect.

Gourmet demonstrations

The JURA Gourmet Demonstration Kitchen, located in the heart of the Gourmet offerings (Building 2, Floor 8), will offer three cooking classes.

Celebrity chef and author Elizabeth Heiskell shares recipes, tales and laughs from her culinary road trip in “Stop and Smell the Tomatoes” on Wednesday, July 12, at 2:30 p.m. Using in-season summer produce from side-of-the-road shacks, farmer’s trucks, fruit stands, melon patches gathered from Oxford to Atlanta, she will show how to turn her road harvest into a delightful dinner, IMC said. A book signing of Heiskell’s “Come on Over” follows.

Mark Alba, executive chef of Kimpton Shane Hotel in Midtown Atlanta, adds a refreshing summertime twist to a seafood favorite as he prepares Lump Crab Salad with melon, avocado, citrus, honey ginger vinaigrette and basil in “In the Kitchen with Mark Alba” on Thursday, July 13, at 2:30 p.m.

Shane Quillin, Dessert Wars champion and owner of the Atlanta-based gourmet cookie bakery Sugar Shane’s, creates light and moist banana bread with a brown sugar glaze topping during “Sugar Shane’s Cookie Secrets” on Friday, July 14, at 2:30 p.m.

GCX:Connect

GC Buying Group returns for the third time to Atlanta Market in summer 2023 with GCX:Connect, its semi-annual buying and programming event connecting gourmet and housewares brands and retailers.

“The July Market in Atlanta has become the go-to summer market for GC Buying Group store members”, confirmed Janis Johnson, president and founder of GC Buying Group. “Plus, GC vendor members have shown great support for the market by featuring products in every possible venue – rep showrooms, dedicated company showrooms, and the dynamic Temps. The all-out focus on kitchen and home by IMC at Atlanta Market makes the locale decision a simple one for GC event planning.”

New in summer 2023, GC Buying Group opens its “Vendor Demo” to all Atlanta Market attendees interested in the latest and greatest in culinary tools and products from brands like Harold Imports, Cangshan and Solac on Wednesday, July 12 in the GC Buying Group space (Building 2, Floor 8). Also open to all attendees is the “GCX Networking Lunch,” an opportunity for prospective vendor and buyer members to learn more about GC Buying Group, on Friday, July 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

GCX: Connect education is open exclusively to GC Buying Group Members. A full day of education on Thursday, July 13, includes training presentations by vendor members and networking group discussions for buyers. The “Mini Showcase” highlights vendors new to GC Buying Group, as well as new product introductions from current vendors with light bites and networking opportunities for members.

Additionally, members will gather for the “Party in the Kitchen” featuring demonstrations from JURA and Vitamix on Wednesday, July 12, 5 to 7 p.m. in the JURA Gourmet Demonstration Kitchen.