The Saint Simons Food & Spirits Festival, a showcase of the area’s finest food, spirits, and artistic talent will return for a 4th year with five delicious days of events at various island locations September 30 through October 4. Voted “Best Public Fair or Festival” by the Allie Awards, the festival highlights the bounty of the region while raising money and awareness for Hospice of the Golden Isles, the only non-profit hospice serving our five county area.
Guest Celebrity Chef Justin Burdett will be joining local chefs at the Friday Night Feast at Halyards. A self-taught chef and Georgia native, Burdett learned the ropes under Chef Hugh Acheson and proved his skills by winning Food Network’s Chopped. Justin will soon be opening his own restaurant in North Carolina.
Justin Burdett
Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque from Savannah will take a place among the pitmasters at the Georgia Crown Distributing Co. and Bulleit Bourbon BBQ Pro-Am. A relative newcomer to the Georgia barbecue scene, the 34 year-old Furman’s commitment to “the old-fashioned way” of cooking meats “over hickory and cherry coals in a large brick pit” has earned B’s a spot on Southern Living’s list of The South’s 50 Top Barbecue Joints and a feature in Garden & Gun.
In a nod to Guest Chef Justin Burdett’s status as a Chopped winner, Saturday Under the Oaks will feature a new Chef Showdown. Local chefs from participating restaurants will be selected for the showdown based on who raises the most money for Hospice of the Golden Isles on crowdrise.com before the event. The three top earning chefs will be paired against each other for a timed cook-off with mystery ingredients announced at the time of the competition. Make sure to make donation today to ensure your favorite chef gets one of these coveted spots. There’s also a fourth spot for a home cook, so if you want to channel your inner Julia Child, go to saintsimonsfoodandspirits.com to enter.
Event Schedule
Wednesday, September 30
The 4th Annual Southern Soul BBQ & Beer Pairing, presented by Southern Soul Barbeque
7:30 p.m. ($50)
Southern Soul Barbeque will prepare a gourmet barbeque spread, pairing each unique course with seasonal offerings and classics from Wild Heaven Craft Beers.
Thursday, October 1
Georgia Crown Distributing Co./Bulleit Bourbon BBQ Pro-Am, presented by Sea Island and Southern Soul Barbecue
6:00-9:00 p.m. ($95)
PGA TOUR professionals join celebrity pitmasters in a fun BBQ showdown. B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque will fire off against the defending champs, Fox Bros. B-B-Q, and the Peg Leg Porker team, as well as hometown favorite BBQ teams from Davis Love III, Southern Soul Barbeque and Sea Island. Attendees will enjoy several Bulleit Bourbon specialty cocktails, delectable Southern side dishes and mouth-watering desserts.
Friday, October 2
Sip, Taste and Tour in the Pier Village, presented by Savannah Distributing
5:30-8:00 p.m. ($25)
Various shops and restaurants in historic Pier Village will play host to a night of drinks, nibbles, specials, music and sweets. From 8:00-10:00 p.m., Brogen’s South will host an after-party and raffle.
Friday Night Festival Feast, hosted by Halyards Restaurant
7:00 p.m. ($200)
Different chefs prepare each course of this five-course feast paired with the phenomenal wines of Silver Oak and Twomey. Celebrity Guest Chef Justin Burdett joins a lineup of highly regarded local chefs that includes Michelin Awarded Chef Matt Gray of The Public House at Sea Palms Resort, Chef Dave Snyder and Chef Geoffrey Gables from Halyards Restaurant, Chef Tom Delaney of Delaney’s Bistro and Bar, Chef John Belechak of Palmer’s Village Café, and Sea Island’s Culinary Director, Executive Chef Jonathan Jerusalmy. The night culminates with former Brunswick Mayor Bryan Thompson auctioning off exclusive trips and prizes. Tickets.
Saturday, October 3
Saturday Under the Oaks at Gascoigne Bluff
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ($50)
The day features a Farmer & Artisan Market presented by Viola's Market, with juried arts, crafts, farmer’s stands with the freshest produce, and artisan-produced culinary items. The Local Flavors Tasting Tent presented by Beachview Event Rental and Design showcases delicacies from some of the area’s finest restaurants while a Mixology Tent presented by Rich Products Corporation serves up cocktails from local restaurants and distilleries. Participating as of print date are; Boulevard Café, Brogen’s North, Coastal Kitchen, ECHO, The Georgian Room at Sea Island, Indigo Coastal Shanty, Halyards Restaurant, Mallery Street Café, Southern Soul Barbeque, and Tramici Neighborhood Italian. A chaperoned Kid’s Zone with fun activities, sponsored by Wolfson Children's Hospital, is included for ticketholders. Celebrity Guest Chef Whitney Otawka will be stopping in, and there will also be surprise appearances, book signings and live music as well as the Chopped-style Chef Showdown.
Oyster Fest, sponsored by Little St. Simons Island, hosted by Coastal Kitchen
7:00 p.m. ($25)
Shuck the night away with a spectacular view of the marshes while you listen to an all-star jam by some of Southeast Georgia’s finest musicians.
Saturday Night Dine Around
6:00-10:00 p.m.
Dine at one of the many participating restaurants in the Golden Isles and a percentage of your bill will support Hospice of the Golden Isles. Go to saintsimonsfoodandspirits.com to see who is participating.
Sunday, October 4
SPIRITual Sunday Brunch presented by ECHO, hosted by The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort
12:30-3:30 p.m. ($50)
ECHO at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort serves a seated brunch of delightful menu items for the Festival finale. Bloody Marys by Vixen Vodka and Peach Mimosas by Fruitland Augusta will be served.
To purchase tickets to any of the events, visit saintsimonsfoodandspirits.com.
#tastessi
Follow the Saint Simons Food & Spirits Festival on social media to receive live up-to-date information about festival events, where the chefs and special guests are each day, and more. Be sure to use the festival hashtag #tastessi to follow and participate on Facebook (facebook.com/saintsimonsfoodandspiritsfestival) , Twitter (@ssfsfest) and Instagram (@saintsimonsfs). There’s so much deliciousness packed into these five days, you won’t want to miss a single bite!
