Beau Rivage wins PNC Best of the Fest competition

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The ninth annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is pleased to announce Chef Kristian Wade of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino as this year’s winner of the PNC “Best of the Fest” competition. The innovative chef stunned the crowd with his Landmass Burger complete with a smoky, grilled double-patty, American cheese, Mississippi tomato fondue, caramelized onions, crispy bread and butter pickles, a succulent blend of New Orleans barbeque sauce and Alabama white sauce and topped with a fried oyster. Beau Rivage, MGM Resorts International’s AAA Four Diamond beachfront resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, features 1,740 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, nine restaurants and 16 kitchens.

“Thousands of attendees from across the country were drawn to this year’s festival, which provided a great opportunity to bring the community together to experience one of the South’s leading culinary arts festivals,” said Eddie Meyers, PNC regional president for Greater Georgia. “PNC is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Tasting Tents and to support this unique culinary experience in our community. The Best of the Fest gives us a wonderful opportunity to recognize the talent and creativity of phenomenal chefs such as this year’s winner, Chef Kristian!”

“We enjoyed participating in this year’s AFWF with so many talented chefs and are honored to be voted ‘Best of the Fest’ by its participants,” said Beau Rivage Executive Chef Kristian Wade. “The response to Beau Rivage and the Land Mass Burger was overwhelming, and we look forward to featuring this award-winning burger in our new TAP Sports Book, Bar & Bistreaux when it opens in July.”

Chef Kristian, along with several talented chefs, sommeliers and mixologists, was brought in to the Festival by Visit Mississippi and its affiliate partners, Visit Jackson, MS, Visit Oxford, MS, Visit Hattiesburg and Coastal Mississippi.

This year’s Tasting Tents took a deep dive into their Southern roots. Nearly 100 food and beverage booths allowed guests the ultimate all-you-can-indulge experience through the South through a series of carefully curated tents, including Southern Crafted, an exploration of all the South’s craft beers; Southern Farm, anything you can get on a farm from animals to vegetables; Southern Sips, a showcase of Southern wines; and Sweet and Savory to highlight and explore the contrast between the two palates.

“We’re delighted to have once again joined PNC in celebrating the best bite of the Tasting Tents,” said Festival Co-Founder Elizabeth Feichter. “Year after year, our chefs and talent outdo themselves – there are no bad bites! We’re proud that the Festival attendees are able to thank and support the talent for all of their hard work and dedication. We’ve loved working with Visit Mississippi over the past several years, and we’re continuously in awe of the talent they bring.”

In addition to receiving the 2019 Best of the Fest title, Chef Kristian Wade will also receive a Big Green Egg Grill & Smoker courtesy of PNC Bank. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino follows 2018 winner Poke Burri of Atlanta as Best of the Fest.