Chef Supports Fall Line Jam as Presenting Chef New Festival in Central Georgia’s Fall Line Region Hosts Kick-Off Dinner

(SPARTA, GA) October 23, 2019 – Fall Line Jam, the new festival showcasing Central Georgia’s Fall Line region, today announces that world-renowned chef & author Hugh Acheson will support the festival by preparing a specially designed dinner to celebrate the event’s launch. Fall Line Jam occurs November 1-3, 2019 in Sparta, GA | Hancock County.

Hugh Acheson is the chef/partner of 5&10 restaurant located in Athens, GA, as well as Empire State South, Spiller Park Coffee and his newest, By George in downtown Atlanta’s recently renovated Candler Hotel. Acheson's fresh approach to Southern food has earned him a great deal of recognition including Food & Wine’s Best New Chef (2002), the Atlanta Journal Constitution Restaurant of the Year (2007), a five time (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) James Beard nominee and 2012 winner for Best Chef Southeast. In 2007, Acheson was named a Rising Star from StarChefs.com and in 2012 he won the StarChefs Mentor Award. Hugh has also been in Bon Appetit, the New York Times, Garden & Gun, Fine Living, Food & Wine, Gourmet, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Maclean’s, Art Culinare, and Saveur. In 2010 Acheson competed on Bravo’s Masters: Season 3. He returned to the hit show as a judge on Top Chef: Seasons 9 - 13 as well as Top Chef: Duels. An author of several well-regarded cookboods, Acheson's cookbook titled A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen published by Clarkson Potter, won the award for Best Cookbook in the field of “American Cooking” by the James Beard Foundation in 2012.

The Fall Line Jam Kick-Off Dinner begins at 4:00pm at Sparta’s historic Elm Street Gardens with a garden tour. Cocktails will be served from 5:00pm until 6:00pm with dinner from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. In addition to serving as the Fall Line Jam Presenting Chef, Acheson will also lead a brief talk with Fall Line Jam’s opening night dinner guests about Southern food and the importance of small farms. Additionally, Georgia Organics President and CEO, Alice Rolls will also provide remarks during dinner.

Elm Street Gardens is a certified organic garden growing year round using a no-till method that is completely free of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Elm Street Gardens produce, flowers and herbs are sold at farmers markets in Atlanta as well as locations in Sparta, GA for residents of Hancock County and surrounding areas. Elm Street Gardens is the site of the historic Harley-Harris-Rives House, a lovingly restored 1840s Greek Revival home. Elm Street Gardens has been featured in a range of media from Southern Living magazine and the Atlanta Journal Constitution to Georgia Trend and Growing a Greener World podcast.

“Having Hugh Acheson participate in Fall Line Jam as Presenting Chef is an extraordinary honor,” said festival co- founder Bill Boling, CEO & Publisher of Fall Line Press. “Food defines culture in the South and Hugh defines contemporary Southern food,” said Boling. “Elm Street Gardens is a magical place and combined with Hugh’s sublime cuisine it promises to be a remarkable event,” he added.

Fall Line Jam is a cultural bridge between the State’s urban and rural communities through film, food, music, outdoors and history. The weekend festival will be held along Central Georgia’s Fall Line at three historic locations including a central stage at Elm Street Gardens, Sparta Mushrooms and the old train depot in the seat of Hancock County, Sparta, GA. Fall Line Jam was created by Fall Line Press and Sparta-Hancock Chamber of Commerce is co-sponsoring the event. Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, Georgia Organics, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and many other cultural leaders have also lent their support to the festival.

The Kick-Off Dinner Fe