COFFEE GUIDE: ATLANTA
'Tis the season for cozy coffee nooks and a little indulgence! While it's always okay to treat yourself, it's also good to be mindful about what you consume. A great way to do that is by keeping it local and knowing your barista. Craft coffee houses are known for using seasonal ingredients and organic brews. We've rounded up a few of our ATL favs that have particularly great holiday style -- cheers!
All photos by Haley Sheffield / originally found on In Honor of Design.
STAR PROVISIONS
CAFE INTERMEZZO
AMELIE'S FRENCH BAKERY
TAPROOM COFFEE & BEER
WHITE OAK CUISINE WITH CHEF REID
Last week we brought you a special Part I post on our recent trip to White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia. What you might not know is the farm is also home to an open-aired restaurant that primarily feeds their 100+ employees (from butchers & organic farmers, to office managers) Monday through Saturday, as well as farm guests. The restaurant features daily specials along with other regular daily menu items. They also offer a wide variety of items for sale in their store front ranging from home-made preserves and lip salve to BBQ rubs and seasonal gifts. We sat down with our friend and White Oak Pastures chef, Reid Harrison, to talk about culinary life on the farm.
Tell us about yourself: Matthew Reid Harrison, Chef/Manager of The Pavilion at White Oak Pastures
Hometown + Current city: Macon, GA & Bluffton, GA
What led you to culinary arts? Couldn’t deal with another calculus class... and I love cooking.
Describe the White Oak Pastures work environment: Family. Diverse. Passionate.
How has your work influenced your definition of personal health and wellness? It’s great having access to hormone/steroid free meats along with organic vegetables, so my diet has improved a great deal from the fast pace of city living. In addition to that, there isn’t a whole lot to do around here besides work, so I’ve become somewhat of a regular at the gym.
Personal mantra: You’re either green and growing or ripe and rotting.
All photos (c) of Haley Sheffield Photography.
WHITE OAK PASTURES: WILL HARRIS
Happy October! I am beyond thrilled to FINALLY post our adventure to White Oak Pastures. Haley and I were privileged to get a first-hand tour of the USDA Certified Organic farmland from the farmer himself and his daughter. William Harris III, owner and operator of White Oak Pastures, and Georgia Trend’s 2014 Most Respected Business Leader, was recently featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post and Garden & Gun, for his success in sustainability.
The 150 year old multi-generational family farm is guided by a sustainable, humane, fair practice and zero-waste policy. Just one look at whiteoakpastures.com and you are quickly acquainted with their mantra – that cows were born to roam and graze and chickens were born to scratch and peck. “As a fourth generation stockman, I offer folks some ‘Southern Cowboy Common Sense’ on how to recognize good animal welfare: If you would like to open up a lawn chair and drink a couple of glasses of wine while you watch the animal, then you have good animal welfare," said Harris. As we drove across the massive acreage, down hills and back dirt roads, Mr. Harris explained how White Oak ascribes to a grass-fed pastured program – giving up grain feed, hormone implants, and antibiotics as well as the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides As of 2009, White Oak acquired sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, and turkeys, becoming the only farm in the United States with their own red meat and poultry on-farm, USDA-inspected abattoirs. The farm also houses an on-site store and restaurant which we will feature next week -- enjoy, friends!
All photos (c) of Haley Sheffield Photography.
THE FRANK EFFECT
Hi guys, Haley here! Tess and I were thrilled when our Insta friends from Down Under at Frank Body, an Australian-owned + coffee-based skincare company, asked us to try their line. And to be "frank," we fell in love with the products even before using them. When it comes to both product and design, Frank delivers. The flirtatious packaging and cheeky branding drew us in instantly.
I anticipated the coffee scrub would smell delightful, being the coffee lover I am, but was not prepared for HOW deliciously aromatic my caffeine-infused bath time would be. Also, the creamy face cleanser had the perfect texture -- leaving my skin not too dry or oily, just happy. On IFF, we love to preach on the importance of organic, natural skincare and #thefrankeffect left us glowing. You can put together your very own bundle of beauty here!
All photos (c) of Haley Sheffield Photography.
LITTLE BARN APOTHECARY
At IFF, we are lovers of shopping local and discovering new Georgia-based brands. During a trip to Atlanta's Root City Market, we were introduced to Joshua Morgan and Brad Scoggins, creators of Little Barn Apothecary. Founded in Stone Mountain just earlier this year, Little Barn has already made a big name for themselves as they were recently featured in Vogue, Elle and InStyle as one of the Best Natural Beauty brands. They are stocked in shops in 15 + states as well as Panama and Canada along with online carriers such as Urban Outfitters.
Joshua is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Brad grew up in a farm community in Cordele, Georgia. Currently, they live in Stone Mountain, Georgia and create simple and plant-based apothecary goods from wild-harvested, certified organic ingredients. Right now, LBA carries nearly three dozen small-batch items, including soaks, washes, scrubs, oils, balms, salves, naturally scented air waters, and more.
In 2012, Josh and Brad began researching botanicals and experimenting at home with recipes for simple self-care products. They shared some of the items with friends and family, who responded with enthusiastic requests for more! After expanding the line to include today’s core selection, they debuted Little Barn Apothecary to the public. The idea was born from a passion to create unique formulas as a substitute for the chemical-laden skincare that’s so prevalent today. Together, they love educating people on the benefits of using herbs and botanicals. From recipe testing to packaging design to shipping, Josh and Brad handle each step of the process. They select ingredients not only for their intoxicating scents but for their unique healing properties.
Making use of the South’s long growing season, Joshua and Brad grow most of Little Barn Apothecary’s ingredients in their backyard garden or source them from nearby farmers markets. By committing to whole and certified organic ingredients, Little Barn Apothecary creates goods from scratch that are 100% safe, naturally potent, and highly effective.
“The goal of Little Barn Apothecary is to be an everyday and affordable brand that feels like a treat. We believe in the power of nature and want to bring luxurious, natural options to the market. Our brand is a reminder to slow down, enjoy daily rituals, and keep it simple. ”
THE MULBERRY MARKET
It's officially farmers market season! Haley and I are so excited to bring you a two-part farm-to-table post this week. As you may have read in our ABOUT section, I began my public relations career at a small non-profit that helped cultivate an organic, producer-only farmers market in Macon, Georgia. The shoot below was a fabulous collaboration between several vendors with the intention of encouraging folks to shop locally and eat seasonally. The Mulberry Market, located in downtown Macon, has grown tremendously since its inception in 2011. The market even offers a 2 to 1 dollar matching program for EBT benefits through Wholesome Wave Georgia. We invite you to check out the market which runs every Wednesday from 3:30-6 PM at Tattnall Square Park! (Farm info available by clicking photos // all photos courtesy of Haley Sheffield Photography).
