Cocktails & Castoffs fundraiser to feature African-inspired dishes from 7 Atlanta chefs

An exciting event takes place next weekend, where innovative cocktails and sustainable culinary creations will take the spotlight. 

On Sunday, October 22, Development in Gardening (DIG) will host its food and drink fundraiser, “Cocktails & Castoffs,” at Matchsticks in Grant Park. This event will feature a unique culinary experience, with dishes and cocktails inspired by African cuisine, crafted by seven talented Atlanta chefs.

DIG, a nonprofit organization, focuses on teaching agroecology practices to marginalized communities in Africa. The program empowers farmers to establish sustainable food systems, fostering self-sufficiency and food security. Sarah Koch, the executive director and co-founder of DIG, emphasizes the importance of their mission.

“Cocktails & Castoffs” offers attendees the chance to support DIG’s mission right from Atlanta while also learning how to incorporate more sustainable practices into their own kitchens. Koch notes, “You’ll get to go on a journey throughout the room and try a bunch of different things that hopefully inspire you to try some different practices at home and get excited about the work that DIG is doing.”

Each participating chef was tasked with creating a dish or beverage using produce sourced from DIG gardens. This allows attendees to savor each unique creation, engage in conversations with the chefs to learn about the culinary offerings, and understand how these efforts contribute to the broader objectives of reducing food waste and promoting more resilient food systems. This event promises to be a delightful and educational experience for all those in attendance.

Eating locally and in season is another lesson chefs hope to drive home with their dishes. Demetrius Brown, executive chef of Bread and Butterfly in Inman Park, plans to highlight the food of Senegal with a salad made of fonio grain, which is similar to quinoa and can be grown in sandy soil without much water. Brown said participating in this event was a “no-brainer” for him as he frequently highlights Caribbean and African American food and culture with his Heritage Supper Club pop-up. “I want people to look deeper into the way they cook at home, the way they eat at home, to where people get more than one use out of one single ingredient,” he said.

Elijah Lee, professionally known as Chef Zu from Kings Apron, said he wants to show attendees the importance of “seasonality, nutrition and a new creative, innovative way to think about (a) plant-based lifestyle.”

Koch hopes the event helps people “understand how we’re connected through food.” “Reducing our food waste is a really important step that we need to take, not just for our own farming and agricultural security in the United States, but for global farmers,” she said. 

Cocktails & Castoffs. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22. $50 suggested donation. Matchstic in Grant Park, 437 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta. 619-274-7218, dig.org/projects/atlanta.