The Table That Started It All: Giving Kitchen Founders Dinner

There are dinners… and then there are the kinds of nights people talk about for years. This is one of those.

Four of the people who helped build Giving Kitchen - Ryan Turner, Mike Gallagher, Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, and Nancy Oswald - will share their hearts and stories as Ryan and Shelley Turner open their home to you and seven guests for an intimate, family-style dinner you simply cannot purchase anywhere else."

Chefs for the evening Ryan Turner (Unsukay Restaurants) and Mike Gallagher (Brick Store Pub & Leon's Full Service) will personally cook a multi-course meal together, side-by-side, the way friends do when no one's watching - except this time, you'll have a seat at the table. Expect the dishes they love to cook, the food they make for people they care about, and the kind of hospitality that never makes it onto a menu. All while you enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and barrel pick whiskey or tequila.

Throughout the evening, Jen and Nancy will share the real stories behind Giving Kitchen - how a community showed up for Ryan "Hidi" Hidinger, how one night changed thousands of lives, and why this mission still matters today.

Wine from the famed Brewster Family cellar will be poured throughout the evening - and the remaining bottles go home with the winning bidder. Expect a truly collector-level lineup, including Krug Champagne, Cirq Pinot Noir, Aubert Chardonnay, Ornellaia (Super Tuscan), and Château Guiraud Sauternes - the kind of bottles Bill Brewster loved most, with a special devotion to Burgundy.

This isn't a restaurant reservation. It's a seat inside the heart of Giving Kitchen - conversation, laughter, incredible food, and the feeling of being welcomed into something bigger than a meal. And a night you won't forget.

Fine Print: Date to be mutually agreed upon with hosts. Gratuity not required - you're family that night. 21+ Only.

2026 Date Options: Sat. 8/22; Sun 8/23; Sat. 8/29; Sun 8/30.

Rooted in Rest - The Collector's Edition: World of Quercus + Uberto Tasting + Pappy Van Winkle

Slip away for a two-night escape designed to restore, nourish, and slow everything down.

This package invites four guests to experience World of Quercus, the stunning all-inclusive retreat in Gay, Georgia, where thoughtful hospitality, beautiful surroundings, and exceptional food come together in all the right ways.

Your group will stay in Naya, a beautifully appointed two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath cabin, with everything you need to settle in and truly unplug. Throughout your stay, all meals are included - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - along with in-suite snacks and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. (Additional alcohol is available for purchase.)

You'll also enjoy access to Quercus's included on-property experiences, from kayaking and fishing to Liberty and Garden tours, making this a weekend that can be as restful or as active as you'd like.

And on one unforgettable evening, the experience becomes something even more meaningful. You'll enjoy a multi-course tasting menu at Uberto with complimentary wine pairings, led by Chef Ryan Smith and Kara Hidinger (also of Staplehouse), a pairing that carries deep significance for Giving Kitchen. Their connection to this mission, and to the community that helped shape it, makes this dinner feel especially personal.

To make the weekend even more unforgettable, the winning bidder will also take home a collector-worthy set of five rare bottles of Pappy Van Winkle - the kind of pour that turns a great night into a legend.

This is more than a luxurious getaway. It's a chance to be cared for by the kind of hospitality that changes people - and to experience a meal prepared by the hands of family rooted in Giving Kitchen's history.

Fine Print: Package includes a two-night stay for four guests in Naya at World of Quercus. Guests must be age 16+. All standard meals, in-suite snacks and beverages, and listed activities are included. Wellness services and field sports are not included. Additional alcohol available for purchase. Dates mutually agreed upon with host. Pappy collection to be picked up from GK office on mutually agreed upon date, can be delivered in metro-ATL area. 21+ Only purchaser.

Star-Studded Sunday Supper: An Evening with Chefs Andrew Zimmern and Steven Satterfield at Miller Union

Some meals are meant to be savored slowly - around a long table, with great food, great wine, and the kind of conversation that stretches into the evening.

Sixteen guests will gather for a special Sunday Supper at Miller Union, one of Atlanta's most beloved restaurants, for an intimate harvest-inspired dinner created by James Beard Award-winning chef Steven Satterfield and Emmy-winning chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern.

Hosted on a Sunday when the restaurant is normally closed, this private gathering transforms Miller Union into a warm, convivial dinner party - the way chefs cook when they're feeding friends.

Expect a multi-course, family-style meal celebrating the best of the season, thoughtful wine pairings, and the relaxed hospitality that has made Miller Union a cornerstone of Atlanta's dining community.

This isn't a restaurant reservation you can get. It's a one-night-only collaboration between two celebrated chefs, shared around one table.

Fine Print: Dinner for 16 guests at Miller Union on a Sunday when the restaurant is closed. Date mutually agreed upon with hosts. Scheduling dependent on Andrew Zimmern's filming schedule; date confirmed with winning bidder as soon as possible. Gratuities not included.

21+ Only.

The James Beard Awards: An Insiders Weekend

Every year, the restaurant world gathers in Chicago for its biggest night - the James Beard Foundation Awards. For one unforgettable weekend, you won't just attend. You'll be welcomed in.

Two guests will join acclaimed food writer John Kessler for a curated culinary tour through the restaurants, neighborhoods, and industry gatherings that surround the Beards - the places chefs actually go when the cameras are off.

Your weekend includes:

Friday - Kick things off with cocktails and conversation before heading to dinner at acclaimed restaurant Feld (gift card included), joined by John and members of the Beard Awards community.

Saturday & Sunday - Insider food experiences across Chicago: Chinatown tastings, neighborhood institutions, market explorations, and behind-the-scenes kitchen access - the kind of meals you only find with someone who knows the city (and the chefs) personally.

Monday - The legendary Monteverde Monday Party - the unofficial Beard Weekend kickoff everyone talks about - and this year it will benefit Giving Kitchen. It's where the weekend's energy really begins: chefs, writers, restaurateurs, and friends all in one room before awards night unfolds.

Awards night itself is optional; ceremony tickets are not included, but can be secured separately.

This is way beyond a sightseeing trip - it's the most important weekend in American food. Chefs, writers, and restaurateurs look forward to it all year… and you get to be part of it.

Fine Print: Sold for two guests. Food experiences included as noted. Travel not included. Lodging for three nights is included (Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 15, 2026.) Ceremony tickets not included but may be secured separately. Dates align with the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards weekend: Friday, June 12 - Monday, June 15, 2026.
Gratuities and ground transportation not included. 21+ Only.

Women Run This Kitchen: An All-Star Atlanta Women Chefs Dinner Party

This is a full kitchen takeover - led by some of the most influential women shaping Atlanta's food scene right now. Invite up to 15 guests and turn your home (or a private restaurant space) into the setting for a collaborative, multi-course dinner created by an extraordinary lineup of chefs, including:

1. Mia Orino (Kamayan)
2. Jiyeon Lee (Heirloom Market BBQ)
3. Sahar Siddiqi (Chai Pani)
4. Thip Athakhanh (Snackboxe Bistro &
5. Naga Bistro)
6. Faye "Poon" (Summerland)
7. Monica Sunny (Chai Box)
8. Anita Hsu (Lazy Betty, Tio Lucho's,
9. Sweet Auburn BBQ)
10. Viv Lee (Leftie Lee's)
11. Claudia Martinez

Together, these chefs will design a menu that reflects their cultures, their styles, and the community that connects them - a rare moment where some of the city's busiest kitchens come together for one shared table.

Giving Kitchen will support the evening with curated wine and spirits selected by Seung Hee Lee, making it easy to host a gathering that feels both celebratory and meaningful.

It's a dinner party, yes - but it's also a toast to the talent, mentorship, and leadership of the women who keep this industry moving forward.

Fine Print: Date and location mutually agreed upon with hosts. Gratuities not included. 21+ Only.

The Infamous Ossabaw Weekend: A Private Chef Retreat on Georgia's Wild Barrier Island

You can't book a stay at Ossabaw Island. You're invited.

For one unforgettable weekend, you and seven guests will travel off the Georgia coast to a protected barrier island rarely open to the public - no traffic, no restaurants, no schedules - just marshland, live oaks, a historic house full of chefs cooking only for you… and yes, wild donkeys.

This beloved Giving Kitchen tradition returns for its 8th year, and it's unlike anything else in the auction.

By day, you'll explore a place that feels frozen in time: dolphins in the river, wild horses on the trails, historic ruins, and long walks under Spanish moss with legendary naturalist Cathy Sakas, whose stories bring the island to life.

By night, Ossabaw turns into your own private culinary retreat. An extraordinary lineup of chefs will rotate through the kitchen preparing meals together - relaxed, collaborative, and completely unhurried - including:

1. Jason Liang, Chingyao Wang (O by Brush)
2. Kirk Gibson (Lucky Star)
3. Ron Hsu (Lazy Betty)
4. Howard Hsu (Tio Lucho's & Sweet
5. Auburn BBQ)
6. Claudia Martinez (Bar Ana)
7. Terry Koval (The Deer and the Dove & FAWN)
8. Todd Mussman (Unsukay Restaurant Group)

Wine and cocktail pairings will be curated all weekend by on-island sommelier (and occasional donkey whisperer) Melissa Davis.

As the sun goes down, the island does what it does best: long tables, late-night conversations, and live music under a sky so dark you can see every star, thanks to musician Rich Gunderlock - with Monica Gunderlock capturing the weekend through beautiful photography.

It's equal parts summer camp, chef's table, and chosen family. People who go once try to come back every year. Trust us on this one: get on the truck and bid like you mean it.

Fine Print: Ossabaw Island Weekend is set for Friday, April 23-25, 2027. Transportation not provided. Gratuities not included. 21+ Only.

FAWN After Dark: A Private Decatur Takeover with Chef Terry Koval + Chef J. Trent (Mujo)

Some of the best nights in restaurants happen after the doors close.

Twenty guests will take over FAWN, Decatur's beloved wine and amaro bar from James Beard Award-winning chef Terry Koval, for a one-night-only event that blends incredible food, great drinks, and a little late-night energy.

This is not a traditional seated dinner. It's designed to feel like the best kind of restaurant night: mingling, tasting, and sharing.

Chef Terry - joined by special culinary guest Chef J. Trent (Mujo) - will create a multi-course menu of small, shareable plates served at FAWN's chef's sandbar and main bar. Built specifically for this evening, the menu will highlight the thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking that has made FAWN, The Deer and the Dove, and Mujo Atlanta favorites.

The FAWN bar team will keep cocktails flowing, wines will be chosen to match the menu, and when the food winds down, the vibe shifts: a private DJ turns the evening into a full Decatur hang - part dinner party, part industry afterparty - with your guest list and nobody else.

Fine Print: Dinner for 20 guests at FAWN in Decatur. Date mutually agreed upon with hosts. Available Sunday-Tuesday evenings. Blackout dates apply (May; June 21; July 2-8 & 19; Sept 29; Oct 11 & 18; Dec 6 & 27). Gratuities not included. 21+ Only.

Stage and Screen: NYC with AZ: Broadway + Food Network + Insider Eats

New York City is one of the greatest food cities in the world. Now imagine exploring it with Andrew Zimmern. Four guests will spend an unforgettable weekend in NYC with the Emmy-winning chef, TV host, Giving Kitchen Board Member, and culinary explorer - alongside GK hosts and GK Board Member and actress Jamie Hyder, your in-the-know local host for a weekend designed like an insider's dream.

This is not a "make reservations and hope for the best" kind of trip. It's a curated, chef-forward, culture-packed NYC takeover - with highlights that will include:

Thursday:

• James Beard House tour
• A special dinner experience at the Food Network Test Kitchen

Friday:

• Clase Azul Loft Tasting Experience (Brooklyn Heights)
• Fini Pizza hands-on pizza-making class + dinner

Saturday:

• A private Andrew Zimmern-guided food crawl through iconic neighborhoods like Chinatown, Little Italy, and/or Queens
• Dinner at Hav & Mar, Marcus Samuelsson's celebrated restaurant (gift certificate included)
• Four house seats to a Broadway show - The Outsiders or Buena Vista Social Club

Between it all, you may also get a taste of Brooklyn's creative scene, including time in Bushwick with brewery exploring and a Restaurant Group stop - the kind of "only in New York" layers that make this weekend sing.

This is the NYC food trip you can't plan on your own: big flavors, great neighborhoods, and truly elite guides.

Fine Print: Experience for four guests. 3-nights in NYC. Dates mutually agreed upon with Andrew Zimmern and hosts; scheduling depends on Andrew's filming schedule and will be confirmed as soon as possible after the auction. Preference for May or late June. Broadway tickets valid through Aug. 31, 2026. Travel and ground transportation not included. Lodging included. Gratuities throughout the extended weekend not included. 21+ Only.

Life is a (Buford) Highway: A Private Buford Highway Food Tour by Bus

No maps. No reservations. No guessing where to start.

You and up to 19 guests will climb aboard your own private bus and explore Buford Highway the right way - guided by the people who live, cook, and advocate for this extraordinary corridor.

Hosted by Giving Kitchen alongside Lily Pabian of We Love Buford Highway and chefs Mia Orino and Carlo Gann (Kamayan), this moving feast turns one of Atlanta's most beloved food destinations into your personal culinary field trip.

You'll make curated stops along the highway, tasting your way through some of its most iconic restaurants, including:

1. Hae Woon Dae
2. Man Chun Hong
3. Ice NY
4. Cuzco Peruvian Restaurant

Each stop comes with more than food - you'll hear the stories behind the families, cultures, and communities that built Buford Highway, from the roots of Atlanta's Korean and Chinese communities to the growing Latin American influence that continues to shape the corridor today.

The tour ends where all good celebrations do: a full Kamayan feast prepared by Mia Orino and Carlo Gann, served family-style and meant to be shared.

Along the way, cocktails and spirits from Minhwa Spirits help keep the party rolling. This is part food tour, part cultural experience, and part love letter to a community that Giving Kitchen proudly supports - including hundreds of food service workers along Buford Highway who have received emergency assistance and stability resources.

You won't just eat well; you'll understand Atlanta better…all while doing good.

Fine Print: Date selected with hosts in 2026. Approximately 20 guests. Transportation included. Restaurant stops subject to availability. Gratuities not included. 21+ Only.

Into the Swamp: The Okefenokee Chef Adventure Weekend

You and nine guests will head deep into the Okefenokee Swamp for a three-night, chef-hosted adventure hosted by The Paddle and Fork Collective, where cypress trees replace buildings, cell service disappears, and dinner somehow gets better.

Your basecamp sits at Griffis Fish Camp on the edge of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge - rustic, comfortable, and completely surrounded by wilderness (yes: electricity, running water, and hot showers still exist).

Days are spent exploring: paddling blackwater trails, spotting alligators and birds you didn't know were real, and learning the landscape alongside expert naturalists Cathy Sakas and Scott Taylor and guided by Bryan Schroeder.

Then evening comes - and the swamp turns into an outdoor dining room.

A rotating lineup of celebrated chefs cooks together over open fire and camp stoves, including:

• Terry Koval (The Deer and The Dove)
• Hector Santiago (El Super Pan)
• Todd Mussman (Muss & Turner's)
• Hudson Rouse (babygirl)

Drinks are handled just as seriously, with pairings from:

• Greg Best (Ticonderoga Club)
• Blake Tyers (Creature Comforts Brewing)
• Mike Gallagher (Brick Store Pub)

And, for more flavor and fun:

• Fresh oysters from Kimball House,
• Cheeses from Sweet Grass Dairy
• Live music from Kristina Murray around the campfire.

Meals stretch long into the night, stars cover the sky, and somewhere between the canoe trips and late-night bourbon you realize - you are very far from normal life, in the best possible way.

This is part expedition, part dinner party, part summer camp for grown-ups.

Fine Print: March 18-21, 2027. Guests provide personal camping gear (packing list provided). Rain or shine. Transportation not included. Pre-trip planning session included. Gratuities not included. 21+ Only.

The Big Green Egg-sperience: Kimball House Live-Fire Feast + Landlocked VIP + Bottle #1

Twenty guests will be welcomed into the private home of Big Green Egg CEO Dan Gertsacov, and into what may be the most extraordinary outdoor kitchen in Atlanta.

For one unforgettable evening, the partners and chefs behind Kimball House will take command of the grills for a multi-course live-fire feast using Dan's world-class outdoor cooking setup - yes, including Big Green Eggs, plus a curated collection of outdoor cooking devices from around the world that the chefs will have a blast firing up - a celebration of smoke, flame, oysters, and the kind of food that made Kimball House one of the South's most celebrated restaurants.

The night begins with cocktails by award-winning bartender Miles Macquarrie, alongside a lavish Kimball House raw bar featuring their legendary Shiny Dimes oysters. Then the grills ignite - course after course, built for this moment, served hot and generous.

And because this lot is SO HOT the winning bidder will also receive:

4 VIP tickets to Landlocked on October 18, 2026, and a truly one-of-one collector's bottle: literally Bottle #1 of the limited Big Green Egg x ASW Fiddler Bourbon release - signed by Big Green Egg founder Ed Fisher. (Only ~400 bottles per barrel, and limited barrels produced.) This is a one-night convergence of Atlanta legends - Kimball House, Big Green Egg, and a bottle you cannot replace.

Fine Print: Dinner for 20 guests hosted at the home of Dan Gertsacov. Date mutually agreed upon with hosts; Sunday preferred. October and March are not available. Gratuities not included. Bottle #1 of the exclusive BGE x ASW Fiddler bourbon (signed by founder Ed Fisher) will be coordinated with Giving Kitchen for pick-up. 21+ Only.

Unreasonable Access: Welcome Conference and Live Q&A with Will Guidara

If you've ever wanted to experience the energy, insight, and inspiration behind Unreasonable Hospitality firsthand, this is your chance.

This package includes two tickets to the 2026 Welcome Conference in New York on October 5, 2026 - a one-of-a-kind gathering of leaders, creatives, and innovators designed to challenge the way we think about service, leadership, and human connection. As a past speaker, Jen Hidinger-Kendrick knows just how powerful this room can be. And anyone who has ever tried to get tickets knows how coveted they are; the 2024 Welcome Conference sold out in LITERALLY a minute.

But the real magic doesn't stop there.

The winning bidder will also receive an exclusive 45-minute live Zoom Q&A with Will Guidara for a group of any size - an extraordinary opportunity to bring one of the most influential voices in hospitality, leadership, and culture directly to your team, clients, or community.

Whether used as a high-impact employee experience, a leadership development opportunity, or a memorable gathering for top supporters, this is the kind of access that can genuinely shift how people lead, serve, and show up for others.

Motivating. Practical. Unforgettable.

For the right company or host, this is far more than a trip - it's a spark.

Fine Print: Package includes two tickets to Welcome Conference on October 5, 2026. Winning bidder is responsible for coordinating logistics for the Zoom session, including scheduling, hosting the Zoom, sending invites, and moderating the Q&A. Dates for Zoom session to be mutually agreed upon. One-night hotel stay included. Travel not included. 21+ Only.

Behind Home Plate: An Atlanta Braves VIP Experience for 15

Fifteen guests will enjoy a truly elevated Atlanta Braves VIP experience at Truist Park on Friday, April 10, 2026, when the Braves take on the Cleveland Guardians - and your night starts long before first pitch.

Before the game, your group will go behind the scenes with a private VIP tour of Truist Park, followed by rare batting practice access, giving you a look at the action most fans never get to see. Expect an insider's view of the stadium, early entry, and a few special Braves surprises along the way.

Then it's time to settle in for the main event.

Your party will join Giving Kitchen and Comcast Business in the exclusive Comcast suite inside the Champions Club, directly behind home plate - one of the best views in the building. The suite includes premium food and beverages, including top-shelf drink options, plus Braves swag to take home.

This is the kind of game-night experience usually reserved for top executives and major clients: incredible seats, all-inclusive hospitality, and the kind of access that makes every inning feel a little more electric.

Bring your best baseball people - or your best business people. Either way, this is how you do Braves night, right.

Fine Print: Experience includes 15 guest spots on Friday, April 10, 2026, for Braves vs. Guardians at Truist Park. VIP tour and batting practice access begin in the afternoon prior to the game (exact timing to be confirmed). Food and premium beverages included in the suite. Transportation and parking not included. 21+ Only.