September 26-27, 2009 – www.duluthfallfestival.org / 770-476-0240.

September 23, 2009 – www.GreenFoodserviceAlliance.org.

September 22, 2009 – www.garestaurants.org.

September 21, 2009. Marlow’s Tavern, Northlake. For more information, call (404) 467-9000.

September 20-21, 2009 at Sandy Springs Historic Site and Park, www.sandyspringsfestival.com / 404-851-9111.

September 20-26, 2009, various locations throughout Atlanta / Amy Crowell, 770-436-5151.

September 18-20, 2009, Jekyll Island, GA, www.jekyllisland.com.

Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), an organization of leading professional women in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality, will present its prestigious Grande Dame Award to Shirley Corriher of Atlanta. The award, which honors the lifetime achievement and contribution of a LDEI member to the culinary industry, is bestowed bi-annually and will be presented at a gala dinner during the LDEI annual conference in Philadelphia on October 3, 2009.

According to Suzanne Brown of Atlanta, international president of LDEI, Shirley Corriher, is one of the culinary world’s icons, and is a noted food scientist, culinary authority, chef, and James Beard award winning cookbook author. “Shirley has the extraordinary talent of providing listeners with a deep knowledge of food science mixed with the performance of a talented stand-up comedian,” said Brown.

A well respected biological chemist, Corriher has a B.A. in chemistry from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was also a biochemist at the University Medical School. She is classically trained in French culinary traditions.

She is well-known for appearances on the Food Network, PBS, NPR, network and cable television (including with Alton Brown Sarah Moulton and Nathalie Dupree) and even the ‘campy’ Dinner and a Movie. She has written for all the culinary magazines.

Bakewise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking was published in 2008 and won a James Beard Award in 2009.  Cookwise: the Secrets of Cooking Revealed, published in 1997, received a James Beard Award for Best Reference and Technique Book in 1998 and is considered a cookbook classic. Shirley received Bon Appetite’s ‘Best of the Best’ annual food and entertaining awards, for Best Cooking Teacher of the Year in 2001.

The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead will close their highly regarded Dining Room on October 1. The restaurant is closing after a 25-years, during which it garnered more accolades than any restaurant in Atlanta, including being the only restaurant in the Southeast to receive the Mobil Five Star Award.

“We greatly appreciate the significant contributions of our distinctive and esteemed chefs, Guenther Seeger, Joel Antunes, Bruno Ménard, and especially our current chef, Arnaud Berthelier,” said Jon McGavin, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. “Their names will always be synonymous with The Dining Room.”

A change in dining habits and rising costs in recent years became increasingly challenging. The elegant and lengthy dinner service features a la carte and tasting menus that change daily, paired fine wines from a 600-bottle cellar.

“The expenses involved in providing this level of service are very high,” said Mr. McGavin. “But more importantly, our singular focus is to deliver experiences that our guests want, and people want to dine differently today. Now it is time to pay tribute to this grand dame of fine dining. Then we will consider what is next.”

September 16, 2009, Cobb Galleria, www.atlantafoods.com.