Just before golden hour, on a hot summer night in September, stylish dinner guests search for parking along Fort Street, near the corner of Auburn Avenue, while others hop out of Ubers and Lyfts, all under the shadow of the Downtown Connector.

They are headed to Auburn Angel , a hidden gem in the Sweet Auburn district, for an “Intimate Dinner.” It is one of three such dinners planned at restaurants across the city to celebrate opening night of the 2025 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival . Like the others, the Auburn Angel ticketed event has a corporate sponsor.

The night is not just a marquee festival event: It’s the sixth in a dinner series hosted by The New South collective , a dynamic group of distinguished Black chefs in Atlanta, including Auburn Angel chef and co-owner Robert Butts.

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