Southern U.S. food has gone from simple home cooked meals to gourmet dishes over the last few decades. These dishes have been influenced by several different cultures across the world, and shared at events for food lovers. The annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival (AF&WF) is just one of many. It was created in 2011 to showcase the vast variety of Southern foods and drinks, and its influence on food from other parts of the world. The 2018 AF&WF was held from May 31st to June 3 in Midtown Atlanta, with over 150 chefs, wine stewards, and mixologists in attendance.