Meet our 2023 Snail of Approval winners

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Congratulations to Atlanta's first-ever group of Snail of Approval winners! These restaurants and producers have gone above and beyond in pursuing and practicing Slow Food values, and are committed to the environment, local communities, employees and purveyors, and our core values of anti-racism and anti-oppression.

Capella Cheese

By the time Raymond Hook opened Capella Cheese in July 2022, his resume was stacked with over 30 years of exploring cheese in some capacity, working with producers, retailers, and everyone in between. Now through his cheese shop, he and his team not only seek to help customers find their next favorite cheese, but also they do it while honoring their makers, suppliers, and community. Website | @capellacheese

Condor Chocolates

Condor Chocolates has always been a family affair—brothers Nick and Peter Dale opened their chocolate shop in Athens to pay homage to their Ecuadorian roots. Sourcing the finest cacao from various small farms in Ecuador, Condor produces and sells bean-to-bar chocolate bars, truffles, sipping chocolate, hot cocoa, coffee, iced beverages, gelato and a variety of confections. Website | @condorchocolates

The Deer and The Dove/B-Side

In Decatur, you’ll find Chef Terry Koval and his team cooking with an open flame—whether it’s in-season vegetables, beef and pork from local farms, and game meat entrees at The Deer and the Dove, or Montreal-style bagels, bagel sandwiches, and coffee at his adjoining bagel shop B-Side. Website | @thedeerandthedove

Evergreen Butcher & Baker

For Sean and Emma Schacke, sourcing local ingredients and a no-waste mentality are fundamental values of Evergreen Butcher + Baker. Part whole animal butchery, part bakeshop, their offerings span from pork, beef, and lamb from small Georgia farms, to pastries and bread made with organic flour from nearby mills. Website | @evergreenbutcherandbaker

Fresh Harvest

Fresh Harvest is not your average CSA. They partner with a curated slate of local, organic farms and artisan producers to offer Atlanta and surrounding areas a weekly basket with all the fixin’s. In addition to seasonal produce, Fresh Harvest delivers local meats, pantry staples, rotating entrées, freshly baked goods, and more delivered right to your door. Website | @freshharvest

JenChan’s

JenChan’s is a lot of things—a restaurant, a market, a delivery supper club, a caterer—but to sum it all up, it’s “mostly Southern, mainly Asian” food. Sourcing locally whenever possible, owners Jen and Emily Chan put in a lot of time researching farms and producers for their ingredients. And not only do they use recyclable and reusable packaging, but they also accept some packaging and ice packs back from customers for reuse. Website | @jenchansdeliverysupperclub

Photo: Starchefs

Little Bear

Little Bear’s menu speaks for itself. On it, you’ll find “big hunk-o-flesh” and “pretentious flowers”—but for the most part, Chef Jarret Stieber and his team let the veggies do all the talking. Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients make up clever, eclectic dishes that emphasize the thoughtful work of producers who raise, mill, and grow them. Website | @littlebearatl

Little Tart Bakeshop

There’s much more to Little Tart Bakeshop than what meets the eye. Beyond a bountiful pastry offering made with local, seasonal ingredients, owner Sarah O’Brien and her team have cultivated a business that takes great care in the growth and wellbeing of its employees, maintains well-kept relationships with its producers, and pursues initiatives to enhance access to underserved communities. Website | @littletartbakeshop

Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee

Miller Union

Through Miller Union, co-owners Steven Satterfield and Neal McCarthy expertly demonstrate their dedication to slow food and wine. The season-driven menu embodies an authentic approach to farmstead-inspired cooking, complemented by a dynamic wine program that focuses on small producers with sustainable farming practices. Website | @millerunionatl

The Spotted Trotter

At the Spotted Trotter, owner Kevin Ouzts and his team purvey a divine assortment of charcuterie with sustainability and responsibility in mind. They prioritize sourcing from local farms that practice responsible animal husbandry to ensure that their customers are taking home meat that’s been handled with respect every step of the way. Website | @thespottedtrotter

Talat Market

Talat Market is what you get when you marry Thai food with Georgia ingredients. Exceptionally grounded in a community that helped take them from beloved pop-up to brick-and-mortar, co-owners Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter reinterpret traditional dishes and cocktails using whatever’s in season, without skimping on the authentic flavors of Thai cuisine. Website | @talatmarketatl

Xocolatl

A lot of intention goes into Xocolatl’s chocolate. From bean to bar, owners Matt Weyandt and Elaine Read are thoughtful about every step of the sourcing and production practices—considering the implications of direct versus fair trade, what kind of paper to use for packaging, how to minimize their carbon footprint, and more—so that they’re a force for social good in their local community and beyond. Website | @xocolatlchocolate