Knoxville Food Tour Pop Up event at "Paulk & Co

The second event during my Exhibit 'Eat Me Two" at downtown Knoxville fabricator extraordinaire Paulk & Co was masterminded by Knoxville Food Tours

owner Paula Johnson. She enlisted  12 local eateries to invent dishes based on the food paintings I had in the exhibit. Best Idea Ever. The chefs exceeded my expectations. (The full menu is printed after the images.) Sunday evening, March 30th was devoted to eating our way through these culinary masterpieces while listening to local pianist and flautists Dr. Douglas H. Manley, Carla Brown & Bethany Brown. Below are images of the food and paintings that inspired them. (The really cool thing is that I had a set-up in the office of scrap marble and props, and did a photo shoot with some of the food for reference for future paintings. There will be four.)

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Set up

Virginia Adams setting up dipped strawberries from The Melting Pot

Culinary reps from Aisle Nine and the UT's Culinary Institute

Dazzo's Grilled Eggplant with Balsamic Marinade and Whipped Feta on Pita getting assembled

Inquisition Vanita    oil on panel   20” x 16”      

Surrounded by Eggplants oil on canvas  2’ x 4’  $2,800

The Devil Lives in a Quart Jar   oil on canvas    36” x 36”  inspiration, below..    

Watermelon Mockjito with Fresh Mint and Pickled Watermelon Rind
The Fresh Market/The Peanut Shop

The Food

Shonos In City Red Velvet Dessert Sushi Roll under my FD&C Red #40, oil on canvas 4' x 6'

The Melting Pot's dipped strawberries under my Wet Strawberries  acrylic on canvas    

Black Eyed Pea Fritters with Tzatziki Sauce
from The Bistro at the Bijou

Purple Hull Beans    oil on canvas    20” x 30” 

Almond Butter and Muscadine Bruschetta
The Peanut Shop of Knoxville

Muscadines and Scupernogs Squared    36” x 48” oil on linen 

Spicy Pepper Cheddar Cheese Corn Muffins with Honey Butter
from Mast General Store

Cosmetically Exterminated   oil on canvas  48” x 48”

Bok Choy and Radicchio Salad in Parmesan Cup
The Fresh Market

Radicchio and Bok Choy   Oil on linen   20 x 28   

Pomegranate Apple Smoked Thick Cut Pork Chop on Open Faced Biscuit
Topped with Slaw and Pomegranate Vinaigrette
The Peanut Shop of Knoxville

Three Quarters   oil on panel   18” x 24”   

Thai Chilled Mango Soup with Ginger and Coconut
  Aisle Nine. My charcoal on plywood drawing "Aaron" stands guard.

Flying Mangos of the Baroque Palace Ceiling   oil on canvas   40” x 60"

Crostini with Noble Springs Goat Cheese, Pear, and 18 Year Aged Balsamic
Tree & Vine, inspired by "Three Quarters", see above

Winding Down

People never stopped eating, even to talk

I had some of my life size drawings on plywood there. One of them was taking photos.

The Menu

Chandler’s Seasoning Dip on Purple Sweet Potato
Visit Knoxville/The Market

Almond Butter and Muscadine Bruschetta
The Peanut Shop of Knoxville

Grilled Eggplant with Balsamic Marinade and Whipped Feta on Pita
Dazzo’s

Black Eyed Pea Fritters with Tzatziki Sauce
The Bistro at the Bijou

Thai Chilled Mango Soup with Ginger and Coconut
Aisle Nine

Spicy Pepper Cheddar Cheese Corn Muffins with Honey Butter
Mast General Store

Bok Choy and Radicchio Salad in Parmesan Cup
The Fresh Market

Pomegranate Apple Smoked Thick Cut Pork Chop on Open Faced Biscuit
Topped with Slaw and Pomegranate Vinaigrette
The Peanut Shop of Knoxville

Crostini with Noble Springs Goat Cheese, Pear, and 18 Year Aged Balsamic
Tree & Vine

Walden Creek Scuppernog Jelly
Habanero Strawberry Pepper Jelly on Cracker
Raspberry Jalapeno Jam, Corn Chip
Mast General Store

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
The Melting Pot

Red Velvet Dessert Sushi Roll
Shonos In City

Blonde Giraffe Key Lime Pie Cookies
The Market

Lemon and Raspberry Filled Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme

Watermelon Mockjito with Fresh Mint and Pickled Watermelon Rind
The Fresh Market/The Peanut Shop

Houston’s Mineral Water with Cucumber