Hundreds pack Taste of Macon in Atlanta | Macon Telegraph

ATLANTA -- A crowd of several hundred people gathered in a restored railroad station a block from the state Capitol Tuesday night for the annual Taste of Macon.

Ten Macon restaurants set up all-you-can-eat buffets for the home folks who came up -- as well as the assorted politicians, lobbyists and staff who wandered over from across the street.

Tickets, at $50, also included access to the bar stations set up between the offerings of barbecue, hot dogs and other snacks. Not everyone necessarily paid that much, though. The right people in Capitol hallways on Tuesday had a few extra tickets in their pockets for the asking.

Gov. Nathan Deal was seen chatting with lawmakers at the massive meet-and-greet.

His wife, Sandra Deal, was also talking with all comers. Her new assistant, Jasmine King, a young woman from Macon, was at her side.

King said she was recommending the Nu-Way samples to her boss.

"I grew up eating it, ... going there after school," King said. "It's a fun place."

The Taste of Macon is organized by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by several of its members as a networking event.

To contact writer Maggie Lee, e-mail mlee@macon.com