Georgia may grow more blueberries than peaches these days, but nobody is rushing to rename Peachtree Street. The peach still belongs to us. It’s on our license plates, in our cocktails and all over Atlanta restaurant menus for a few glorious months every summer.
Though National Peach Day is Thursday, peach season is already winding down. Here’s where you can still find some of Atlanta’s best peach dishes and desserts, plus a few recipes for putting those peaches on your counter to work.
Credit: Joe Kovac Jr.
Credit: Joe Kovac Jr.
Learn how to pick a ripe Georgia peach
A peach’s red blush may be pretty, but it isn’t the best way to judge ripeness. Tyler Wainwright of Lane Southern Orchards told the AJC to look at the fruit’s background color near the stem. Yellow is fine, but dark green can mean the peach was picked too early.
A ripe peach should also have a little give without feeling mushy. If it’s still hard, let it soften on the counter or outside in the shade, never in direct sun. Refrigerate it once ripe to buy yourself a little more time.
Read an expert’s advice for choosing the perfect Georgia peach.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Find a great peach dish in Atlanta
Atlanta chefs aren’t limiting peaches to cobblers and pies. They’re serving them with hamachi, shrimp, prosciutto, smoked mascarpone and plenty of other savory ingredients.
Our guide to 10 Atlanta restaurants serving peak-season peaches includes dishes, desserts and drinks from restaurants such as Staplehouse, Tio Lucho’s, Ecco and Lazy Betty.
The availability of these dishes depends on the peaches available at the market, so call ahead before making a special trip.
Credit: Charmain Ware-Jason
Credit: Charmain Ware-Jason
Save room for peach dessert
If you prefer your peaches wrapped in pastry or parked next to a scoop of ice cream, we have you covered.
Our guide to the best peach desserts in Atlanta includes peach empanadas made with Pearson Farm fruit at La Semilla, Little Tart’s seasonal peach galette and peach brioche buns from At Heart Panadería.
Get them while you can. Peach season does not linger.
Credit: Monti Carlo
Credit: Monti Carlo
Turn ripe peaches into peach curd
Peach curd is what happens when peaches get the lemon-curd treatment. Eggs and butter turn peach puree into a silky spread that lands somewhere between a custard and a jam.
Our easy peach curd recipe includes 12 ways to use it. Spoon it over ice cream, spread it on biscuits, layer it into a cake or serve it with pork or grilled chicken.
Credit: Aaliyah Man
Credit: Aaliyah Man
Roast the peaches that refuse to ripen
Those stubbornly firm peaches on your counter are not a lost cause. They’re actually better for roasting because they soften in the oven without turning to mush.
This 30-minute pork tenderloin with roasted peaches balances the fruit with sherry vinegar and fresh tarragon. It’s a quick dinner and a good use for peaches that aren’t ready to eat over the sink.
Credit: Courtesy of Pearson Farm
Credit: Courtesy of Pearson Farm
Drink your peaches
Atlanta is still looking for a signature cocktail, and the Peach on the Pitch would like to be considered.
Inspired by the Honey Deuce served at the U.S. Open, the drink combines locally distilled Murrell’s Row Tulsi gin with a syrup made from Pearson Farm peaches, ginger and tarragon.
Read the story behind Atlanta’s proposed signature peach cocktail, find out where it’s being served and get the recipe to make it at home.
However you celebrate National Peach Day, make it count. A good Georgia peach won’t be around for much longer.
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