Monday, August 27, 2018

4th Annual GRAZE Farm-To-Fork Picnic





Graze Birmingham is a farm-to-fork picnic in which attendees “graze” on a wide variety of dishes. Each dish is produced by a different local farmer + local restaurant pair. Bring your picnic blankets, enjoy live music and delicious local beverages. It’s a picnic you don’t want to miss! The 4th annual event will take place Sunday September 9th at Avondale Brewing Company from 5-8 p.m.

TICKET DETAILS:

Graze tickets are sold on a sliding scale.  Name your own price within the ranges given.  Please give as generously as you can!
  •  Adults: $25-75 (recommended price: $45)
  •  Kids <13: $5-15 (recommended price: $10)

Click here to purchase tickets!



THIS YEAR’S PAIRINGS:
  • Avondale Common House & Distillery  +  Hamm Farm
  • City Club Restaurant  +  BDA/Bois D’Arc Farms
  • Continental Bakery  +  Hepzibah Farms
  • Downstairs Diner at East Lake UMC  +  Dixon Family Farm
  • East 59 Vintage & Cafe  +  Grandview Farm
  • El Barrio Restaurante  +  Greene Prairie Aquafarm
  • Golden Temple  +  Snow’s Bend Farm
  • Magic City Sweet Ice  +  Walden Farms
  • Pelham Culinary Arts  +  Caver Farms
  • Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant  +  Grateful Acres
  • Rusty’s Bar-B-Q  +  DSR Farms
  • Sprout & Pour  +  Belle Meadow Farms
  • Taco Morro Loco  +  Stillwater Farm 
  • Thyme Randle  +  Heron Hollow Farms 
  • Tropicaleo  +  Marble Creek Farmstead 
  • Harvest Roots Ferments – kombucha 
  • Jones Valley Teaching Farm – flowers

See you there! 

Thanks for reading & sharing! 
~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

 The Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN) is a network of farmers, consumers, and agriculture-related organizations, all committed to promoting sustainable agriculture in Alabama. We are working to improve the situation of farmers in the state and to provide the state’s consumers with fresh local products

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Birmingham Restaurant Week 2018 "Get In"




Hey Birmingham!  The ninth annual Birmingham Restaurant Week (BRW) 2018 will kick off this Friday, Aug. 10 to Sunday, Aug. 19 with more than 70 restaurants set to participate in celebration of our city’s acclaimed culinary culture and love of local. During the 10 days of BRW, take the opportunity to dine at the restaurants you've been wanting to try for reduced prices. Restaurants will offer prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menus for only $10, $15, $20, $30 or $40 per person. That's a deal!





Whether you're a Mexican food lover, barbecue aficionado or just a meat & potatoes eater, there is something for every appetite.


Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to experience Birmingham’s unique and thriving culinary scene! For more information about BRW 2018 and its events, visit www.bhamrestaurantweek.com for a list of menus and participating restaurants. 





Don't miss a week full of food & fun filled events included in this years BRW. 


HARVEST BRUNCH
Aug. 11 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Social Venture - Woodlawn




MAGIC CITY EATS BIKE TOUR
Aug. 11 | 3 - 5 p.m. | Whistling Table
Ticket Link: https://brw2018biketour.instagift.com/




MONDAY NIGHT STARTUP RESTAURANT TAKEOVER
Aug. 13 | 6 - 9 p.m. | Rojo Birmingham




FOODIE BIZ 1.0 (A business development workshop)
Aug. 17 | 8 a.m. - noon | The Annex Culinary Incubator
Ticket Link: http://revbiz.eventbrite.com




MIXING UP THE MAGIC
Aug. 18 | 1 - 3 p.m. | 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar
Ticket Link: https://brw2018mixingupthemagic.instagift.com/


Thanks for reading & sharing! 
~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You"



Voted as one of the Top 40 Alabama Blogs, News Websites & Newsletters To Follow in 2018 Via @FeedSpot





Tuesday, August 7, 2018

King Of The Grill BBQ Cook-Off Presented by Regions Bank





If you love barbecue, have I got the event for you! 

The Junior Board of Growing Kings is hosting the inaugural "King Of The Grill" Barbecue Competition and you do not want to miss it. This event will combine fundraising with the opportunity to enjoy lots of barbecue samples provided by all of the competitors.





At this time cook team slots are STILL available. Restaurants and corporate sponsors are more than welcome to sign up. The competition will be judged by individuals from Platinum & Presenting level sponsors. 


The event will take place on Saturday August 18, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Parking will be available around the perimeter of the competition. Just go to the area blocked off on 55th Place South 35212 between 1st Ave North & 1st Ave South.
The winner this year will take home the King of the Grill title AND a brand new Kamado Joe grill sponsored by Alabama Power!

Dishes will be judged based on Taste, Aroma, Appearance and Team Spirit. Teams will be competing for a chance at six different highly coveted titles: Best Chicken Dish, Best Pork Dish, Best Beef Dish, Best Sauce, People’s Choice, and Best Overall.

EARLY BIRD $15.00 TICKETS are available now, but going fast! There are only a limited number available. Kids 10 and under are Free!!
CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS

To get early bird tickets for only $10.00, use my discount code RRAIDER5

Register your team today by emailing amy.roberts@growingkings.org


Can't make it to the event?
The kids would love your donation. Visit https://www.growingkings.org/donate/


~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Anonymously Raiding An Event Near You" 
Est.2009


  Voted as one of the Top 40 Alabama Blogs, News Websites & Newsletters To Follow in 2018 Via @FeedSpot

Growing Kings is a Birmingham based mentoring organization that has approximately 500 kids in grades 4-12 participating in various developmental & education activities. Founded in 2009, the organization has worked hard to transform the lives of young men throughout our city so that they may become productive members of society under the guidance of passionate mentors. 
Connect on Twitter @GrowingKings
On Instagram @growingkings


 

Monday, August 6, 2018

The Magic City Mac & Cheese Fest Returns!

The 2nd Annual Magic City Mac & Cheese Festival benefiting the Community Grief Support organization is just around the corner & The Birmingham Restaurant Raider has signed on as a sponsor for this years event! 


After an overwhelming response in 2017, the festival will now be held at Brookwood Village on Sunday September 9, 2018. 

This annual festival dedicated to one of America's favorite comfort foods attracted a few thousand people last year. With a spike in ticket sales, it appears that number will more than double this year. I encourage you to get an ADVANCE ticket for $15.00. Tickets at the gate will be $20.00. Kids 12 & under are admitted for only $5.00 and kids under 5 are FREE! Paid admission will get you into the festival to try UNLIMITED mac & cheese samples from great local restaurants & businesses around town.



A partial list of vendors includes several of my favorite spots: 

The Southern Kitchen and Bar
Newk's Eatery
The Cheesecake Empori-Yum!
Swamp Monster BBQ
John's City Diner
The J. Clyde
California Pizza Kitchen
Sol's Sandwich Shop and Deli
Irondale Café
Sky Castle Birmingham
Nothing But Noodles
Sherry's Café, Cakes, & Catering
Mason Dixon Bakery and Bistro
Ivory LeShore's Gourmet Bread Pudding & Cheesecake
Fetch: A Treat Truck For Dogs
Simply Infused Olive Oil Shop
Vintage Comfort Food Co.
Joel's Southern Cooking
Katie's Plates
Carlile's Barbecue
Panoptic Catering
Brick & Tin
Smiley Brothers Specialty Foods
And MORE to be announced.

Click here for tickets: https://www.macfestbhm.com/tickets

"Community Grief Support is a safe place where people grieving the death of a loved one can find hope and healing and meet with others who have had this experience and understand. Together they learn how to regain control of their lives in an environment of care, comfort and healing." They offer counseling for individuals, couples & families.

Be sure to stop by the donation table. 😃
Can't make it to the festival? 
Donate what you can to CGS at http://www.communitygriefsupport.org/donate.php

For more information about the festival, please visit macfestbhm.com/

Thanks for reading & sharing! 
~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You"
Est. 2009
Voted as one of the Top 40 Alabama Blogs, News Websites & Newsletters To Follow in 2018 Via @FeedSpot

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Celebrate Caribbean Month At Customs International Cafe








Months after they were awarded the 2018 Shelby County Small Business Of The Year, Customs Cafe is celebrating Caribbean Food month all during the month of August. 

We've obtained a pre-released copy of their menu featuring items designed by their guest chef for the month of August, Tamara Saunders. 


MENU




Rasta Pasta – 12.50
Creamy Pasta with Jerk Chicken. If you love creamy,spicy, and decadent, then this pasta is for you. Rasta Pasta is a pasta dish with jerk chicken, that has been sauteed with bell peppers, then tossed in a spicycreamy sauce. Served with plantains and Caribbean Corn.

Jamaican Beef Patty 6.95
Make it a combo – add chips & a fountain drink – 8.95
Don’t let the name fool you. It’s a delicious meat turnover. Flavorful ground beef stuffed into an amazing buttery dough, then baked. Very popular in Jamaica.

Plantains 4.00
Enjoy our plantain slices as a side order or appetizer.

Rum & Raisin Cake with Ice Cream – 6.95
This tropical treat is also enjoyed in the Southern U.S. during the Holidays. Made with Bacardi Rum and a sprinkling of raisins this delicious, mini-bundt cake is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ginger Lemonade – 3.00
A Taste of Jamaica makes this lemonade with the perfect amount of Ginger served cold over ice. 

Bacardi Ginger Lemonade – 6.00
Enjoy a refreshing cocktail. We add Bacardi Rum to Ginger Lemonade and serve it ice cold.


Their Caribbean Music Night  is August 10th 4 pm - 10 pm and will feature a few different items.Traditional items such as Jerk Chicken, Pork, or Fish with cabbage and plantains will be available. Additional menu items: Curry Goat, and Oxtails. Featured beverage: Bacardi Ginger Lemonade.


Customs Cafe is located at 1845 Montgomery Hwy, Suite 207, Hoover, AL  35244 (in the Hobby Lobby Shopping Ctr.)
(205) 987-0176

Facebook – customscafe , Twitter@customscafe, Instagram @customscafe

Thanks for reading & sharing! 
~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You"