Enjoy being in the heartland of the South when you head to Birmingham, Alabama! Known as “magic city”, Birmingham has become renown for its amazing food scene, and has a modern, contemporary atmosphere that is still classically southern. Home to the Oscars of Dining, many of the restaurants are home to James Beard Foundation Award winners and nominees. The area’s antique shops have been featured in upscale lifestyle magazines, and there’s an impressive collection of culture and art on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Golf lovers will enjoy the amazing year-round weather conditions, and can tee it up at two courses on the state’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
What better way to experience the sights and sounds of Birmingham than with Birmingham’s Restaurant Week? Indulge in delicious food and the spirit of the South during the week of August 10-19th, 2018. Hosting all local food and restaurants, Restaurant Week is a grand tradition that is perfect for every foodie! Throughout the week there will be plenty of activities that reflect the diverse food scene in Birmingham. ResortsandLodges.com had a chance to sit down with Eric Biancalana, the Public Relations director of this fantastic event, to give us more details for the Restaurant Week.
RAL: Tell us a little bit about the event.
EB: Birmingham Restaurant Week celebrates the city’s culinary reputation while connecting the community through local food. The 10-day culinary affair features more than 50 restaurants.
RAL: How long has the event been running?
EB: Birmingham Restaurant Week was created in 2010, making this the ninth annual event.
RAL: What demographic does your event attract?
EB: This event attracts any food-lover in the Birmingham area and beyond. It is the perfect opportunity for families and foodies alike to get great deals at nationally and regionally recognized restaurants that they may or may not have visited before.
RAL: What makes the event unique?
EB: Birmingham Restaurant Week highlights the city’s acclaimed culinary culture and love of local by offering incentives for Birmingham natives and visitors alike to experience the Magic City food scene as it boasts specially designed menus at speciality prices for a ten-day period, all while celebrating the landmark eateries that help make Birmingham one of the nation’s top foodie destinations.
RAL: Take me through a day at the event. What can I expect as an attendee?
EB: Any day of the 10-day event Birmingham residents and visitors alike can grab a friend or family member and make their way to one of over 50 dining establishments in the city. Attendees dine as usual at each establishment -- except this week they can choose from carefully curated BRW-exclusive menus at specialty prices.
RAL: What kind of activities will be there?
EB: The Birmingham Restaurant Week kicks off in historic Woodlawn with the most fun meal of the week-- Brunch. Sample small bites of brunch from 20+ vendors, sip mimosas and Bloody Marys, and pick up local goodies from the Woodlawn Street Market right next door. Enjoy their Zyp bike from course to course during Magic City Eats Bike Tour, and taste a culinary startup’s creation during the Monday Night Startup: Restaurant Takeover. If you have an idea for a food business, then the Foodie BIZ 1.0 workshops will guide you through 11 core concepts.
RAL: What can attendees find for local lodging?
EB: The hotels in and around Birmingham span the entire spectrum of living -- from swanky and upscale to comfortably affordable. Find one that suits your tastes and needs in one of Birmingham’s burgeoning neighborhoods of your choice, and enjoy such amazing amenities as the Birmingham Zoo and Botanical Gardens, or enjoy the state’s largest shopping mall -- The Galleria.
RAL: What does this event mean to the community?
EB: Birmingham’s culinary journey has paved the way for social and developmental change throughout the city. The event brings that community together by celebrating and spotlighting the city’s acclaimed culinary culture. Birmingham is booming more than ever and the food scene is leading the charge -- setting the stage for innovation and entrepreneurship. Support from the community during this 10-day celebration assists the city’s growth and development even further.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
EB: Food-lovers from across the globe are invited to gather around the BRW table to celebrate and experience a culinary culture that is rivaling that of some of America’s largest and most diverse cities. The week gives guests the perfect opportunity to taste the flavors of the nationally and critically-acclaimed Magic City -- at wonderfully affordable prices.
For more information about Birmingham Restaurant Week, please check out the event website here.