Montgomery Hosts Alabama All Star Food Festival May 12, 2012
First Annual Event Celebrates the Best in Alabama Food, Drink & Farms
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – April 23, 2012 – The first annual Alabama All Star Food Festival will take place Saturday, May 12, 2012, in the heart of Alabama’s re-emerging Capital City. Launched in conjunction with the Alabama Tourism Department’s Year of Alabama Food, the inaugural culinary festival will celebrate the best in food, drink, music and farms across the state – all set along Commerce Street in Montgomery’s downtown entertainment district. Visitors of all ages can enjoy live music from local musicians, sample locally-inspired food and drink tastings from more than 25 Alabama vendors, participate in educational sessions and interact with featured chefs, producers and educators during on-stage demonstrations. All event proceeds benefit the Montgomery Area Food Bank, the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network and the Hampstead Institute non-profit organizations to heighten awareness and access to fresh, locally-sourced food.
The fun-filled festivities kick off Saturday, May 12 at 3 p.m. with live bluegrass from the Montgomery-based Coosa River Ramblers, a sampling of Alabama cuisine incorporating the freshest seasonal ingredients and variety of beer and wine tastings from regional breweries and vineyards. At 4 p.m., visitors are invited to attend a special Future of Alabama Food Roundtable discussion in the Alley Bar Garage featuring Alabama’s top chefs, farmers and food activists. Moderated by Birmingham-based food blogger, Scott Jones, of “Jones is Hungry,” the unique discussion will shed light on the many local food system developments happening around the state. Festivities continue with chef and producer demos in the Alley Bar Garage at 5 p.m. and more live music with The Hotheads, a popular Alabama-based string band, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the main Commerce Street stage.
Notable Alabama-based participants include: Dreamland BBQ; Chef Michael Bertozzi of Central; Roux; Alley Bar; Chris’ Hot Dogs; Chef Rob McDaniel of SpringHouse Restaurant; The Tipping Point; Chef Leonardo Maurelli with the Front Porch Revival; Wintzell’s, Chef Wesley True of True Restaurant; The Deli at Alley Station; Saza’s; Cantina Tortilla Grill; Olive Room; Louisa’s Bakery; Isaiah’s Restaurant; Commerce Street Soda Shop; House of Bread Bakery; Baumhower's Restaurant; Good People Brewing Company; Back Forty Beer Company; Morgan Creek Winery; Perdido Vineyards; Ozan Vineyard & Cellars; Bryant Vineyards and Mountain Valley Spring Water. Restaurants from all eight PCH Hotels & Resorts will also participate, including The House (Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center); 360 Grille (Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa); Brock’s (Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa); Lakeview Room (Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National); Oak Tavern (Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill); The Trellis Room (The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa); The Grand Dining Room (Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa) and The Harbor Room (Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.)
Local sponsors for the first annual Alabama All Star Food Festival include: Goodwyn, Mills, Cawood (Lead All Star Sponsor); Advertiser Media Group (Official Media Sponsor); Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center; the City of Montgomery; Renasant Bank: Montgomery Civitan Club: MAX Credit Union: City of Montgomery Department of Development; Hampstead Institute; Vital Signs; Alabama Tourism Department; Weather Seal Windows and Doors; Colonial Insurance Agency; Bank Trust; Edwards Plumbing & Heating; Vision Landscapes; Design Build South; Mountain Valley Spring Water and Matter Creative Studio.
In support of the Montgomery Area Food Bank, the festival will feature an Alabama-Produced Food Drive to collect non-perishable food products produced in the state of Alabama on Saturday, May 12. Food products collected at the event will be distributed to needy communities across the River Region to help fight hunger while supporting local farmers and reducing the environmental impact of our food system. All guests who contribute an item to the Alabama-Produced food drive will be entered to win a gift basket filled with food and beverage discounts from restaurants, breweries and vineyards across the state.
Samples will be served from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. or until supplies run out, so visitors are encouraged to come early for the best pickin’. The first 250 attendees will also receive a reusable, organic Alabama All Star Food Festival bag sponsored by the Montgomery Civitan Club.
Discounted pre-sale tickets are now available for $35 per person for adults, $15 for children ages 10 to 15 and free for children under 10. Tickets will be $40 for adults at the gate. For event details and tickets visit www.alabamafoodfestival.com, follow the Alabama All Star Food Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alabamafoodfestival or Twitter at www.twitter.com/alabamafoodfest.
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