Celebrate Birmingham’s Culinary and Cultural Vibrancy
Join in at Birmingham’s biggest table, September 19-22 as The Year of Alabama Food is celebrated at the city’s most exciting and newest food festivals. Live, taste and experience the cuisine, culture and character that makes Birmingham the Food Destination of the South. From live funk to fine dining, unique events serve up the perfect taste of our heritage, cuisine, traditions and unique and flavorful culture.
FOOD+Frank: The Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence | Thursday, September 19
A cocktail reception honoring the recipient of the Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence, recognizing an industry leader dedicated to culinary craft who fosters appreciation for food’s journey to our tables. Enjoy passed bites and signature drinks, as dignitaries pay tribute to the 2024 honoree Glenn Robert’s innovation and impact on the culinary industry. Roberts was selected due to his dedication to preserving and enhancing Southern culinary traditions. He founded Anson Mills in 1998 in Charleston, South Carolina, to rematriate lost foods of the 18th and 19th century Southern Pantry. Today Anson Mills grows and produces artisan landrace grain, legume, and oil seed ingredients for chefs and home cooks worldwide and provides culinary research support for pastry chefs, bakers, brewers, and distillers through Anson Mills Research Lab.
DATE: Thursday, September 19th VENUE: Birmingham Museum of Art TIME: 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm THE EVENT: Cocktail reception featuring curated beer, wine and a signature cocktail. Heavy hors d’oeuvres. Live music and keynote speakers
FOOD+Heritage | Friday, September 20
It’s a big fat Greek dinner in the streets! Embark on a culinary journey as FOOD+ celebrates Birmingham’s vibrant Greek community and its impact on the city’s food scene. Immerse yourself in Greek traditions as you hear their stories and traditions while savoring the Greek flavors from iconic chefs with a multi-course, seated dinner and entertainment under the stars.
DATE: Friday, September 20th VENUE: Streets of Pepper Place on 29th St S. TIME: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm TICKET: $125 – includes food and beverage THE EVENT: Welcome reception with passed bites, beer, wine and a signature cocktail. Seated dinner featuring a multi-course, family-style meal with dishes from several local chefs and paired wines. Curated live entertainment in the Greek tradition.
FOOD+Market Mix at The Market at Pepper Place | Saturday, September 21
Join FOOD+Culture Festival at The Market at Pepper Place for a morning market mix of farmers, female chefs, storytellers, authors and makers. As the Market continues to celebrate the Year of Alabama Food and the month of “Women in Food,” the morning will feature female chef demos by Les Dames D’Escoffier, along with storytelling and book signings curated by Alabama Humanities Alliance. Start your Saturday at one of the premier markets in the United States, and then stay for festivities at FOOD+Fire.
DATE: Saturday, September 21st VENUE: Market at Pepper Place TIME: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm TICKET: Free to attend
FOOD+Fire | Saturday, September 21
Sloss Furnaces will light up us we host the second annual, FOOD+Fire. This daytime walk-around tasting event will celebrate the barbecue community, live-fire cooking, and Southern tailgate culture. The event will feature top regional and national pitmasters and acclaimed chefs putting an open-fire spin on signature bites and tailgate classics. The cornerstone event of the Birmingham FOOD+Culture Festival, it will feature the Southern Living Tailgate Stage presented by Hellmann’s, the Coca Cola Music Stage, local and regional breweries in the Hop City Craft Beer + Wine Garden, and the not-to-be missed giant football screen in the Avadian Credit Union Tailgate Lounge.
DATE: Saturday, September 21st VENUE: Sloss Furnaces Historic Landmark TIME: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm TICKET: $75 – includes food and beverage tastings THE EVENT: A walk-around tasting event. Unlimited tasting bites from ~30 top chefs and pitmasters. The Hop City Craft Beer + Wine Garden – Unlimited tasting-sized pours from 10+ breweries and 6+ wineries. Southern Living Tailgate Stage presented by Hellmann’s. Coca Cola Music Stage. Avadian Credit Union Tailgate Lounge with a giant football screen. Cash bar for additional alcohol purchases
FOOD+Funk: Grits + Grooves | Sunday, September 22
Get your groove on and your grits in! Join Grammy Award winning The Dirty Dozen Brass Band for a spirited “Sunday Funday” immersed in rich culinary tradition, celebrating Alabama’s timeless love affair with grits. Through innovative brunch dishes highlighting the versatility of this historic staple, complemented by crafted morning cocktails and live music, we toast to grits’ heritage and the essence of Southern hospitality.
DATE: Sunday, September 22nd VENUE: Sloss Furnaces Historic Landmark, Water Tower TIME: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm TICKET: $75 – includes food and beverage THE EVENT: A walk-around brunch featuring: Unlimited tasting bites from 10 brunch chefs. Unlimited craft cocktails from 5 local mixologists. Live Music by Grammy-winning The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
FOOD+Friends Dinner Series
Local restaurants will be hosting out of town guest chef friends, for one-night-only collaborative menu offerings. These dinners will not be ticketed, allowing the entire community to get a taste of FOOD+Culture Fest, and drive traffic into our local restaurants. Schedule and participating restaurants to be announced!
