One of the great things about being plugged in to the local and regional community of outstanding chefs is finding out how willing they are to share each other's kitchens to benefit charitable organizations. The recent
Share Our Strength Dinner at the Hermitage Hotelis just one example of an event where Nashville chefs teamed with their friends from around the South to come together to create an incredible meal to raise money for a worthy cause.
In the Magic City of Birmingham there is a group of independent restaurants that have banded together like our own Nashville Originals. They call themselves the Birmingham Originals. (Our crack research staff here at Bites is currently investigating who stole the name from whom.) Regardless, both groups are an important way for smaller establishments to pull together to help brand themselves as they compete with national chain restaurants, so we'll cut them some slack.
The Birmingham Originals have an annual event they call Break n' Bread, which they describe as Alabama’s premier food and wine event. It features signature dish tastings from nearly 40 Birmingham Originals restaurants paired with a wide selection of wine and beer. There is also entertainment, which this year will be provided by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. (Shut up, you can't tell me you weren't rooting for him that year. Soul Patrol rules!)
This year, they're shaking things up a little bit and featuring some of our local favorites:
