FOOD+Culture Sets Sights on Bringing Big Economic Impact and Solidifying Birmingham as a Culinary Destination
(Birmingham, Ala.) June 13, 2023— BHAM FOOD+Culture Festival is on a mission to celebrate the Magic City’s dynamic culinary landscape with events that highlight the epicurean accomplishments of our city. FOOD+Culture Fest launched with a reveal party in October 2022 at Pepper Place, and the new food festival promises rapid expansion with a larger 3-year plan, setting its sights on significant economic impact on the city and solidifying Birmingham as a culinary-tourism destination.
The inaugural FOOD+Culture Festival will be held October 12-15, 2023, bringing together food lovers and food makers, chefs, artisans, beverage professionals, farmers and storytellers, from all walks of life – from Birmingham and beyond – to share the unique flavors and cultural vibrancy of the community. This year’s event will feature five signature events over four days, an amplified farmers’ market experience at the Market at Pepper Place, more than ten dinners and over 50 featured chefs, mixologists, brewers and more.
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“Food has the transformative power of bringing people together, and we look forward to seeing how our vision for FOOD+Culture Fest creates opportunities for connection, celebrating our culinary landscape while also shining a light on topics of deeper cultural significance,” said Rebecca Lemelin Gann, FOOD+Culture Fest Programming Director. “We have events including a lunch featuring all female chefs; a seated dinner celebrating Black chefs, culture and cuisines in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement; as well as FOOD+Fire: a Great Southern Tailgate event, presented by Southern Living.”
Established by local community leaders dedicated to building a better Birmingham, FOOD+Culture Festival aims to propel us forward via a platform focused on food and the dynamic, diverse cultures found in this region. FOOD+Culture is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established by Sloss Real Estate, The Market at Pepper Place, FRED Communication by Design, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), Keri Lane Promotions and other champions of Birmingham who collectively seek innovative and exciting ways to grow our community and opportunity for our citizens. The inaugural event will be produced with partners and major sponsors, including: Southern Living Magazine, Alabama Tourism Department, Protective Life, the Birmingham Museum of Art, AMAVIDA, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, The Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University and others.
“I’m a big cheerleader for Birmingham and have always recognized we have some of the best food in the country,” said Cathy Sloss Jones, Sloss Real Estate CEO/President. “FOOD+Culture Festival will allow us to share some of our extraordinary culinary traditions and talent with locals and visitors alike. Not only is FOOD+Culture Fest bringing the potential for tremendous economic impact, but also we hope to establish a sense of camaraderie around food, creating opportunities for community growth and a vibrant food economy.”
Community growth is just one of the commitments FOOD+Culture Festival is making in an effort to move Birmingham forward. FOOD+Culture Festival is dedicated to:
- Equity: FOOD+Culture Fest remains dedicated to celebrating talented chefs, creating space for inclusion for those who are underrepresented, including women and minorities;
- The Arts: FOOD+Culture Fest sees cooking and creating food as art. However, Birmingham’s art culture exceeds the culinary world, and the weekend will also be committed to sharing and celebrating other art forms, like visual art and music;
- Sustainability: In partnership with AMAVIDA Coffee Roasters, FOOD+Culture Fest is committed to providing a sustainable event experience. As such, 100% of disposable products used during the Festival will be compostable, contributing to a healthier ecosystem, social and economic equality, thriving habitats and a better quality of life for all;
- Community Growth: Driving revenue and traffic directly into the local restaurant, hospitality and food/beverage industry is a priority for FOOD+Culture Fest.
For more information, please visit www.bhamfoodplus.com