Restaurant industry events and 'foodie fests' are the best kinds of gatherings for three reasons ... 1) Education 2) Networking 3) EATING! If you want to finish out the summer strong — enjoying yourself and learning new things while making valuable new contacts and trying new foods — you should consider attending some of these catered events with sampling galore!
The following list of events are well organized and well attended and they may just be fun enough to bring your family and friends along, too! Besides the (delicious) food, you can also check out the different customer engagement activities organized by the event planners that tend to be held at the same location.
If you live or are near Chapel Hill in North Carolina, then you can take one night to check out the Crook's Corner restaurant. They will be starting a new initiative — a monthly family-style Supper Club program.
With this program, the restaurant will have a different night each month where you can have a new experience with a new culinary theme. No matter the month that you choose, you can expect to find Chef Justin Burdett and his team preparing high-quality, fresh foods that are sourced from local producers. And if you prefer, you can always fall back on the standard menu offerings, as those are time-tested favorites as well.
For the supper club on July 31, you’ll be able to enjoy a three-course meal served family-style. This less of a foodie fest type of event and more of a sit down dinner with proper place settings. This is a great opportunity to gather friends and family and take the night off. Starting with White Bread Heirloom Tomato Sandwiches, you’ll then tradition to Catfish Amandine with Baked Cheese Grits and Purple Slaw. Finally, for dessert, you'll experience Nancy McDermot’s Classic Chess Pie with a scoop of Smith's Pickled Peach Ice Cream on top!
If you are considering attending this event, you’ll definitely need to make a reservation. Space is filling up!
August 12 to August 18: Summer Restaurant Week Roster In Washington D.C.
If you're looking to revisit a favorite restaurant that you like or simply try out a different one, then the Summer Restaurant Week Roster in Metropolitan Washington is the perfect occasion. During this week, you’ll enjoy the best menus offered in the city at affordable prices. These include $22 brunch, $22 lunch, and $35 dinner options.
A short list of the new restaurants that are participating in this initiative for the first time are:
- Nama
- Cookology BQ
- The Bar at Milk and Honey
- Punjab Grill
- Fogo de Chão in North Bethesda
- Cherry
All participating restaurants represent a world of international cuisine. You’ll be able to enjoy Italian, Indian, American, Turkish, and more. If dining at Cherry, be sure to keep an eye out for the Dining Elevated Flatware Rests that are used as prized tableware accessories at each and every place setting. Selecting the Black Walnut Rounded Wood Uplift, this style fit with their brand’s wood themed decor perfectly and compliments the W Hotel's commitment to customer engagement and consumer protection. The flatware rests will elevate your modern flatware and keep your experience clean and organized. Eater D.C. did a great review of Cherry's culinary prowess just a few weeks ago when they officially opened to the public.
August 29: Key West BrewFest
It's always an easy guarantee to have many different fun events during the Labor Day Weekend and this year is no exception!
While you can attend any number of special or catered events and shows, we find the Key West BrewFest particularly interesting. This is already the 10th anniversary of this event and you'll be able to taste almost 200 beers and ales. The event lasts from August 29 to September 2, so you'll have plenty of time to head down and get your fest on!
One of the things that we like about this festival is that it's probably the only place you can taste such a huge variety of beers. You may get a kick out of the beers' names as much as we did. Quick examples include Andygator, Funky Buddha, and Monk in the Trunk. You can also expect to find your local favorites.
Besides tasting different beers, you can also take the time to join the pool parties, beer-themed brunches, and special dinners organized throughout the fest dates.
The 11th Annual Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival will take place in Texas between August 31 and up to September 1. So, if you like heart-warming and belly-filling Southern food, then this is an event that you can't miss. To make sure that you won't miss, you can buy your tickets online now and enjoy the free parking on August 30.
In case you've never heard of this festival, it is quite popular in Texas and definitely worth the trip. Last year, the festival introduced a small addition to the line up that became incredibly popular - the BBQ Triple Play competition. During the competition, you'll see 3 sanctioned organizations participating: The Steak Cookoff Association (SCA), the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), and the International Bar-B-Que Cookers Association (IBCA).
There will be prizes distributed in 14 different categories including best steak, dessert, sauce, beans, brisket, pork, pork ribs, and chicken! Our mouths are watering right now! Knowing how rough and tumble food competitions can be, it wouldn't hurt to bring an Uplift flatware rest along for the ride. Keeping your utensils clean and safely lifted off of tables that are touched by thousands of people is a good idea so you can make it to the end of the event healthy ... if not 10 pounds heavier.
October 5 and 6: The New York Times Food Festival
The New York Times Food Festival will be held for the first time in October and will bring together restaurateurs, leading chefs, and industry experts. With the NYT hosting, you can be sure you'll experience one of the most unique cultural and culinary experiences in the world.
This festival will take place in the city's restaurants, The Times Center, and Bryant Park. During the festival, you'll be able to not only taste delicious food prepared by the best chefs, top restaurants, and home cooks, but you'll also get to listen to their thoughts, their history, and their passions about the food industry. Buy your tickets now!
Be there or be Times Square!
