Taste Alabama at its best
Rolled grape leaves
Every September, Tim Ponder’s mouth begins to water for Greek food. That’s because he knows the Birmingham Greek Festival is around the corner.
The event, held Sept. 25-27 this year, has become a tradition for Ponder and his family. “The food is great, and it’s for a good cause,” said the manager of Alabama Power’s Land Acquisition group. “It’s a time for good food, good friends and good fellowship.”
Loukoumades, or fried doughnut holes
While Ponder enjoys sampling the Greek cuisine, Maria Grammas works behind the scenes. Almost every year since the festival began in 1972, she has helped serve Greek coffee and loukoumades – fried doughnuts dipped in warm honey and sprinkled with cinnamon – a recipe her mother Chrisanthe Velotas helped create.
“People stand in line for 45 minutes for those doughnut holes, and I got them every Sunday morning as a child,” said Grammas, Alabama Power Public Relations assistant. “My mother expressed her love for her family and friends through her food.”
Meanwhile, Dena Pigg is working in south Alabama where she is helping to organize Taste of the Bayou, the community’s 26th annual seafood festival. Bayou La Batre, known as the Seafood Capital of Alabama, invites restaurants and businesses to serve their best dishes and desserts, featuring only local ingredients. It happens Saturday, Oct. 4 starting at 6 p.m.
Seafood platter
As president of the Bayou La Batre Area Chamber of Commerce, Pigg has a monumental goal – quadruple ticket sales. She believes the scrumptious food, along with special guest Kay Robertson from Duck Dynasty, will help make that dream a reality.
“Taste of the Bayou allows people to see what our town has to offer and helps give a boost to our economy,” said Pigg, manager of Alabama Power’s Bayou La Batre Office.
The Birmingham Greek Festival and Taste of the Bayou are examples of the many food events that can tickle the palate this fall. Here’s a closer look at the festivals on tap.
Sept. 18: The Taste of the South – Atmore
This evening event at Heritage Park in Atmore showcases entertainment and foods prepared by local businesses, organizations and individuals. It features some of Atmore’s best cooks and chefs. Tickets are $10 each.
Sept. 18-20: St. George Middle Eastern Food Festival – Birmingham
At this annual food festival, St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church invites the community to taste Middle Eastern specialties, such as kibbee, rolled grape leaves, spinach pie, falafel and hummus. There’s also an arts and crafts sale and church tours, along with evening performances of traditional Arabic dances.
Sept. 19-20: 20th Riverfest Barbecue Cook-Off – Decatur
A Kansas City-sanctioned barbecue competition, the cook-off features more than 70 amateur and professional barbecue teams competing for prize money and trophies totaling $20,000. The event at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur also includes food vendors, live music and children’s activities. Tickets are $30 for weekend passes and $20 for one day only.
Sept. 25-27: Birmingham Greek Festival – Birmingham
Crowds can experience Greek food and culture at their best at this yearly event at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham. Along with folk dancing and Mediterranean and Orthodox Christian souvenirs, there will be food favorites, including pitas, Greek-style chicken, souvlakia, pasticho, baklava and Greek fried doughnuts.
Sept. 26-27: PorktoberQue – Dothan
Oktoberfest meets barbecue competition in Dothan. Along with barbecue and bratwurst, the festival at the Houston County Farm Center features polka music, country and rock bands, an “outdoor man cave,” a biergarten and shopping.
Sept. 27: Fiesta Birmingham – Birmingham
The event at Birmingham’s Linn Park is Alabama’s largest celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage. Patrons can experience art, music and food from more than 20 Latin American countries. The event runs from noon to 8 p.m.
Oct. 3-4: Alabama Butter Bean Festival – Pinson
Butter beans are the main dish at this annual free festival in Pinson near Birmingham. Lovers of this country staple can also enjoy many other activities, including the Alabama Butter Bean Pageant, a car show, fireworks, carnival rides and a 5K Race and One-Mile Fun Run.
Oct. 4: Taste of the Bayou – Irvington
Held at the Bayou La Batre Community Center, this evening event is a seafood extravaganza with more than 30 booths showing off dishes prepared by local and professional chefs. Kay Robertson, from Duck Dynasty, will also be on hand to share her love of faith, family and good food. The tasty delights will be available for sampling from 6-10 p.m.
Oct. 4-11: Oktoberfest – Cullman
Authentic German food and music are the main draw at the annual Oktoberfest at Festhalle Market Platz in Cullman. The festival celebrates Cullman’s German heritage. Fun activities include a car show, a bratwurst eating contest, 5K and 10K runs, historical tours, and arts and crafts.
Oct. 5: Break ‘n Bread-Local Flavor Festival – Birmingham
At this event at Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, visitors will taste signature dishes from nearly 40 local restaurants, and enjoy foods prepared by guest chefs from Charleston, S.C. Live music and children’s activities will be part of the fun. General admission tickets are $50, $20 for 12-20 year olds and free for children under 12.
Oct. 9: Farm to Fork Food Invasion – Montgomery
EAT South will host its fifth annual Farm to Fork Food Invasion at Hampstead Farms in Montgomery. Guests will enjoy a rustic outdoor farm dinner, with all proceeds benefiting EAT South, a nonprofit that encourages healthy lifestyles through education and sustainable food production in urban areas.
Oct. 9-12: 43rd Annual National Shrimp Festival – Gulf Shores
More than 250,000 people turn out for this free outdoor shrimp festival each year at the public beach access in Gulf Shores. Along with loads of Alabama Gulf of Mexico shrimp, there are more than 300 arts and crafts vendors, a retail marketplace, an outdoor village and live music.
Oct. 10: 18th Annual Pig Iron BBQ Challenge – Hoover
This competitive barbecue cook-off is held from 5-8 p.m. at the Hoover Recreational Vehicle Park near the Hoover Met. About 50 corporate teams will participate, with many of them vying to become the “Best Sauce Champion” or the “Best Rib Champion.” The event benefits the Children’s Harbor Family Center at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.
Oct. 16-18: 52nd Annual Greek Fest – Mobile
The Anunciation Greek Orthodox Church will share the sights, tastes and sounds of Greece during this event in Mobile. It will showcase Greek food, culture and music.
Oct. 18: Syrup Sopping Day – Loachapoka
Loachapoka is a tiny town near Auburn with about 135 people, but it fills up with more than 25,000 visitors on Syrup Sopping Day. At this historic fair, people can watch syrup being made the old-fashioned way using mules to run the mill that grinds the sugar cane. Local farmers have made syrup since the town’s early days.
Oct. 18: Third Annual Alabama Festival of Flavor – Foley
Fresh, Southern cuisine is on the menu at this festival that takes place on the streets of downtown Foley. Visitors can enjoy foods prepared during cooking competitions, get tips on Southern recipes from local chefs, attend a food and wine pairing or learn about organic gardening. Admission is free.
Oct. 25: Peanut Butter Festival – Brundidge
It’s no wonder that Brundidge celebrates peanut butter – a food staple that was produced in the town from the 1930s to the 1960s. Two of the Southeast’s earliest peanut butter mills were located in Brundidge. This annual festival boasts the 5K Peanut Butter Run, a Peanut Butter Recipe Contest, the construction of Alabama’s largest PB&J sandwich, the Nutter Butter Parade, a street dance under the stars and lots more.
Oct. 25: Elberta German Sausage Festival – Elberta
Visitors can enjoy famous German sausage and sauerkraut, along with filled cabbage, potato salad, red beans and rice, and many other food items at this day-long event at Elberta Town Park. There will also be carnival rides, music, baked goods, and arts and crafts.
Nov. 1-2: 32nd Annual St. Nicholas Russian/Slavic Food Festival – Brookside
The festival at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Brookside serves traditional Eastern European dishes from the Ukraine, Russia and Slovakia. Along with tasting homemade foods and pastries, visitors can also tour the temple and shop at the Russian Beriozka Store.
–Carla Davis
