More than 1,500 Birmingham locals enjoyed food and beverages from Birmingham’s restaurants at Breakin’ Bread Sunday afternoon.

The overcast weather didn’t keep attendees away from the sold-out event at Sloss Furnaces.

Breakin’ Bread from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Hosted by the Birmingham Originals, proceeds from Breakin’ Bread benefited Camp Smile-a-Mile and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alabama. The Birmingham Originals is a coalition of local restaurants and chefs who believe in the importance of developing locally owned and operated restaurants and propelling Birmingham’s food scene.

Thirty-five local restaurants offered samples of signature dishes in addition to local distributers and breweries offering beverages and a wine tasting by wine expert, Scott Jones.

“It’s a good way for the general public who don’t usually come to these restaurants to come out and see what these restaurants have to offer,” said Nick Hartmann, Alabama Power market specialist who is also on the board of directors for Birmingham Originals.

Additionally, four chefs from Birmingham Originals competed in a live food competition. Using ingredients from a mystery box, the chefs had to first create an appetizer, and then finalists prepared a dish for 140 taste testers with a new set of mystery ingredients.

The chefs used induction cooktops and all-electric appliances provided by General Electric.

“We used induction units here today,” Hartmann said. “Several of the chefs today have said how much they like using the technology.”

When talking about the benefits of induction cooking, Hartmann explained that induction has been used in Alabama for decades.

“Alabama has used induction since 1930 in U.S. Steel. If the steel industry can melt steel with it, our chefs can cook with it,” said Hartmann. “It is a technology you will see more and more of in the future.”

Breakin’ Bread has been a Birmingham staple in community events since 2003. This year brought a record-setting crowd that reinforces Birmingham’s place in the culinary world.
“We’ve got some of the best restaurants in the Southeast. Birmingham is seen as a foodie town. We are growing and getting more independent restaurants,” said Hartmann.

Visit Birmingham Originals for more information. Learn more about induction cooking at Alabama Power.