Breakin’ Bread 2016: Dozens of local food/alcohol vendors set

Birmingham’s chefs and restaurateurs will come together later this month for Breakin’ Bread 2016, an annual celebration of what the Magic City has to offer in local food.

“The idea of the event was to offer to the people of Birmingham something created by the locals,” said Jorge Castro of Cantina Tortilla Grill, who helps organize the event.

Breakin’ Bread is hosted by Birmingham Originals, a group of local restaurants, and Castro said the event has been around for about 16 years. This year, Breakin’ Bread will be at Sloss Furnaces on Sept. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. Aside from Cantina, there will be about 30 restaurants and beer and wine vendors participating.

“We have a big list of restaurants that are going to be participating this year,” Castro said.

A few of those participants include 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar, Avo, Bellini’s, Chez Lulu, Bistro V and first-time participant Revolve Kitchen and Brew. There will also be music, sponsor booths, children’s and VIP areas and a chef competition. 

General admission tickets offer unlimited samples of the participating restaurants’ food, as well as two drink tickets. More drink tickets can be purchased inside the event. VIP tickets include unlimited food and drink and access to the VIP lounge and gift bags.

Breakin’ Bread benefits a different nonprofit every year, Castro said, and this year the recipient will be Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

“The main reason we selected Jones Valley Teaching Farm is because it’s related with food; it’s related to trying to educate kids [and] young people about food, about farms, about all different stuff. So we’re thinking that it’s a really good choice,” Castro said.

For many of Birmingham’s restaurants, Breakin’ Bread is one of only a few times a year chefs and owners get to meet and catch up all at once. Despite the chef competition, Castro said the event feels more like hanging out than competing against one another.

“Because we are so busy seven days a week, 24 hours … to have 30 or 40 [restaurants] at the same time is like really, really nice,” Castro said.

Breakin’ Bread is also a chance to encourage local eating and gain visibility among Birmingham diners, he said.

“It’s actually one of my favorite events in town,” Castro said.

General admission tickets are $30 before Sept. 1 and $35 at the gate. VIP tickets are $89 through Sept. 1 and $99 at the gate. Children younger than 12 can enter free and have unlimited food samples and access to the children’s area.

To learn more, go to birminghamoriginals.org. Purchase tickets at birminghamoriginals.instagift.com/breakin-bread.