Food fans brave the heat for Breakin' Bread

Despite record high temperatures upward of 98 degrees, hundreds of food fans spent the afternoon at Sloss Furnaces for the 13th annual Breakin' Bread food and drink festival.

Restaurants from around the Birmingham area were on site at the Birmingham Originals event providing samples of their signature flavors, and some were so popular they ran out. Guests could also sample beer, wine and spirits from a variety of distributors, including signature cocktails by Cathead Vodka, one of the event's sponsors.

In addition to the food and live music, three local chefs competed in the annual cook off, which featured last year's winner, Joe Resha from JoJo's On Broadway, as well as Terrill Brazelton from Slice Pizza & Brew and Joseph Rozario from Avo.

The chefs were required to use Coulotte or top sirloin cuts of beef from the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, couscous and green beans.

Judges awarded Rozario from Avo the $500 prize and 2016 bragging rights for his dish.

The event supported multiple nonprofits, donating $1,000 each to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Care Center and the Birmingham Zoo.

Breakin' Bread's title charity, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, specifically the Woodlawn High School farm, received $8,000 from the event and sponsor Royal Cup.

Mike Powell, a Royal Cup executive and Birmingham Originals board member, said that he saw the event as a roaring success.

"It was fantastic," he said, adding that the support the group has seen has been particularly impressive, as he realizes there are many other things guests could have done with their Sunday afternoon.