By Chanda Temple
Southbound Food Festival, a 10-day celebration of Birmingham’s food culture, will spotlight more than 100 chefs, musicians and beverage professionals through signature tasting events and collaborative culinary experiences, Sept. 19-28. The festival was named the No. 3 best new festival by USA Today, following its inaugural year in 2023.
This year’s signature events include:
• The Heritage Dinner is a multi-course, seated dinner that honors Alabama’s Gulf oysters, seafood and the rich coastal traditions that have shaped Alabama’s cuisine for generations. This year’s theme is “Coastal Traditions.’’ It will be held on the evening of Friday, Sept. 19 on 29th Street South at Pepper Place, 6 to 10 p.m. Also, the 2025 Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence will be presented to Beth and Bill Walton for their visionary leadership and contributions to preserving and advancing Southern food culture. Ticket required.
• Rooted: Women in Food will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20 at The Market at Pepper Place from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. As part of The Market’s month-long tribute to Women in Food, presented by the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, this event honors the powerful role women play in the food system. Hosted by Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling of “CBS Cooks Country,” Rooted will feature chef demos, engaging discussions, book signings and more.
The market event is free, but there is a ticketed “Rooted: Meet & Greet’’ with a chance to connect with the hosts, featured chefs, authors and makers over brunch cocktails crafted by local female mixologists and bites from Hot and Hot Fish Club. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hot and Hot Fish Club.
• HOSTED offers an all-star lineup of guest chefs from across the country who’ll collaborate with local chefs to present unforgettable experiences at Birmingham-area restaurants, Sept. 20 – 28. Check the website for a list of which restaurants and chefs are doing what. Also, check locations to determine if reservations are required.
This series will also feature a pop-up art show by Chef Roscoe Hall at Bayonet, Sept. 19 – 27; and a pop-up art show by Arden Upton at Pepper Place from Sept. 19-27.
• Southern Living’s Food & Fire will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Sloss Furnaces, where top regional and national pitmasters and acclaimed chefs will put an open-fire spin on signature bites and tailgate classics. There will be cooking demos, a showdown between chefs on who can make the best white Alabama sauce and more. This event will also feature the Southern Living Tailgate Stage, presented by Hellmann’s, and the Coca Cola Music Stage, featuring The Heavy Heavy and Southern Avenue. It will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. Ticket required. Children under 12 are free with ticketed adult.
Go here for a list of the participating chefs.
• The Funk Brunch: Gospel Bird, presented by Kroger Delivery, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Sloss Furnaces from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chefs will present their modern takes on Southern fried chicken, from crispy and golden-fried to slow-smothered and spice-rubbed. There will also be craft cocktails and live gospel music from Grammy-winning The Blind Boys of Alabama. Tickets required. Go here for a list of the participating chefs.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit http://www.southboundfoodfest.com.
Southbound’s social media: @Southboundfoodfest
Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple.
Copyright © 2025, All rights reserved.
FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterestShare