Honoring local food and local workers: Davidson Local introduces Foodie Passports, Food and Beverage Concert
EAT.DRINK.RESTAURANT WEEK! RETURNS WITH A MOUTHWATERING LINEUP (Oct. 24-Oct. 30, 2022) & and Davidson Local is hosting a Restaurant Worker Appreciation Event in collaboration with several organizations.
This weeklong culinary extravaganza, presented by Eat Drink Triad in collaboration with the Winston-Salem Journal and Greensboro News and Record, aims to drive traffic to local restaurants through dine-in and carry-out orders, all while showcasing local culinary talent.
“There are several ways to enjoy the Foodie Passport Concert for free,” offered former restaurant manager and Event Horizons organizer, Clarance Hargrave. “Have a meal at any participating restaurant when the week begins for a Free Foodie Passport. Bring that to the event with your receipt and enjoy the free food and music,” Hargrave said. Restaurant workers can receive free passports at work. They will also be provided with goodie bags at the Passport Concert. “Our goal is to shower local restaurants with support during this week and encourage people to see what our talented chefs have to offer.”
This is the first event of its type at the soon-to-be renovated building in Uptown Lexington. The event will feature free food, free music and free admission with a Foodie Passport plus one or more participating restaurant receipts. General door admission without the Foodie Passport is $10. Several restaurants are providing samples for guests to have a hearty buffet on Wednesday night. Beverages are available for purchase through Goose and Monkey Brew House’s mobile unit. Information and giveaways for local restaurant workers will be on hand.
“This is the third year for this event, and as we reached out to talk to local restaurant owners, they said that finding help is the greatest challenge,” organizer Antionette Kerr of Davidson Local explained. Kerr’s mother was a cook at the historic Southern Lunch for more than a decade. “Growing up, people knew my mom for her fabulous handmade biscuits; what they didn’t know is that she often left the house between three and four a.m. She would call back to wake us up for school. Between low wages and the physical toll it takes, people don’t understand that restaurant work takes a lot of patience and love.”
Participating restaurants across Forsyth, Davidson and Davie counties will showcase a specialty dish in a category of their choice. Restaurants will offer a special food or beverage item at a discounted rate only during Eat Drink Restaurant Week. Patrons will eat, drink and vote online for their favorite dish and/or beverage during the weeklong restaurant showcase.
One local restaurant, Brooker T’s Cafe, was originally slated to be a part of the tour before an accidental fire on September 10. Since then, owner Tammy Burnette Cornell said there has been an outpouring of community support and several fundraisers including online t-shirt sales. Wednesday night was selected as the evening for the special event. “We struggled to stay open on Wednesdays.” Tammy encouraged restaurant goers to have patience with staff and supply chain issues impacting customer wait times. She said she and her daughter, Brooke, are in good spirits . “I tell people if you want to go out to eat right now, take your time and make sure you take someone you like to talk to.” A donation jar will be placed at the concert welcoming any gifts to support the rebuilding and reopening of Brooker T’s.
This is a voting contest. It’s free to vote. A winner will be announced for each of 12 categories, to include Craft Cocktails, Burgers, Pizza, Wings, Craft Beer, Italian, Seafood, Latin American, BBQ, Soul or Southern, Deli/Bakery and Classic American. Participating restaurants for Eat Drink Restaurant Week reflect the area’s multicultural and diverse food and beverage community.
The fall lineup of local restaurants are growing: Go to any participating restaurant for a FREE Foodie Passport! Bring that passport along with a receipt for one or more local restaurants and get in FREE to the Foodie Passport Sampler Concert! Local restaurant workers get in FREE! Participating restaurants in Davidson County include Sophie’s, Lou Lou’s Seafood, JJ Mama’s Soulfood and More, Goose and the Monkey, Pour Folks Provisions, The Factory, Bull City Ciderworks, Humble Plate & Red Donut!!!
Sponsorship Opportunities (By October 19th):
Foodie Passport Patron $100 includes listing on passports (2 sampler/concert tickets0
Music Sponsor: $250 includes signage on stage (limit 2) and 2 concert tickets
Email: info@davidsonlocal.com or call (336) 308-3490
