Local chefs will square off for a good cause this week as the Bay Area Food Bank presents the 17th annual Chef Challenge, a signature fundraiser that has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated culinary showcases. The event is set for Thursday, Sept. 3, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Alabama Cruise Terminal in downtown Mobile.
For nearly two decades, the Chef Challenge has brought together some of the area’s best-known kitchens for a single night dedicated to fighting hunger along the Gulf Coast. Proceeds from ticket sales help fund the Bay Area Food Bank’s efforts to distribute food to families across a multi-county service area that includes Mobile County, where thousands of households rely on food pantries and community programs to make ends meet.
Guests attending the three-hour tasting event can expect samples from a long list of participating restaurants and caterers, including Bake My Day, Baumhower’s, Boudreaux’s Cajun Grill, Cakes by Judi, Cammie’s Old Dutch, Felix’s Fish Camp, Greer’s Catering, Kitchen on George, Naman’s Catering, Stevie’s Kitchen, The Salvation Army, Tyner’s Catering, Von’s Bistro, Wintzell’s, Wolf Bay Lodge, Zea’s and Liquid Lounge/OK Bicycle Shop. The lineup gives attendees a rare chance to sample dishes from across the Mobile dining scene in one setting.
Beyond the food, the evening will feature live music from Roman Street, along with a silent auction and complimentary beer, wine and spirits included with admission. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased in advance through the Bay Area Food Bank’s website. Organizers say strong turnout each year has helped the event become a reliable source of funding heading into the fall and winter months, when demand for food assistance typically rises.
While the Chef Challenge is drawing attention this week, it comes amid a busy stretch of activity in Mobile’s food and grocery scene. Whole Foods Market continues preparing to open its long-awaited store in the Pinebrook Shopping Center at the corner of McGregor Street and Airport Boulevard. The Austin, Texas-based chain, known for its focus on natural and organic products, has begun advertising openings for experienced cooks on its food production team, typically one of the final steps before a store opens its doors. Social media posts from the company have teased an announcement of an official opening date, though as of this week no firm date had been made public.
Just down Airport Boulevard, Fresh Market recently completed a renovation and held its grand reopening, adding an expanded produce section, a hot pizza bar, a soup and salad bar and additional grab-and-go options from its deli counter. The store’s beer and wine selection remains a draw for regular shoppers, and customers can still pick up coffee from Fairhope Roasting Company during a visit.
Elsewhere in Mobile’s restaurant scene, the Whistle Stop on Florida Street has closed after 17 years in business. The diner, a longtime stop for breakfast in Midtown, first posted a sign reading “Temporarily Closed” before confirming through social media that the closure was permanent. Its departure leaves fewer options for a traditional sit-down breakfast in that part of the city.
On a brighter note for steak and seafood fans, Briquettes is preparing to open a second location. The steakhouse, known for char-grilled oysters and steaks cooked over pecan and red oak briquettes at its original Schillinger Road restaurant, is planning to move into the former Outback Steakhouse space at 901 Montlimar Drive. A restaurant spokesperson said the goal is to have the new location open by early November, giving West Mobile diners and those closer to Midtown another option for the restaurant’s signature menu. The original Schillinger Road location continues to run regular specials, including a “Two for Tuesday” promotion featuring a shared appetizer or dessert with two entrees from a chef’s special menu for $29.99.
Looking ahead, the Gulf Coast’s food festival calendar continues in November with the Hangout’s Oyster Fest, scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7. The festival typically draws celebrity chefs recognized by the James Beard Foundation and the Food Network, and this year’s lineup includes several past James Beard Award semifinalists and finalists from across the South, along with a number of Alabama-based chefs who will compete for top honors during the two-day event.