Feeding the Gulf Coast, the regional food bank formerly known as Bay Area Food Bank, will hold its annual Chef Challenge fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal from 6 to 9 p.m. The event kicks off Hunger Action Month, a nationwide September campaign that spotlights food insecurity and the organizations working to address it.
The evening is built around friendly competition. A lineup of area chefs will prepare and plate their best dishes for guests to sample, with attendees casting votes to decide whose creation stands out as the night’s top plate. Organizers say the format gives home cooks and food lovers a rare chance to taste high-end, competition-driven cuisine from multiple local kitchens in a single evening.
Tickets include more than just the tastings. Complimentary beer, wine and spirits will be served throughout the night, and guests can browse a large silent auction featuring donated goods and experiences from area businesses. Live music from Roman Street will keep the cruise terminal’s ballroom moving between bites and bidding.
Organizers describe the Chef Challenge as one of the food bank’s signature annual fundraisers, with proceeds supporting Feeding the Gulf Coast’s year-round distribution network. The organization says it serves more than 80,000 families across its multi-state coverage area each year, working with partner pantries, shelters and feeding programs to get food to households facing hunger.
Ticket and sponsorship levels vary, and organizers are encouraging supporters to give at whatever level fits their budget. Details on pricing and sponsorship packages are available by searching for the event on Facebook or visiting www.feedingthegulfcoast.org.
The fundraiser arrives as Mobile’s food and drink scene continues to add new stops. At the corner of Old Shell Road and Kenneth Street, Old Shell Growlers has opened inside the former Nixon Drugs building, filling a gap that neighborhood regulars had been anticipating for some time. The shop lets customers fill a growler with their favorite draft beer, build a six-pack from roughly 250 bottled selections, or settle in for a pint or a glass of wine on-site.
The menu goes well beyond typical bar fare. Offerings include smoked duck skewers, steak tartare and beer-braised mussels, along with a Tuna Poke Martini and escargot-stuffed mushrooms finished with shaved Parmesan and a caper beurre blanc. A diver scallop ceviche and an ice cream dish round out a menu built for pairing with something poured from the taps rather than a basket of wings or nachos.
A few blocks away, a new bakery and café is preparing to open at 1714 Dauphin St., in the space that formerly housed Bistro Escoffier. G’s Bakery plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner alongside scratch-made bread, pastries and desserts, and is expected to open its doors in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere in the city, the Government Street location of Saucy Q Bar B Que has added breakfast service Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m. The barbecue restaurant, at 1111 Government St., is now serving grits topped with fish, shrimp or salmon patties, along with pancakes, breakfast bowls and sandwiches for diners eating in or on the go.