Breakin’ Bread, Alabama’s Premiere Food, Wine and Beer Festival, Organized by the Birmingham Originals, Returns to Pepper Place

Birmingham Originals is pleased to announce the 16th annual Breakin’ Bread, Alabama’s premier food, wine and beer festival presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, will return to its original Pepper Place location and will be held Sunday, October 14, 2018 from 1 to 5 in the afternoon. Breakin’ Bread will feature tastings of signature dishes from over 30 Birmingham Originals member restaurants with proceeds benefiting Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) at Woodlawn High School. Alongside the locally owned and operated restaurants, southern craftsmen will join Breakin’ Bread for the first Buffalo Rock Makers’ Market, coming on site to share and sell handmade art and creations. Refreshments including wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages will be available while guests enjoy an afternoon celebrating the city’s food, culture, musical entertainment, regional crafts and more.

“Breakin’ Bread is truly a highlight of our year – a chance for Birmingham residents and the Birmingham Originals restaurants to come together and celebrate a shared love of local and an appreciation for good food,” says Chris Zapalowski, president of the Birmingham Originals board of directors. “With the ever- growing food scene in Birmingham and the addition of the makers’ market, we are anticipating the biggest celebration of local yet. And this year, we are especially excited to return to Pepper Place – the original home of Breakin’ Bread. It’s a cultural hub of our city, the location of many of our member restaurants and a home base for Birmingham Originals, and we can’t wait to see everyone there.”

Tickets to Breakin’ Bread are on sale now. VIP tickets are available for $99 per person and include unlimited food sampling and wine, beer and cocktails, access to the exclusive lounge area and early entrance to the event at 12:30 p.m. General admission tickets can be purchased for $35 and include unlimited food sampling and two drink tickets for wine, beer or the featured vodka cocktail. Children under the age of 12 enter for free and have access to unlimited food sampling, non-alcoholic beverages and the children’s area. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.breakinbreadbham.com.

Birmingham Originals member restaurants and Breakin’ Bread participants include: 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar, Avo, Avondale Common House, Bellini’s, Bettola, Bistro V, Blueprint on 3rd, The Bright Star, Cantina, Continental Bakery/Chez Lulu, dg, El ZunZun, FoodBar, Homewood Gourmet, Hot and Hot Fish Club, The J. Clyde, Jackson’s Bar & Bistro, JoJo’s on Broadway, Little Savannah, MAFIAoZA’s, Moss Rock Tacos & Tequila, Nabeel’s Café & Market, Ocean, OvenBird, Revolve Kitchen & Brew, Satterfield’s Restaurant, Sky Castle, Slice Pizza & Brewhouse, Sol’s Sandwich Shop and Deli, Ted’s Restaurant, Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato, Vino and The Wine Loft.

This year’s Breakin’ Bread also brings the addition of the Buffalo Rock Makers’ Market featuring southern craftsmen, celebrating the culture and creativity of the region. Event attendees can expect to see a lively collection of artists and craftsman skilled in architecture, fine art, fashion and design in an enticing maker bazaar.

Event proceeds will benefit Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s paid internship at Woodlawn High School, which comprises a two-acre farm build for and managed by high school students. Founded in 2015, the farm includes a state-of-the-art greenhouse, bio-retention pond, office and teaching space, as well as produce- processing and storage facilities. Students participate in hands-on, place-based and project-based learning in this space throughout the school day and manage and operate a Farm Stand, making the produce they grow available to the Birmingham community.

“We are proud of our continued partnership with Breakin’ Bread,” says Amanda Storey, executive director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm. “This is such a great event for our organization as we work to build recognition in our community and spread our mission throughout Birmingham.”

Since 2002, Birmingham Originals has donated more than $125,000 to local charitable organizations benefiting children and families in the greater Birmingham area. The organization began partnering with JVTF two years ago at the beginning of their expansion to Woodlawn High School. Since then, 13 students have graduated from JVTF’s internship program. Additionally, the organization launched its apprenticeship program hiring two full-time students as employees and awarded four college scholarships, thanks in part to proceeds from Breakin’ Bread.

Breakin’ Bread 2018 is made possible by sponsors including: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Buffalo Rock Company, International Wines, Red Diamond Coffee & Tea, Alabama Bicentennial, Spire Energy, Sysco Corporation, AmeriPride Services, AllSouth Appliances, Evans Meats, Ice by Design, Steel City Seafood, Xcelerate Networks, Alabama Media Group/Birmingham Magazine, Fox 6 WBRC, iHeart Radio, Bham Now and others.