Two separate weeks of culinary celebration come to Birmingham this January and February with Birmingham's Annual Restaurant Week. The city's 2015 event will run Jan. 26-30 and Feb. 2-6.
The Monday through Friday festivities feature three-course lunches for $15 and three-course dinners for $30 at a variety of Birmingham eateries. Many of the finest restaurants in the area are participating.
One such restaurant is Big Rock Chop House, the four-star, award-winning steak house that features renowned chefs Eric Voigt and Brian P. Henson. According to Big Rock's entry into Birmingham Restaurant Week, "The menu bursts with flavorful recipes centered around enormous, hand-cut aged steaks, delicious lamb chops and fresh seafood! Adjoining the restaurant is a 1,950-square-foot brew house that features four signature beers along with seasonal specialty brews to compliment the restaurant's distinctive American fare. A recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 14 consecutive years, Big Rock Chophouse also features an extensive wine cellar, complete with more than 400 fine wine and Champagne selections."
As of press time, the eatery hadn't released its special menu, but look for standouts like the Chophouse Salad, featuring baby iceberg lettuce, tomato, bacon and blue cheese dressing. The "big brother" establishment to Griffin Claw Brewery down the street, Big Rock Chop House is located at 245 S. Eton St., Birmingham. Call 248-647-7774 for reservations.
Social Kitchen and Bar is another featured participant. Their three-course dinner features a first course of kale salad, half barbecue ranch salad or tomato soup; main course of pecan trout, manicotti, falafel wrap or flank steak; and a dessert choice of warm donuts, warm cookies and milk or the pie of the week. The venue can be found at 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham. Call 248-594-4200 for more information.
For those interested in lunch, an example of one of the featured early afternoon menus can be found at Peabody's, located at 34965 Woodward Ave., Birmingham. Diners can be treated to a $15 gourmet lunch crafted by chef Kelsy Peabody Wortman. The first course features a petit order of coconut shrimp, hand battered with sweet coconut and served with grilled pineapple and an orange-horseradish dipping sauce. The "lunch entree" consists of cranberry sage chicken, accompanied by butternut squash ravioli, French green beans, a house salad and more. Dessert features a four-berry peach rhubarb crisp served warm with vanilla bean ice cream and a raspberry coulis. Call 248-644-5222 for questions or comments.
New this year is the "Frequent Diner Incentive." As part of the program, diners will be entered into a raffle each time they enjoy a meal at one of the participating restaurants. The more ofte Birmingham visitors eat out, the more opportunities they have to win a prize. Following the Restaurant Week event, several winners will receive gift cards to the restaurants in Birmingham.
Free deck parking for the first two hours is also available at most parking garages in the area as an added benefit to visiting diners. Parkmobile Technology is also available at all downtown parking meters; registration for easy use of the meters can be done at http://www.parkmobile.com.
For more information on Birmingham Restaurant Week, visit http://www.birminghamrestaurantweek.org or http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyBirminghamNow.
