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Looking for a fun night out that’s good for both you and the planet? Mark your calendar for “A Taste of Sustainability,” happening Wednesday, October 22 from 5–9PM in downtown Birmingham.
This unique, walkable dinner experience benefits our state’s oldest conservation nonprofit, the Alabama Environmental Council (AEC). It’s the perfect evening for food lovers who care about sustainability—four delicious courses, four local restaurants, all within walking distance.
Read on for everything you need to know, including where to get tickets.
How it works
You’ll move through the four stops at your own pace within each restaurant’s timeframe.
Each stop features a menu item (or two!) included in your ticket price—just show your Eventbrite ticket (on your phone or printed copy) at each location. Tickets are $100 with $52 of each ticket going directly to AEC to support environmental programs and education.
4 Birmingham restaurants + what you’ll get:
(L-R) Brandon Loper and Trent Stewart of Golden Age Wine, Neville Baay of El Barrio, Ryan and Geri-Martha O’Hara of Pizza Grace + Kristen Hall of La Fete. (AEC)
- Stop 1: El Barrio Restaurante | 5:00–5:45PM
- Kick things off at El Barrio, recently named Best Mexican Restaurant in Alabama by Cheapism. Enjoy their chips, salsa + fan-favorite queso with an 8 oz. margarita (N/A version available).
- Stop 2: Golden Age Wine Garden | 5:45–6:45PM
- Next up: a James Beard Award semifinalist! Choose from a glass of sustainable wine or nonalcoholic kombucha, paired with either warm Castelvetrano olives or fresh bread with oil.
- Stop 3: Pizza Grace | 6:45–7:45PM
- Another James Beard semifinalist! You’ll get two slices of pizza—pepperoni or white (vegetarian)—plus your choice of a half pour of wine, a glass of draft beer or a nonalcoholic kombucha/sparkling water.
- Stop 4: La Fête | 7:45–8:45PM
- Last stop: end the evening at this French bistro on historic Morris Avenue. Taste-test a caramel apple choux bun paired with your choice of a half pour of wine or a nonalcoholic sparkling rosé.
BONUS: Good Karma Eco Shop mobile zero-waste refill shop will be popping up outside of El Barrio during the event. Bring your own clean + dry containers to refill, or use theirs! Plus, shop their sustainably sourced + packaged goods for your home, body and pets.
How Birmingham restaurants are championing sustainability
“Our mission at Alabama Environmental Council is to educate Alabamians and work towards sustainable solutions for a greener future.
We’re excited to showcase four of our EAT (Earth Aware Team) restaurant partners. Our EAT sustainability initiative aims to raise awareness around disposable waste in restaurants, bars, and breweries that impact our health and the health of the planet and to promote sustainable practices.
These four restaurants go above and beyond to reduce waste and support environmentally friendly practices, and we want to encourage people to patronize establishments such as these that are making a difference in our communities.”
Sarah Randolph, Outreach & Communications Director, Alabama Environmental Council
Here are just a few of the ways they’re helping Birmingham dine a little greener:
- Recycling cardboard, aluminum + glass
- Using biodegradable straws + plasticware
- To-go boxes + bags made with recycled paper
- Locally sourced produce from sustainable farms like Ireland Farms + Harvest Farms
- All-natural meats + Gulf-sourced seafood
- Vegan-friendly menu options
- Only reusable foodware for onsite dining
- No single-use plastic bags for takeout
- Compostable to-go cups and boxes
- Organic + biodynamic wines with no chemicals used
Love eating local and sustainable? Check out other Birmingham EAT partners, including Bottega, Red Cat Coffee, Cahaba Brewing Co. + more.
Know before you go
This event is walkable and designed to be enjoyed at your own pace. Depending on turnout, some locations may have standing-room-only space available. If you have accessibility needs, email [email protected] so AEC can best accommodate you.
(Note: “A Taste of Sustainability” is a rain or shine event, though it will be rescheduled—likely the following Wednesday—in case of severe weather. No refunds will be issued—but if you can’t make it, your ticket will be treated as a donation to support AEC’s ongoing work for a greener Alabama.)
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