DID I ACTUALLY SAY I WOULD RIDE A BICYCLE 300 MILES IN 3 DAYS? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
Let me start out by saying that even though I have not ridden a bike in 20 something years, when my friend Jason Roberts called me out to ride for his annual Chefs Cycle bike ride to raise money for No Kid Hungry, I said yes immediately. I said yes because there should not be children who go hungry in America and if riding a bike will help bring awareness and raise money to help, I felt like I should try. Jason has brought chefs from around the USA together to ride from Carmel to Santa Barbara for this cause with the goal of raising $1 million dollars to help end childhood hunger in America.
I started training by going to the gym a few times per week. Eventually, I started riding. As of today, I'm riding up to 50 miles.... about 1/2 of what I'll have to ride each day in California.
I am the only chef from Alabama riding... and I'm still a bit from my goal so several of my food friends are helping me with the final push before I depart. Please come out and join us on Wednesday, June 22nd from 5PM-9PM for a special HAPPY HOUR OYSTER SOCIAL at Five Point Public House and Oyster Bar. Money from the evening's festivities will be donated to my ride. Here are the details:
WHAT: HAPPY HOUR OYSTER TASTING & BEER PAIRING
You'll sample oysters provided by Alabama Gulf Seafood, Steel City Seafood, and Bon Secour Fisheries from some of lower Alabama's best and most highly acclaimed oyster farms: Point Aux Pins, Isle Dauphine, and Massacre Island Oyster Ranch. Our oysters are having a moment right now; you'll find them in the best restaurants around the country. Come taste what the fuss is all about! My friends from Back Forty Beer Company will be there and we'll suggest pairings with the different oysters. There will be giveaways, swag, and a signed copy of my cookbook, Birmingham's Best Bites for each guest who donates to my ride.
WHERE: 5 POINT PUBLIC HOUSE & OYSTER BAR located on the Southside at 1210 20th Street South Birmingham, Alabama.
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 FROM 5PM-9PM
No tickets required. Donations will gladly be accepted and a percentage of all sales will be donated to No Kid Hungry by Chef Reis.
Brad from Back Forty Beer, Chef George Reis from Ocean and 5 Point Public House Oyster Bar, Jason from Oyster Obsession, and Chef Jim Smith from Alabama Gulf Seafood helped raise money for my No Kid Hungry/Chefs Cycle ride.
UPDATE: HOORAY!!!! WE RAISED OVER $1,000 FOR NO KID HUNGRY WITH THIS EVENT. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED AND TO MY GOOD FRIEND JASON AT OYSTER-OBSESSION.COM FOR HELPING GET THE WORD OUT. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO 5 POINT PUBLIC HOUSE OYSTER BAR AND STAFF, CHEF REIS, ALABAMA GULF SEAFOOD, BACK FORTY BEER, BON SECOUR FISHERIES, STEEL CITY SEAFOOD, POINT AUX PINS, MASSACRE ISLAND, AND ISLE DAUPHIN OYSTERS AND RED MOUNTAIN RADIO FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE.
CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME!
Alabama Farmed Oysters showcased at the Alabama Oyster Happy Hour included: Point Aux Pins, Massacre Island Oyster Ranch, and Isle Dauphine.