People can relax and socialize while enjoying food from around town.
Hoover is thriving, with new eateries continually popping up around town. With so many tasty choices, it can be difficult to make your way to all of the restaurants.
To help you enjoy all of the food the city has to offer — while enjoying a beautiful outdoor space — Aldridge Gardens is holding its fourth annual Taste of Hoover. The event will be Oct. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m., and it costs $25 for Gardens’ members and $35 for non-members to attend.
“It’s a social event for groups and friends,” says Tynette Lynch, CEO of Aldridge Gardens. “They get to experience a variety of Hoover restaurants, while socializing and enjoying the gardens.”
There will be food and drink samples from a variety of restaurants and caterers, Lynch says. To add to the ambience, people can enjoy their food samples on white tablecloths under hanging lights.
“We think of it as a lawn and garden party,” she says. “The gardens are just so enjoyable in October. We hope to have a large turnout.”
They invite all of their preferred caterers to the Taste of Hoover, including Full Moon Bar-B-Que, Asian Rim, Iz Catering, Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q, The Happy Catering Company, Savoie Catering, Rx Catering, Gourmet Pantry Catering, Chef Clayton’s Catering, Five Star Event Catering and Kathy G’s.
The Gardens also invites the restaurants that participated last year to come back again, like Fried Green Tomato’s, Jubilee Joe’s, The Boot, Dale’s Southern Grill, Cedars Grille and Moe’s Original BBQ. Jeff State Culinary School will be doing cooking demonstrations, as well.
“I think it’s a little different than most taste events. At a lot of them, people just go through the line and don’t stay the evening,” Lynch says. “But we have it set up so beautifully like a big lawn party that people stay and really enjoy it.”
Instead of spreading out the restaurants’ tables like they had in the past, they will have all of them in a more centralized location this year. They try to keep the fundraiser event to about 300 people each year, Lynch adds.
In addition to the tasty dishes and lush greenery, visitors will also see some new features on the grounds like a new fountain in front of the house, beautiful hanging baskets on the lamps and a new sign on Lorna Road.
“When people come in, they’ll see all of the new touches and additions,” Lynch says.
Livening up the event will be entertainers like Raquel Lily, RaquelLily.com. ABC 33/40, an event partner, will be broadcasting from the Taste of Hoover.
“It’s a great event for people to come, see the gardens in the evening and just relax,” Lynch says.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Aldridgegardens.com.
