Hankering for a farm-fresh meal that won't heat up your kitchen?
Next week, you can pull up a chair at any of 33 area eateries that can fulfill such a wish during the sixth annual Chattanooga Restaurant Week, a celebration of the city's top chefs and best places to eat.
Starting Monday, Aug. 1, participating restaurants will offer specialties that focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the bounty of area farms. Most of these establishments already strive for the best use of that farm-to-fork connection, but Chattanooga Restaurant Week helps heighten awareness and gives the chefs another chance to show off their skills.
"It's a reason to eat out, explore new restaurants and allow a chef to treat your palate to something different," organizers say on the website, chattmag.com/restaurant-week/about-restaurant-week.
Many of the restaurants will feature special menus developed for the week. Set to participate are 212 Market, 1885 Grill, Alleia, Bald Headed Bistro, Broad Street Grille, Cafe on the Corner, Ceniza, Dish T'Pass Cafe, Easy Bistro & Bar, Embargo 62, The Feed Co., Five, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Flying Squirrel, Good Dog, Hummingbird Pastaria, Lupi's Pizza Pies, Main Street Meats, Mellow Mushroom, Mrs. B's Reggae Cafe, New York Pizza Department, Poblanos Mexican Cuisine, Il Primo, Public House, Puckett's, Root Kitchen & Wine Bar, St. John's Meeting Place, St. John's Restaurant, Stir, Terra Mae, Terra Nostra, Tupelo Honey Cafe and Two Ten Jack.,
Chattanooga Restaurant Week culminates in the FiveStar Food Fight, a competition among chefs, at Chattanooga Market on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Though it's not part of Chattanooga Restaurant Week, foodies also should take note of a food truck festival called Foodorama Chattanooga that will be set up Saturday, Aug. 6, at Coolidge Park. The event will feature 16 of the Southeast's top-rated food trucks, live music, a Makers Market for artists and a kids zone. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales ($5 to $10) will benefit Second Helpings Chattanooga as part of Chattanooga's Grub Gives Back program.