September Foodie Events

Please find a listing below of potentially fun foodie events in the Knoxville area during September. While not a comprehensive list, it's a beginning for Foodie Fun in Knoxville.

• Taste of Farragut on Friday, September 23, 2011 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Taste food from Farragut restaurants. Live music and beverages available. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for kids over 12. See the web site at http://www.farragutbusiness.com/event.php?event_id=67 .

• Cline Wine Tasting on Saturday, September 24 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm OR Cline Wine Dinner on Tuesday, September 27

Visit the Campbell Station Wine & Spirits web site for more information at http://www.campbellstationwine.com/ .

• Silver Oak Wine Dinner at Flemings on September 13 or September 17
  

Call the Turkey Creek location at (865)675-9463 for details.

• Knoxville Bacon Fest on September 16 and September 17 at various times

If you love bacon, this might be the festival for you! Check it out at http://www.knoxbaconfest.com/ for all the details. Some events are already sold out.

• GreekFest 2011 on September 23, September 24 and September 25
  

Sample authentic Greek cuisine, including desserts and pastries, at this festival hosted at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Kingston Pike. For additional information, visit http://greekfesttn.com/default.aspx .

• Knoxville Food Tours - Fridays or Sundays through October at 2:15 pm

Walk through downtown Knoxville and sample some local cuisine while learning a little history. Visit http://www.gofoodonline.com/Go_Food_Online/Tours.html for more information.

Keep in mind that several area restaurants (Chez Liberty, Season's Cafe, Bistro by the Tracks, Flemings, Echo Bistro & Wine Bar, etc.) host wine dinners throughout the year.

Additional Foodie Fun Options:

The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum has Gourmet Graden Crawl on September 1 and September 29 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Visit www.knoxgarden.org.

The Square Room holds lunches (KJO Jazz Lunch on September 7) and dinners (Dinner conert with Elizabeth Cook on September 8) with performers at various dates and times - check it out at http://www.thesquareroom.com/.

On Saturday, September 17 visit Krutch Park for Families in the Kitchen from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm for a free festival on health and fitness for families.

On occasion, the Tennessee Theatre hosts foodie folks like Anthony Bourdain to share stories and answer questions about their business. You can check the Theatre schedule at http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/.

Coming in October...

• Tennessee Food & Wine Festival on October 21 & October 22

http://www.conferencesandnoncreditprograms.utk.edu/foodandwine/index.html

Local Farmers' Markets

Looking for some fresh bread, herbs, fruit and/or vegetables? Looking for fresh flowers, jewelry, aprons or other small gifts. Check out the local farmers' markets in the Knoxville, TN area.

The Market Square Farmers Market
May 17 - November 19
Wednesday's: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm; Saturday's: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
The Farmers Market in Market Square in downtown Knoxville located between Wall Avenue and Union Street offers a wonderful variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, honey, etc. It sits in market square making it a fun outing for individuals, couples, or families. In addition, several restaurants are open for lunch, so after shopping, enjoy a meal at one of the Market Square eateries. Here detailed information regarding the market: http://knoxvillemarketsquare.com/farmersmarket/

Dixie Lee Farmers Market
Saturday's: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
The Dixie Lee Farmers Market while smaller than the Market Square farmers market offers wonderfully fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Locals can stop by this farmers maker in the Renaissance business complex in Farragut at 12740 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. In addition, Seasons Cafe and Webster's Deli sometimes open to serve brunch or sell pastries to market goer's. It is a welcoming, friendly environment for foodies. Check it out at: www.dixieleefarmersmarket.com

P.S. This blogger bought the best looking, best tasting bulb of garlic at the Dixie Lee Farmers Market along with some other great vegetables. Can't wait to go back and stock up on tomatoes, basil, garlic and maybe make some bruschetta!

Knoxville Farmers Market @ Kingston Pike
April 21 - November 24
Tuesday's & Friday's: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
This farmers market is located at 3457 Kingston Pike at Cherokee Blvd., Knoxville. We have to give it a try and let you know more about it soon.

New Harvest Park Farmers Market
April - November
Thursday's: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
The address is 4700 New Harvest Park Lane, Knoxville, TN, 37918. We have to give it a try and let you know more about it soon.

New Harvest Park Farmers Market
May 18 - October 26
Wednesday's: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
This farmers market is located at 2506 Jacob Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996-4561. Check out their web site at: http://www.vegetables.tennessee.edu/


This list only scratches the surfaces of farmers markets in the east Tennessee area. Visit this link lists Farmers' Markets for a detailed listing of area farmers markets: http://agriculture.state.tn.us/Marketing.asp?QSTRING=MKT

A Fun Twist to Date Night

Many couples, especially those with kids, venturing out on date night opt for dinner and a movie. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it’s quiet in comparison to the usual calls at home of “Mommy, mommy, mommy” or “Daddy, daddy, daddy.” Often times, dinner consists of selecting one restaurant and timing it such that the couple makes it to the movie theater in time to score decent seats and maybe some dessert in the form of popcorn or candy. Why not put a fun twist on dinner and a movie?

Instead of selecting a specific restaurant to dine at, add a twist to date night by ‘restaurant hopping’ before the show. In theory, a couple shares small portions of food at three or four restaurants, thus leaving room for several tastings and flavorsome food typically absent from a movie theater concession menu. A couple can sit at the bar or outside and partake in an appetizer, small plate, or dessert at each restaurant.

Restaurant hopping encourages couples to try somewhere new, appeases both palates, provides a sampling of new and different foods, and serves as conversation fodder. Luckily, Knoxville offers a several great options for restaurant hoppers. The Market Square/Gay Street area, the Old City, or Turkey Creek (see http://knoxvillemarketsquare.com/, http://www.tasteofknoxville.com/neighborhood.html, or http://www.easttennesseedining.com/kreview.htm for restaurant listings) boast a plethora of restaurant choices and available shows at the Regal Cinemas, Tennessee Theatre, or Bijou Theatre.

If Market Square/Gay Street becomes the destination of choice, an assortment of savory and sweet foods awaits a couple with empty bellies and exploratory palates. The couple might stop at Oodles Uncorked and enjoy the bruschetta with fresh, plump, juicy tomatoes topped with basil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese followed by a tastefully unique smoked duck breast quesadilla with caramelized onions and manchego cheese at La Costa, and ending with a pair of delectable cupcakes from the Café 4 bakery. Or, they might begin at Nama Sushi Bar with an artfully crafted, fresh, spicy tuna roll followed by a mouth watering smoked cheddar and onion slider at Latitude 35, and ending with an All-American banana split at Marble Slab Creamery. Or, the couple might opt for smooth and velvety hummus with veggies at Tomato Head followed by Pesto Shrimp and Grits at Trio, and finish off with a creamy yet salty snack of avocado tequila salsa and rainbow chips at Cocoa Moon/Koy Fusion.

The restaurant hopping combinations are endless with a myriad of food options available to a willing eater. So, why wait – go ahead and make a date! Take the opportunity to try new foods, experience new restaurants explore the community, and turn a routine date night into a fun evening full of conversation, laughter, and well-deserved time spent with each other. Bon Appetit!

Where to Find Food &/or Cooking Supplies

While most native Knoxvillians know where to find groceries and culinary gadgets, any person new to the area might need a few tips. So, here is a list of foodie shopping fun in the Knoxville area.

If you think a store should be added to our list(s), let us know!

Large Chain Grocery Stores
Walmart
Sam's Club
Target
Kroger
Food City
Ingles

Smaller Grocery Stores or Specialty Food Stores (equally as good if not better for some things)
Earthfare - organic - www.earthfare.com
The Fresh Market - www.thefreshmarket.com
Butler and Bailey Market - www.butlerandbaileymarket.com

The Shrimp Dock - www.shrimpdock.com
Coastal Connections Seafood - www.coastalconnectionsseafood.com
World Market - www.worldmarket.com
Williams Sonoma - www.williams-sonoma.com

Rumor (meaning totally unsubstantiated) has it that a Whole Foods grocery store and a Costco plan to set up shop in Knoxville in 2012.

Basic Supplies
Cook's Corner - www.cookscorner.com
Williams Sonoma - www.williams-sonoma.com
Sugar Bakers - www.sugarbakersonline.com
Michaels Craft Store - www.michaels.com
Jo Ann Fabrics & Crafts - www.joann.com
Hobby Lobby - www.hobbylobby.com
Major Retail Stores (Dillards, Belk, Sears, JCPenney, Kohls, Target, Walmart, etc.)