Since its kick-off Jan. 1, the 2018 Mountain Brook Restaurant Trail Challenge has been gaining momentum.
The challenge encourages community members to patronize each of the 49 participating restaurants and document their experience on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #i8mb. To boost participation, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce has recognized “ambassadors” who have committed to sharing their experiences on social media.
On Feb. 16, Billy Angell, owner of Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market, got his entire crew involved in his restaurant experience with dinner. in Crestline. As dinner. is a kitchen, not a restaurant, Angell decided to order a meal for his staff and the whole team gathered for lunch and to document their experience on social media.
Community members from a variety of backgrounds have been tapped as ambassadors.
Dietitian Abby Womack, owner of Taste & See, will be showcasing healthy ways to eat through the challenge under the handle @bhamdietitian.
Crestline student Shaw Sobera, the youngest ambassador at 5 years old, is completing the trail with her mother, Jenny Sobera, and grandmother, Katherine Houston, through her handle @its.me.shaw.
Mountain Brook resident Dylan Angeline, who considers himself a foodie, has recruited his church supper club to take on the challenge with him. Follow him at @dpangeline.
Laura Silsbee, a realtor with LAH, will be taking on the challenge to break away from her go-to restaurants. Due to her dairy and gluten intolerances, her journey, documented as @laurasilsbee, will showcase local offerings that meet both of these common dietary needs while being kid-friendly for her three young children.
Erica Murphy, who does not live in Mountain Brook but works in the city, will be taking on the trail simply because of her love of friendly competition and is recruiting friends to boost the challenge. With the grand prize in mind, she’s documenting her journey via @aireekuh.
The growing list of participating restaurants can be found on the chamber’s website, mtnbrookchamber.org/restaurant-trail.
Those who document their visits to all of the restaurants by Dec. 1 will be eligible to win a grand prize package, currently valued at more than $1,800, featuring items and gift cards from local restaurants.
For more information, contact the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce at chamber@mtnbrook.org or 871-3779. ❖
A correction was made to this article on Feb. 21 identifying the restaurant providing lunch to Oak Street’s staff as dinner.
