By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

Take a culinary trip around Birmingham without having to get in your car at the eighth annual Taste of Shelby County on Sept. 10. Hosted by the Shelby County Education Foundation at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center, the event will feature 28 restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries.

From 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m., guests can travel to vendor booths and sample signature dishes, drinks and desserts from a variety of Birmingham-area food and beverage purveyors, Shelby County Education Foundation Development and Community Relations Director Kendall Williams explained.

This year’s list of vendors includes traditional favorites, such as Bellinis, Brava Rotisserie, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Joe’s Italian, Good People and Cahaba Brewing, Williams said. There will also be several new vendors to sample, including some locally grown talent from the culinary arts program at the Shelby County College and Career Center.

“The Shelby County students are going to have a booth there showing off their chef skills,” Williams said.

The Shelby County Child Nutrition Program staff will also have a booth, allowing parents to sample the menu choices their children are served in cafeterias across the school system every day.

Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the evening by Intermission, featuring Josh Arnold and Shelby County High School Assistant Principal Barbara Snyder.

“It’s just a great, fun, event that gets all of our stakeholders together in one place,” Williams said.

Tickets for the event cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Each ticket receives and entry for a door prize and additional entries can be purchased during the event.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Shelby County Education Foundation and help to fund grants for principals, teachers and, new this year, students in the Shelby County School System.

Student grants will be available for sixth through 12th grade students, for “anything to expand their educational experience,” Williams explained.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Taste of Shelby County, visit Shelbyedfoundation.org/taste.html.