Celebrate your favorite food days at these Evansville area restaurants
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — September is a great month for food. It’s a special time for tailgating, apple picking, s’mores on the campfire, and, ah, ants on a log?
Seriously, it’s official. There are well over 50 national or international food holidays in September, including National Ants on a Log Day on the 10th and National String Cheese Day on the 20th.
We don’t have room for all of them, but we picked a bunch that we thought you’d especially enjoy.
Breakfast
If you love breakfast food, September is a great month for you. Better Breakfast Day and National Pancake Day are both on Sunday, Sept. 26, so take time for a nutritious fresh breakfast, and leave Saturday night’s cold pizza for another day. We hear breakfast and pancakes at The Friendship Diner, Cleaver’s and Nellie’s Restaurant are fantastic. If you don’t get up early on Sunday, the next day, Monday the 27th, is National Corned Beef Hash Day. The Kite and Key on Franklin Street makes its own corned beef hash, but it’s closed on Monday… It’s OK, you can hit them any other day of the week.
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German
German food aficionados will enjoy National Wiener Schnitzel Day on Thursday, Sept. 9. Stop by the Gerst Haus for this dish of thinly sliced veal lightly breaded and quickly sautéed for tenderness, served with a slice of lemon for squeezing. Have it dressed with gravy and mushrooms as Jager Schnitzel or choose the pork version, called Schweine Schnitzel.
Friday, Sept. 24, is National German Sandwich Day. These sandwiches traditionally start with sliced and buttered bread, but when we think of German sandwiches we get no farther than the Bratzel from The Schnitzelbank in Jasper. This is the sandwich that won the title of Best Sandwich in Indiana in 2012 as part of the Super Bowl celebrations in Indianapolis. A big soft pretzel is topped with sauerkraut, two bratwursts made by Merkley & Sons Meats in Jasper and honey mustard sauce, then served with a side of German fries.
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Hispanic
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Wednesday, Sept. 15, and you’ll find a lot of Mexican and Tex-Mex inspired food days this month including National Guacamole Day on Thursday the 16th, National Queso Day on Monday the 20th, National Quesadilla day on Saturday the 25th, and National Chimichanga Day on Sunday the 26th. Los Bravos makes a mean tableside guacamole, bringing out fresh avocados and mashing them with just a few simple ingredients right at your table for the freshest chip dip ever. As for the rest, we’d love to hear which of our many local Mexican restaurants makes your favorite.
Kids
It’s so important to get your kids in the kitchen, teach them where food comes from, and share meals as a family. National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day is Monday, Sept. 13, and Family Day: a Day to Eat Dinner with your Children, is on Monday the 27th.
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Beer
Mmmmmm, beer. September is the month to drink it. Well, aren’t they all? Still, National Beer Lovers Day is on Tuesday, Sept. 7, and National Drink Beer Day is on Tuesday the 28th. Make it a point to step out of your comfort zone sometime in September and hit Haynie’s Corner Brewing Company, Carson’s Brewery, Damsel Brew Pub, Turoni’s Pizza and Brewery, Myriad Brewing Company or Henderson Brewing Co. for a locally brewed beer like you’ve never tried before, whether it’s a fruited sour beer, something dark and thick, or a super-hoppy IPA.
Vegetarians
National Hug a Vegetarian Day is on Friday, Sept. 24. You can hug a vegetarian anywhere you like, but our favorite spot is Flourish Plant-Based Eatery, where the whole menu, from huge extreme burgers to grilled “Cuban” sandwiches to gyros, is made from meatless plant alternatives. Another great spot to hug a vegetarian is the Daily Grind, where most of the sandwiches on the regular menu are reproduced in a vegan version with meat substitutes, and at the Henderson Juice Co., where fresh cold pressed juices and smoothies are joined by a changeable vegan lunch menu every day.
Food Service Workers
The final day we’d like to point out is National Food Service Workers Day on Saturday, Sept. 25. We all know what a horrible year and a half it’s been for the restaurant industry due to COVID-19, so if you’re not already, take this day to show a little love to food service workers. Be nice, tip well and thank them for hanging in there and doing a good job.
Contact Aimee Blume at [email protected]
