ROYAL OAK, Mich. — As one of the top taste festivals in the country, Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats delivers a full menu of tantalizing taste options from more than 40 restaurants and caterers throughout metro Detroit over Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 through Sept. 2, in downtown Royal Oak.
“We love to showcase metro Detroit’s top restaurants and favorite foods within a fun, high-energy, downtown setting that offers the most variety of any Labor Day Weekend event,” said Jon Witz, Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats festival producer. “The tastes and smells of everything from hickory-smoked barbecue to marinated Mediterranean lamb chops will leave your mouth watering for more.”
The variety of food offerings served during the Labor Day Weekend is what sets Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats apart as the go-to culinary destination for the holiday.
“This year’s festival will feature more than 40 restaurants, caterers and food vendors showcasing some of the best cuisine from throughout southeast Michigan. We hope festival-goers bring their appetites, because there will be plenty to enjoy,” added Witz.
The Festival welcomes exciting, new steakhouses to the Eats this year: experience the flare of Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse which specializes in fire-roasting high-quality meats using the centuries-old Southern Brazilian cooking technique of churrasco; enjoy Prime 29 Steakhouse, which features a contemporary menu with unique appetizers, in-house butchered steaks and fresh seafood; or seek out the steak and Italian specialties of Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse.
Also new this year are the affordable gourmet options of Crispelli’s bakery and pizzeria, from thin-crust pizza to Italian specialty dishes, and the casual comfort food of Wahlburgers, home of the sloppiest Sloppy Joe’s, the tastiest tater tots, and the frothiest frappes – all compliments of the family of actor/singer Mark Wahlberg. For a Mediterranean touch, try the culinary delights of Mezza Mediterranean Grill, renowned for its world-famous hummus and succulent marinated lamb chops. Don’t miss the salads, smoothies, juice, wraps, and other healthy foods you love from Freshii.
Adding to the food truck sensation, a couple new wheels join the festivities! The Bavarian Inn will roll in with its “Cluck Truck,” featuring the famous chicken and housemade bratwurst from Frankenmuth, Michigan, and the new “Lil Bros on Wheels” truck from Little Bros Burgers will show off its all-beef sliders and curly fries, along with handcrafted Auntie Rah Rah ice cream sandwiches in three delicious flavors: classic, strawberry shortcake and lemon. Returning this year, the Soaring Eagle Cuisine Machine makes a festival stop to offer patrons gourmet cuisine options from the restaurants of Soaring Eagle Casino & Waterpark.
RETURNING FAVORITES
Indulge your senses with the experiential Japanese cuisine of Nara Hibachi Grill, a returning festival favorite. Sedona Taphouse specializes in hand-cut steaks, sustainable seafood selections and heart healthy offerings, while America’s favorite barbeque restaurant, Famous Dave’s, serves up a taste of the South with their hickory-smoked specialties. Fresh, locally produced and organic ingredients create comfort food with a twist by Café Muse.
PRIORITY HEALTH SMART OPTIONS
Priority Health encourages all festivalgoers to “Make the Smart Festival Choice” with its new Smart Options program. Participating festival restaurants will receive the Priority Health Smart Options designation, signified by a Smart Options sticker at the food booth, by offering a certified food in one of five categories: Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Gluten Free, Sugar Free or Vegan.
Making the smart festival choice also extends to providing insightful tips for festival patrons, including parking suggestions with specific areas designated for those attending the art fair, evening concerts or the Detroit News Kids Zone. Festival admission prices increase throughout the day, so another Priority Health Smart Choice is to come early to the events or visit on Friday before 5pm − when admission is free. The Information Booths presented by Priority Health will also be located throughout the festival to provide guest information, to answer questions and to help patrons make the right choice on where to find activities, performances or booths.
LIVE CULINARY COMPETITION!
For some culinary craziness, culinary arts students will mix it up for a Chopped-style cooking competition onstage Saturday, Aug. 31 at 5 pm. in a reality TV live mode on the Oakland Community College Cultural/Acoustic Stage. Audience participation adds to the fun!
The competition consists of three competitors, each supported by an assistant, completing two stages of competition. First, contestants will produce 10 plates of their signature salad: one plate for the judges and the rest for the audience to sample. One chef will be CHOPPED! The remaining two competitors will have 30 minutes to prepare an appealing appetizer and must produce 20 plates – again, one for the judges and the rest for the audience. One champion chef will be selected by the judges.
2019 SPONSORS
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Flagstar Bank, AARP, Ace & Sons, Bacardi, Beaumont Health System, BJ’s Wholesale Club, City of Royal Oak, Delta Dental of Michigan, Detroit Shirt Company, Detroit Institute of Arts, Everdry, Famous Dave’s, Hansons Windows, Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham Troy, Kroger, Lagunitas, M1 Studios, Mancan, Matrix Basement Systems, Midcoast Studios, Oakland Community College, Pepsi, Priority Health, Pure Leaf Iced Tea, Renewal by Andersen, Shorts Brewing Company, US Park, Weathergard Windows.
The 22nd annual Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Flagstar Bank is Oakland County’s premier festival, held Aug. 30 – Sept. 2, 2019. The festival paints downtown Royal Oak with a variety of art, food and music for the community to enjoy. More than 330,000 visitors attended the 2018 Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats. “LIKE” artsbeatseats on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @artsbeatseats. For additional public information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com or call 248-541-7550.
Source: Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats