North Carolina SweetPotato Commission Notes Successful Eat Sweet Restaurant Week
BENSON, NC - Foodies and sweetpotatoes are a match made in heaven. Foodservice operators have long seen the appeal of the sweetpotato, which is why the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission’s (NCSPC) news celebrated its long-awaited Eat Sweet Restaurant Week. Inviting chefs across the state to whip up creative ways to elevate the state’s vegetable, the NCSPC is making sure sweetpotatoes stay on menus.
“We were hoping to not only help support our state’s independent restaurants but to also raise awareness for our favorite vegetable with the aid of our incredibly talented and creative North Carolina chefs, and they delivered,” remarked Michelle Grainger, Executive Director. “We know that the sweetpotato is one of the most versatile vegetables out there, and our wonderful culinary partners were able to show that in spades to restaurant patrons everywhere!”
According to a press release, the event was made possible in part through a grant from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA & CS). Besides raising awareness of the multiple applications of the sweetpotato, the event sought to raise awareness of the importance of supporting local businesses.
In the end, the promotion captured participation from 29 different restaurants.
“We saw everything from sweetpotato pie lattes to smoothies, beers, and cocktails, not to mention soups, salads, tacos, hummus, risottos, BBQ Sauce, curries, and so much more,” continued Grainger. “No matter the time of day a diner was looking for something to eat, they were provided choices at all price points and numerous cuisine styles. It was absolutely exciting and hopefully inspiring to consumers to try some of these dishes at home.”
Besides showcasing chef artistry and creativity, the promotion also encouraged a friendly competition among the restaurants participating. The NCSPC offered its own prize worth $2500 to those who won.
With the promotion’s success, the NCSPC hopes to bring it back in the future with an even larger number of participating restaurants.
May the sweetpotato’s reign live on!
