Monday, July 20, 2015

Auburn/Opelika Best Bites Part 2

It is time for part 2 of our journey through Auburn/Opelika's Best Bites. I hope you have had time to check out some of the amazing restaurants that were featured in our last installment. If you have a favorite, let us know so we can let the rest of the community know. Below we will experience four more favorites that we know will give your taste buds more to rave about!

 

Amsterdam Cafe


 
Don't miss this local favorite for lunch or dinner. Located in the heart of downtown Auburn and featuring distinctive casual dining in an eclectic atmosphere, Amsterdam Cafe has been a local favorite since it opened its doors in the early 1990's. Dress up or dress down to experience their fresh farm to table principle that is so important to our community. They feature a variety of fresh beef, poultry and seafood selections as well as hand made pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and salads. Their Crab Cake & Avocado Sandwich was voted as one of Alabama's top 100 dishes. Have an special event coming up? Amsterdam also features a private dining area that is perfect for that surprise birthday party, rehearsal dinner or office party. Reservations are accepted.
 
Personal Favorite:
Appetizer: Shrimp and Grits, grilled gulf shrimp, Oakview Farm grits and tasso cream sauce.
Entree: Crab Cake & Avocado Sandwich, lump crab cake, avocado, creole remoulade, mano pico de gallo on a toasted croissant.
Dessert: They are all amazing, therefore I can not pick a favorite.
Drink of Choice: Champagne Lady, Absolut Vodka, peach schnapps and champagne.
 
Located at 410 South Gay Street in Auburn.
 
Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

 

Mrs. Story's  Dairy Bar

 

An Auburn-Opelika tradition for over 63 years, the secret recipe for Mrs. Story's famous homemade chili dogs reminds us that, thankfully, some things never change. This historic establishment is still in its original location on Pepperell Parkway. It is still family owned and is where you will find the freshest "fast" food in the area. Chili dogs are not all they are famous for, they also have some of the best milkshakes in town! Don't miss this 50s style walk-up on your next restaurant adventure.

Personal Favorite:
Entree: Short Chili-Dog, a homemade recipe since 1952.
Dessert: Butterfinger Shake, speaks for itself.
Drink of choice: Sweet Tea, a southern favorite.

Located at 1900 Pepperell Parkway in Opelika.

Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Acre


 
 
Whether you are a student, returning alumni or a first time visitor to The Plains, Chef David Bancroft and his staff invite you to experience their stylish modern food with roots deep in Southern soil. They are located just blocks from Toomer's Corner and work hard to bring classic favorites to the table with fresh, innovative flavors and artistic performance. The food is responsibly grown and harvested and expertly prepared by their staff. Their menu is ever changing and features seasonal favorites as well as items that are a must year round. They also offer a private dining area that is perfect for your next event!
 
Personal Favorite:
Appetizer: Strawberry & Candied Walnut Salad, smoked bacon, bleu cheese, baby spinach and sherry-honey vinaigrette.
Entree: Johnny Caradine's Gulf Red Snapper, sweet potato pirloo, acre Andouille, crunchy chickpeas, savoy spinach and burnt ends consomme.
Dessert: Peanut Butter Pie, chocolate truffle, torched banana meringue, and "tag-a-long" girl scout cookie
Drink of Choice: Mark Collins, Makers Mark Bourbon, fresh squeezed lemon, housemade Satsume orange bitters, simple syrup and candied orange peel.
 
Located at 210 East Glenn Avenue in Auburn.
 
Hours:
LUNCH HOURS:Everyday from 11a.m.- 3p.m.
 
DINNER HOURS:
Monday-Thursday: 5-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5-10 p.m.
Closed Sunday Evening

 

Warehouse Bistro

 

Take your taste buds on an adventure out of the ordinary at Warehouse Bistro in Opelika. You are sure to feel like a king or queen as owner-chef Joe Hippley prepares each dish using the freshest ingredients, as his staff tends to your every need with quality service. The diverse menu features nightly Chef Specials, an award winning wine list and so much more. Their wine list features more than 300 selections. Menu items also include selections such as New Zealand rack of lamb, fresh jumbo lump crab cakes, coq au win, and a variety of pasta dishes. Don't miss out on this unique dining experience located in the industrial warehouse district.

Personal Favorite:
Appetizer: Hot Artichoke and Fresh Parmesan Cheese Dip, Baked golden brown and served with French bread crostino.
Entree: Fresh Gulf Black Grouper, seasoned and served grilled or sauteed. Crowned with jumbo lump crab meat, accompanied by Hollandaise sauce. Served with potato and vegetable du jour.
Dessert: Banana Creme Brulee', a twist on a classic.
Drink of Choice: Creamsicle Martini, Grey Goose Orange Vodka, Cointreau, orange juice and light cream.

Located at 105-C Rocket Avenue in Opelika.

Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 6-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 6-10 p.m.

We hope you have the opportunity to try some of these fantastic selections from some of our Auburn-Opelika Best Bites guide. For more details and a list of all of our fabulous restaurants in the area, be sure to visit www.aotourism.com. Stay tuned for Part 3!

This week in Auburn-Opelika:

July 21: Opelika Mainstreet Farmers Market from 3-6 p.m.
July 21: Summer Swing Concert Series at the Municipal Park in Opelika at 7 p.m.
July 23: The Market at Ag Heritage Park from 3-6 p.m.
July 24: Andrew Combs with B.B. Palmer & Kudzu in Concert.
July 25: Science on Saturdays at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center
July 25: Summer Outdoor Movie Series featuring Frozen at 7:30 p.m.
July 27: Live From New York screening at Carmike Cinemas-Tiger 13

For a list of all events happening in the Auburn-Opelika area, please visit www.aotourism.com!


 

 
 


Monday, July 13, 2015

The Barbasol Championship 2015

History is being made not only in Auburn/Opelika, but in the state of Alabama this week as the PGA tour makes a stop at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail for the Barbasol Championship. This is the first PGA tournament played in Alabama, and will feature top players including some major winners. Below we hope to give you a first look at what you can expect this week!


The tournament will be held July 13-19 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National. As I said before this will be the first PGA tour event in the State of Alabama. This is huge and we are so excited for what it means for our community. Not only will the tournament bring in an estimated $25 million on an annual basis, attendance is expected to be more than 50,000. With that being said, if you are out and about, and see someone exploring, be sure to help them find their way to some of Auburn and Opelika's best shops, dining and attractions. This event will put Auburn/Opelika on the local, national and international map and we can't wait for the world to see why we love our beautiful cities!

The Course:


Did you know that quality golf was available right here at home? Grand National is one of 11 sites along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It has 36-holes of championship golf along with an 18-hole par-3 short course. Golf Digest rated the Links Course as 2nd and the Lake Course as 4th "Best New Public Course" in 1993. It has been host to several notable events such as the 1997 Nike Tour Championship, 1998 LPGA Tournament of Champions and the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Golf Championship. You too can play championship golf, as the course is open to the public. For information on packages, please call 1-800-949-4444 to book your next golf outing!




Schedule:


Monday, July 13 - Media Center Opens at noon
Tuesday, July 14 - Interviews with several SEC players in the field; Youth Clinic with PGA Tour players and Auburn University representatives.
Wednesday, July 15 - Pro-Am Day; Eagles at RTJ with visit from Southeastern Raptor Center from 11 a.m.-noon.
Thursday, July 16 - First round. Live coverage on Golf Channel from 3 to 6 p.m. CST.
Friday, July 17 - Second round. Live coverage on Golf Channel from 3 to 6 p.m. CST
Saturday, July 18 - Third round. Live coverage on Golf Channel from 3 to 6 p.m. CST
Sunday, July 19 - Final round. Live coverage on Golf Channel from 3 to 6 p.m. CST. End of play anticipated at 6 p.m. CST

Players:


The tournament will bring 132 professional golfers competing for $4 million in prize money. The PGA Tour will award 300 FedEx Cup points to the winner. Although the final list of players will be final later this week, below are players expected to be here this week:


Major Winners, Multiple Winners and Other Interesting Angles

·         Sangmoon Bae - Currently 20th in FedEx Cup Points and 87th in the world ranking. Winner of 2015 Frys.com Open

·         Jonathan Byrd - Five time winner on the PGA TOUR

·         Alex Cejak - Winner of the 2015 Puerto Rico Open

·         Brendon de Jonge - Currently 28th in FedEx Cup Points and 90th in the world ranking

·         Trevor Immelman - 2008 Masters Winner

·         Lee Janzen - 1998 US Open Winner and eight time winner on the PGA TOUR

·         Billy Mayfair - Five time winner on the PGA TOUR

·         Sam Saunders - Arnold Palmer's grandson

·         Nick Taylor - Winner of the 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship

·         Nicholas Thompson - Brother of LPGA star Lexi Thompson who first won on the RTJ Golf Trail

·         Boo Weekley - Three time winner on the PGA who lives in the area. Avid outdoorsman.

·         Mike Weir - 2003 Masters Winner

2015 Sponsor Exemptions

·         Maverick McNealy - Stanford University - Ranked 1 on Golfstat Cup; 2015 Jack Nicklaus Award Winner

·         Robby Shelton - University of Alabama Sophomore - Ranked 14 on Golfstat Cup

·         Tomasz Anderson - Jacksonville State Senior - Ranked 42 on Golfstat Cup from England

·         Richy Werenski - Georgia Tech, Sponsor Exemption for winning Big Break on Golf Channel

Players with State of Alabama Connections

·         Blayne Barber - Auburn University

·         Jason Bohn - University of Alabama

·         Glen Day - From Mobile and played at the University of Oklahoma

·         Joe Durant - Huntingdon College in Montgomery

·         Dicky Pride - University of Alabama from Tuscaloosa

·         Robby Shelton - University of Alabama Sophomore - Sponsor Exemption from Mobile

·         Heath Slocum - University of South Alabama

·         Zach Sucher - University of Alabama Birmingham

·         Tomasz Anderson - Jacksonville State Senior - Sponsor Exemption

·         Will Wilcox - University of Alabama Birmingham from Birmingham

Players with State of Georgia Connections

·         Blake Adams - Georgia Southern University

·         Roberto Castro - Georgia Tech

·         Ryuji Imada - University of Georgia

·         Troy Matteson - Georgia Tech

·         Zach Sucher - UAB, from Atlanta

·         Vaughn Taylor - Augusta State University

·         Nicholas Thompson - Georgia Tech

·         Cameron Tringale - Georgia Tech

·         Richy Werenski - Georgia Tech
 

Tickets/Fan Info:


Don't miss your chance to witness history being made! The public can now purchase daily tickets and a variety of upgrades and packages online at www.barbasolchampionship.com. Children 15 and under are admitted to the tournament for FREE accompanied by a ticketed adult. Parking will be on Robert Trent Jones Parkway in the big field to the left before you get to the Marriott turn. There will be trams transporting guests to the round about in front of the Clubhouse. If you are attending, cameras, alcoholic beverages, coolers and weapons of any kind are prohibited on site. There is a NO AUTOGRAPH POLICY enforced on the golf course during Tournament days. Autograph seeking is allowed at the Autograph Alley located outside the 18 Scoring Tent after a player has completed his round.


The Barbasol Championship is sure to make a statement in the PGA world this week and we are thrilled to have Auburn and Opelika as its home. If you have any questions or if you need help finding accommodations, please feel free to contact us at (334) 887-7011 or visit www.aotourism.com!

This week in Auburn/Opelika:


July 13-14: Camp War Eagle at Auburn University
July 13-19: The Barbasol Championship at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
July 14: Discovery Hike at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center
July 14: Opelika Mainstreet Farmers Market from 3-6 p.m.
July 14: Summer Swing Concert Series at the Municipal Park in Opelika.
July 16: Camp War Eagle at Auburn University
July 16: The Market at Ag Heritage Park from 3-6 p.m.