Continuing efforts to help restaurants recover from the impact of the pandemic, Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Town Board announce that Foodie Week – a unique opportunity for dining establishments to showcase their world-class culinary hotspots – will take place from October 16th to October 23rd. This week-long event will highlight the finest culinary creations local chefs, bakers, and artisans have to offer. The announcement was made at Butera’s Restaurant of Woodbury, who will participate in Foodie Week.
“This unique opportunity offers local dining establishments a chance to showcase their world-class culinary hotspots, and highlights the finest culinary creations local chefs, bakers and artisans have to offer. It also provides a fun outing for foodies and families to enjoy the best of the best at local eateries,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Restaurants are vital to our downtowns and crucial to our local economy. Let’s do our part by supporting them at a time when they need it the most.”
Consistent with well-known New York City standards for similar restaurant promotions, a Long Island Food Critic panel will curate all participating restaurants and will evaluate them based on the same set of criteria to help ensure that restaurants are of a similar caliber. While there is no charge for dining establishments located in the Town of Oyster Bay to participate, restaurateurs must apply online at www.FoodieWeek.com. A full list of participating venues and events will also be listed on the website.
Supervisor Saladino also announced that the Town of Oyster Bay will continue its efforts in helping the restaurant industry get back on its feet by expanding outdoor dining through 2023. This expanded outdoor dining initiative will greatly assist the food service industry at a time in which they need it the most. A recent study indicated that 51 percent of adults have said they are not dining out at restaurants as often as they would like, an increase of six percentage points from before the pandemic.
“We have worked tirelessly since this pandemic began to help location businesses come back safely and efficiently,” Supervisor Saladino said. “We cut the red tape, permitted for new outdoor options for restaurant patrons and helped restaurant owners reopen safely and successfully. We are pleased to continue with that effort, and will invite restaurants to extend their outdoor dining services through 2021. This way, restaurant owners will be able to use all of the investments they made this year on outside tents, heaters and covers into and throughout next year.”
Councilwoman Maier added, “We hope our residents will join us in supporting our local restaurants this October 16th through 23rd for Foodie Week. Diners will have a chance to sample the best of the best, without the pressure of purchasing a full three course option or other type of old-fashioned Restaurant Week-style promotion. Foodie Week changes that paradigm by celebrating exceptional handcrafted dishes – from farm to table, dock to dish, and grape to glass offerings. Our local culinarians are excited and ready for the fun that Foodie Week will provide, and we encourage the public to get out and support our local restaurants – the heart and soul of our communities.”
Visit www.FoodieWeek.com for more information.