In conjunction with the Year of Alabama Food, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel is pulling together final plans for Alabama Restaurant Week, Aug. 17-Aug. 26.

“Restaurant Week is a way to encourage people to sample some of the state’s best food,” said Kathy Sauer, Pike County Chamber of Commerce president. “Southerners know good food and we have an abundance of it in Alabama and right here in Pike County.”

Sauer said Restaurant Week is a tourism promotion and it’s also an opportunity for the Chamber to bring into focus the outstanding culinary cuisine available within the confines of the county.

“The Pike County Chamber of Commerce supports Alabama Tourism and Travel in its efforts to market our restaurants through the Year of Food promotion and Restaurant Week,” Sauer said. “More than 200 restaurants throughout Alabama are participating, including Milky Moos here in Troy.”

The participating restaurants can be found on the Alabama Tourism website at www.alabamarestaurants.com.

“We would like to encourage everyone to, not only take advantage of the restaurants listed that will offer special fixed prices for the week, but to also take the time to experience our many food establishments in Pike County,” Sauer said. “Pike County offers every type and variety of food and at all hours. A person can enjoy fine dining as well as the unique small café.

“The Chamber challenges the people of our community to make a ‘visit every restaurant/fast food/café list’ and let us know what you enjoyed most.”

Many cities around the state sponsor restaurant weeks and Sauer said that is something that Pike County might want to consider.

“It would be a fun and entertaining way to promote the restaurants throughout Pike County,” she said.

Several Pike County restaurants have benefited from listing on the Alabama Tourism’s list of ‘100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die’ promotion.

Listed on the 2012 “100 Dishes” brochure are Pike County eateries, Sisters for its banana pudding, Mossy Grove for its beans and cornbread, Crowe’s for its chicken fingers and dipping sauce and Sit N Sip in Brundidge for its chicken salad and pear salad plate. Red’s Schoolhouse Restaurant in nearby Grady is listed for its apple-cheese casserole.