ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — “The North thinks it knows how to make cornbread, but this is a gross superstition. Perhaps no bread in the world is quite as good as Southern cornbread, and perhaps no bread in the world is quite as bad as the Northern imitation of it.” - Mark Twain

As Twain states, cornbread is a Southern staple along with good bar-b-que, turnip greens, peach cobbler and sweet tea and according to Paula Deen, if it doesn’t contain a heaping amount of butter, it’s not considered Southern.

All of these items and more will be featured on Thursday, July 28 at St. Patrick’s Catholic School. gym in Robertsdale as the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce hosts “Flavors of the South…Great Food…Live Music 2011.”

Kicking off at 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 5-12 and can be purchased at the Chamber office or at the door the night of the event.

This marks the eighth year for the food fest and features 21 different local restaurant and drink vendors with a variety of unique Southern dishes. Among those slated to participate are: The Bake Shoppe Cafe, Cain’s Piggly Wiggly, Fitzpen Place, Goo Roo’s, Hickory House BBQ, Ivey’s , LA BBQ, Lil G’s Cajun Market, Magnolia Blossom, O’Charley’s, Papa’s Place, Sam’s, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, Coca-Cola, Buffalo Rock, Budweiser-Busch, Greer’s, Vitolli’s Pizzeria, Katy’s Catering, Mama Lou’s and Les Roux.

Of course, all this wouldn’t be possible without the help of great sponsors from the community, said Jamie Mangion, director of operations for CBCC. “We are so thankful for our sponsors. They are so supportive and good to us every year and we are hoping to have a great turnout this year as well. We had 400 people last year. It’s always a great event for us every year.”

Baldwin EMC is the presenting sponsor this year with Power Productions and Cain’s Piggly Wiggly (Diamond Sponsors), Sweetpea Services, Golden Living Center, Budweiser-Busch Distributing Center, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc., Cruise Away and Century 21, SSM Real Estate (Gold Sponsor), Gruenloh and Associates and Mack Funeral Home (Silver Sponsor), Franklin Primary Health Center, Riviera Utilities and Sturma Builders (Bronze Sponsor).

“This is an opportunity to get involved with a large community event allowing for community exposure and involvement. This event is open to all restaurant, caterer, wine and beverage businesses in the county with no cost for vendor participation and chamber membership is not required to participate in the event,” Mangion explained.

Along with the food, there will also be a silent auction with many interesting and unique items up for grabs. Donations are still being taken and businesses can drop off their donations at the chamber office.

Some of the items include: gifts certificates, gift cards and gift baskets from Hiller Systems, Katy’s Catering, LA BBQ, Homewood Suites of Daphne, Household Pest Control, Prissy Pots, RAC Health Complex, Robertsdale Dental Care, Vitolli’s Pizza, O’Charley’s, Wales West, Sweat Tire, grill from Baldwin EMC, Glenlakes golf package and “Deputy for a Day” with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department plus many more.

Entertainment will be provided by James “Milkshake” Patterson of Mobile who plays a variety of Jazz, Oldies, R&B from The Temptations, The Drifters, The Tamms, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Sam Cook and Lionel Ritchie.

For more information, contact Mangion at (251) 947-2626 or email jmangion@centralbaldwin.com