Skip the dinner debate: Savor & Sip brings 20+ local food and drink spots together

MANSFIELD – If your household is anything like mine, most evenings include some form of that exhausting “I don’t know, what do you want to eat?” debate.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development is solving the dinner problem while giving you a fun way to support local businesses.

This year marks the 10th annual Savor & Sip event, where more than 20 local food and beverage businesses set up under one roof at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center in Mansfield, giving attendees a chance to sample their way through everything from appetizers to dessert.

Add in drinks, a silent auction, and live music, and you’ve got an instant date night or evening out with friends that costs less than a standard sit-down dinner.

Early bird tickets are $30 per person through Oct. 9 ($40 starting Oct. 10), which is a pretty good deal considering the amount of food and drinks packed into one room.

If you’ve never attended this event, my advice would be to skip lunch, break out the stretchy pants, and come ready to eat! 

Many portions are surprisingly generous, and several vendors bring more than one item to sample. From my experience, you’ll probably find yourself stuffed before you’ve even made it halfway around the room.

New spots to try

Sometimes, when people hear I’m a food columnist, they assume I’ve eaten everywhere in north central Ohio. Unfortunately, I haven’t (yet)!

There are actually a couple of spots on this year’s roster that I’ve never had the pleasure of trying, which is why I’m genuinely excited to return for this year’s lineup. 

Reindeer Grill has been on my personal radar forever, and Jamaican Spice On Wheels is completely new to me. 

At the same time, I’m excited to see some familiar vendors back on the list. Even if you’ve tried a business before, you don’t know what they’ll bring to Savor & Sip.

Last year, I was surprised to see Avita Health System serving warm-spiced apple pie. I had never tried Bytchn Kitchen’s brioche biscuits and gravy, despite trying plenty of their food over the years. 

That’s part of the fun. You might discover a special-event offering and maybe find a new favorite from a business you thought you already knew.

While there are plenty of options to savor, the “Sip” half of the night features craft beer from Millersburg Brewing and Phoenix Brewing, wine from Wishmaker House and Cypress Hill Winery, canned cocktails from Carbliss, and artisan teas from Twisted Fig Tea.

A vendor’s perspective: Why local businesses keep coming back

As someone who loves attending this event, I was interested in hearing a vendor’s perspective. Exclusively Yours Catering has been a faithful vendor, participating practically every year Savor & Sip has been running, and they took home the People’s Choice Award for Crowd Favorite Table.

I spoke with owner Charlie Bauer, who told me that for a caterer, the event isn’t just about feeding people for one night. Instead, it’s a chance to introduce people to their food and services.

If you’ve ever had to plan a wedding, milestone anniversary, or graduation party, you know how overwhelming picking a caterer can be. Savor & Sip can serve as a low-stress trial run. You get to sample the dishes, meet the team behind the scenes, and figure out who you want cooking for your family before a big event arrives.

Exclusively Yours definitely leaves an impression.

Charlie says bringing around six items is their standard. When I asked why they go so big, Charlie and his “right arm” Chris Goines shared that it’s just the way they’ve always done things.

“We give them over-the-top because that’s just the way we handle things,” Charlie said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The team also looks at the other vendors participating and tries to figure out what might be missing.

“If something’s missing out of that mix, we try to throw it in,” he said.

This year, Charlie confirmed their scratch-made banana pineapple punch will be back, served cold in 3- to 4-ounce cups, along with some new offerings.

For Charlie, Savor & Sip is also a reflection of what he appreciates about the Chamber itself.

“It is a phenomenal organization that the chamber has and what Lisa does,” he said, adding that the Chamber gives vendors “a fair chance to bring their best of the best.”

That local connection is at the core of why the event exists in the first place.

“I hope people recognize that behind every booth is a local business and people who have invested their time, talent, and energy into what they do,” said Lisa Duckworth, Director of Programs & Events for the Chamber.

“When you choose to eat at a local restaurant, hire a caterer, or visit a food truck, you’re supporting someone’s business and the people who work there,” she said. “Savor & Sip gives people a chance to meet those businesses, try their food and make connections that can continue long after the event.

“We want people to leave not only with a full stomach, but with a greater appreciation for the people who make our local food industry so special.”

A decade of community and flavor

Successful community events like this don’t happen by chance. For Lisa, hitting 10 years is proof of the richness of our local food scene.

“I think Savor & Sip has become a tradition for people,” Lisa said. “It’s a fun night out where you can try something new, discover a local favorite, and enjoy time with friends, family, and coworkers.

“Having more than 20 vendors under one roof gives people an opportunity to experience just how much talent and diversity we have in our local food industry.”

Beyond the food and drinks, the silent auction plays a big part in creating that energetic “night out” atmosphere, while showcasing community generosity.

“We have a giant silent auction with more than 100 items, with everything from gift certificates and experiences to unique packages and local products,” Lisa noted. “What I especially love is that the auction also gives us another way to showcase the generosity of our local businesses and community partners.”

To round out the evening, local favorite Avenue Blue will be playing live music all night while everyone eats, bids, and catches up.

For Lisa, the event has also become a meaningful family tradition over the last decade.

“One of my favorite memories involves my son. When he was a teenager, we hired him and a friend to help bus tables during the event. They were so excited because they could try whatever food they wanted!” she said. “Now, my nephew and his friends have taken over that role, and they love eating ALL the food just as much.

“It’s fun to see the event through their eyes and watch a new generation get excited about not only the event, but what our community has to offer.”

Participating Vendors to Date

Avita Health System, Bake My Day, Bytchn Kitchen, Carbliss, Char-Bougie LLC, City Garden Cafe, Coney Island Diner, Deer Ridge Golf Club & The Black Dog Tavern, Exclusively Yours Catering, Cab2twist LLC, Fazolis, Gionino’s Pizzeria, Jackie’s Cheesecakes, Jamaican Spice On Wheels, Lanie’s Lemons, Millersburg Brewing, Reindeer Grill, Richland Carrousel Park Inc., Skyline Chili, The Hidden Acres Farm, Truckin Trav Street Food, Twisted Fig Tea, U R Worthy Catering, and Westbrook Country Club.

Come Say Hi!

I’ll be there on Oct. 22 taking photos, shooting video, and eating my way through the room.

If you see me, come say hi. If there’s a local food business you think I should check out for Bite Club, I’m always interested in hearing about it.

I’ll also have Bite Club information at the event, and I’m sponsoring an Ultimate Foodie Gift Basket that attendees can enter to win!