Osceola celebrates Main Street Iowa’s Restaurant Week with 10-day event

Osceola is participating in Main Street Iowa Restaurant Week, Sept. 14-23. The week encourages Iowans to travel and dine in Main Street communities across the state.

This is the second year that Osceola has participated in Restaurant Week. After Main Street Iowa set the dates and the theme, the Osceola Chamber Main Street was able to hit the ground running. For the past month, it brainstormed from last year's event and was able to build upon that and set the Restaurant Week wheels in motion, coordinating and conversing with local restaurant owners and the local sponors.

During the 10-day event, more than 150 restaurants in 28 communities will feature a variety of dining offers and specialty activities. Six locally owned restaurants will be taking part in Osceola’s Restaurant Week. Between the different locations, patrons will have the chance to dine on appetizers, entrees, desserts, drinks and more. The six restaurants are Timber Ridge Country Market, Percussion the Restaurant, Mayberry’s Coffee House & Eatery, Playa Margaritas, Iron Horse Neighborhood Grill and Nana Greer’s Family Table.

The event is all honey themed with special honey-infused recipes making an appearance at each of the participating restaurants. Diners are encouraged to share their experiences by using #MSIRestaurantWeek on Instagram and Twitter.

"The 'foodie' scene is growing so we're hoping to get the buzz out about it," said Jan Rychnovsky, OCMS member.

This year, patrons are able to be put in a drawing to win prizes after Restaurant Week by

• visiting all, or any three of the six participating restaurants

• enjoying at least one honey-based food or beverage item

• getting their Restaurant Week punch cards punched at three participating restaurants (all six for the grand prize)

• dropping off their punch cards at any participating restaurant or at the Chamber Main Street Office no later than Friday, Sept., 28

Restaurant Week is being sponsored in part by the Iowa Honey Company, Randol Honey Farm, Clover Hill Orchard and Honey Hill Event Center.

In conjunction with Main Street Iowa Restaurant Week, Scott Kent, Clarke County conservationist, and representatives of Southern Iowa Hive Handlers will be giving a “Bee Keeping 101” presentation Sept. 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Chamber Main Street/Clarke County Development Corp. large meeting room. They will cover topics from basic bee keeping, to planting to attract bees and all the benefits of bees/honey.

There will be a honey tasting and demonstration by Rob Taylor of Honey Hill at Mayberry's. Honey Hill Events Center is also hosting a Restaurant Week Wrap Up event 4-6 p.m. Sept. 23 with drinks from Honey Hill and food from the participating restaurants from the week.

The Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Tourism Office are part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information about the Main Street Iowa program, visit iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/mainstreetiowa.