Cincinnati with Luke Bryan and Bayer • Kath Eats

I had the possibility to journey to Cincinnati with Bayer to be part of their “Take Care, Now” marketing campaign launch in collaboration with Kroger and Luke Bryan. Right here’s the recap! 

Hiya, good day!

For those who observe me on Instagram, you might need seen that I used to be in Cincinnati final weekend! I traveled there sponsored by Bayer to assist launch their “Take Care, Now” marketing campaign that addresses meals insecurity in rural areas throughout the nation. The kickoff started with a press occasion on Saturday afternoon and ended with a Luke Bryan live performance that evening! 

You would possibly do not forget that I went to Minnesota final fall for the Luke Bryan Farm Tour and that present needed to be cancelled resulting from poor climate circumstances. So I used to be thrilled when Bayer reached out to me this time for a re-do! 

My position as an RD was to organize a straightforward, wholesome summer season recipe utilizing components from the native meals financial institution and contemporary summer season components from Kroger for the media to pattern. I selected my Black Bean + Avocado Salad for its versatility and base of canned beans and corn. 

Friday: Journey + Waterfront Stroll

I flew down the day earlier than on Friday. My flights went nice, and I arrived with loads of time to stroll across the Cincinnati downtown. This was my first time to Cincinnati, and it was very fairly! It jogged my memory of Richmond with the river and bridges. 

The Reds baseball recreation had the waterfront space a buzz! 

Dinner at Metropole

I met the Bayer crew at Metropole for dinner that evening. (A late 8:15pm dinner!) Metropole is within the 21C resort, which is a sequence that I’ve visited in Durham, NC too, so I used to be acquainted! 

We had drinks on the bar earlier than our group of 9 was seated in a semi-private room. I had the Hay Fever (a bourbon cocktail with rhubarb bitters) that was improbable. 

The dinner was delish, and I loved attending to know the Bayer crew! They flew in from throughout. We shared oysters, salads, and apps to start out. 

And I had a breadcrumb-topped halibut for my dinner. 

I didn’t get to mattress that evening till midnight! 

Breakfast on the Sleepy Bee

I used to be fairly sleepy from being out late, so I took myself to Sleepy Bee subsequent door for breakfast.

I sat solo on the bar and acquired a latte and their well-known Bee Muffins!

Afterwards I did one other waterfront stroll earlier than heading as much as my room to prepare for the press occasion. 

Take Care, Now

Our group caravanned over to Riverbend Music Heart the place the press occasion was being held adopted by the live performance. I arrived to a desk crammed with components and kitchen utensils (however no kitchen!) and started working making a double batch of the recipe. 

I felt somewhat like I used to be on High Chef having to place collectively a recipe in file time earlier than the media began to reach! 

Luke Arrives

The media arrived round 3 and so did Luke Bryan! I heard and acknowledged his voice earlier than I noticed him and tried to remain cool haha. Shortly after the audio system started, he made his approach over to my desk and sampled a number of bean salad cups! I whispered to him “Do you prefer it” and he nodded an enthusiastic “sure!” with a thumbs up.  

Take a look at some movies in this Instagram publish!

We additionally heard from the Governor and First Girl of Ohio together with management from Bayer, Kroger, and Feeding America who’re all part of this initiative. Over 44 million individuals within the U.S. are going through meals insecurity, together with 13 million kids. The “Take Care, Now” marketing campaign has the potential to succeed in 200 meals banks and over 60,000 associate companies, meals pantries and meal packages which positively impacts hundreds of individuals throughout rural America. To boost consciousness of “hidden starvation” and promote options, the marketing campaign will cease at varied occasions together with the Luke Bryan Farm Tour live performance sequence. (Coming to Virginia and NC this 12 months!)

Luke Bryan Live performance

After the press occasion concluded, we had a break after which a buffet dinner.

I used to be gifted a Luke hat that I additionally acquired autographed! 

After dinner, we walked over to the live performance for a non-public meet & greet with Luke. His tour bus has a entrance porch 😉 

We had a gorgeous riverview the place we waited for Luke’s arrival. 

I believed all day of one thing intelligent I might say to him and all I got here up with on the spot was “I made the bean salad you appreciated. And I’m an enormous fan.” Haha! Luke is my favourite nation star, and I really like so a lot of his songs (“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” is my favourite!) 

We loved the live performance on an ideal night. 

I feel this was my fourth Luke Bryan live performance. Till subsequent time!

Journey Day House

I used to be up till 1am this evening and needed to depart for the airport at 8. Sadly I’m not somebody who can sleep on planes! Particularly as a result of my flights had been so brief haha. I used to be in a position to make use of my Capital One Enterprise X card and its related Precedence Cross membership to get into THREE totally different lounges on my travels. A lot cash saved in airport meals and low! 

And talking of journey playing cards, when you’re in search of a brand new one, the Capital One Enterprise simply launching a brand new promo the place you get 75,000 factors AND a $250 journey credit score after you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months. For those who’re in search of a brand new journey card, this one is sweet! The annual price is barely $95 and also you’ll additionally obtain as much as $100 utility price credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Due to Bayer for sending me on this journey and for the chance to fulfill Luke!