Minot’s Best Bites delivered a night of food, fun and community connection, with nearly 6,000 samples served and local restaurants showcasing some of the best flavors our community has to offer.
Presented by Aspire Credit Union, the event brought together 16 local food vendors at Citizens Alley on August 27, giving attendees the opportunity to sample signature dishes for just $2 each while supporting local businesses and a local nonprofit.
In total, 5,960 samples were sold, with 13 of the 16 participating vendors selling out.
Taking the top spot for the night was Iron Horse Kitchen and Bar, which sold an impressive 651 sliders, making its sliders the most popular individual item of the event.
But for many vendors, the impact of Minot’s Best Bites went well beyond one successful evening.
For Bones BBQ, the event featured a BBQ staple, ribs. “Before Minot’s Best Bites, our ribs ranked eighth or ninth among our most popular menu items. Since the event, they’ve climbed to first or second,” said Jeremy Ford. “It was great to see people try them at the event and then come back for more.”
For Aspire Credit Union Marketing and Community Impact Director Rianne Kuhn, that kind of response was exactly what the event was designed to create.
“Aspire is inherently local. We live here, we work here and we care deeply about the communities we serve. We wanted to create an event that celebrated what makes our community special, and the answer was right in front of us: local,” said Kuhn. “We wanted to try something different and create an opportunity for people to embrace local businesses, try something they may not have tried before and have a really good time together. The community showed up in a huge way.”
“The numbers were exciting, but what really made the night special was watching people discover new favorites from local restaurants. That is what being local is all about. Finally, to be able to take that success and present a $6,000 check to Independence, Inc. was the bonus that made the whole night even more meaningful.”
In addition to supporting local restaurants, Minot’s Best Bites benefited Independence, Inc., a Minot nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities and working to promote independence, inclusion and opportunity in the community.
“We are incredibly grateful to Aspire Credit Union, the participating vendors and everyone who came out to Minot’s Best Bites. This event was such a fun way to bring our community together, and the $6,000 donation will make a meaningful difference for the people we serve.” said Tonya Parker of Independence, Inc. “We are honored to be the beneficiary of an event that celebrated exactly what makes Minot special: our people coming together to support local.”
The success of Minot’s Best Bites demonstrated the community’s appetite for experiences that bring people together while shining a spotlight on the local businesses that help make Minot unique.
Nearly 6,000 samples enjoyed. Thirteen vendors sold out. One local nonprofit received a $6,000 boost.
And perhaps most importantly, thousands of people got a chance to taste new dishes, discover new favorites and support local. The event will be back at Citizens Alley, Downtown Minot on August 26, 2027. Minot’s Best Bites was proudly presented by Aspire Credit Union.
