A few years ago, in early June, my husband, Rick, and I hit the road and headed out West to visit the five big national parks in Utah—Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion. We also found some state park gems like Dead Horse Point near Moab and Snow Canyon near St. George. And … Continue reading An Epic Road Trip in the American West
I love a place that makes me feel like I'm somewhere else entirely. Current Charcoal Grill in downtown Birmingham is only minutes from my home, yet it seems a world away. The beautiful restaurant is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, and Executive Chef-Partner Luke Joseph has brought back some delicious favorite dishes--perhaps most excitingly … Continue reading Staying Current
It's time to get outside! Here are some of my favorite places for al fresco drinks and dining in and around Birmingham.
The former Crystal Ice manufacturing building in Mobile is cool in a whole new way these days, as the husband-and-wife team of Max Donaldson and Mackenzie Klyce are honoring the past and creating a fun, delicious future. Their Velvet Pig eatery in the Ice Box bar (21 and over) offers Chef Mackenzie’s delicious, inventive dishes … Continue reading Globally, Regionally, Locally Cool
Every year, Birmingham Barons baseball unveils a new lineup of fun stadium foods for the upcoming season. Every year, it’s a thoughtful, concerted effort to enhance the fan experience. This year, that effort has some star power. The Barons have teamed up with sports legend Bo Jackson for their 2025 season menu. Bo’s Hometown Burger, … Continue reading A Delicious Hometown Home Run
Yo’ Mama’s restaurant is forging its own history in the Fourth Avenue Historic District of downtown Birmingham. This restaurant is the only Black-owned, sit-down eatery in one of the few surviving Black Business Districts in the Southeast still operating with a majority Black-owned business ecosystem. Yo’ Mama’s started with a dream of business ownership, which … Continue reading Yo’ Mama’s Making New History
I’m more cook than baker (cooking is way less exact!), however I bake these intensely flavored, crisp cookies from Martha Stewart on repeat when the weather gets cold. They have three kinds of ginger—fresh, crystallized and ground. And they are easy to do, especially when using a small scoop from The Cook Store. Triple Ginger … Continue reading Sweet Treats
I was in Phoenix a few months ago for the Les Dames d'Escoffier International annual conference. It's always a busy event, so we went a day early to explore the host city and experience some truly great places to eat before we got down to business. The Phoenix LDEI chapter organized some exciting excursions, and … Continue reading DIY Phoenix
You can taste the world at Rayza’s Sushi, Steak and Seafood in Daphne. That’s because chef-owner Mochamad Rayza’s experience spans the globe. Rayza's is the place for award-winning fresh sushi on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The South Alabama restaurant, owned by Rayza and his wife, Laura, offers beautiful, inventive sushi; delicious steaks; and lots of … Continue reading Great Food for a Greater Purpose
Troup’s Pizza in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood is a family business serving families while creating family, too. The husband-and-wife team of Terrill and Ashley Brazelton are known for their great food and genuine, warm hospitality, but they serve their community way more than that. I sat down with Terrill and Ashley recently for a story … Continue reading Troup’s is Serving the Community One Slice at a Time
Looking for fun and adventure and new, fresh flavors? Go grocery shopping at Mi Pueblo. Because Mi Pueblo is more than just a supermarket. It’s an experience. Mi Pueblo has been sharing flavors from around the world for nearly two decades. In addition to foods from all over the world, there’s a café, a bakery, … Continue reading Mi Pueblo: Your Local Connection to Global Flavors
The Fish Market Restaurant & Oyster Bar on Birmingham’s Southside has served Gulf-fresh seafood, traditional Greek foods and Southern dishes to generations of customers, and now the next generation in the Sarris family is helping make sure this beloved business continues to thrive. The restaurant and seafood market have been around since 1983 when owner … Continue reading A Legacy Restaurant Business
Beautiful Rainbow Café is an eatery like no other. It’s located inside the Gadsden Public Library where it is beloved for its delicious and wholesome, made-from-scratch vegetarian dishes served in a bright, airy, inclusive space decorated with big, colorful murals. It is gourmet garden-to-table with its own organic garden in Underwood Park right across … Continue reading Feeding Body and Spirit
In the nearly four decades we’ve been married, my husband and I have made countless compromises. That’s not at all a bad thing; that’s life. We share lots of things, but we also have our own interests. Our most recent road trip is the perfect example. Rick was racing his gravel bike in Arkansas, and … Continue reading In Consideration of a Great Road Trip … and Diamonds
Homegrown and chef-driven. Authentic yet inventive. Intuitive and intentional. Really good and simply real. Rusty’s Bar-B-Q in Leeds is all that, and owner Rusty Tucker will still surprise you. About 20 minutes from Birmingham and just off I-20 (where he has some official tourist-boosting signage), Rusty’s is ideally located—just up the hill from a huge … Continue reading Classical Pit Barbecue … Like Traditional but a Little Extra
Peanuts and Cracker Jack? Think bigger. They’re swinging for the fences at Regions Field when it comes to ballpark foods. The Birmingham Barons host their first home game of the 2024 season on April 5 against the Chattanooga Lookouts, and fans can expect an expanded lineup of fun, new ballpark foods and favorite local brews. … Continue reading Take Me Out to the Ballgame (for Dinner)
This month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6, I shared two of the best novels I've read in a long time and a reprint of a favorite guide to Southern woodlands. Tom Lake By Ann Patchett, audiobook read by Meryl Streep First of all, Ann Patchett is amazing. Her latest book, Tom Lake, is … Continue reading Fiction and Forests
Gumbo to Geaux is a chef-driven food truck (and catering and events company). In every sense. Owner and founder Etricia Robinson, a classically trained chef, is driven to offer the authentic country-Creole dishes she grew up eating. “If Emeril Lagasse and Paula Deen had a baby,” she says, “it’d be me, because I do Cajun-Creole … Continue reading A Chef-Driven Country-Creole Food Truck
We're celebrating Women's History Month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 with female-focused reads for readers of all ages. Band of Sisters By Lauren Willig This brand-new book (it hit shelves March 2) tells the story of the Smith Relief Unit, a group of young women from Smith College who traveled to war-torn France … Continue reading Celebrating Women
Chef Raquel Lenzie, executive chef and owner of SLIDE Café in Birmingham’s bustling Five Points South entertainment district, is not afraid of a challenge. In fact, she’s sought out challenges time and again in the culinary space—on a televised, national level and right here at home. She and her sister Regina and niece Alexandria competed … Continue reading SLIDE in for Mini Big Bites
These are the books I shared this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. The Survivors of the Clotilda: Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the American Slave Trade By Hannah Durkin This brand-new book tells the stories of the last documented survivors of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to land on U.S. soil. … Continue reading Celebrating Black History Month
My family gave me a wealth of tinned fish for Christmas. (They know what I love!) The colorful boxes--especially the ones from the woman-founded and -led Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.--make me really happy. Also, tinned fish is just the easiest, fastest, most flavorful protein imaginable. It's been very cold and icy here lately so I … Continue reading Dinner at My House (tinned fish edition)
Lately, all the books I’ve read were novels told via connected stories—some short stories, some simply interesting ways to write. All three works of brilliant fiction that I shared on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month were satisfying and just right for this busy time of year. No Two Persons by Erica … Continue reading Books in Bits
Regional food is a global phenomenon. And in our increasingly multicultural state, global foods show up regionally. Take, for instance, the delicious Korean food found in Montgomery and our great “Greek and threes” in Birmingham and the authentic Vietnamese food in Bayou La Batre. The same is true in Huntsville, where lasting German influences from the early days of Redstone Arsenal make … Continue reading Prost!
Here are the books I brought to Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month. There are two book-gifting ideas and one clever, chilling, binge-worthy read to keep you company while you do the holidays. Holiday Coupetails by Brooke Bell and Brian Hoffman Raise a glass to your brand-new favorite cocktail book—or the perfect … Continue reading Gifting with Great Books … and Something Just for You
Novi means new, and there’s a lot of newness at Novi Vineyards in Alpine. For one thing, owners Lee and Lisa Moffett are taking Alabama wine in a new—dry—direction. (This wine is not sweet, y’all.) It’s also worth mentioning that creating this place took their lives—and those of their family—in a new direction, too. That … Continue reading Raise a Glass to Alabama Table Wines
Here are the books I brought to Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month, which is Native American Heritage Month. One is a book for kids about two brave women warriors for our Earth. Another is one of my favorite recent reads, and I included a cookbook that will delight and bring back … Continue reading Let’s Gather Together with Great Books
Some of the best and most beautiful Thai food in Alabama (perhaps in the Southeast) is in a small restaurant in tiny Greensboro. Ruan Thai, which means “Thai House,” is new, but it has a decades-long history. It’s also reason for a day trip to the Black Belt part of our state. I went recently … Continue reading Deep South Thai
Hispanic Heritage Month spans September and October. These books I took on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 celebrate it with two memoirs and a children’s book that incorporates Halloween—one of my personal favorite holidays! Solito by Javier Zamora In 1999, at age 9, Javier Zamora left his home where he lived with his … Continue reading Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Cantina is back! Three simple words are bringing a whole lot of happiness to the Birmingham-area food community. Cantina Tortilla Grill has been a hometown favorite for fresh, inventive Mexican food since it first opened in 2003 at Pepper Place in the Lakeview District. After a four-year hiatus, it’s back but in a different area—the … Continue reading A Beloved Birmingham Original is Back in Business
I rarely train for vacation. But Iceland was different. Between the two of us, my husband, Rick, and I hiked for miles and miles (including a steep sheep trail up a mountain); he competed in a 100k gravel bike race; I snorkeled between continents; and raced up hills on a spirited, but sweet, Icelandic horse. … Continue reading Iceland Adventures
I’ve found myself still with some wanderlust after summer travel. I always get this way after spending months planning and anticipating a trip. This first book is how I informed my recent trip to Iceland. The other two offer armchair travel to another time and place. I took all of them to Good Day Alabama … Continue reading Armchair Travel
Adjectives abound for The Waverly Local. “Seasonally inspired, simple Southern fare” served in a “beautifully repurposed garage” amid “mid-century modern décor.” Add to that delicious, imaginative dishes; inventive craft cocktails; a genuinely friendly staff; and the occasional thrilling sports-celebrity sighting. Chef-partner Christian Watson, whose approach to food at The Local is “less is more” just … Continue reading Hyper Local
Wherever you visit, it’s almost always a great idea to eat where the locals eat. In the artsy, tourist-friendly town of Fairhope on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, locals eat at Locals. So, you should, too. Locals Fairhope is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Wade and Ashley Peryer. After managing other people’s restaurants … Continue reading Eat Local
Quick. What’s your favorite thing about Full Moon Bar-B-Que? Besides, of course, the fantastic ‘que? (BTW, I like my Full Moon pork sandwiches “sliced with a little bit of the outside.”) Some might say it’s the famous chow-chow or the vinegar-based slaw that is one of the 100 Things to Eat in Alabama or the … Continue reading Full Moon’s Backpack Blessings
On a recent visit to Chicago for the American Library Association conference (I am a trustee for the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest), I spent four big, long days learning about trends in publishing and programing (inclusiveness is key in all kinds of ways) and how to be a better advocate for our library. … Continue reading Work & Play in Chicago
Here are three brand-new works of nonfiction. All are books I gathered at the recent American Library Association conference, where I met two of the enthusiastic authors. I shared these books this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. There are (No) Stupid Questions … in Science Written and illustrated by Leah Elson In … Continue reading New and True
It all started with muffins. Sarah Jones, who, along with her husband, Howard, owns Wild Flour Bakery in the ultra-cool Standard Deluxe compound in Waverly, Alabama, says, “The business was really born at home through years of home baking.” In December 2021, a friend asked Sarah to bake some muffins. “She only needed about six, … Continue reading All the Right Ingredients
In early June, after vaccinations and a year of no traveling, my husband, Rick, and I hit the road and headed out West to visit the five big national parks in Utah—Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion. We also found some state park gems like Dead Horse Point near Moab and Snow Canyon … Continue reading An Epic Road Trip in the American West
These books will get you going—perhaps inspiring some walks in the woods or allowing you to travel the world from your armchair (or beach chair). I shared them this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. How to Suffer Outside By Diana Helmuth with illustrations by Latasha Dunston I have a group of female … Continue reading Local Hikes and Armchair Travel
These two books and one podcast are what I shared this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. They kept me entertained during a long week away, relaxing and resetting and reading at a remote farm in Virginia. The Book of Doors By Gareth Brown This debut novel of science fiction and fantasy is … Continue reading Just for Fun
Cinco de Mayo is traditionally celebrated in the town of Puebla, where Mexico’s victory over the French empire happened in 1862. Here in Birmingham, José Medina Camacho and Jesús Méndez are celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Adiõs and Salud Taqueria. Both men are originally from Mexico, having immigrated to northern Alabama in the early ‘90s, and they’ve … Continue reading Cinco de Mayo 2025 in Birmingham
If you build it, turns out, people will come. It happened in Opp when local resident Merrill Culverhouse decided his hometown needed a nice place to eat. So, he teamed up with chef Jon Gibson (a friend since childhood) and together, they built Wheelhouse. Today, the restaurant is thriving and, just as importantly, providing jobs … Continue reading Great Food & Warm Hospitality are in Their Wheelhouse
These three books—a couple new ones and another I’m finally getting around to reading—are what I shared this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson By Ellen Baker This page-turning novel blends historical elements with a coming-of-age story. In 1924, 4-year-old Cecily Larson’s mother drops her off at … Continue reading Immersive Reads
savor 