There’s a saying on the Domestique Coffee website: Beyond the mountains, more mountains. It’s a Haitian proverb about perseverance, resiliency and hope in the face of challenges—no matter how many challenges arise. Domestique's newest location is inside Cahaba Cycles in Homewood. Nathan and Michael Pocus are not intimidated by mountains of any sort, or even … Continue reading Domestique is Serving Coffee and Communities
Here are three books that I shared this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. One has a local connection. One will get your creative juices flowing and the other one is 52 years old and oh so timely. African Town By Charles Waters and Irene Latham This book for teens by Birmingham … Continue reading The Beginning of Summer Reading
There’s a lot that’s unique about Magnolia Springs. But two things come to mind immediately. This small town in south Alabama is the only one in the entire United States that gets mail delivered by boat year-round. (There are nearly 200 boxes on the Magnolia Star River Route.) And Magnolia Springs is the home of … Continue reading Delicious Food, Historic Space in Beautiful Magnolia Springs
Birmingham filmmakers continue to capture the public’s attention and win awards. Alabama native, Davis Browne, is currently celebrating accolades for his new film, Capsules. Browne, who grew up in Mountain Brook and attended The Altamont School, co-wrote and starred in the indie film that is now streaming on Apple TV+. The film premiered at The … Continue reading New York Filmmaker with Birmingham Ties
“There’s something that is true in this town: Collaboration wins over competition every time,” says Jennifer Ryan, owner of BLUEROOT Co. “And the people who figure that out sooner, understand Birmingham.” Ryan, from Southern California by way of New York City, figured this out pretty quickly when she came to the Magic City six years … Continue reading A Community of Creative Women
Before I get to the details of our time in Germany, I’ll share why I wanted to go in the first place. My grandfather, my Opa, was from Munich, and I grew up hearing about him hiking in the Alps. My Oma was from Nuremberg, and I grew up hearing about that historic city’s landmarks, … Continue reading A Trip to Germany That was a Quarter Century in the Making
Women’s History Month is upon us so here are some books by women and about women to make life better and more inspiring and hopeful. I shared them on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month.. Emily Post’s Etiquette Updated by Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning There’s a lot of incivility in … Continue reading Celebrating Women
Watching Chad Slade make kolaches is surreal. The man is big—a former offensive lineman for Auburn, he also played for eight years in the NFL—so seeing his huge hands gently fill and shape the little pastries is riveting. But the owner of American Kolache in Vestavia knows how to whip up some baked goods, and … Continue reading American Comfort Food with a Czech Accent
It’s in the air. Here are three books that touch on love. Love of the natural world around us. Love, as in love. And love gone wrong. I shared them on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month. Slow Birding: The Art and Science of Enjoying the Birds in Your Own Backyard By … Continue reading For the Love
Continuing my "new to me in '23" experiences, I went to Oxford, Mississippi, for the first time. Yes, I know. How can that be? It's so close! It has that wonderful bookstore! Well, it has a lot of things, and I made the most of my half a day there while Rick was riding his … Continue reading A Day in Oxford, MS
I'm not usually one for New Year's resolutions, but I do love new experiences. So my goal for 2023: one new-to-me experience each week all year! This goal is wide open. New foods to cook (and eat), new authors to read, new food trucks and restaurants to try, new movies to watch, new cities to … Continue reading A Year of Newness: One Week at a Time
I’ve decided to do one new thing a week for this entire year. It sounds daunting, but I don’t think it will be all that hard. I’ve opened this exploration up to all sorts of things like new recipes, reading an author I haven’t read yet, trying a new food truck, hiking a new trail, … Continue reading New Year, New Lots of Things to Read and Do
This has been Bill E. Stitt’s year. A high-on-the-hog kind of year. The founder and owner of Bill-E’s Small Batch Bacon and Bill-E’s the Restaurant, both in Fairhope, was recognized as a Silver Retailer of the Year by the Alabama Retail Association (sales $1 million to $5 million annually; Stitt says these numbers apply independently to … Continue reading Because … Bacon
Here are a few more books worth gifting that I took to Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. One is by a local group of poets, the other will inspire young (and older) minds. Then there’s something that’s pure escapism during this busy holiday season. Poems for Hungry Minds 2022 by Highland Avenue Poets … Continue reading A Few More Gift-Worthy Books
The entire country knows that Birmingham is a destination for dining. And young, local chefs like Abhishek Sainju, the Nepalese chef-owner of Abhi Eatery + Bar in Mountain Brook Village, are an important part of the reason why. Abhi (as he’s known to everyone) is one of several restaurateurs who have made the Magic City … Continue reading True Destination Dining
Here are three books I brought to Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month—a thriller, an impactful book for very young readers, and a special book for nature lovers—and all are gift-worthy. Ripper by Isabel Allende It’s a race against time in this fast-paced, twisty thriller set in San Francisco (where the city is … Continue reading Thinking About Book Gifts
Kristian Denis created her own domain, and she has downtown Huntsville covered. This restaurant owner grew a tiny wine shop (400 square feet in a former lumberyard switch house building) into two different dining destinations: Le Petit Bijou Sandwich & Wine Bar and Domaine South. The complementary restaurant concepts, just a stone’s throw from each other … Continue reading Raise a Glass to Destination Dining
Here are a few slightly spooky novels I took to Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6 this month. Also, there's a link to a book-related way to do some real good. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs This actually is a book for young adults, and interestingly, it’s one I recommended … Continue reading Scary Good
Sol y Luna did it first. This restaurant, when it originally opened in 1998, introduced Birmingham to an elevated version of Mexican cuisine. Beautifully plated, delicious, imaginative dishes were served alongside premium tequilas meant to be sipped and savored in a sophisticated space that celebrated an ancient culture and encouraged a true dining experience. This same … Continue reading Sol y Luna Tapas & Tequilas Satisfies Year After Year
Champagne & Fried Chicken, the annual drive-through, pick-up picnic fundraiser for the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, allows us to award grants and scholarships to women pursuing culinary careers across our state. To date, we’ve given more than $120,000 to women of all ages to help them grow their businesses and continue their … Continue reading Champagne & Fried Chicken is Back!
Kristal Bryant’s sweet success is absolutely made from scratch. The chef-owner of K&J’s Elegant Pastries & Creamery, a custom cake shop in downtown Birmingham that specializes in cakes for all occasions, including weddings, started her business in 2010 in her home kitchen making sweets for friends and family. She outgrew that space and opened a shop … Continue reading Sweet Home in Alabama
The very idea of gas-station sushi is so incongruous that it was lampooned in a memorable Esurance commercial. The ad was funny. Zhu Jianjun thinks so, too. And he talks about it, and laughs about it, even as he proudly serves colorful rainbow rolls and beautiful salmon nigiri to customers – familiar and frequently new – in his … Continue reading Fuel Up Deliciously at Bayou Fresh Seafood
Few businesses offer a truer flavor of a place—and its people—than a local brewery. With their egalitarian crowds; beers named for cultural landmarks or reflecting the local history or flora or fauna; multiple televisions tuned to what matters right here, right now; and enough space to host a team or two or three, breweries always … Continue reading Cheers to the Teams!
Whatever your sport—and whether you’re competing or cheering—everyone at The World Games 2022 is a winner when it comes to eating in (and around) Birmingham. There’s something tasty near your venue. Guaranteed. And some of our favorite food trucks are coming straight to you. Want barbecue? We have some of the country’s best. Need a … Continue reading Local Flavors in Birmingham
Here's what I took to WBRC Fox 6 Good Day Alabama this month: three works of fiction that are pure escapism. Get even farther away on your next trip away. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell This fantasy book, published in 2014 and on my really long reading list since then, is a bit of … Continue reading Fox 6 Books June: Gotta Get Away
Chef Sedesh Boodram is from Trinidad and Tobago. He trained in France and has worked with some of the most celebrated chefs in the world. And he’s decided that Birmingham is home. For his first solo concept, The Anvil Pub & Grill in Hoover’s Village at Lee Branch, Boodram drew from both his life experiences … Continue reading Global Flavor at The Anvil
Kelsey Barnard Clark is a small-town girl at heart, but she’s also a big-city chef who has made a national name for herself. After winning Top Chef in 2019 and a subsequent splashy feature in Food & Wine magazine, people now come from all over the country to eat at her KBC restaurant in historic downtown Dothan. I recently … Continue reading Small Town, National Audience
Alabama has had plenty of connections to Olympics competition over the years but perhaps none as sweet as what Susan Notter does. This pastry chef, who has worked all over the world but lives here in Birmingham, is a coach for the U.S. Culinary Olympics Team, and she’s a gold medal-winner, too. Chef Susan Notter … Continue reading The Sweet Side of Olympic Competition
My trips to New Orleans always follow a few familiar patterns—habits we’ve formed over decades of visiting this beloved city. On the way there, we stop in East New Orleans for banh mi sandwiches at Dong Phuong Bakery, a James Beard Award-winning Vietnamese restaurant and bakery. This NOLA East institution has been around since 1982 and … Continue reading A quick but meaningful and memorable trip to The Big Easy
For more than half a century, Jefferson Country Store has offered grocery staples and a place to gather for the tiny community of Jefferson in Marengo County. Today, the store serves a much larger population – with people coming from miles away, and even other states, to enjoy a burger or some homemade pimento cheese or to … Continue reading Country Store 2.0
The Duchess, Birmingham’s most whimsical and charmingly over-the-top food truck, was a vehicle (literally) for bigger things. The perfect ambassador for lots of tasty British dishes, the popularity of The Duchess and Little London Kitchen led directly to the creation of a neighborhood pub—unlike any other in town—that aims to be a catalyst for meaningful … Continue reading British Pub Food Finds a Permanent Home in Birmingham
The tamarind-glazed duck tacos, alone, might be enough to make S•À Cantina a destination restaurant. But there’s more to love at this new eatery in the middle of Gadsden’s beautifully revitalized downtown. Enough to already draw diners from Huntsville, Birmingham and Atlanta, from North and South Carolina, too. Owner Aaron Disouryavong opened S•À Cantina on September 24, and … Continue reading Destination Dining in Downtown Gadsden
Here are the books I brought to WBRC Fox 6 this month. Each of these books is a keeper, but they’d also make excellent gifts. The Atomic Lounge by Feizal Valli and Rachael Roberts Alas, the James Beard-nominated Birmingham bar, The Atomic Lounge, is no more, but a beautiful and fun and informative book of … Continue reading Keepers Worth Gifting
Joy Smith made a name for herself with her creamy cheesecakes, but her new café offers plenty of savory treats, too. Smith is the chef-owner of Sorelle Café, tucked into Homewood’s close-knit Edgewood neighborhood. She opened her café in August of 2021, and the cozy and comfortable storefront on Broadway (where Lag’s Eatery used to … Continue reading Good Food That’s Good for Your Soul
Fall for these great reads! Here are the books I brought to WBRC Fox 6 this month. The Lost Man by Jane Harper I read this stand-alone novel by Jane Harper while waiting for her book, The Dry, which is part of a series. Not only is The Lost Man well written, but it’s also compelling from the very … Continue reading Fox 6 Books: October
There’s a cool, sweet spot on the global culinary crossroads that is Green Springs Highway. But there’s much more than homemade ice cream and other frozen sweet treats at La Nueva Michoacana. I recently visited La Nueva Michoacana for Alabama NewsCenter. You can read the entire story here and see a cool video. There’s ice … Continue reading La Nueva Michoacana: One More Reason to Love Green Springs Highway
Local flavor, y'all! Reading close to home with books by Alabama writers and another about a worldwide, homegrown topic. Here are the books I brought to WBRC Fox 6 this month. The Speckled Beauty (on sale September 21) by Rick Bragg Rick Bragg has the amazing ability to tell stories that touch our hearts. He … Continue reading Fox 6 Books: September
David Bancroft is a quick study. The celebrated chef-owner of Acre in the university town of Auburn opened a second restaurant concept called Bow & Arrow in 2018. The vibe at his newer place is Texas-smokehouse-meets-Alabama-potluck, which is a lot; but it’s really a lot more than that. The restaurant is a life lesson about … Continue reading Bow & Arrow 2.0
Chef Scott Simpson, who brings a global approach to dishes at The Depot in Auburn, will be representing our state at the 17th Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off. The winner of this event will hold the title of King or Queen of American Seafood. The competition is set for Saturday, August 7 in New Orleans, and … Continue reading Alabama Chef Competes on National Stage
Let’s hit the books! A learning frame of mind is a great place to be, and we’re never too old for it! Here are the books I brought to WBRC Fox 6 this month--a great work of historical fiction, a cookbook designed for young people headed off to college, a guide to meditation and a … Continue reading Fox 6 Books: August
For more than 60 years—through some of Birmingham’s most significant social and economic history—Green Acres Café has been a constant in the city’s downtown. This iconic eatery is a popular draw in the middle of Birmingham’s Fourth Avenue Historic District, which grew out of the city’s segregationist past and remains a promising—and proud—part of its … Continue reading Green Acres is the Place to Be for Wings and a Side of History
We’ve been making Paper Planes this summer after we enjoyed them at Desert Bistro in Moab while on a hiking vacation in Utah. We even went to a local liquor store there to get the Utah amaro they used—Toadstool Notom Amaro No. 1 from Waterpocket Distillery. #greatsouvenir This light, fresh, summer-ready bourbon cocktail is a … Continue reading Ready for Takeoff
Summer is far from over! Here’s a book of poetry by a local father-son team, a perfect beach read, a summer-ready cookbook and an informative book about food for kids. I featured these today on WBRC-Fox 6. Illusions: Poetry & Art for the Young at Heart by Charles Ghigna with illustrations by Chip Ghigna Charles Ghigna, … Continue reading Fox 6 Books July
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
Food brings people together. No question about that. And creating a gathering place for conversation and fellowship, as well as good food, was one of the reasons behind Hubbard’s Off Main in Historic Main Street Oxford. That’s because the restaurant’s owner, Charlotte Hubbard, is one of her city’s most steadfast champions. Hubbard has served on … Continue reading Hubbard’s Off Main is a Main Attraction in Oxford
Let's go back to the future! We’ll travel forward and backward this month with compelling fiction for all ages—this first one is a prose poem narrative for young readers written by a local writer. D-39 a Robodog’s Journey by Irene Latham This dystopian, yet heartwarming, novel-in-verse is by local writer Irene Latham. It’s a fable set … Continue reading Fox 6 Books June
Bizarre: The Coffee Bar is a coffee bar by day and a bar bar at night, but this unusual place also is an all-day incubator for several minority-owned local businesses. The café, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (most nights), has become a hub in Birmingham’s Black business community, offering space for multiple vendors to attract attention … Continue reading Lots of Things are Brewing at Bizarre: The Coffee Bar
Here’s what I shared on WBRC Fox 6 this month. A hot-now cookbook that celebrates grandmothers, brand-new fiction, an older but important book to read right now and a new children’s book about stars. It’s a lot! In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen The subtitle of this cookbook—The recipes and Stories of … Continue reading (Grand) Mothers and Suns and Stars
Yo’ Mama’s, a homegrown lunch and brunch place in downtown Birmingham, has long enjoyed a loyal local (and regional) following. Now the eatery has attracted some welcome, timely national attention, too. Yo’ Mama’s is one of about three dozen restaurants around the country – and the only one in Alabama – to receive a James Beard … Continue reading Yo’ Mama’s only Alabama restaurant to receive James Beard Foundation grant
Here are three award-winning works of fiction with real-world messages that matter. I shared them this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. Demon Copperhead By Barbara Kingsolver I’ve loved Barbara Kingsolver for decades. The Poisonwood Bible. The Bean Trees. This newest book, Demon Copperhead, recently won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Heartbreaking, … Continue reading Fiction Gets Real
Here are three books with local ties—a cookbook from a favorite restaurateur, a book of poetry from a beloved poet and historical fiction set here. Truly something for everyone, and I shared them this month on Good Day Alabama on WBRC Fox 6. Ashley Mac’s Kitchen: Refined Southern Recipes for Every Occasion' By Ashley McMakin … Continue reading Celebrating Local
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