American Comfort Food with a Czech Accent

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

Gulf-Fresh Seafood with a Side of Blues

Shady Street looks a little … umm … shady (and not in a tree-lined way). But do not be deterred. At the end of this off-the-beaten-path road—down by the Alabama River and very near downtown Montgomery—you’ll find Capitol Oyster Bar. (Again, do not be deterred.) This white, corrugated metal building is way more than it … Continue reading Gulf-Fresh Seafood with a Side of Blues

New Year, New Lots of Things to Read and Do

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

Because … Bacon

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

A Few More Gift-Worthy Books

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

True Destination Dining

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