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
savor 