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
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
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
FOH. BOH. In food-service lingo, that means “front of house” and “back of house”—the customer-facing side and the creative food team behind them. At The Landing at Parker Creek, that means Herb Winches and Chef Torrey Hall—and a fun, delicious time for tens of thousands of seasonal visitors to this restaurant on beautiful Lake Martin. … Continue reading Great Food, Great Vibes by the Boatload
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
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
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
“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
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