featured – Page 13

Dine Out and Make a Difference

April 23, 2018 by sswagler, posted in food, restaurants

Go ahead and set your calendar. I know I am. On Thursday, April 26, your dining dollars will make a big difference to a lot of people ... if you're eating at the right places. Dining Out For Life is an international event that has been taking place for more than 20 years. Here in … Continue reading Dine Out and Make a Difference

Bello Moments at Bettola

April 20, 2018 by sswagler, posted in food, restaurants

Chef James Lewis has made a name and a niche for himself in a city that is increasingly famous for its food. The chef-owner of Bettola, in the Martin Biscuit Building at Birmingham’s Pepper Place, makes great, authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, but his inventive entrees are just as popular and he enjoys quite a loyal following. … Continue reading Bello Moments at Bettola

Fox 6 Books: April

April 3, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in books

Here are the books I brought to WBRC Fox 6 on April 3. Let them inspire you to get out and enjoy the sights--natural and otherwise. Or just relax inside with a work of Southern literature or a page-turning (based-on-a-true-story) mystery. Listen to the Land (PMT Publishing) Mountain Brook resident Louise Wrinkle has lived most of … Continue reading Fox 6 Books: April

Purveyor Huntsville Provides More than Just Great Food

March 29, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in food, restaurants

Purveyor Huntsville is a spirit-driven place, and the wine- and bourbon-inspired menu is just part of it. There's a spirit of camaraderie here between owners Stephanie Kennedy-Mell and Matt Mell and chef Rene Boyz and their knowledgable, friendly staff. There's a shared spirit of gracious hospitality. That's clearly the way to do it. Open for only a few months, … Continue reading Purveyor Huntsville Provides More than Just Great Food

Shopping for Food and Fun at Mi Pueblo Supermarket

March 18, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in food

Mi Pueblo, which translates to "My Town," makes grocery shopping an adventure. I love going to this Hispanic supermarket on Green Springs in Homewood! Not just Hispanic, though, it's really a multicultural place with foods from all over the world. You'll recognize products from the United States, and you can get to know other things from … Continue reading Shopping for Food and Fun at Mi Pueblo Supermarket

Fox 6 Books: March

March 6, 2018 by sswagler, posted in books

Here are the books I brought to WBRC Fox 6 on March 6. These works of fiction, thrilling, engaging and informative, will help you make the most of spring break—at home or away. Sunday Silence (Morrow Paperbacks) Nicci French is actually a wife-and-husband writing team—Nicci Gerrard and Sean French—and they’ve sold millions of books all over … Continue reading Fox 6 Books: March

Dinner at My House: Weeknight Fancy Chicken and Rice

March 5, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in food, recipes

I love to cook. I enjoy chopping what needs to be chopped with my favorite knife. I delight in putting all my ingredients into little bowls so they are ready when I'm ready for them. And I like to pour a glass of wine to sip while I stir. But sometimes I just want to … Continue reading Dinner at My House: Weeknight Fancy Chicken and Rice

A Few of my Favorite Things

March 2, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in everything else

My friend Christiana Roussel and I are members of the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International. This is a philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, wine and hospitality. We are a varied group of food writers and bloggers, chefs, restauranteurs, sommeliers, farmers, cookbook authors, cheese makers, educators, food photographers and stylists, nutritionists and … Continue reading A Few of my Favorite Things

Cake for Breakfast and More at Southern Foodways Alliance Winter Symposium

February 27, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in everything else

I spent the past weekend at the Southern Foodways Alliance 2018 Winter Symposium here in Birmingham. I joined more than 150 people from all over the country to talk about what it means to produce, grow, cook, eat and love food in the South. Attendees included James Beard Foundation Award-winning restaurateurs and chefs as well as … Continue reading Cake for Breakfast and More at Southern Foodways Alliance Winter Symposium

Everyday Cheese Straws (that are not straws)

February 25, 2018December 30, 2021 by sswagler, posted in food, recipes

My neighbor makes cheese straws for Christmas each year, and they always take me right back to my childhood. Cameron's classic Southern recipe--crisp-crunchy, mouthwateringly savory and just spicy enough--calls for a cookie press and a star tip and some real skill. The result is perfect, wavy strips pretty enough for gift-giving and so good I … Continue reading Everyday Cheese Straws (that are not straws)