Food & Drink

Browse exclusive SoulGrown stories about the flavors and libations of Alabama's cuisine

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A visit to Point aux Pins reveals the both the grit and beauty behind Alabama’s oyster industry.

Point aux Pins oysters

Farming oysters, finding peace: inside Bayou La Batre’s Point aux Pins

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July 21, 2026

A newcomer discovers the flavors, stories, and welcoming tables that make Montgomery’s food scene worth exploring.

Matkabar interior

Finding home in Montgomery: discovering the city through three local restaurants

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July 20, 2026

On Saturday, July 25, Sweet Grown Alabama Day returns for its annual celebration of the farmers, fishermen, foresters, and producers who help feed communities across the state.

Sweet Grown Alabama Day returns July 25 with a simple reminder: shop local

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July 17, 2026

When Isabelle De France moved from France to Alabama, she did not expect that baking would become the bridge between the two places she now calls home. What began as […]

Almond croissants

Meet the French baker bringing a taste of home to Alabama

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July 14, 2026

Whether you’re in the mood for a margarita, a tropical mocktail, or a blended coffee drink, these frozen favorites across Birmingham deserve a spot on your summer bucket list.

Frozen cocktail at Salud

The best frozen drinks in Birmingham to help you beat the heat

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July 9, 2026

What makes a restaurant unforgettable? The food, certainly; but more often, it’s the people. The ones who greet you at the door, who work tirelessly on prep in the kitchen, […]

Chef in kitchen

Mary Fehr’s new exhibit celebrates the people behind Birmingham’s restaurants

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July 9, 2026

Whether they’ve been serving their communities for decades or have become local favorites more recently, these Alabama barbecue joints deserve a spot on any barbecue lover’s list.

Alabama BBQ

7 hidden Alabama barbecue joints worth the detour

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July 7, 2026

What began as conversations between friends who share a love for Lake Martin has become a new beer inspired by one of Alabama’s most beloved destinations.

Lake Martin Light

Lake Martin Light: the newest beer inspired by Alabama’s favorite lake

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July 3, 2026

Whether you’re planning meals around the farmers market or simply looking to eat more seasonally, here’s a guide to some of Alabama’s freshest summer crops and the nutritional benefits they bring to the table.

summer produce

What’s growing now? A guide to Alabama’s healthiest summer produce

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June 29, 2026

Alabama’s newest tourism trail invites visitors to explore the people, places, and traditions behind the state’s catfish culture.

Fried Catfish

Alabama’s new Catfish Trail highlights 50+ restaurants, waterways, and attractions

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June 29, 2026

At La Fête, Chef Kristen Hall lets seasonal ingredients set the menu—and a simple French classic shows exactly why.

Poached egg on plate

Seed to Soul: how Chef Kristen Hall lets Alabama seasons shape the plate

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June 11, 2026

Standing along the waters of Bayou La Batre, it is easy to understand what is at stake. The bay supports oyster farms, commercial fishermen, and countless coastal species. It fuels […]

Bayou la Batre

How Alabama Beer Co and Murder Point Oysters protect Alabama waters

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June 10, 2026

From rehearsal dinners to receptions and everything in between, restaurants offer something traditional venues often can’t: a space that already feels like somewhere.

Adios interior

Birmingham restaurants worth booking for your wedding weekend

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June 10, 2026

If you’re hoping to make a few sweet memories this season, there are plenty of places across Alabama where you can grab a bucket and head into the blueberry rows.

Blueberries

A bucket, a summer morning, and blueberry season in Alabama

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June 8, 2026

La MoreliAna Bakery is preparing to open at The Pizitz Food Hall, bringing its authentic Mexican pastries and sweets to a permanent home in downtown Birmingham.

Cakes in front of dessert truck

Beloved Mexican dessert truck finds a permanent home at The Pizitz

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June 4, 2026

This beloved downtown Enterprise creamery has been named Best Ice Cream Parlor in Alabama by Guide to Alabama for the second consecutive year—a back-to-back honor that speaks as much to the community surrounding it as the handcrafted ice cream coming out of it.

Milky Moo's

For the second year in a row, this Alabama creamery is the best in the state

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June 4, 2026

There is exactly one teaching restaurant on earth with a master sommelier in residence. It’s in Auburn, Alabama—and the man behind that distinction is Thomas Price, the first African American to earn the title of master sommelier.

Thomas Price

Meet Thomas Price, Auburn’s Master Sommelier in Residence

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June 2, 2026

For the third consecutive year, a small pizzeria in Madison, Alabama has walked into a room full of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles restaurants—and walked out with a top ranking.

Pizza at Valentina's

Valentina’s Pizzeria is putting Alabama on the national pizza map

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June 1, 2026

Birmingham’s La Fête has always felt like a love letter to France—and this July, its chef is taking that letter all the way to New York.

Kristen Hall

Birmingham’s Kristen Hall is taking Bastille Day to the James Beard Foundation

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June 1, 2026

There’s a small storefront on 25th Street North in Birmingham where the pastries don’t last long. Most mornings, the croissants are gone before most people have finished their first cup of coffee. If you’ve been lucky enough to snag one, you already know why.

Last Call Baking croissants

Alabama’s best bakery is in Birmingham—and you’d better get there early

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May 28, 2026

Through Bitty’s Living Kitchen, Kimberly McNair Brock’s plant-based food and wellness company, she has spent years turning grief into purpose and food into medicine.

Kimberly McNair Brock

Healing through food: how Bitty’s Living Kitchen was built through legacy, loss, and love

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May 27, 2026