Food & Drink

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

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Martin’s Restaurant, the Alabama meat-and-three, has been serving generations of diners since the early 1930s.

Fried Chicken

The best fried chicken in Alabama has been a local favorite for decades

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November 3, 2026

Through partnerships and shared tables, ASAN is bringing greater visibility to the people who grow Alabama’s food.

Tractor on farm

How ASAN is building a stronger sustainable farming network in Alabama

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November 2, 2026

The Birmingham cocktail bar honors Mexican traditions through a permanent ofrenda, a welcoming community space, and cocktails inspired by the holiday.

Adios

At Adios, Día de los Muertos is a year-round celebration of life and memory

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October 27, 2026

More than a decade after opening in Auburn, chef David Bancroft is evolving the restaurant’s dining experience with a menu that celebrates Alabama ingredients while giving guests more ways to gather around the table.

Acre dishes

Acre reimagines its dinner menu with Gulf seafood, seasonal dishes, and a new raw bar

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October 27, 2026

Alabama’s culinary scene has another moment in the spotlight. SoulGrown editor Holly Swafford was in attendance for the ceremony, bringing the evening’s biggest announcements back to Alabama and celebrating the chefs and restaurants putting the state on the national culinary map. Here’s what Alabama restaurants earned this year—and what the recognition means for the state’s […]

New Alabama restaurants recognized in 2026 MICHELIN Guide

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October 21, 2026

Beth Walton and Oyster South are bringing farmers, chefs, scientists, and coastal communities together around a shared vision for healthy waters, thriving oyster farms, and good food.

Oyster South

How Oyster South is building a stronger Southern oyster community

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October 16, 2026

With hearty breakfast plates, Southern comfort food, and a loyal following of locals and beachgoers, Duck’s Diner has become a Gulf Coast favorite.

Duck's Diner

This Orange Beach diner has been named Alabama’s most famous

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October 15, 2026

From Frank and Pardis Stitt’s celebrated restaurants to independent galleries and civil rights landmarks, the national travel publication explores the people and places shaping the Magic City.

Birmingham skyline

Condé Nast Traveler spotlights Birmingham’s food, arts, and history in new feature

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October 13, 2026

As the Michelin Guide prepares to unveil its 2026 American South selections, here are the Alabama restaurants we will be watching.

bottega bar

Could Alabama get its first Michelin star in 2026? Here are our predictions

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October 7, 2026

From a market morning to a farm dinner, a week of shared tables showed how food brings us together.

southbound

Southbound Food Festival 2026 recap: a week of chefs, collaboration, and celebration

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September 28, 2026

For decades, Fran Pearce and her late husband, “Big Dave,” helped shape Alabama’s catfish industry. Now she’s looking toward what comes next.

Fran Pearce

Meet Alabama’s ‘Catfish Queen’: Fran Pearce on family, farming, and the future of catfish

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September 28, 2026

Across the state, Walk-On’s is building connections with the teams, schools, and athletes that make up its local communities.

Walk-On's

How Walk-On’s supports local sports teams and communities across Alabama

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September 16, 2026

Chef Bill Briand’s tribute to his late mother earns Fairhope a spot among the nation’s top tables.

Outside view of Little Bird

Fairhope’s Little Bird named to New York Times’ America’s Best Restaurants 2026

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September 15, 2026

Executive Chef-Partner Luke Joseph’s Peking duck experience turns dinner into an occasion, and shows just how far Birmingham’s palate has come.

Peking duck

Inside the Peking duck experience turning heads at Current Charcoal Grill

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September 14, 2026

At Helen and Bayonet, Foster blends nostalgia, Southern tradition, and technical precision to create desserts that feel both familiar and entirely new.

Bayonet dessert cart

How Birmingham pastry chef Candace Foster turns Southern memories into dessert

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September 8, 2026

The Mobile chef is honoring the Gulf Coast by putting its people, traditions, and ingredients at the heart of the table.

At The Hummingbird Way, Chef Jim Smith is letting Mobile tell its own food story

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August 31, 2026

Nobel laureate and former Governor David Beasley believes the dinner table might be the most powerful tool for peace we have.

Jones Valley

Breaking bread: how a former governor learned that the dinner table can save the world

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August 26, 2026

The Birmingham restaurant lands on a list of just 19 restaurants nationwide.

Bayonet

Bayonet just landed on Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants list for 2026

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August 25, 2026

Lake Martin Light, born from a love of lake life and a partnership with Cahaba Brewing, is now pouring at spots across the city.

Lake Martin Light

This Lake Martin beer just made its way to Birmingham—here’s where to find it

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August 20, 2026

This Fairhope gem grows its own food, pours award-winning wine, and this September, it’s throwing two events you won’t want to miss.

The Hope Farm

This Fairhope restaurant is hosting two September events you won’t want to miss

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August 19, 2026

More than 100 chefs are converging on Birmingham for 10 days of food, music, and community this September.

Heritage Dinner

Southbound Food Festival returns to Birmingham with 10 days of good food and company

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August 19, 2026