Food & Drink

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

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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

An afternoon of local food, line dancing, community gathering, and fundraising among the crops is returning to downtown Birmingham this weekend as Jones Valley Teaching Farm hosts its second annual Gather fundraiser on Saturday, May 30th.

Jones Valley Teaching Farm

Gather returns to Jones Valley Teaching Farm this weekend

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May 26, 2026

“Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen…” or at least, that’s the feeling 1856 – Culinary Residence is channeling this June as it brings back its Mamma Mia-inspired Tea on Thach experience inside The Laurel Hotel & Spa.

Tea on Thach

Mamma Mia-inspired Tea on Thach comes to Auburn this June

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May 25, 2026

What began as a small Wilsonville feed and farm supply business eventually grew into one of the South’s most trusted sources for stone-ground grits, supplying beloved restaurants across Alabama and beyond.

McEwen and Sons family

Grounded in tradition: the family behind McEwen & Sons Grits

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May 21, 2026

A trip to Oregon wine country has officially made its way back to the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Little Bird

Deep Roots Restaurant Group unveils custom Pinot Noir

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May 19, 2026

Through handmade momos, freshly roasted spices, and a growing pop-up presence, Prarthana Pandey Upadhyay is introducing Birmingham to the comfort and tradition of Nepali food.

Dalle Momo

Dalle Momo brings the flavors of Nepal to Birmingham

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May 14, 2026

For 40 years, Full Moon BBQ has remained a familiar name across Alabama, known for its slow-smoked barbecue, Southern hospitality, and deeply loyal customer base. What began as a single Southside restaurant in 1986 has grown into a regional staple with 15 locations, all while holding tightly to the traditions that shaped it from the beginning.

Full Moon BBQ rib plate

Full Moon BBQ at 40: how a family-run Alabama staple built its legacy

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May 12, 2026

Fresh Gulf seafood, Alabama pride, and a little friendly competition are headed back to the coast as Sweet Grown Alabama hosts its 11th Annual Seafood Cook-Off on Monday, May 18 at The Wharf in Orange Beach.

Sweet Grown Seafood Cookout

Sweet Grown Alabama hosts 11th annual Seafood Cook-Off at The Wharf

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May 12, 2026

Through local ingredients and longstanding relationships, Chef David Bancroft celebrates the communities shaping Alabama’s foodways.

Acre exterior

Seed to Soul: Chef David Bancroft of Acre in Auburn, Alabama

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May 7, 2026

With her newest cookbook The Flavor of Fire, Clark returns to something foundational: cooking outdoors over an open flame and the gatherings that naturally form around it.

Kelsey Barnard Clark

Kelsey Barnard Clark brings the fire in her new cookbook

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May 5, 2026

Birmingham’s Latino and Latina-owned businesses continue to play a major role in shaping the city’s food and coffee culture. These are family-run concepts and community-driven spaces that reflect heritage, entrepreneurship, and generations of tradition.

Bandido Coffee

Where to eat, sip, and support Latino and Latina-owned businesses in Birmingham

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May 4, 2026

Starting May 17, The Pizitz Food Hall will be open seven days a week, adding Sunday service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Pizitz ground floor

Your lunch break gets an upgrade: The Pizitz expands to seven days a week

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May 1, 2026

It’s not often you get to see what happens when four acclaimed chefs share the same kitchen. To my luck, I experienced that firsthand last month at the Southern Grace dinner hosted at Little Bird by Chef Bill Briand.

Chefs at Little Bird

Four chefs in a kitchen: a study in collaborative storytelling

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April 28, 2026

Fresh tortillas, slow-braised meats, and a strong margarita program set the tone at De Nada, Birmingham’s newest Tex Mex spot, which opens April 29 in the Parkside district. The latest […]

De Nada Birmingham

De Nada brings a fresh take on Tex Mex to Birmingham

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April 27, 2026

For decades, Huntsville’s Tip Top Café was more than a bar—it was a proving ground for bands and a cultural anchor for a town sometimes known better for rockets than rock & roll.

Tip Top Cafe

Tip Top Café: a Huntsville legend comes back to life

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April 22, 2026

Some brands begin in boardrooms and tailored suits—but this one starts in the jungle.

Hatton Smith in the jungle

Off the map: the story behind Campesino Rum

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April 18, 2026