Food & Drink

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

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Big Spoon Creamery is beloved in Birmingham and Homewood. Now the husband-wife team of Geri-Martha and Ryan O’Hara bring their creative, hand-made ice creams to Huntsville. The creamery’s third location […]

Big Spoon Creamery opens new location in Huntsville

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June 8, 2023

On a warm summer evening, is there any better place to go out for cocktails and conversation than a rooftop bar? Gathering with friends or sharing a patio table with […]

5 must-visit rooftop bars in Alabama

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June 4, 2023

Traditions run deep at The Bright Star in Bessemer, Alabama’s oldest family-run restaurant. And plans are coming together for one of its most popular rituals, the annual Night in New Orleans featuring a guest chef from the Big Easy. The “night” is actually three nights, featuring a special menu representing cuisines by both the guest chef and The Bright Star. The 34th annual Night in New Orleans is set for Thursday, August 3 through Saturday, August 5. Eric Cook, co-owner and executive chef of the restaurants Gris-Gris (Magazine Street) and Saint John (French Quarter) returns to Bessemer for a second year to conjure his creole dishes

Alabama’s oldest family-owned restaurant to host Night in New Orleans

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May 28, 2023

Signs of summer are everywhere across the state. The days are increasingly sticky-hot. The sun lingers a little longer each day. And watermelon margaritas have returned to Taco Mama’s restaurants […]

The story behind one of Alabama’s favorite seasonal margaritas

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May 27, 2023

Baskets of peaches now appearing at local farm markets and stands herald the arrival of Alabama’s favorite fruit. Between now and late August, state growers will harvest more than 80 […]

Your guide to this year’s Alabama peach season

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May 25, 2023

Memorial Day weekend unofficially marks the start of grilling season, a summer of eating flame-kissed meat and veggies. For many, the vegetables will be grown nearby and purchased via one […]

Memorial Day Grilling Guide: Where to find the best locally raised meats

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May 24, 2023

It’s a new day at Homewood Gourmet, which has moved to a new home in the heart of Homewood after 26 years wedged into a narrow storefront at a nearby […]

Homewood Gourmet’s new location sparks excitement among locals

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May 18, 2023

It’s been a great year so far for Nathan and Michael Pocus, the Birmingham brothers and founders of Domestique, a decade-old coffee-roasting company with a growing roster of cafes and […]

Domestique Coffee: Reinventing the coffee experience

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May 17, 2023

At a commercial kitchen inside an 1890s Victorian home in downtown Greensboro, Sarah Cole reconnects with how her ancestors cooked – taking what grows nearby and turning it into something […]

The local bakery bringing Egyptian sweets to the South

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May 12, 2023

Once upon a time, life was simple for craft beer drinkers. They basically needed to distinguish pale ales from IPAs, with bonus points for knowing where extra-special bitter fit into […]

Spring Sipping: An Alabama craft beer guide

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May 9, 2023

May 14 marks the confluence of two major events on our calendars. It’s Mother’s Day and National Buttermilk Biscuit Day. Don’t get nervous wondering to yourself, “But how can I fit […]

Biscuits for Brunch: Mother’s Day falls on National Buttermilk Biscuit Day

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May 4, 2023

Brimming with history, nature, and a whole lot to do, Decatur is the perfect place to visit for an authentic Alabama weekend. The county seat of Morgan County, Decatur offers […]

In Our Own Backyard: Decatur, Alabama

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May 3, 2023

The owners and chef behind the Magnolia Springs landmark Jesse’s Restaurant are dropping anchor at Fort Morgan with a new casual fine dining concept. Every table has a view of the water at Jesse’s on the Bay, which opened along the stretch leading to the historic fort and tourist attraction. The executive chef over both Jesse’s, Larry Agnew, pays painstaking attention to detail. He sources the restaurants’ produce and proteins as nearby as possible. The kitchen ages its prime beef, heritage pork, and even Gulf fish to enhance its flavors. The new location in Fort Morgan boasts a raw bar featuring Alabama-farmed half-shell oysters and house-made fish ceviche. Both join the cast on the bayside restaurant’s ornate seafood tower.

Jesse’s Restaurant opens new location On The Bay

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May 2, 2023

Cinco de Mayo is a time for friends and family to celebrate their Mexican inner spirits. And while the day is not as big a deal in Mexico (it commemorates […]

Cinco de Mezcal: 5 Alabama spots to enjoy mezcal this Cinco de Mayo

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April 30, 2023

Take a trip around the world at The Anvil Pub, where the oft-changing menu travels to Great Britain, India, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond—but still speaks with […]

The Anvil continues to impress following national television debut

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April 25, 2023

If you’ve ever asked yourself “How do they do that” after devouring a slice of Ashley Mac’s signature strawberry cake, Ashley McMakin’s new cookbook is for you. Ashley Mac’s Kitchen […]

From Cakes to Cookbooks: A conversation with Ashley McMakin

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April 24, 2023

Colorful and intricately designed boards filled with thinly cut meats, cheese chunks, bread, nuts, olives, fruits, preserves, and other accompaniments are now common on restaurant and market menus. Morsels of the […]

6 places to find the perfect charcuterie board in Alabama

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April 21, 2023

Every culture has its own special crowd-pleasing baked sweets such as cookies, cakes, pastries, and breads. In Mexico, and to people worldwide with Mexican roots, these treats are collectively known […]

Mexican breads in glass display case

These 6 bakeries are bringing Mexico’s favorite sweets to the South

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April 14, 2023

Spring is in the air and the excitement is building around incorporating fresh produce into our seasonal recipes. There is one key element necessary in ensuring that produce is bought […]

Bowl on white table with yogurt and fresh fruit, coffee in coffee cup, spoon

Sweet Grown Alabama’s ultimate spring and summer produce buying guide

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April 13, 2023

Thai cuisine is soul-satisfying food, sometimes simple and sometimes complex but always focused on five basic flavors – sweet, spicy, salty, sour, and bitter. Cooking in Thailand reflects the culinary […]

Thai dishes on blue table with floral accents

The top 6 must-try Thai restaurants in Birmingham

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April 11, 2023

  As Alabamians and as Southerners, tradition is a huge part of our culture. And no one knows that better than Temple Bowling, part-owner of one of the state’s oldest […]

Alabama-made Golden Eagle Syrup nears 100 years in business

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April 10, 2023