Food & Drink

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

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An Alabama-grown turkey farm is a mere slice of restaurants and caterers in central Alabama with special menus of Thanksgiving favorites to take home, heat, and feed a crowd. Bates […]

Thanksgiving in Central Alabama: Where to find the best local meals

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November 13, 2023

Remember that year Thanksgiving dinner was a disaster, when the guests were ravenous but the bird was still a dangerous medium-rare? Or perhaps all your pies burned because you forgot […]

Thanksgiving in North Alabama: Where to find the best local meals

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November 12, 2023

The Wright family – Amy, Ben, Lillie, Emma Grace, Bitty, and Beau – want to change your perception of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, one coffee drink at a […]

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, employing individuals with disabilities, to open tomorrow in Homewood

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November 10, 2023

Modern cocktail culture satisfies the old-school and new-school alike. Bartenders pay homage to the classics and play new riffs on those themes, creating delicious drinks that also happen to sparkle (sometimes literally) on social media. A good drink is mixed with precision and care, the result is refreshing and balanced. The best drink has a good backstory. And it should reflect the atmosphere where it is served.

Bayside Beverages: 5 must-try cocktail bars in Mobile, Alabama

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November 8, 2023

The scent of hickory smoke drifts up to your nose after slicing open a packet of Conecuh Original Sausage.  The pork links, an inch thick, have flecks of bright red […]

Cooking with Conecuh: The story behind Alabama’s favorite sausage and how to cook with it

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November 7, 2023

In a rural area right outside of one of Alabama’s most charming towns, Fairhope, lies a microcosm of its own known as The Fairhope Tea Plantation. In 1979, the Lipton […]

The Fairhope Tea Plantation: The fascinating history of the charming Alabama tea farm

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November 3, 2023

There are many advantages to buying beef in bulk, such as cost savings, meal planning ease, quality, keeping your money in the local community and knowing your producer. Freezer beef […]

Sweet Grown Alabama: The hidden benefits of buying locally sourced beef in bulk

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October 31, 2023

While Jose Medina Camacho was growing up, a prime sign of fall was the ubiquitous pot of Calabaza en Tacha – candied pumpkin – on his mother’s, grandmothers’, or aunts’ […]

The Birmingham bar serving up nostalgia for Dia de los Muertos

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October 30, 2023

“We’re going to stop right? We have to. We always do.” The troubled line of questioning was met with nothing but a stark silence, and I knew the worst was […]

Priester’s Pecans: The full history behind the well-loved Alabama pit stop

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October 29, 2023

Benard Tamburello surveys the ingredients for the tiramisu he is about to prepare, while Giuliana Russo-Skinner animatedly talks about the bawdy origins of the Italian dessert. Her story draws laughs […]

Cooking with Culture: Bringing a taste of Italy to Birmingham

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October 24, 2023

 The following is an excerpt from “Invitation to Notice,” a profile on Scott Peacock, the James Beard Award-winning chef who hails from the Wiregrass and now lives in Alabama’s Black […]

Many Layers of Marion: Biscuiting in the Black Belt with Scott Peacock

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October 23, 2023

A ramen craze is building steam in Alabama, where restaurants specializing in the noodle soup are opening or expanding in several cities. Most have come onto the scene since 2020. […]

Six spots to enjoy the best ramen Alabama has to offer

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October 21, 2023

Next time you have a thirst for bourbon at the 106 Jefferson hotel in Huntsville, ask for the house pick. The main-floor restaurant, Revivalist, and rooftop lounge, Baker and Able, […]

The story behind Huntsville’s 106 Jefferson hotel’s exclusive bourbon

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October 19, 2023

According to Patch.com, “The Northport City Council on Monday unanimously approved an economic development incentive package consisting of a sales tax rebate to lure a popular steakhouse to the city. […]

Northport, Tuscaloosa area to get steak house by owners of Big Mike’s

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October 16, 2023

We’re entering prime time to enjoy freshly-shucked Alabama oysters on the half shell. Although local oysters are in season year-round, they reach their peak in flavor and size when the […]

A Beginner’s Guide to the World of Alabama Oysters

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October 15, 2023

Way back when I wrote a newsletter about craft beer for patrons of a few Atlanta-area bars in the Taco Mac chain. (I also briefly brewed the bars’ house ale.) […]

Birmingham Brews: Top bars to visit in and around the Magic City

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October 14, 2023

According to a recent press release, Milo’s Hamburgers is set to open in Auburn on November 9th. “The new restaurant will be located in the new strip center on 1850 […]

Milo’s Hamburgers set to open in Auburn on November 9th

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October 10, 2023

While on a 2017 trip to Spain with fellow Alabamians, Austin Creel noticed how people would react when he’d mention his home state. Inevitably, somebody would break into the song, […]

A conversation with Austin Creel of Leeds’s Sweet Home Spirits Distillery

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October 7, 2023

We have an odd relationship with pumpkins. For many, the annual pumpkin harvest is reserved for carving or stacking as fall decorations. But eating them? Everyone knows pumpkin pie comes […]

Flavors of Fall: A delicious guide to cooking Alabama pumpkins for fall

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October 2, 2023

Alabama is home to an impressive range of amazing foods. Each city has its own unique culinary footprint, and we have set out to create guides to the best restaurants […]

Savor the South: Meet Montgomery’s Most Beloved Restaurants

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September 18, 2023

Breaking News: Southern Living’s list of Top 50 Barbecue Joints of 2023 was just released and 3 Alabama establishments are included. According to Southern Living, “It’s time once again for […]

Breaking: 3 Alabama restaurants make Southern Living’s ‘Top 50 Barbecue Joints’

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September 12, 2023