This February, The Pizitz Food Hall is giving Birmingham plenty of reasons to step away from the desk and rediscover lunch downtown. With crave-worthy featured menu items from its diverse lineup of vendors, free community programming at Forge, film screenings, and seasonal experiences, The Pizitz is positioning lunch as more than a meal; it’s a […]

When Forbes recently named TJ Gamble one of the most influential figures in American whiskey, it caught the attention of an industry dominated by legacy brands and traditional power players. Gamble, the creator of the popular Youtube channel Brewzle, isn’t based in Kentucky or New York–he’s working out of Alabama, where his approachable long-form storytelling […]

Cold weather pairs with warm food—it’s a natural law, right up there with gravity and inertia. Short days and chilly nights call for places that offer more than a meal: they offer refuge. In no particular order, here are seven cozy, unfussy, local restaurants from around the state that ready to welcome you inside and […]

Walking into Ben’s Bread feels like settling into a grandmother’s kitchen: it radiates cozy. Some customers chat with each other as they eat sourdough croissants on lush couches by a fireplace, and others sip home-brewed coffee on a long wooden dining table, a half-forgotten bagel beside them as they escape into a book. Last time […]

There’s something deeply comforting about a bowl of creamy soup, especially when it’s made from simple, roasted vegetables and doesn’t rely on dairy to feel indulgent. This Dairy-Free Creamy Roasted Potato & Cauliflower Soup gets its rich, velvety texture from caramelized cauliflower, Yukon gold potatoes, and garlic roasted to perfection, then blended into a silky […]

Crimson Dynasty, the Napa Valley-crafted wine label rooted in Alabama pride and tradition, has officially begun shipping its much-anticipated 2024 Chardonnay. The new release expands the brand’s growing portfolio and represents an important next step in the evolution of its proprietary wine collection. The Chardonnay joins Crimson Dynasty’s debut releases, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon and […]

If you’re looking for Las Floriditas in downtown Mobile, you might not find it right away. The first thing you’ll notice is the giant Moon Pie on top of the RSA Trustmark building, where you’ll find Las Floriditas in the basement. The second thing you’re bound to notice? Roosevelt “Rosie” Patterson. At 6-foot-5, he sits […]

While I have plenty of family from The Gulf Coast who I’ve enjoyed a basket of crab claws with, I’m hesitant to admit that I never tried West Indies Salad until quite recently. My first taste was at Dyron’s Lowcountry in Mountain Brook. Led by Chef Chris Melville, the Dyron’s team makes a version that […]

When The Noble South opened its doors in downtown Mobile in May of 2014, chef Chris Rainosek wasn’t chasing awards or accolades. He was chasing relationships with trusted farmers, quality ingredients, and an honest expression of Gulf Coast flavors. Nearly a decade later, that commitment would earn the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand, making it […]

For many Alabamians, New Year’s Eve is less about countdowns and more about a memorable meal. Across the state, chefs are marking the end of 2025 with thoughtfully crafted prix fixe dinners: multi-course menus designed to celebrate the season, the moment, and the people gathered around the table. Each of these four restaurants is offering […]

Whether you call them Deviled Eggs, Jesus Eggs, Angel Eggs, or Doubled Eggs (what my son calls them), these creamy, tangy, and irresistibly nostalgic eggs are the kind of dish that disappears from the table faster than you can say “just one more.” Whether they’re gracing a holiday spread, brightening up a backyard gathering, or […]

At the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama, tradition shows up most clearly at the table. Long before trends and reinventions, the kitchen focused on well-made Southern classics meant to be shared, remembered, and returned to. This bread pudding—finished with a straightforward whiskey sauce—is one of those recipes, which continues to be a favorite among […]

The month of December calls for a special celebration – time to celebrate what the past year held, and look forward to the newness that 2026 will bring. It’s also the perfect time to gather with friends and family, and sip on something delicious. The Magic City is overflowing with creativity behind the bar. From […]

For many of us, meals carry memory—from family recipes passed down through generations, to dishes we expect at every gathering. For Chef Bill Briand, that feeling became the inspiration for an entire restaurant designed to evoke a genuine sense of nostalgia. At Little Bird in downtown Fairhope, every guest is made to feel like an […]

One of my earliest connections to Southern food was in my great-grandmother’s kitchen, on a chicken farm in rural Alabama. We’d make the drive up from Birmingham and arrive in time for breakfast. My great-grandmother, who we lovingly called Ma Cash, was usually still elbow deep in White Lily flour. We’d open the screen door […]

In a Southern food landscape overflowing with chicken joints, Waldo’s Chicken & Beer has broken through the noise and built a steady following. Behind the fast-growing brand is founder Mark Waldo, a Birmingham native whose people-first philosophy and scratch-made standards are turning a casual chicken spot into one of Alabama’s most exciting culinary success stories. […]

It’s December, and that means it’s time to gather around the table for a holiday meal—and perhaps sip on something delicious. With so many components to seasonal feasting, choosing wines can feel a little daunting for even an experienced wine enthusiast.  Fortunately, Mountain Brook’s Golden Age Wine takes the guesswork out of holiday sipping with […]

As the holiday season settles in, the best dishes are the ones that feel simple, seasonal, and effortlessly special. There’s something deeply satisfying about turning a humble bunch of carrots into a side that feels both rustic and elevated, and this recipe does exactly that. Whole carrots are roasted until slightly caramelized and tender, their […]

Chef Montana, known to friends as Yurii, began cooking at age seventeen and never looked back. His career has taken him through four countries and more than ten restaurants, where he learned everything from classic French techniques to Mediterranean flavors and bold Pan Asian notes. Mentored by chefs who shaped his discipline and creativity, he […]

A new chapter in Auburn’s culinary story begins today as Olivine, the city’s newest rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge, opens atop the AC Hotel Auburn. The concept brings together the warmth of Alabama hospitality and the vibrant coastal flavors of Southern Europe. The space feels elevated without being pretentious, and certainly hosts the charm that […]

Tucked into Montgomery’s oldest residential neighborhood, a once-forgotten building is now home to a community hub like no other. Hilltop Public House—an all-day coffee shop, bar, and gathering place in historic Cottage Hill—was the vision of two friends who decided that instead of leaving the city to find community, they would cultivate it. “In 2019, […]