Tag: Birmingham

Craft breweries have been popping up in cities all over the United States. Birmingham, Alabama is no exception. This visit I headed to Cahaba Brewery. One of the main reasons I enjoy Cahaba is because they are always getting a variety of Birmingham food trucks. The night I was there Tropicaleo was there with Puerto Rican dishes. I have written about that experience in a previous post (check it out here).

My favorite beer at Cahaba is the Kiwi Kolsch. It is one of their lighter beers that is not super hoppy. It has a faint sweetness.

It paired perfectly with the sandwich I got from Tropicaleo.

Cahaba Brewery is a really fun place to just hang out with friends. It is also a great place parents can go with little kids. There is lots of space for them to run around and play.

I felt like a kid as soon as I saw the skee-ball machines. I played skee-ball every summer on the boardwalk as a kid in Ocean City, Maryland.

The great thing about these is I did not have to search my wallet for quarters, they were all free. It was so much fun, I could have played the machines all night.

   

    

In addition to skee-ball, they have tons of arcade games and board games. You can drink beer and have game night in one spot.

Cahaba also offers brewery tours. I have not done that yet but heard it is really interesting. If you are looking for a fun night out visit Cahaba Brewery. To find out what’s on tap or what food trucks are showing up visit the website at http://www.cahababrewing.com/or follow them on Twitter @cahababrewing

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Birmingham has a robust craft brewery scene. These breweries always attract great food trucks on site so that customers can enjoy some unique dishes along with their beer. I was visiting Cahaba Brewery one evening and they were hosting Tropicaleo. They are actually a pop up restaurant that specializes in Puerto Rican cuisine.

The smell from their grill was wonderful when I walked up. It was the first thing that greeted me as I walked up to the brewery. They had several dishes that they were serving up that were written on their chalkboard.

They were also sampling their Toastones (fried plantain chips). This was the best move on their part, as soon as I tasted them I knew I needed to order a side of them. They were nicely fried and kept the great flavor of the plantain. Sometimes plantain chips can be overwhelmed with the taste of the frying oil. These were perfect and still had their sweet taste. These were pretty addicting.

I also ordered the pulled pork sandwich. They used huge chunks of fresh pork that was cooked in a sweet guava bbq sauce. It was served on fresh Morovis bread. Morovis bread is extremely sweet. It felt like a dessert. If you like all things sweet then this sandwich is the right choice.

I enjoyed it and it surprisingly paired well with the beer I was drinking.

Even while writing about this sandwich I kept coming back to the bread. I love all kinds of bread and this is my favorite. It was awesome to eat on its own but I kept imaging this bread as French toast. The natural sweetness of the bread just makes it a natural choice. If the folks at Tropicaleo are reading this blog post – Morovis bread French toast PLEASE! I would line up for that.

Tropicaleo brings a little piece of Puerto Rico right to Birmingham. You can check out their website at http://www.tropicaleo.com/or follow them on Twitter @tropicaleobham to see where they will be popping up next.

Enjoy!

T

 

 

I have written a lot about the food scene in Birmingham, Alabama. Many of the restaurants I have written about are fairly new to the area. There is one place that has called Birmingham home for over 20 years – Hot and Hot Fish Club. It is owned by world renowned chefs Chris and Idie Hastings.

They are one of the first chefs to bring the concept of farm to table to the area. Because of this concept, their menu will change based on what is available. I was very excited to get to have dinner here since I have heard nothing but good things.

You definitely need a reservation because the inside is surprisingly small. There is a bar area where you can enjoy a drink. In the main dining room there are regular tables and special “chefs” seats. These special seats allow the diner to watch the chefs prepare every meal. It’s like a live action Food Network show.

Each dish that is ordered is prepared from scratch. The chefs put a lot of care and respect into what they are serving, therefore it can take 40-45 minutes for a dish to come out. So just be prepared to enjoy wonderful dinner conversation while you wait.

To kick off the night, I ordered their version of an old fashioned. It is called Fudge Family Farms Bacon Old Fashioned. It is a mouthful to order. They use bacon bourbon, Applewood smoked maple, and bitters. The taste was sweet and extremely smooth. There was a hint of bacon flavor but it was not overpowering.

After ordering drinks, the waiter brought out a little palate cleanser. It was a little slice of toast topped with cream cheese and a pepper jam. It was sweet with a slight hint of spice from the pepper jam. It was good and I wish I could have had a few more. It was the perfect way to begin the meal.

The drink I ordered paired well with the Charcuterie and Cheese board that was ordered. This was great to share with the group.

The board came with several options. It starts with their house made pickles – which were both sweet and sour. The cheeses included blue cheese and several white cheeses. There was a list but I forgot to take notes on the options. For the meats, there was a pâté, homemade venison sausage, and homemade pepperoni. To balance out the salty meats and cheeses, they included candied pecans and almonds on the board. This was the perfect starter as you await for the chefs to prepare your main course.

For my meal, I ordered the pan seared Yellowfin Tuna. The tuna can be cooked to your preference level. I got it seared on the outside and pink inside. It came with a mix of vegetables that included sunchokes (a species of sunflower, also known as the Jerusalem artichoke), artichokes, and sunflower shoots. They were placed on a bed of Freekeh (a roasted whole grain), black garlic, and a Turmeric Why broth.

The tuna was cooked to perfection. The skin was crispy. It went wonderfully with the Turmeric broth, which was also superb. It was not too salty and it was full of flavor. The vegetables were slightly bitter but the broth help calm down that bitterness.

I saved a little room for dessert since they had several great options. What was calling to me was the banana pudding doughnuts. It was presented beautifully on the plate.

There were slices of sweet ripe bananas that were brûléed on top. I loved the sugary crunch when I took a bite. The doughnuts were little doughnut holes covered in sugar. Inside they were filled with a vanilla pudding that was sweet and creamy. Also on the plate was a banana ice cream. It too was sweet and creamy; it had the right amount of butter fat in it.

Technically there was enough of this dessert to share, which is normally what I do. However, tonight I was feeling a little greedy and ate the whole thing by myself.

This was a remarkable meal. I am so glad that I finally had an opportunity to check out Hot and Hot Fish Club. My waiter added to the experience. He was super attentive, always checking to make sure that the table had everything we needed.

Head to their website http://www.hotandhotfishclub.com/ and make a reservation. You will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!

T

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of years ago I wrote about an amazing place for hot chicken in Nashville called Hattie B’s. Over the years there have been many write-ups and television appearances for Hattie B’s, plus hot chicken in general has started to gain national attention. Because of America’s new love of hot chicken, Hattie B’s has started opening more locations, not just in Tennessee but across state lines too. Their newest location can be found in the Lakeview District of Birmingham, Alabama.

It had been a while since I had hot chicken, so I figured that a visit to the new location was long overdue. I could smell the spicy goodness as soon as I walked in. The inside of this new restaurant is much bigger than the Nashville location. I was there a little late at night so finding a seat was not an issue.

I went for the small plate that comes with a breast and a wing. I got a spice level of Hot. I remembered that this level was hot enough for me. It also came with two sides so I ordered the baked beans and the mac & cheese.

The chicken was exactly how I remembered. It was freshly fried so temperature wise it was extremely hot. Once it cooled down I was able to dig in. The breading was nice and crispy. The spiciness is all in the breading. I can’t tell all of the ingredients that make the flavor so hot, but I can definitely taste Cayenne pepper.

The meat itself was moist and tender. The breading helped seal in the juices.

The heat was over powering in my mouth at one point. This is when the mac & cheese came to the rescue. It was extremely creamy and smooth. It helped calm my mouth. It was a great cheesy relief.

I remembered how good the baked beans were so I am glad that I ordered them again. They had a sweet taste. This was an amazing complement to the saltiness from the spicy chicken.

I had a wonderful visit. I was excited to get to Hattie B’s again. They have awesome hot chicken and I am glad they are bringing a Nashville classic to other cities. Check out their website to see if they are opening a location near you. http://hattieb.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

The Lakeview District of Birmingham has been growing over the last several years. There is a plethora of restaurant choices and each one is diverse and special. Babalu is one of those choices. It is Latin inspired that serves a large selection of tacos and other tapas dishes. It’s the perfect place to go to enjoy drinks and food with friends.

There is a rustic feel to the restaurant, as if it has been there forever. The walls are made from reclaimed wood. There are wooden pallets hanging from the ceiling. The front and side of the restaurant is covered with garage doors. When the weather gets warm I am sure they open these doors up for a nice breeze.

  

The taco selection is impressive. Each option is unique and very non-traditional. The chefs put a lot of care into how they prepare them. All the tacos can be ordered individually or three of the same kind. Since I love tuna I went for the Atun taco. The blue corn tortilla was loaded with diced Saku tuna, a Fresno slaw, Sriracha line crema, ponzu sauce, and topped with crispy tortilla strips.

The fresh, tender tuna was both sweet and spicy. The heat from the Sriracha crema packed a punch. The slaw acted as a calming agent for the heat. The tortilla strips added crunch and I felt that really completed the dish.

The drinks at Babalu were also quiet impressive. I am always excited to see sangrias on the menu. They make all of them with fresh juices. I started with the red sangria. It was sweet and smooth. It was very comparable to other sangrias I have enjoyed.

  

What I was excited to try was the rose sangria. Through all of my travels I have never seen a sangria made with a rose wine. This sangria was also sweet but it was lighter than the red version. It reminded me of a punch. It also paired nicely with the tacos.

For a fun evening out head to Babalu. They have a few locations throughout the South so visit their website at www.eatbabalu.com

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Ice cream is one of those treats that makes both kids and adults happy. It’s the best dessert for celebrations. That perfect flavor can bring back fond memories from a family vacation. You can be having a bad day and a scoop of ice cream can help you forget your troubles.

I was needing an afternoon pick-me-up, so I headed over to Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe. It is right next door to Mr. P’s Deli that I have previously written about.

It is a really cute shop that is family owned. It has the classic look of a 1950s shop but it is also updated.

  

It’s the perfect place to enjoy ice cream or a milk shake with friends and family.

   

They have so many creative flavors ranging from red velvet, cotton candy, and cake batter. It is a hard decision but they let you have samples of the flavors to help you narrow the choices down.

  

I went for the pistachio nut. I love this flavor of ice cream and I do not always find it. I got a big scoop in a waffle cone.

The ice cream was so creamy and it was loaded with pistachios. It was perfect and made me so happy. It really did pick me up.

If you need a special treat or need to celebrate something special, head over to Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe. You can see all their flavors on the website at http://www.bluffparkicecreamshop.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

One of my great friends told me about a deli that was a must try. Heading up the mountain to Bluff Park between Birmingham and Hoover, Alabama is where I came across the little place called Mr. P’s Deli. It is a deli, butcher shop, and market all in one.

You can get an array of sandwiches to either eat there or take home.

Want to cook some fresh steaks or pork chops at home? Mr. P’s has you covered.

Need a bottle of wine to go with that steak? They have a nice selection of wine to choose from.

I stopped in at lunchtime and was exited to try one of their sandwiches. It was a tough choice but I finally picked the Big Italian Sub. It is a 1/3 pound sandwich packed with ham, salami, and provolone cheese on a white hoagie roll. It was the perfect size for lunch.

The sub came out toasty warm. The cheese was perfectly melted between the meats. The hoagie roll was fresh and soft, it made taking a bite so easy. They drizzled a balsamic vinegar dressing on one side of the hoagie roll. It added a sweet and tangy taste to the salty meats. Plus, the sub came with a crunchy dill pickle.

This was a great find and I am so glad my friend told me about it. I look forward to going back for another sandwich. Check out all their options at http://www.mrpdeli.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

I have written about several awesome restaurants throughout Birmingham. Just when I thought I had visited all the hot spots, I was told about an Italian restaurant that was a must try. Gianmarco’s is a small restaurant located in the Homewood area. The parking lot is tiny so be prepared to possibly have to park on the street.

As soon as I walked in I could smell pizza and garlic. It made me even hungrier than I already was. The entrance takes you through their car area. It’s a small space but if you are looking for a quick bite to eat or an after work cocktail, this would be perfect.

   

I had a table in the main dining room. As I walked through my eyes glanced into the kitchen. That is where I saw the wood fire oven. After seeing that hot over, I am certain that their pizza is amazing.

I started off with the Pasta Fagioli soup. It was the perfect size portion to start the meal off. The soup had great flavor. The broth was very creamy. The parmesan cheese that was melted on top added a little saltiness to the broth. There was a generous amount of vegetables in the soup. I loved all the cannellini beans that were in it.

I was in the mood for pasta for my main dish. Every option on Gianmarco’s menu sounded delicious. I knew no matter what I chose it would be amazing. So after a quick game of eenie-meenie-miney-mo in my head I decided to order the Rigatoni Quattro Formaggio.

The first bite of the rigatoni made my heart just melt. It was so rich and creamy. The sauce had a combination of four cheese mixed with some heavy cream. It was an adult version of macaroni and cheese. The pancetta that was on top added texture to the sauce. The richness of this dish filled me up quickly.

Unfortunately, I got too full from my pasta and soup so I was not able to try any desserts. I am certain that I will be returning, not just for dessert but to try on of their other dishes.

I would recommend Gianmarco’s to anyone. You can check them out on their Facebook page at facebook.com/Gianmarcos

I would recommend that you make a reservation since the restaurant is small. To see their menu visit http://www.birminghamrestaurants.com/

Enjoy!

T

I found another wonderful place to have Sunday brunch. Galley and Garden is a quaint old house that has been converted into a restaurant. It is located in the 5 Points District of Birmingham. There is no parking lot so you will need to valet park but it is convenient.

The old house was very cute. When you walk through the front door you enter the foyer where the hostess will greet you. I was seated in one of the room to the left of the entryway. I pictured this room as the old dining room of the house. The space was open and not packed with tables. There was a beautiful bar set up along the center wall to make all the excellent brunch cocktails.

My table was the closest to the kitchen. In the remodel of the house, they added big glass windows so you can watch the chefs do their magic.

Brunch could not start properly without a mimosa. The orange juice that was used was fresh and sweet. It paired well with the brut champagne they used.

Their brunch menu had several traditional items plus as assortment of specialty dishes. What caught my eye was the Braised Hereford Short Rib Benedict. The chef took something that felt familiar and added his unique flair to the dish. I just had to try it.

This dish came with two poached eggs on top of short ribs and a fresh made buttermilk biscuit. The hollandaise sauce was drizzled on top over the eggs. Also decorating the plate was an andouille potato hash.

To start breaking down each component, the biscuit was fantastic. It was fluffy and light. I enjoyed when the yolk from the egg and the hollandaise sauce covered the biscuit. It made the taste become creamy and rich. The egg itself was cooked perfectly. The whites were completely cooked which I prefer. Having this served over a biscuit verses an English muffin is my new favorite way to eat this. I wish more restaurants would serve it this way. The soft texture of each bite is better than the hard texture of the English muffin.

The short rib was amazing! The meat was perfect just by itself. It had a juicy, salty flavor with a few crispy edges. When combined with the eggs, biscuit, and sauce the taste became hearty. The meat was not overwhelmed with the flavor of the egg yolk or sauce. Each component worked together. The saltiness of the short rib was softened by the yolk and sauce and the biscuit brought in a sweet taste.

I have not forgotten about the potatoes that came on the side. I really liked how the skin of the potato was crispy. They were slightly peppery with the seasoning that the chef used. I added a little extra flavor by dipping the potato in the left over hollandaise sauce that I had. This was not a traditional hash; it was more just roasted potatoes with a ton of flavor.

For a fun time at brunch with great service and delicious food, then Galley and Garden will be perfect. For warmer days, they have great outdoor seating. Check out their menu at http://www.galleyandgarden.com/.   Some of the items will change based on what the chef is felling. However, the Braised Hereford Short Rib Benedict is a staple of the menu.

Enjoy!

T

When I was told that Wasabi Juan’s makes sushi burritos I was intrigued by the concept. A combination of sushi and Mexican food is something that I have never seen in all of my travels.

Their menu is written on a big chalkboard wall. I read over all the options of tacos and burritos. Everything sounded good so I had a hard time deciding what to try. To make the decision easier I went for two items that were noted as being fan favorites.

  

I started with their 4:20 nachos. These were not any ordinary nachos. These were made with Doritos topped with spicy tuna (raw just like in sushi) and avocado then smothered in spicy mayo and unagi sauce. These were very addicting nachos. I would have never thought Doritos covered in sushi ingredients would taste so good. They were a little messy to eat but worth it. The cheesy Doritos flavor mixed well with the spicy tuna and avocado. The mayo and unagi sauce added a creamy element that balanced out the nachos.

I ordered the Rainbow Burrito to accompany the nachos. This burrito came with spicy tune, salmon, crab, avocado, and cucumber. All of these ingredients were wrapped up in a rice wrapper. It really was a giant sushi roll. The tuna and salmon were fresh. I loved the crunch that the cucumber gave each bite. I added a little wasabi to the soy sauce that was included and drizzled it over the burrito. I wanted a little extra kick.

This was a fun new way to eat sushi. I would recommend everyone visiting Birmingham to check out Wasabi Juan’s. They are located in the Avondale area.

Check them out at: www.wasabijuan.com

Enjoy!

T