Tag: Birmingham

If you have been following my blog then you have noticed that I love Sunday brunch. I was looking for new place to try and Village Tavern popped up on my list. When I researched them I noticed they have several locations around the country. Just taking a quick glance at their menu U saw a couple of things I wanted to try, so I made a reservation.

The inside of Village Tavern was beautiful. It reminded me of a fancy ski lodge, high ceilings with wood beams and huge rustic chandeliers. The kitchen was open to the seating area so I could watch all the action.

To start off brunch, I ordered the baked brie for the table. It sounded like it would be great to share. It came with French bread, almonds, sliced apples, and dried fruits. It was a beautiful presentation on the plate when it came out. The brie was still bubbling so I had to wait a few minutes before I could dig in. The brie was extremely creamy with a salty finish. It was fun mixing the cheese with the different fruit options. My favorite pairing was the brie with the dried apricots; the saltiness of the cheese complemented the sweetness of the apricot.

  

I wanted to try something unique for my main dish. I went for the Crab Cake Benedict – which was exactly like a traditional eggs benedict but with a crab cake added. I am usually not a big eggs benedict fan because I feel it is kind of bland; however, I really liked this combination. Adding the crab cake created a new dimension to this classic dish. I really liked the texture that the crab gave the egg and it tasted great with the hollandaise sauce. The crab cake by itself was good too and I noticed that they have this as a separate menu item so I would recommend this.

I also got to try their homemade Belgian Waffle. I did not get anything fancy on it, just butter and whip cream. The waffle had a nice crispy edge and the inside was soft, just the wat I like it. I could tell they used a buttermilk batter. I find that the flavor of the buttermilk pairs well with pure maple syrup.

If you are hungry for brunch I would recommend Village Tavern. Visit their website to see if they have a location near you.

 www.villagetavern.com

Enjoy!

T

 

I learned about a special brunch at the Birmingham Museum of Art that only happens the first Sunday of every month. It’s a really popular experience and it took me two months to be able to get a reservation. When I was finally able to get in I was extremely excited.

Walking into the museum I was greeted with the sound of live music. The piano echoed throughout. It really added to the ambiance and enhanced the brunch experience.

This brunch was buffet style with a carving station, a made-to-order omelet station, fresh fruits and breads, an assortment of hot dishes, and a full collection of fresh desserts. It all looked delicious that it was hard to determine exactly where to start.

  

After walking all the options I decided to start with waffles. On one half I poured on the warm maple syrup, keeping it very traditional. The other half I covered with the fresh chopped strawberries and Chantilly Cream.

They had shrimp and grits that I noticed was extremely popular. I saw them refill that section twice. I knew I had to try this dish. The shrimp had wonderful flavor and the grits were cheesy. The grits were really addicting. I ended up going back for seconds on the grits.

Their carving station had amazingly tender and juicy roast beef. They also had shredded lamb. I am not a fan of lamb and I usually just avoid it. However, I was told that I needed to try the way they prepare it. It was remarkably similar to a pulled pork. It did not have that normal gamey taste. It was more of a smoky flavor that I enjoyed.

They had several options of cakes, pies, and cheesecakes to choose from for dessert. It went for the caramel cheesecake. It was so creamy and not too sweet. It was a great ending to brunch.

If you are looking for a unique brunch experience in Birmingham, then make plans for Oscar’s. Look far enough in advance because they fill up quickly. Their menu will also change each month so to see what they will be serving go to www.artsbma.org

Enjoy!

T

 

I have really started enjoying brunch on Sunday afternoons. This time I wanted to try Grille 29.

One of the reasons this place made the list was their $3 mimosas. You can’t have brunch without a mimosa. If you are interested in something a little more salty and spicy they do offer a gourmet Bloody Mary. There was so much going on with this drink (including the Cajun shrimp) there was no need for a second one.

They had fresh made deviled eggs that were perfect for sharing. They had a dill taste along with hints of truffle oil. They were topped with a crispy piece of prosciutto. That little crunch added a nice touch.

They had many different options to choose from on the brunch menu. I had to try the Grand Marnier French toast. The bread was cooked perfectly – two large pieces of Texas toast that were crispy around the edges and soft in the center. The Grand Marnier anglaise came on the side so I could dip each piece of toast as I took a bite. I knew this dish was going to be sweet so I made sure my side item was the red roasted potatoes. This added a necessary flavor balance to my meal.

If you are in the mood for brunch then Grille 29 is the place for you. Visit their website at: http://www.grille29.com/

Enjoy!

T

Located a few doors down from Bellini’s Ristorante is Edgar’s Bakery, a perfect stop to get dessert. I decided to get something to go, but they have several tables set up so you could enjoy a fresh dessert there.

There are so many choices – cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, petit fours, danishes, bear claws – whatever your heart desires. They even have full cakes that you can take with you for a special occasion.

 

I went for an assortment of petit fours. These are my favorite dessert. They are small bites that allow you to try several unique flavors. In my box I got chocolate, vanilla, caramel, strawberry, and red velvet.

Once I got in the car I ended up trying a red velvet. Two bites and I was done, the perfect dessert. It’s the right amount of sweetness without feeling like you have overindulged. These are also the perfect treat because they stay fresh for a couple of days.

So if you have a sweet tooth or something to celebrate make sure you go to Edgar’s Bakery. They have several locations around town so there is bound to be one near you. www.edgarsbakery.com

Enjoy!

T

 

I am always looking for new Italian restaurants. I was told that I had to try Bellini’s Ristorante for their take on Italian food.

When I went in I felt like I was transformed to a family home with a large wine collection. Built into the walls were wonderful wine racks that I wish I had at home.

 

The wait staff was extremely friendly and very attentive. I had to start off with a traditional Bellini since it is the namesake of the restaurant. They used fresh peach puree that was noticeable as soon as I took a sip.

I started off with their homemade soup of the day – Italian wedding soup. The broth was tastey with one large homemade meatball rather than smaller ones. It paired well with the homemade bread they served.

The appetizer that was a must try was the meatball arancini. I have tried many different versions of arancinis, however, this was like nothing I have ever had before.

This arancini is a meatball covered in a pesto risotto, then coated with panko breadcrumbs and fried. It was delicious. The meat was moist and light and the risotto was cooked perfectly.

For my main course I got the Ricotta Gnocchi.

I was expecting traditional gnocchi but this was completely different. They made a homemade gnocchi but then stuffed it with ricotta cheese. It was a like a gnocchi ravioli for a simpler description. It was severed with a sausage Bolognese sauce that was also delicious. It was like an Italian chili and I could have eaten an entire bowl.

If you are hungry for Italian but want something that has a unique twist then check out Bellini’s: http://www.ourbellinis.com/

Enjoy!

T

The Avondale area of Birmingham is a growing hot spot with breweries, clubs and great restaurants. Post Office Pies is one of these hot spots.

Not only do they make fresh, homemade pizza in their wood fire oven, they make homemade sausage, meatballs, and mozzarella cheese!

I started with the meatballs while waiting for the pizza to come out. The meat was extremely tender and moist. I could taste all the fresh seasonings and cheese in each bite.

There are so many pizzas to choose from on the menu. I went for the “Swine Pie”, which was covered in their homemade pork sausage, pepperoni, bacon, and then topped with mozzarella and fresh basil. I could tell that all the ingredients were fresh simply by the taste. The pork sausage should be an item by itself on the menu – that’s how good it is.  The pizza dough is sweet and cooked perfectly with that added crunch from the oven.

The pizza was much bigger than I expected which worked out well because I knew I had lunch for the next day. It’s a fun place to go and they are open late which is always a good things for a Saturday night.

See their menu at: http://www.postofficepies.com/

Enjoy!

T

I was told by several Birmingham residents that I had to try Saw’s Juke Joint for some of the best Alabama BBQ and a huge selection of craft beers. Nestled in a quaint neighborhood, sits the renovated shopping center with Saw’s located right on the corner. Although everything is fairly new it still has old rustic charm. There are license plates on the walls from all over the United States. They have blue paper towel rolls on the tables that make you feel like you are in an old garage that’s been converted to a restaurant. It’s just a fun vibe. They have regular paper menus but there was no reason to look at those since everything is written on these huge chalk boards on the walls.

 

One of the menu items that I was told I needed to try was the stuffed potato. Unfortunately, when I went to order one I was told they sold out of all their potatoes. While I was extremely disappointed that I couldn’t try one, I realized that those clearly are a popular item.

I knew I would be able to find something else just as good on the menu. I saw the pulled pork sandwich and knew that would hit the spot. The pork was very moist, but not a lot of bark on the edges like I usually see. It melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite.

I used their Saws sauce on the pork – which was more of a vinegar style sauce (like what you would see in Carolina BBQ). It make the pork have an extra kick.

While I didn’t get what I was expecting too, I received a pleasant surprise with the yummy sandwich. I will have to make another visit in order to try this stuffed potato that’s so popular.

Check out Saw’s history and their locations at www.sawsbbq.com

Not far from the restaurant (only 5 miles) is Vulcan Park so I decided to make a stop and check it out. It’s one of Birmingham’s top attractions. Vulcan Park, located on Red Mountain, is home to the famous Vulcan statue, a 56ft iron statue of the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. The status sits on a 124ft pedestal that overlooks downtown Birmingham.

 

You can walk through the museum and learn about Birmingham’s history in the steel business. Also, learn about the sculptor of the statue and its debut at the St Louis World’s Fair.

Plan your visit at www.visitvulcan.com

Enjoy!

T

This is the 2nd post I am doing about Slice. I had to go back because there were so many choices on their menu.

I started off with 2 of their small plates: Baked Feta & Brown Butter Pasta.

The Baked Feta was amazing. I was able to watch it bake in the wood fire oven. It was a simple dish – olive oil with roasted garlic cloves, sun-dried tomatoes and topped with  huge slice of feta cheese. What made this dish so special was the crispy top of the cheese created by being in the piping hot oven.

The Brown Butter Pasta sounded interesting on the menu – angel hair pasta tossed with Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, roasted garlic, bacon, & fresh Italian spices. It was so flavorful, I wasn’t expecting it. This is definitely a dish I want to try and make at home.

The evening was finished off with a pizza – the “old School”. It was pretty big for a 12″ pie. It was loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, & grilled red onions (these were super sweet). I was so fun to watch the pizza being cooked right in front of me in the oven. The best part is I ended up having to take home the extra slices of pizza – which means I can enjoy Slice for lunch during the week.

This place is a MUST visit! www.slicebirmingham.com

Enjoy!

T

While enjoying pizza at Slice, Casey my bartender recommended I try a Lou’s Pub. Luckily for me Lou’s was just across the street. It’s in a great location in Historic Birmingham.

Lou’s is a quaint little bar  that is also a package store. This was something very unique and unexpected. They had a large assortment of craft beers that you could buy and try at home.

I asked the bartender what he recommended. He suggested the Bushwacker, this is what they are know for. So naturally that i what I tried. It was pretty good. It was the perfect dessert after all the pizza I ate at Slice.

Check out their website for a list of their events. www.louspub.com

Enjoy!

T

I received several suggestions from some locals to check out Slice. I knew it was a hot spot when they were packed on a Sunday afternoon. I sat at the bar so I got wonderful service from Casey! She makes a great Mimosa.

I started off with the “Fire Baked Wings”. They are marinated wings that are cooked in their wood fire oven. The flavor was fantastic. I made sure to ask for the wings to be well done so that the skin was extra crispy.

Being there on a Sunday, I was able to order their pizza by the slice which I love because I can try different options. My first slice was the “Super Cheese” – basically 6 different cheeses (Mozzarella, Provolone, Fortina, Parmesan, Feta, & my favorite Asiago). It was the perfect ratio of cheese to homemade sauce.  My second slice was the “Soul Pie” – which I felt was appropriate since I was in the South. This slice had everything – turnip greens, black eyed peas, sausage, bacon, onions, & cheese. I never thought that this combination of ingredients would be good on a pizza but I was wrong. They all worked so well together. It felt like a side dish that should be served at Thanksgiving.

There were so many different meal options on the menu I have to put this place on my list to come back to. Visit their website at: www.slicebirmingham.com to see all they have to offer.

Enjoy!

T