By Donna Cornelius Amy Jason still remembers the first thing she ever baked. “I was about 9 or 10,” she said. “It was an apple-cinnamon turnover that I made with Pillsbury crescent rolls. My first attempt was perfect, and I remember the feeling of instant gratification. I had created something warm and delicious and gooey and fantastic, and I could share it with my parents … [Read more...]
Celebrating the City: Restaurant Week Builds on Birmingham’s Culinary Success
By Donna Cornelius Since the 2017 edition of Birmingham Restaurant Week, the city has been on a pretty cool ride, food-wise. Frank Stitt’s Highlands Bar and Grill and the restaurant’s pastry chef, Dolester Miles, won James Beard Foundation Awards. Birmingham made Zagat’s list of the 30 Most Exciting Food Cities in America and was touted by Wine Enthusiast as a place for “top … [Read more...]
’Lette the Fun Begin: Macarons Shop Opens in Cahaba Heights
By Donna Cornelius Beverly Hills has lots of attractions, from the posh shops of Rodeo Drive to random celebrity sightings. But Crystal Lovelady and her husband, Shane, got a really sweet taste of the California city at a shop that specializes in a distinctly French treat: macarons. “My husband’s office was in Beverly Hills, right around the corner from ’Lette Macarons,” said … [Read more...]
True to Life: Architect James Carter’s House Is Full of His History
By Donna Cornelius When architect James Carter meets with clients, he asks a question: What do you want your house to say about you? His own house makes a statement, but not in stark black-and-white terms. “I wanted to express the duality of my personality – casual and formal, city and country,” Carter said. Thus, the house he built three years ago in Mountain Brook is full … [Read more...]
Hometown Hero: Jeremy Downey Is the Alabama Seafood Cook-Off Champ
By Donna Cornelius Chef Jeremy Downey wanted to impress the judges when he competed in the Alabama Seafood Cook-Off June 13. But there was one person he wanted to please even more: his grandmother, 93-year-old Tensie Johnson. “She was sitting front and center while I was cooking,” said Downey, whose Bistro V restaurant in Vestavia Hills draws rave reviews from … [Read more...]
