Story and photos by Cara ClarkWhen acclaimed chef Rob McDaniel opened his second restaurant, he was determined to take a different direction from Helen, his first, named in homage to his grandmother. The new direction began with a name: Bayonet, derived from the Spanish bayonet plant, engineered by nature to survive difficult conditions—heat, drought and the salt … [Read more...]
Legacy in Motion: The Southbound Food Festival celebrates female chefs and their heritage
By Nausicaa ChuMegan Pinckney Rutherford, founder of the popular lifestyle blog Shades of Pinck, grew up eating Gullah red rice on Sundays. The flavorful rice dish originated with the Gullah Geechee people, African Americans descended from enslaved West and Central Africans. But she had not heard of jollof rice, a West African dish, until researching for her new … [Read more...]
Toasting the Tide: Two Mountain Brook friends turned Napa Valley wine into a mission to give back to The University of Alabama
Some business ventures begin with a spreadsheet. This one began with a question between friends.Why, Butch Burkett and Bill Rodrigues wondered, couldn’t The University of Alabama family have a premium wine collection worthy of its dynasty? “Can’t we bottle up that rich tradition into a celebratory drink that generations can share and enjoy with family and friends while … [Read more...]
On Honey Lane: How Foxhound Bee Company turned a hobby into a growing community
Story and Photos by Sarah OwensJust off Interstate 20 in Irondale, tucked beside youth baseball fields and family traffic, sits a storefront unlike any other in the Birmingham area.Inside, visitors can sample different honeys, peek inside a bee colony, browse shelves of beekeeping equipment and candles made from local beeswax or sign up for classes on … [Read more...]
De Nada Opens in Parkside District
De Nada, a modern Tex Mex restaurant from Birmingham restaurateur Armando Martinez, has opened at Birmingham’s Parkside District at Urban Supply.The new concept brings a lively Tex Mex dining experience to one of the city’s fastest-growing entertainment corridors. Spanning 4,582 square feet, the restaurant features 149 indoor seats and 16 outdoor patio … [Read more...]