By Lee HurleyIt’s official, The Cook Store is now qualified to join AARP. Opened by Sam Franks in 1975, he later sold it to Betty Knight who changed the name to The Cook Store and, in 1999, sold it to Wesley Lassen, where our story begins. Wesley was born and raised in Mountain Brook, the daughter of well-liked and respected Fred Powell a lawyer with Burr & Forman. Her … [Read more...]

By Chad McCowanIs it me or is there a culinary resurgence of the maligned oyster, a delicacy today shipped from all parts of the cold northern waters to a fine dinner table in our restaurant savvy town.  With all due respect to Dusty’s of Panama City, where the Apalachicola’s are shucked by the billion and are entirely wonderful, fancy me a dozen of the smaller Prince … [Read more...]

Writers for Over The Mountain Journal not only love to share the stories presented in each issue but also enjoy making holiday favorites for our families and friends. Here are some of our can’t miss recipes sure to please your guests. Happy holidays!Anne RuisiBeef LasagnaMy father’s side of the family is Italian-American from New York state and I grew up … [Read more...]

By Ana GoodJenny McCain, a prominent Birmingham lawyer and the founder of Woodhill Cottage, has a journey as rich and flavorful as the jams she creates.Established as a tribute to her family’s history and love for home-cooked goodness, Woodhill Cottage specializes in artisanal jams and conserves made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. For McCain, Woodhill Cottage … [Read more...]

By Madoline Markham KoonceAbhi Sainju’s life journey has taken him across the globe and to its varied beaches – from India, where he went to boarding school; to Thailand and the Philippines, near his home in Nepal; to Destin, Florida, and Malibu, California, closer to his now-home in Birmingham. “People are different everywhere, but everybody can feel that same … [Read more...]