http://bhamweekly.com/birmingham/articles.sec-5-1-food-drink.html For your main course, you can't find a more elegant, textured and lovely red than the La Posta "Cocina" Malbec from Argentina. Pair with a great cut of lamb, and get swept up in its sanguine aromas and meaty flavors which entice you again and again to take another sip of the wine.]]> When I was eleven, my family moved to Pamplona, Spain for two years. A life changing event in many ways... all the children in my family are more or less bi-lingual, and another may be what we do when we get sick... Last week I felt a cold coming on.]]> I will never forget the time Bunny and I traveled to Paris together. I know I spent some time on arrival in that ville `eternelle with my amie personnelle, but things were still in a bit of a fog right then for a spell. That is because we took the trip not long after 9-11.]]> Living in the thriving metropolis that is Birmingham, one has a vast array of dining options. What some Birminghamians may not deign to is traveling the wearisome twenty or so minutes it takes most locals to drive out to the infamous country girl’s stomping grounds, Trussville, or Truss-Vegas as some of the natives call it.]]> Last time I counted, there are about a 469,000 BBQ places in this town. When I worked at Maynard Cooper the lunch bunch took me to a different one for lunch every day for two years, and sometimes for breakfast, too. ]]> It certainly changed my game. I now collect Savennieres, which is so random. I also judge restaurants and wine stores based on their Chenin Blanc selection, or lack thereof (OK, now I’m exaggerating…somewhat).]]> This Friday and Saturday, November 12 and 13, Birmingham will play host to the fifth annual Food Summit, organized by Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners (GBCFP).]]> Ten years ago Birmingham Weekly released the very first Menu of Menus, the most comprehensive and up-to-date collection of Birmingham restaurant menus in print. Since then, many things have changed. Exciting new restaurants have opened, a few old favorites have closed, and the pool of cuisine-savvy consumers has been ever expanding. These days Birmingham plays host to a wide spectrum of excellent dining establishments, many of whom have been with us through every edition.]]> “We learned everything from our father and couldn’t do it without our mother.” Which of the brothers Bajalieh is responsible for this quote becomes unimportant when you hear all three unanimously echo the sentiment. Family and familiarity are the name of the game at Sol’s Sandwich Shop and Deli in downtown Birmingham.]]> BEST RESTAURANT Top Three: Veranda on HighlandJoe's ItalianLittle Savannah Other "Bests" OceanHot and Hot Fish ClubChez LuluCafe de ParisGianMarco'sBottega26Highland Bar ]]> It’s that time of year again, the kids are back in school, the traffic is getting thicker, the spider lilies are blooming, and thankfully the temperatures are finally beginning to relent. As a coffee roaster, I find this season of the year brings with it a sense of clarity and purpose.]]> Blooming azaleas, dogwoods, green stuff sprouting all over my front and back yard...and the pollen that goes with all of the above.  Makes me think I must be looking at life through greenish yell]]> Asia Chicken, Pork, Shrimp and Vegetarian Dim Sum served in steamer baskets with sauces to include: sweet & sour sauce, sesame soy dipping sauce and spicy sambal Assorted Sushi served with Soy Sauce, Wasabi & Pickled Ginger tuna rolls, cucumber...]]> A few years ago, I took some friends, a psychologist, two geologists, a few reporters, and a surgeon, to Greece for Easter. We went to celebrate the holiday and to go hiking. We enjoyed the Easter celebration, which in the town where I went to high school, you can drink a beer on the plaza, hold a candle, make the sign of the cross and pray.]]> As general rule, it isn't a terrible idea to pair lighter foods like fish with white wine. But plenty of seafood dishes work better with red wine. If your fish is meaty or charred – or served with tomatoes, mushrooms, or a fruity sauce – it'll likely be complimented best by a delicate red like Pinot Noir.]]> Augustine "Og" Mandino said, "Consider a painting by Rembrandt or a bronze by Degas or a violin by Stradivarius or a play by Shakespeare. They have great value for two reasons: their creators were masters and they are few in number.]]> A few years ago, walking in the lower plains of Kilimanjaro, I met my first Tanzanian coffee plants. I saw the small huts of the coffee planters, the children chasing any mechanical device that came trough the plantation. I saw the small banana trees grown among the coffee plants.]]> I grew up in Peloponnese, the prefecture of Arcadia. It is on the east coast of Peloponnese. In the lower slopes of Mount Parnon was my village. It was a plateau of about a hundred acres, from which, in a ten minute walk, you could look down to the Aegean Sea.]]> Since Anonymous was out town this week, even Bunny got a break and I was glad because he seems to just wear her out with so much dining. She needs three or four of herself just to keep up with him and his insatiable appetite.]]> In the 16 years I have lived in Alabama, this spring is the absolute best yet...for many things, but especially for berries. Right now in my fridge I have strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, all grown within 50 miles of my home.]]> Blooming azaleas, dogwoods, green stuff sprouting all over my front and back yard...and the pollen that goes with all of the above. Makes me think I must be looking at life through greenish yellow lenses, not those rose colored ones I am used to.]]> The Brewers Association recently sent out a press release with numbers detailing craft beer sales in the first half of 2011, and in this column you know there’s nothing I love more than a little industry navel-gazing.]]> Two Thursdays ago was a first in the beer world, as far as I know. It was a “holiday” created by some beer bloggers: International IPA Day (a.k.a. #IPADay on Twitter). Maybe it was just a silly Twitter gimmick, or maybe it was the very real beginning of a new annual celebration of craft beer.]]> Once in a while I read an article that gets my mental gears turning so much I just have to write about it. That was the case this week when someone directed my attention to the BrewDog blog and their post on craft beer vs. real ale. It offers both an opportunity for me to touch on the topic of cask-conditioned ale and the topic of craft beer more generally.]]> Last week I offered up a selection of mostly new beers I’d recommend you try. As exciting as those new beers are, there are some great American craft beers that remain popular after twenty or thirty years on the market, and that kind of staying power deserves some respect. ]]> One thing I hope to do on a regular basis with this column is keep readers supplied with ideas for beers to try. That may include beers from new breweries, new beers from existing breweries, beers from breweries with new distribution in Birmingham, or just random beers I like and want to mention here. ]]> Lately I’ve really gotten sucked into the greatest new thing on the internet. No, not Google+, which is a great step forward but not radically different from Facebook. The new thing that’s caught my eye (and ear) is Turntable.fm.]]> People are gullible. We hear a story that sounds slightly plausible, we have no prior knowledge to refute it, and we unquestioningly accept it as true. Well, I don’t, of course. But other people do.]]> It’s that time of year again. The season of hellfire sometimes known as “summer in Alabama.” I detest the heat and am always looking for ways to stay cool. Not surprisingly, beer is a key part of my keeping-cool methodology.]]> I remember the smart asses so well. “Why’s it called ‘Free the Hops’ when you guys are trying to raise the alcohol limit, huh? Shouldn’t it be called Free the Malt?” ]]> A few months after the alcohol limit on beer was raised in Alabama, products from the importer B. United International began showing up at retailers here in Birmingham. It was an exciting development for beer lovers like me, as they have one of the largest and most impressive beers lists of any importer in the United States. ]]> When the Summer growing season finally arrives in Alabama, I always look forward to the fresh, local, and sustainable produce that´s always readily available. When I was a child my father Sidney Vizzina and my mother Grethcen Vizzina always had tomato plants and cucuzza growing in our back yard.]]> A lot of people love olive oil for his great taste and his gold color, which sometimes turns a little bit green. A very good olive oil has the fruit flavor, a little bit spicy or soft and a good quality. Most of the time the criteria depends on the type of olives.]]> Like most men born and raised in the Deep South, Fred Shuttlesworth knew and loved good food. And although he credited his successful weight management on the fact that most of his life he ate only two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, he wasted no time or food at mealtime.]]> Hello my darlings! Bunny's back, and I come bearing gifts. Easy there, greedy... I don't have any diamonds or fancy clothes for you this week, but what I do have might be worth as much if you're hungry.]]> Sometimes I find myself talking to food, usually as I walk through the farmers market, or the produce aisle of a store, occasionally as I wander amongst the growing things of a farm. But I must stay that I get the best results when I listen more than I talk.]]> It was a feeling of stillness, almost of reverence. Entering the space one felt like speaking in hushed tones. Tall ceilings and light polished wood with floor to ceiling bookshelves. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and few people were to be found inhabiting its spaces. But the offerings were intriguing and it felt like a private world we’d happened upon.]]> In this restaurant review space, we try to bring to your attention places you may not know in the ordinary course of business. For example, last week we introduced Lolo’s, a new barbecue place in blue collar Avondale.]]> On a recent visit to California, I visited a rosemary bush that has been in my family for almost 50 years.]]> Here’s a toast to incredible food, great service and even more, to passionate people that help give back to the community one customer at a time. After one extraordinary year, owners David and Andrea Snyder, of this local favorite are already opening up their second location at The Summit later on this fall. ]]> As a recent transplant from Southern California to Birmingham, it is fascinating to learn what the Southeast is all about. My first visit was last fall, and although I heard it is a great city, I also heard the typical silly generalities about Alabama.]]> My friend Chryssa made the first butternut squash soup I tasted, and it was so good that I became a frequent customer of her little bistro, Rancho Pinot, in Phoenix.]]> ‘Tis the season friends, when the weather starts to turn a bit cooler and we are all drawn back outside from our perch next to the air-conditioner, under the fast-moving ceiling fan. ]]> Better watch what you see when you look at forbidden fruits. Then don't look here anytime soon. ]]> After roughly a year-long hiatus, lunch is back at Bottletree Cafe, and it may be better than ever. I used to take the crazy girl there, because it had all the vegetarian and even vegan dishes she preferred.]]> If you thought Crestwood Coffee as just a place to stop for some Zambesi roast (just like you thought Bottletree was just a place to hear The Great Book of John), then you may want to think again next time you are styling down Crestwood Boulevard with hunger pangs, heading east with nothing but fast food and an abandoned Hooters ahead.]]> (Anonymous Translation) Once again our publisher went looking for Mexican food that is not a Tex-Mex adulteration and didn’t come out of a microwave (not just another gratuitous jab at the country girl, since use of this unpreferred cooking method is not uncommon). And he was looking for an authentic environment, where Spanish is spoken by recent immigrants who really eat the food in the place. Worthy goals, but even he admits his commentary on Hispanic demographics and culture in Birmingham is a little silly. ]]> Now that Avondale is overrun with whitebread tourists from Birmingham, with many of them coming to see, among the trendy sights of the Brewery and Freshfully, the new Saw's Soul Kitchen, you should not forget that Saw's was there in Homewood long before the country girl from Trussville would even dare to set foot west of Crestwood.]]> Now that Avondale is overrun with whitebread tourists from Birmingham, with many of them coming to see, among the trendy sights of the Brewery and Freshfully, the new Saw's Soul Kitchen, you should not forget that Saw's was there in Homewood long before the country girl from Trussville would even dare to set foot west of Crestwood.]]> I wandered past the newish taco place in Crestline many times, trying not to be noticed as usual. A couple of things I noticed myself in my passing observations, though, that the place was hopping in the style of Crestline these days—busy and...]]> There I was in church, all focused on my Lord and Savior when Anonymous slipped in next to me on the pew and suggested we try Dyron’s Low Country Sunday Brunch after the service. Wouldn’t you just know it....a Southern girl depriving herself during Lent of culinary delights in pursuit of deeper spirituality gets a good offer on Sunday.]]> There I was in church, all focused on my Lord and Savior when Anonymous slipped in next to me on the pew and suggested we try Dyron's Low Country Sunday Brunch after the service. Wouldn't you just know it....a Southern girl depriving herself during Lent of culinary delights in pursuit of deeper spirituality gets a good offer on Sunday.]]> I was intrigued when Anonymous asked me to go to Kool Korner's Saturday night special dinner, even though I was studying for this maldicho bar exam.]]> Those who are comfortable with the obscure find value in places like Spain, northern Italy, and France´s Loire Valley. Those who are more comfortable with easy-to-pronounce locales stick to places like Argentina, New Zealand, and California´s Central Coast.]]> "Everything in moderation" has been my mantra for some time now. But lately, I've been thinking that I need a new plan. Several months ago, I was approached by the American Heart Associatio]]> Saturday before taxes were due, many would-be badauds and flaneurs in search of lagniappes found a great way to procrastinate--by pretending to be Cajuns. Some of the teams at the Cajun Cook-off for Girls Inc. in Avondale actually did bring in some ringers, though.]]> Javier Paredes, from Chile's award-winning Torreon de Paredes winery will be in Birmingham Monday, April 25th to do a wine tasting at the Birmingham Weekly's Avondale Bricks Gallery, 5-7 p.m. ]]> Saturday before taxes were due, many would-be badauds and flaneurs in search of lagniappes found a great way to procrastinate--by pretending to be Cajuns.  Some of the teams at the Cajun Cook-off]]> This Thursday March 1, Josh DeLoach, the chef from the Hook & Ladder Winery, will be at MetroPrime for a wine dinner organized by International Wines.]]> At a recent dinner at Avondale Bricks Gallery we were charged with the challenge of pairing wines for Chef Gray Byrum’s on-site cooking demonstration by Echelon Catering. So surrounded by the ambience of the art exhibition, we kept our focus to avoid striking any jarring dissonant chord with a wine that clashed with the cuisine.]]> It´s easy to dismiss pink wine. After all, most Americans associate rosĂ© with cheap, sweet "blush" wines, like Sutter Home´s white Zinfandel. (Shades of the Country Girl!) This style of wine traces its roots to the early 1970s.]]> I recently traveled to Austin for wine business, and being somewhat of a connoisseur of wine bars, decided to see how Texas' capital city wine aligned in comparison to other culinary cities. I was surprised to learn that Austin is the 14th most populous city in the U.S.]]>