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Food & Drink


Food provides more than sustenance. It defines the world around us and ad zest to our lives. Here are some of my favorite food-related writing.

Cahaba Sun •

Brewing a fresh cup of comfort: New coffee house opens on Maple Avenue

When deciding on the name for her new coffee shop, Maple Avenue Coffee House, owner Tracy Delaney said “house” is actually one of the most important words.

It describes the shop’s location — a renovated 1950s-era house on Maple Avenue most recently occupied by an accounting firm — but it also describes her business mindset.

“My whole reason for doing this was to create just such an inviting space for people and to feel like you’re almost walking into someone’s living room,” said Delaney, a Tru
Cahaba Sun •

Second Capella Pizzeria location coming to Trussville

Trussville is getting a new addition to its restaurant community this year.

Capella Pizzeria, a restaurant offering traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in 900-degree, wood-burning ovens, is opening its second Birmingham-area location in the former location of Ironstone Pizza in Homestead Village.

Owner Ahmet Ozbey opened his first Capella Pizzeria in Greystone in January, and his restaurant has quickly established a loyal following and a solid reputation for its pizza menu.

Ozbey, who i
Cahaba Sun •

Tamburro’s returns to Trussville

The original restaurant, Tamburro’s & Sons, was launched by Dick Tamburro in 1994, quickly becoming a favorite of many diners in the Trussville area and beyond. Tamburro retired from the restaurant business, closing the doors in 2010.

However, Tamburro’s daughter, Kyleen Kramer, and daughter-in-law, Tina Tamburro, have brought the family name out of mothballs, rechristening the restaurant Tamburro’s Italian Home.

The impetus for reviving Tamburro’s came from Kramer, an Atlanta resident, who wa
Cahaba Sun •

Corbeau Wine Bar brings touch of France to Trussville

The Trussville Entertainment District’s newest tenant is Corbeau Wine Bar, which opened in May.

Located in a corner space on Morrow Avenue, Corbeau Wine Bar has established a reputation as a relaxing spot for a glass of wine, charcuterie or flatbread pizza. It is owned by sisters Mary and Elizabeth Martin and their husbands, John and Mark (also siblings, The sisters are originally from Scottsboro but independently moved to the Trussville area and shared a passion for wine.

For years, Mary and
villagelivingonline.com •

Former Otey’s owner opens new restaurant in Vestavia

After close to 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, Doug Smith recently unveiled his newest concept, The Palm & Pig, in Vestavia Hills.

Conceived as a seafood and barbecue restaurant and neighborhood hangout, Smith said The Palm & Pig is an amalgam of the various stops along his career in the food and service world, along with the kind of place where he’d like to hang out.

“The whole premise of this thing here is it’s taking a little of our backgrounds from all the places we’ve o
VestaviaVoice.com •

Former Otey’s owner opens new restaurant in Vestavia

After close to 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, Doug Smith recently unveiled his newest concept, The Palm & Pig, in Vestavia Hills.

Conceived as a seafood and barbecue restaurant and neighborhood hangout, Smith said The Palm & Pig is an amalgam of the various stops along his career in the food and service world, along with the kind of place where he’d like to hang out.

“The whole premise of this thing here is it’s taking a little of our backgrounds from all the places we’ve o
thehomewoodstar.com •

The Battery powering Homewood restaurant scene

In the year since it opened on Central Avenue, The Battery has carved out a niche for itself in Homewood’s restaurant scene.

The Battery’s General Manager, Jeramy Stephens, got to know owner Ben Chappel socially during his time managing the U.S. 280 location of Buffalo Wild Wings. The two struck up a friendship and, over the years, discussed ideas for a new restaurant in Homewood.

“Homewood needed an upscale place where you can go watch a ballgame,” Stephens said. “We wanted a place where we c
HooverSun.com •

Hoover burger joint opens second location in Homewood

Two brothers who opened Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Dive in Hoover's Lake Crest community in 2021 now have opened a second location in Homewood.

Ben and Zac Williams, a pair of brothers originally from Hueytown, quickly gained a reputation for their enormous burgers, hand-cut fries and funky design after opening their restaurant in Lake Crest Plaza.

Their second location, to be called Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Shoppe, opened July 13 in the Merchants Walk shopping center on 28th Avenue South in Homewoo
Cahaba Sun •

Steele Hall Brewing open for business

Trussville has a new place to belly up to the bar for a nice cold one. Following months of planning and renovations, Steele Hall Brewing opened for business in the spring and has developed a reputation for its innovative craft beer, as well as its fun and relaxed atmosphere.

The brewery is the brainchild of Eric Mitchell — a 2006 graduate of Clay-Chalkville High School — and Scott Worthington — a 1999 graduate of Chelsea High School — who caught the microbrewery bug while students at Auburn Uni
villagelivingonline.com •

Freddy’s Wine Bar to open 2nd location in former Nabeel’s spot

The space formerly occupied by Nabeel’s Cafe and Market will have a new tenant this summer. Stuart Stone, owner and operator of Freddy’s Wine Bar, signed a lease in December and is scheduled to open his second Freddy’s location this June.

Named after his beloved poodle, Stone opened Freddy’s Wine Bar on the bottom floor of Highland Park Towers apartments. Taking a cue from intimate cafés throughout Italy and France, Stone envisioned Freddy’s as a neighborhood gathering place for space specializ
Discover St. Clair •

The Little Pizza Joint That Could

The parking lot of Carpenetti’s Pizzeria in Moody is packed! Cars are squeezed into any opening their
drivers can find – around the back of the building, in the grass, in the dead zone between the restaurant and the Chevron station next door. Inside, hungry diners jockey for attention from the hostess for one of only about a dozen tables as a steady stream of people queue in line for what seems like an endless run of take-out pies. The phone rings off the hook, the small staff constantly runs back and forth from the kitchen to the house, and pizzas fly in and out of the brick oven at a quicker pace than the ending sketch of an episode of the Benny Hill Show.
And the kicker is, it’s only Tuesday.
Tailgater Magazine •

3 Unique Booze-Free Drink Options

As much as you may not like it, there are times when booze just isn’t possible at the tailgate or inside the stadium. So, what do you drink when a cold beer or a Moscow Mule just aren’t an option? You could reach for a syrupy can of cola or, heaven forbid, a bottle of water. But, if you’re in the mood for something different or just want a fresh, alcohol-free take on a classic cocktail, consider these no-alcohol drink choices at your next tailgate.

In recent years, a handful of startups have co
Tailgater Magazine •

Tailgater: James Hromadka

Deep in heart of Texas, and, therefore, football country, James Hromadka has set his enthusiasm for tailgating on the sport of soccer, specifically the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. A charter member of the Texian Army, one of the largest independent supporters groups for the Dynamo, Hromadka is currently the treasurer and travel director of the 501(c)(7) organization, but, perhaps most importantly, he’s the grill master.

A financial advisor by day, this sportsman and outdoorsman is so
Scout.com •

5 Regional Sodas For Your Next Tailgate

Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale Buffalo Rock Bottling, Birmingham Alabama [MEDIA:1397997] First bottled in 1901 as a remedy for stomach ailments, this Birmingham, Alabama tradition isn’t your average ginger ale. Much darker in color, Buffalo Rock packs a spicy, powerful punch that’ll put some hair on your chest. Many Buffalo Rock drinkers call it a “ginger cola”, while others claim to the drink does help alleviate some stomach problems like motion sickness. Buffalo Rock is delicious when poured over van
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