Tag Archives: food

It’s tough to find a chef sometimes

Posted on May 21, 2009 | Leave a comment

In late March, we came close to having a former employee of Frank Stitt’s Bottega running a new Southern cuisine restaurant in Washington D.C.’s Shaw Neighborhood. Well, we were close.

eatonville-logoEatonville is now open but Chris Newsome is not serving as its executive chef. Only 10 days into his new job, his boss decided that he wasn’t necessarily the right fit. Check out this story recently published in Washington City Paper to learn what happened. You can also check out the website for the restaurant, named for author Zora Neale Hurston‘s hometown Eatonville, FL, and the process used to determine who would serve as executive chef via videos.

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Birmingham enjoys some good press

Posted on April 23, 2009 | 4 comments

There’s been a lot of buzz recently about Birmingham, AL going on in both mainstream media and on blogs that have a slightly wider reach than some of us may realize.

One example of this increase in attention come from The New York Times, which published one of their 36 hour travel stories about The Magic City. Another comes from the mind of one of our friends in the Windy City (and editor of Gapers Block), Andrew Huff, one that will probably not get as much attention locally. He contributes to Starwood Hotel’s preferred guest program’s blog, The Lobby, and recently took a look at The Hip Side of Birmingham, AL with a quick mention of their newest Aloft property adjacent to Homewood’s SoHo Square.

Anyone else know of some other online media mentions?

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Posted in Online, The City

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No free cones this year in Birmingham

Posted on April 20, 2009 | 4 comments

Free Cone Day banner - Ben & Jerry's official websiteMetro Birmingham residents were looking forward to their annual trek into one of the two area Ben & Jerry’s ice cream locations for their free cones. Unfortunately, it will be regular price for ice cream cones while other stores across the country take part in the annual Free Cone Day activities…

…that is, unless you feel like making the drive up to Huntsville for it. If there’s a bright side, it’s that it will be a little cooler tomorrow anyway. Of course, as suggested on Twitter, maybe another local provider of ice cream will be willing to step in.

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Posted in food, Quirky

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Birmingham’s FINALLY going to run on Dunkin – again

Posted on March 11, 2009 | 4 comments

UPDATE: 2.1.2010 – It’s finally opened – in Pelham, AL.

Dunkin Donuts logo - Dunkindonuts.comRemember that post back in August of 2007 when we linked to the BBJ’s story about Dunkin’ Donuts planning to open 72 metro Birmingham locations in the coming years. The market’s been open since early 2008 and this morning they finally took a step towards making it come true.

The Canton, MA-based company signed a multi-unit store development agreement with Birmingham-based RFS, LLC earlier today. The agreement calls for the development of 21 restaurants in the Birmingham market. RFS plans to open its first location in the next 12 months, fulfilling its agreement within the next 5 to 6 years. It will be the first time in years that the metro area has had a Dunkin’ Donuts location.

This isn’t to say you can’t get  Dunkin’ Donuts in the state now – you’d just have to drive to Dothan (they got their first location last month).

Image: Dunkin Donuts logo courtesy of company website.

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They really want you to go shopping…

Posted on March 9, 2009 | 6 comments

Eat at Home AlabamaThe Alabama Grocers Association recently unveiled a new website called Eat At Home Alabama. According to the site, “agriculture and the grocery industry is 30% of Alabama’s economy and employs [more than] 200,000 people.” This means that their argument is that it’s a good thing for Alabama if you eat at home instead of eating out. The site will be promoting ways to save and healthy eating habits among other things.

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It’s time to eat some pancakes

Posted on February 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

Considering we couldn’t take advantage of that free Grand Slam at Denny’s after the Super Bowl very easily here in metro Birmingham, tomorrow gives you a chance to enjoy helping a good cause while enjoying some pancakes.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is National Pancake Day after all, giving customers across the country and at area IHOPs a chance to enjoy a free short stack in exchange for providing a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network. 100% of all donations received in Alabama will go to benefit Childrens Hospital. It would be another way to shine attention on their planned expansion.

Metro locations after the jump: Continue reading →

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Posted in Take a moment

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One more Moe’s (and another one soon)

Posted on February 19, 2009 | Leave a comment

We mean Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que and not that other casual food chain. Local owner Kevin Witherington announced the opening of their 3rd location yesterday in Hoover at Lake Crest Plaza, replacing a Golden Rule as reported by AL.com’s Hoover blog on February 4.

The restaurant concept is headquartered in Vail, CO – and was started by three Alabamians.

Witherington also announced plans to open a fourth one next month at 731 29th Street South in Birmingham’s Lakeview district – a space that most recently housed the Lakeview Oyster House.

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