By Chanda Temple
Diners made their way past shiny silver chaffing dishes, selecting freshly made items during a Saturday morning Christmas brunch at the historic Arlington Historic House in Birmingham, AL.
They filled their plates with French toast, homemade strawberry syrup, roasted root vegetables and more. But the star of the morning was the Creole-seasoned shrimp and cheese grits.
Sauteed in butter and spices, the shrimp sizzled with New Orleans flavor and flair.
“The shrimp was good and soft, but they were a little … spicy. And I liked that,” said Alice Riddle Bailey, 85. “It reminded me of stuff I used to do at home.”
Her daughter, Deirdre Pierce, agreed. “They had a good taste to them. I liked the spice.”
And while Arlington is making impressions with its food, it’s also making moves to revamp its antebellum home image through a series of programs that target the African-American community. The Christmas brunch was part of the Harmony and Heritage monthly food program, where people eat while connecting over history and creative ideas. More is planned in 2025.
“Hearing about the new programs makes me feel good because, in the past, we felt that Arlington was a place that Black people shouldn’t come to,” said Pierce. “But now, it’s a different feeling, which is good.”
For years, Arlington offered sit-down lunches on the first Thursday of the month. There was good food, but Birmingham native and attorney Ashley Mann wanted to see more. So, earlier this year, she consulted with Arlington Director Toby Richards to find ways deepen the lunches. As a result, the monthly lunches were renamed the Harmony and Heritage lunch series, where a space for healing, wellness and Black history highlights are provided over a fulfilling meal.
The new lunch series launched in September 2024. Past lunches have featured grilled salmon atop mashed potatoes, lemon rosemary herb chicken, homemade chicken pot pie, salads and desserts. They are still held on the first Thursday of the month.
“This was part of Mayor (Randall) Woodfin’s 2025 Vision, and part of that’s to continue to make the city’s spaces a more inclusive Birmingham for our residents,” Richards said. “All of our spaces can be redefined and reimagined.”
“Each lunch series sells out, which tells me that people want to see more of this.”
Instead of doing a first Thursday lunch in December, Richards said they decided to do a Saturday Christmas brunch. The next Harmony and Heritage lunch will be Jan. 9, 2025, and it will feature butternut squash soup, braised short rib over cheese grits, asparagus and a dessert. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from 12 to 1 p.m. Reservations must be made in advance. Tickets to the Thursday lunches are $15.
The Feb. 6 menu will include: apple and arugula salad; salmon with mashed potatoes, asparagus and lemon butter; and pecan pie.
The March 6 menu will include: lemon herb chicken, sautéed vegetables, rice pilaf, lemon herb butter, and pecan pie.
Arlington House Chef Matt Murhpree does the meals, including catering different events at the venue. However, guest chefs from the community have collaborated with Murprhree on some past Harmony and Heritage series. Richards decorates the tables with herbs and plants from the venue’s garden to spark additional conversations.
“We want to use this as a way to revision the culinary experience in a very different way,” Richards said. “Your senses are awakened by the spices we display and infuse into the meal. We discuss how you can use these at home.”
Other initiatives planned for Arlington include breaking ground on a community garden in early 2025, providing juicing programs and establishing a meal prep program.
Each program has been crafted to foster community bonding, deepen an understanding of heritage and showcase the healing power of shared experiences, said Mann.
“Harmony and Heritage stands as a testament to the unifying and restorative impact that food, culture and community can have on healing,” Mann said. .
Savor This!: Arlington House is located at 331 Cotton Ave. SW. They are open Tuesday-Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 205-78-5656 for more information or to make a lunch reservation.
All photos by Chanda Temple
1st photo: Shrimp and grits
2nd photo: Alice Riddle Bailey with her daughter, Deirdre Pierce
3rd photo: Toby Richards, far left, with some of the attendees from the Christmas brunch.
Fourth photo: Following the brunch, attendees were invited to visit the garden at Arlington. They are currently growing collard greens.
Fifth photo: Members of the Red Hat Society enjoyed their time at the Christmas brunch.
Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple.
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