Archive of ‘Food in Birmingham’ category

Tina’s Market has a story in every bite

By Chanda Temple 

On a recent February afternoon, Tina Liollio is outside her market in Homewood, AL, taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. 

As she wipes down the furniture on the patio, she talks about her life in the restaurant business. For Tina, food and hospitality have never been just a business. They’ve also been a way of life. 

“The first place I was taken after the hospital was my family’s restaurant,’’ she said. 

The staff at her family’s restaurant on the Florida panhandle was so excited about her parents’ only child, that they couldn’t wait to meet Tina. It was love at first sight. And pretty soon, Tina became a regular fixture at the restaurant.  

Tina's Market in Homewood, AL offers to-go meals and catering influenced by Tina Liollio's Greek and Sicilian roots. (Photo provided by Tina Liollio.)
Tina’s Market in Homewood, AL offers to-go meals and catering influenced by Tina Liollio’s Greek and Sicilian roots. (Photo provided by Tina Liollio.)

When her family later moved to Birmingham’s Glen Iris neighborhood, Tina’s education in the kitchen blossomed. Around the corner from their Glen Iris home lived Tina’s great-grandmother, who taught Tina how to cook at the age of 7. 

With each cooking lesson came a pure appreciation of food and family. 

“For me, it was more about spending time with family and learning the traditions and culture,’’ said Tina, now 41.

Today, Tina runs Tina’s Market across from Homewood Park, where she sells dishes influenced by her family’s Greek and Sicilian roots. 

The CinnaRoll Bar from Tina's Market (Photo by Chanda Temple)
The CinnaRoll Bar from Tina’s Market (Photo by Chanda Temple)

The cheese. The sauce. The frosting. They are all rich with taste and history, which is what you will find when you walk past that patio furniture and through the front doors. 

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Les Dames Grant Helps Fuel Birmingham’s Next Bubble Tea Spot

By Chanda Temple

For the last few years, Yanisa “Tay” Odom has brought the bold flavors of Thai street food to Hoover and Birmingham’s Pepper Place Market. But in 2024, she set her sights on an even bigger dream, and that was to bring authentic bubble tea to Birmingham.

Opening a brick-and-mortar tea shop was no small feat, and Yanisa knew she needed the right foundation to make it happen. That’s when she turned to the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a group dedicated to uplifting women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. She applied for one of their grants, and she won. She used the $5,000 to help pay for an attorney as she worked to open her shop in the old Tropical Smoothie location across from Railroad Park.

Now, with support from Les Dames, Yanisa is brewing up something special: Yay’s Tea, which is slated to open this spring.

“This (grant) can help a lot. It’s really huge,” said Yanisa, 45. “But I also get something else from Les Dames. I get support. I get to know a lot great people. That’s very important. ‘’ 

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FEAST Bham is bringing romance to your kitchen this Valentine’s Day

By Chanda Temple

Some of the best moments happen in the kitchen, and this Valentine’s Day, FEAST Bham is giving couples the perfect excuse to create something special without leaving the house. 

Now through Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, FEAST Bham is taking orders for its four-course Valentine’s Day Meal Kit for Two, which includes wedge salads with house-made dressing, crab cakes packed with lump crab meat, center-cut steaks, asparagus, potatoes and a lemon ricotta cheesecake for dessert. They provide cooking instructions and seasonings to make it a night and a restaurant-quality meal to remember.  

The Italian iceberg wedge from FEAST Bham is one of four courses in their Valentine's Day meal kit for two. It comes with gorgonzola, a balsamic glaze, slow-roasted tomatoes, banana peppers, shaved red onion, fresh basil and a breadcrumb topping. (Photo provided by Lindsey Noto King)
The Italian iceberg wedge from FEAST Bham is one of four courses in their Valentine’s Day meal kit for two. It comes with gorgonzola, a balsamic glaze, slow-roasted tomatoes, banana peppers, shaved red onion, fresh basil and a breadcrumb topping. (Photo provided by Lindsey Noto King)

“The favorite thing for me and my husband to do as a couple is cook dinner together,” said Lindsey Noto King, co-owner of FEAST Bham. “So we thought, why not give others a chance to do the same—spend time in the kitchen, create something delicious and enjoy the process.”

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Brunch at Encore Rouge Has Big Plates, Big Taste and Big Crowds

By Chanda Temple

Seretha Williams had one goal today, and that was to drive nearly an hour from Sylacauga, AL to Birmingham, AL to try the new brunch menu at Encore Rouge.

Seretha and her family are big fans, and they didn’t want to miss the new roll out, which includes Creole shrimp and grits, French toast, chicken and waffles and more.

The Creole shrimp and grits from Encore Rouge (Photo by Chanda Temple)
The Creole shrimp and grits from Encore Rouge can come in different ways. This version is “all the way,” featuring shrimp, sausage and crumbled bacon. Customers can also get it with just shrimp or shrimp and sausage. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

“When I used to stay in Birmingham, I would be at the (Encore Rouge) food truck all the time. So when the owner opened the restaurant (in 2022), I was like ‘OK, I’m supporting us,’ ” said Seretha, 35. “I make it a habit to come up here every couple of months.”

Encore Rouge added the Saturday brunch to its menu to help kick off the new year and see if it’s something that patrons will like. It received high praise from Seretha; her mother, Kina Kelly, 60, and their cousin, Shirley Conley, 61.

“I just moved back to Birmingham in June, and I’ve been back six or seven times since June. I love it,” Shirley said. “One thing about Encore Rouge, you can’t go wrong.”

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Encore Rouge brings a new brunch to Birmingham

By Chanda Temple

When Antoinne Davis woke up this morning, he checked social media and his heart sank.

Post after post talked about the rainy forecast for Saturday, Jan. 18, the same day he plans to launch his new brunch menu at Encore Rouge, bursting with bold bites such as New York Cheesecake French Toast with a strawberry compote, peach cobbler egg rolls with a vanilla drizzle, cinnamon French toast, collard green rolls stuffed with dirty rice and pieces of turkey, chitterling eggrolls, and much more.

Antoinne Davis owns Encore Rouge Gourmet Street Food Restaurant in downtown Birmingham. (Photo provided by Antoinne Davis)
Antoinne Davis owns Encore Rouge Gourmet Street Food Restaurant in downtown Birmingham. (Photo provided by Antoinne Davis)

But Antoinne, 41, didn’t let a wet forecast wash away his determination. He got up and headed to his restaurant.

“If you think negative, negative things will happen,” he said, after chopping vegetables and marinating meats for Saturday. “Encore Rouge is going to bring the sunshine, rain, sleet or snow.”

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Arlington House offers meals by Chef Matt Murphree that are worth the visit

By Chanda Temple

The fork glides through the braised beef short rib like butter. The taste and texture remind you of an old school pot roast Sunday dinner cooked with comfort and care.

On the fork’s second round, creamy cheese grits and sautéed asparagus take center stage. They hold your attention, but you still can’t forget how the first course’s rich-tasting roasted butternut squash soup made you feel. It was velvety smooth and oh, so inviting. And not to be outdone, the Italian lemon cream cake drizzled with a homemade raspberry puree brings in a bright, sweet finish that turns heads and tastebuds.

The person behind this simple and satisfying showcase is Matt Murphree, a chef who has cooked in other Birmingham restaurants before settling in at Arlington in 2015. Since he’s been there, he’s changed the game in the way Arlington presents its monthly lunches and in-house catering for booked events there.

“When I serve people, I want it to be good,” Matt said. “I want them to walk away happy, full and hopefully, come back for more.”

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Juniper at the Museum: Where Art and Appetite Meet 

By Chanda Temple

Inside the Birmingham Museum of Art, you’ll find more than 24,000 paintings, sculptures, prints and decorative arts representing various cultures. But did you know that you’ll also find a cafe that serves one of the best burgers in the Magic City?

It’s Juniper at the Museum, which is brought to you by the same owners of Juniper in Forest Park. The museum cafe opened in February 2024 and operates Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (During a return visit to the cafe on Jan. 16, I learned that the cafe will be closing the museum location. Their last day will be Jan. 24.)

On a recent Tuesday, I stopped by for lunch, where I not only experienced an amazing lunch but also excellent customer service and beverages.

And I’m not the only fan. I was surrounded by tables full of what looked like happy diners. There was a table full of adults with children. Behind me was a mother and son. Over to my left was a couple and way behind me was another couple with a man happily snapping a photo of his sandwich.

“Not only do we provide you with the best surroundings, but good food,” Chef Omar Radford said after visiting my table, which I noticed is something he did with several other diners. “We pride ourselves in not saying, ‘No.’ I take real, honest pride in my work.”

The pride of Chef Omar and staff could be felt in the cafe, where appetizing food on plates and colorful art prints on the wall mirror the same vibe you’ll find at the Forest Park location. The museum menu features hummus plates, hearty soups, salads, sandwiches, creative beverages and a special Rice Krispy treat dessert. There are also desserts from Last Call Baking Co.

Here’s what I ordered…

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Yo Mama’s Brings Big Flavor to a Bigger Space

By Chanda Temple

It’s 1 p.m. on the afternoon of Jan. 4, and Denise Peterson is wearing a T-shirt that says, “Imma Overcomer.”

It’s a meaningful mantra for a woman who is moving Yo Mama’s, a 10-year-old restaurant she runs with her daughter, Crystal, into a new and larger space in downtown Birmingham.

Crystal Peterson, left, and Denise Peterson are a daughter-mother duo who started Yo Mama's in Birmingham, AL in November 2014. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Crystal Peterson, left, and Denise Peterson are a daughter-mother duo who started Yo Mama’s in Birmingham, AL in November 2014. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

Walking through the new 5,500-plus square foot space, which is a huge shift from the 1,300 square foot original location, Denise admits that one thing she had to overcome was the fear of growth.

“You can get content in where you are and end up staying there, but not be where God wants you to be because of fear,” said Denise, 68. “So, I had to overcome that part of it to say, ‘OK, we can make this happen.’ ”

Come Jan. 6, she and Crystal will be ready to make big things happen as they serve their popular chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, fish sandwiches, wings, burgers, chicken sandwiches and tacos in their new location at 2024 Fourth Ave. North. They will be open Monday – Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“In this environment, there can be a lot of things that can come against you, but when you make it through it, you overcome it,” said Denise, a Birmingham native. “If it doesn’t take you down, then you are all right.”

The chicken and waffles at Yo Mama's has received high praise through the years. In 2024, Southern Living said it was one of the top 35 restaurants to visit in Birmingham, AL.
The chicken and waffles at Yo Mama’s has received high praise through the years. In 2024, Southern Living said it was one of the top 35 restaurants to visit in Birmingham, AL. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

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Faith, Fearlessness & Frosting: The Rise of K&J’s Elegant Pastries in Birmingham, AL

By Chanda Temple 

For six years, Kristal Bryant was overlooked for promotions at a chain restaurant, where she worked as a five-star line cook.

She was skilled in handling all of the food stations and even worked double shifts to cover for others. When the company asked her to help open locations in other cities, she answered the call. But every time she inquired about a promotion, she was told, “We’ll get you in,” when the next door opens.

But that “next door” never came.

Kristal’s husband, Jonathan, saw how hard Kristal worked without advancement. So, he pushed her toward her passion: Step out on faith and do your side cake business, full time.

K&J's Elegant Pastries in Birmingham's City Walk area has 120 different cupcake flavors, but has a select set of flavors on the menu every day. (Photo source: Kristal Bryant)
K&J’s Elegant Pastries in Birmingham’s City Walk area has 120 different cupcake flavors, but has a select set of flavors on the menu every day. (Photo source: Kristal Bryant)

Those words stopped Kristal cold. The year was 2010, and she was a 27-year-old mother of two small girls. Even though Jonathan had a good job with the railroad, she wondered if she’d be able to make a living out of baking cakes and contribute to the household. 

Still, with faith and determination, Kristal took the leap. It wasn’t easy. There were challenges, doubts and even tears. But over time, her fears gave way to confidence.

Today, Kristal’s leap of faith has paid off in ways she never imagined. Her downtown Birmingham business, K&J’s Elegant Pastries & Creamery, is a place where repeat customers, high-profile corporations, celebrities and professional athletes make orders. She’s baked cakes for Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Da Brat, and Slutty Vegan CEO Pinky Cole, appeared on Good Morning America and the Food Network, and does monthly cooking segments on Birmingham’s WBRC.

Through it all, one of her guiding principles has been the Bible verse: “Faith without works is dead.’’ 

“I have the faith, and as long as I put in the work, this will be successful,” Kristal said. “And that’s one of the things that’s always kept me, sane, even running the business now.” 

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Slutty Vegan Reopens in Birmingham with Homegrown Hustle

By Chanda Temple

For years, Reatta Myers-Hall worked to help other companies thrive.

Whenever she saw areas that needed improvements, she offered suggestions. But she and her ideas were ignored. A lot.

Although Reatta was brokenhearted, she was never broken over what happened, for she knew that one day someone would listen.

The popular Fussy Hussy plant-based burger from Slutty Vegan comes with pickles, onions, tomatoes lettuce, a special sauce, an an Impossible burger patty on a Hawaiian bun. (Photo source: Slutty Vegan)
Slutty Vegan offers four different types of plant-based burgers. The Fussy Hussy burger, pictured, comes with pickles, onions, tomatoes lettuce, a special sauce, an Impossible burger patty on a Hawaiian bun. In 2023, Yelp rated Slutty Vegan as No. 3 on its list of  “Top 100 Burgers in America.’’ (Photo source: Slutty Vegan)

That day finally came in the fall of 2024 when Pinky Cole, the founder of the multi-million dollar Slutty Vegan brand, asked Reatta if she would like to own and operate Alabama’s only Slutty Vegan store as a franchise. Since Reatta already had a history of running the store as its manager when it first opened in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Birmingham in August 2022, she jumped at the chance. And Pinky gave her the store, which is located at 7 – 55th Place South.

“What happened at those other businesses never made me want to quit,’’ Reatta said. “I just tucked (the ideas) in my back pocket, and now I’m pulling them out.”

Today, Reatta is rolling out new value meals and products for Birmingham Slutty Vegan consumers, along with the long-cherished plant-based burgers on vegan Hawaiian buns, vegan desserts and fries that Pinky first started selling when she launched the Slutty Vegan burger stands in 2018 in Atlanta. There are now 12 Slutty Vegan locations in Georgia, New York ,Texas, Alabama and Maryland. Birmingham still has the only Alabama location.

“A lot of people don’t like to accept the nos that they get, and they get discouraged. But that should be fuel for you to keep going on and pressing to get to that yes,’’ Reatta said. “You have all the keys. You just have to create your own door.’’ 

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