what i ordered: steel city pops

Posted in Around Tuscaloosa, Around Birmingham, What I ordered by

So maybe I am late to this partay, but I heard some super good news recently: Steel City Pops is coming to Tuscaloosa! It’s been rumored here and there, but I thought it was too good to be true.
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Steel City Pops makes pops with 100 percent natural and, when possible, organic and locally-harvested ingredients. Their approach is inspired by traditional Mexican paletas, which means they are full of fruit and flavor, and you’ll always find something a little adventurous, like pineapple and jalapeno or creamy avocado.

Anyways, this post is sort of a mezcla of a couple of different visits to the Homewood location, which is next to this goodness. Start with a pop, finish with a cortado. Duh.

The first time I went, I was migrainin’, so I decided to play it safe flavor-wise and I went with their raspberry. It was tart and sweet and perfectly seedy.
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I loved that pop. But the one that sealed the deal was their Chocolate Chili, which I tried on another visit.

In the Chocolate Chili is: chocolate, Mexican cinnamon, ancho chili powder, serrano (whaaat?), cane sugar, milk and cream.

It was creamy and delicious and my lips burned a little bit with each bite. Such decadence with such sensational heat! You might think, no no, I don’t like a spicy-sweet juxtaposition. This is dessert, darnit! But don’t be like me and be all hesitant. Just jump in blindly because you’ll be ever so in love.

Cheers! (My Chocolate Chili is the one up front!)
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PS: You can also get your pops dipped in chocolate. Thumbs up.

Steel City Pops on Urbanspoon

life update!

Posted in Personal by

Well, hello! I’m sorry I’ve been pretty sketchy since my last post, which was in February, which is embarrassing!

You may notice a few changes … what are your thoughts on the new look? It’s still a work in progress, and I’ll be tweaking as I go. I’d love to hear what you think.

And I have a bit of an update: new job! (Well, I suppose it’s been a couple of months now.) I am a communications specialist for the University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences, which is also a regional campus for the University of Alabama School of Medicine. I love this job. It’s been a wonderful combination of reporting, writing, learning about health care, growing a web presence, a bit of graphic design, photography, social media growth and working with the different departments of the college. It’s really been great. I love the people I’m working with, and I am having so much fun absorbing all the information that is constantly surrounding me.

But perhaps one of the greatest perks of this job is the location! I’m no longer making the 1-hour drive to work, and it’s everything I thought it could be. I get to meet up with James for lunch. And if I, say,  spill coffee on myself halfway to work, I’m not 45 minutes away from home!

And with that comes this: now that I have a bit more time at home, I WILL blog more often. You can expect the same food-related thoughts you’ve received in the past along with a few different things here and there.

Until then!

instagram update

Posted in Around Birmingham, Around Tuscaloosa, Beer, Digital story telling, Entertaining, home life, Interior Design, Lunch, Mid-morning hunger, Personal, Photography, Travel, Wedding, What I ordered by

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a Saturday afternoon | Avondale Brewing Co. & Saw’s Soul Kitchen

Posted in Alabama beer, Around Birmingham, Beer, Beverage, Lunch, Restaurant hopping, Southern food, Travel, What I ordered by

There are a great many things Birmingham has to offer that let  you feel that you are enjoying life to the fullest. I’ve often found myself searching for just the right suggestions for out-of-towners searching for somewhere to go, somewhere to truly experience Birmingham. The city has several attractions: the Civil Rights Institute, the Vulcan, Birmingham Museum of Art, Sloss Furnace, Railroad Park (just to name a few), or just driving around beautiful, historic neighborhoods and experiencing the architecture and the culture.

But when it comes to a good meal and a good time, it can be quite hard to pick a place out of all there is to offer.
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If this locale fits the crowd you’re with, I suggest a boozy afternoon at Avondale Brewing‘s taproom.
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First, head two doors down over to Saw’s. (I reviewed this place some time ago, when their only location was in Edgewood, but the city now boasts two more locations: Saw’s Soul Kitchen in Avondale as well as Saw’s Juke Joint in Crestline. This little establishment has seen some well-deserved growth.)

Back to your to-do list: place an order at Saw’s. I recommend one of their Baker’s—the pork one is incredible. On top of this oversized baked potato, you have an entire layer of tender, juicy, divine pulled pork with crispy, charred edges. Then as you dive deeper in, you get a layer of cheesy potato with green onions and more pork. And if you order a side of white sauce, it’s just all over.
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Or you could also get the Saw’s Burger, which is a darn good burger. And on the side, order onion rings or fries—you can’t go wrong either way.

Then carry your food over to the Avondale taproom, and find a spot to sit and eat while sipping a beer, perhaps a seasonal Peach Saison, which is light, crispy, and delicately sweet.

Finish that beer, then order a flight of their flagship beers.
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My personal favorites are the Spring Street Saison which is citrusy and crisp (I’ve mentioned this before), the Scottish Ale with its sweet flavors and buttery aftertaste, and the Vanillaphant Porter, with chocolate and coffee undertones.
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You might have to hang out awhile. Lots of beer-drinking and eating can do that to you. But with such great atmosphere (and good company), you won’t want to leave!
Saw's Soul Kitchen on Urbanspoon
Avondale Brewery on Urbanspoon

on newsstands now: Celebrate Weddings!

Posted in Around Birmingham, Beverage, California food, Entertaining, Mexican food, Personal, Photography, Recipe, Southern words, Wedding by

Whether or not you’re planning a big day, you definitely should take a look at Celebrate‘s first ever weddings special issue! Our whole team worked hard on this. We love a challenge, and I think this issue shows it.
WEDDINGCOVER

You can pick this issue up on newsstands, or you can order it here! (Hey, it’s at a special price right now!)

Here’s a peek at one of my favorite stories I got to write. I LOVED this Mexican destination wedding! So many lovely ideas pulled together beautifully.
Kristi&Jordan

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Kristi&Jordan (dragged) 3 Kristi&Jordan (dragged) 4

mid-morning hunger: WINGS

Posted in Around Tuscaloosa, Beer, Mid-morning hunger, Personal, Recipe, Southern food, Tailgating, Weekend cooking by

On Super Bowl Sunday, we made these:
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It’s cool—you can be impressed.
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We used an adaptation of Sunny Anderson’s wings recipe for the Buffalo variety, and used that to add a spin to Caribbean Jerk marinade. I kid you not, these were the best wings I’ve probably ever had. Adding the lemon juice (we added the juice of half a lemon) and herbs to the sauce completely took wings to a new level for me. (We also cut down on the butter, and just did one stick). We then added a bit of lemon, butter, and herbs to Caribbean Jerk marinade, as well.

In addition to the great flavor, the texture of this was unreal. We shook these in a bag of flour, and then we let them sit for a few hours to absorb it all. What resulted was perfectly crisp, perfectly juicy wings. Ah, I’m salivating just thinking about it.

For Valentine’s Day, we talked about making pizza with a glass of wine. We talked about going out to a fancy dinner. And all of these sounded great, until James suggested we just do what truly is nothing but fun for us.

And so, we will be having hot and spicy wings and a pitcher of beer.

what we ordered: the heavenly donut co.

Posted in Around Birmingham, Breakfast, Lunch, Mid-morning hunger, Restaurant hopping, Travel, What I ordered by

About five minutes down the road from where I work sits a shiny, brand-new doughnut shop. Walk through The Heavenly Doughnut Co.’s doors, and this Christian-run operation is filled with the sweet smell of doughnuts baking, and a case full of tempting options sits in front of you.
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Christina and I ate doughnuts for lunch last week. These doughnuts, to be precise:

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1. Maple-Bacon
This was easily my favorite of the bunch. I appreciated what a bit of salt and savory can do to a sweet maple glaze on a yeast doughnut. Next time I go in, it will be to try one of these or the one below.

2. Blueberry Cake
Whenever I eat a blueberry cake doughnut, I’m transported back to after-church snacking when I was little. I’d make a cup of tea with way too much cream and sugar, then I’d grab a blueberry cake doughnut and go find my friends. This was a great version of, what is for me, a classic. I didn’t find the cake too heavy and the blueberry flavor was sweet and prominent.

3. Bavarian Cream
The cream was as rich as you’d hope without being over the top. I love how light the yeast doughnuts were.

4. Chocolate-Peanut Butter
Ok, this one crossed a line for me—it’s way too rich. I had one bite and had to stop eating.

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So have you been by yet? What did you order? What do you think? I would suggest liking Heavenly Donut Co. on Facebook – they have special deals and trivia questions with free giveaways often posted there. YUM!
Heavenly Donut Company on Urbanspoon