A FRESH TAKE ON ALABAMA FOOD & DRINK
START WITH DESSERT
The story behind Alabama’s official state sweet treat
THE ENTRÉE
Adding a little soul to your holiday dinner
FOOD WORLD
Taking a trip down the international boulevard of food MY FAVORITE FOOD
Alabama’s Meteorologist James Spann
CHEF FRANK
STITT EMERGES AS A CULINARY VIRTUOSO
ALACARTEAL.COM
International
FLAIR FOOD for
Chef’s Table
Traveling Alabama’s International Boulevard of Food A TASTY TRIP AROUND THE WORLD AWAITS YOU by ERIC VELASCO
I LOVE EXPLORING CULTURES THROUGH THEIR FOOD. SO, WHEN I MOVED TO BIRMINGHAM SOME 20 YEARS AGO, I QUICKLY LEARNED OUR MULTICULTURAL CULINARY CROSSROADS IS A ONE-MILE STRETCH JUST SOUTH OF BIRMINGHAM OF GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY AND A MILE IN EITHER DIRECTION WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH OXMOOR ROAD, VALLEY AND WEST VALLEY AVENUES.
T
his square-ish mile of international cuisine showcases the colorful diversity of a city many viewed mainly in black and white. More than two dozen restaurants, markets and food
trucks provide a culinary passport to the cuisines of Mexico, Central and South America, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Africa. And that doesn’t even include the Latino ice cream
and ice pops (paletas) shops and late-night kitchens inside clubs. Several markets carry halal meat, the Muslim equivalent of kosher butchery;. Others sell all kinds of cuts from whole animals.
BIRMINGHAM
14
4
26
de s
S
ING
22
PR
8
12
NS
29
17 6
2
EE
16 ley
15
GR
11 23
l Va t es W
13 13
25
24 18
ley Val
Pa lis a
Monte vallo R d
1
21
HOMEWOOD
20
19
7 9 10 r oo
28
27
xm O
5
3
LOCATIONS 1. Red Sea Ethiopian/Halal Supermarket International
16. La Perla Nayarita
2. Wananchi
17. La Sabrosita
3. Chop Suey Inn
18. La Tia Paisa Taco Shop
4. Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
19. Los Dos Hermanos
5. Hometown Supermarket/Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese Cooking
20. Los Valedores
6. Moon Star
21. Maya Restaurante Mexicano
7. Pho Quê Huong
22. Mi Pueblo
8. Red Pearl Restaurant/Super Oriental Market
23. Sabor Latino
9. Seoul Restaurant
24. Super Ofertas
10. Acapulco Bar and Grill
25. Taqueria El Parrandero
11. Brito’s Supermarket #3
26. Tortas Locas
12. El Chile
27. Purple Onion Deli and Grill
13. El Sol Cantina
28. Mediterranean Food Market
14. El Taco Loco
29. Naji’s Pita Gourmet
15. Gordos
International
FLAIR FOOD for
AFRICAN CUISINE
RED SEAS ETHIOPIAN
Picasa
Picasa
RED SEA ETHIOPIAN/HALAL SUPERMARKET INTERNATIONAL 22 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Two Ethiopian friends serve homestyle cooking on house-made spongy injera bread (or rice), along with Middle Eastern fare. This is the real deal; they even import spices and other ingredients from their former homes. Picasa
WANANCHI 273 WEST VALLEY AVENUE Modest market with basic ingredients for Kenyan food.
Picasa
A Fresh Take On Alabama Food & Drink
31
International
FLAIR FOOD for
ASIAN CUISINE
GREAT WALL CHINESE RESTURANT
Picasa
CHOP SUEY INN 813 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Old-school, mostly Cantonese menu; eggrolls follow the recipe of Joy Young, a renowned 20th century downtown Birmingham eatery. GREAT WALL CHINESE RESTAURANT 706 VALLEY AVENUE Owner Sunny Liu is a leader for introducing regional Chinese cooking, including dishes from Shanghai, where Sunny grew up and still has family.
32
Picasa
HOMETOWN SUPERMARKET/ MR. CHEN’S AUTHENTIC CHINESE COOKING 808 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Find food from throughout the world, including several African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean nations. Any cut imaginable of beef, pork, chicken, duck, fish and shellfish, as well as fresh produce make this a prime destination for adventurous cooks. MOON STAR 191 WEST VALLEY AVENUE Americanized Chinese stir-fry and Buffalo-style chicken wings. PHỞ QUÊ HƯƠNG 430 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY – GREEN SPRINGS CENTER The area’s oldest Vietnamese restaurant introduced many to pho noodle soup, banh mi sandwiches, crisp meaty spring rolls and soft fresh summer rolls.
RED PEARL RESTAURANT/SUPER ORIENTAL MARKET 243 WEST VALLEY AVENUE The oldest Asian market in town includes prepared food, sauces, spices and other ingredients from throughout the western Pacific Rim, available fresh, frozen, canned and jarred. SEOUL RESTAURANT 430 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY – GREEN SPRINGS CENTER Order Korean classics Bim Bim Bap (veggies and meat on rice, topped with egg) or marinated meat Bul Go Gi. But check out the soups, stews, seafood and tofu dishes.
ALACARTE.AL.COM
International
FLAIR FOOD for
LATIN CUISINE
ACAPULCO BAR AND GRILL
Picasa
Picasa
EL SOL CANTINA 328 VALLEY AVENUE Serves familiar dishes like enchiladas and rellenos that are more “Mex” than “Tex”, plus Mexican-style soups, seafood, entrees and snacks.
ACAPULCO BAR AND GRILL 430 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY – GREEN SPRINGS CENTER Festive mix of Tex-Mex classics and Mexican seafood and antojitos including gorditas and saucer-shaped sopes. BRITO’S SUPERMARKET #3 118 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Mostly Mexican food-oriented market including a tortilla-making machine, small vegetable stand, meat counter and fruit-juice stand. EL CHILE 273 WEST VALLEY AVENUE Another eatery that’s open late, until 2 a.m.
A Fresh Take On Alabama Food & Drink
EL TACO LOCO 702 VALLEY AVENUE Checks all the taqueria boxes – savory meats nestled in soft corn tortillas with cilantro, onions, housemade salsas and other essential condiments. GORDOS 433 VALLEY AVENUE This is where I discovered the joy of Mexican-style street tacos, and the superb flavors of animal parts that city folk generally reject. A modest market ascends to the carniceria/ restaurant and then to a sweetsfilled bakery (panaderia). I first wrote about Gordo’s a decade ago; my story still is posted there.
Nayarit coast, with whole fish and filet dishes, shrimp, octopus, oysters and crab legs. An unusual dish: Pinas, seafood baked in halved pineapples. LA SABROSITA 191 WEST VALLEY AVENUE Honduran and Mexican fare; meats from land and sea are served with fried plantain and rice. LA TIA PAISA TACO SHOP 406 WEST VALLEY AVENUE Mexican breakfast and lunch/dinner fare, from tacos to seafood and Birria de Res (beef stew). LOS DOS HERMANOS 221 WEST VALLEY AVENUE Legendary among food lovers, the Guzman brothers’ mobile kitchen is the city’s original taco truck. Its large selection of whole-animal meats proves frugality can be mighty tasty. Cash only.
LA PERLA NAYARITA 150 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY A celebration of western Mexico’s
33
International
FLAIR FOOD for
LATIN CUISINE
MAYA RESTAURANTE
Picasa
LOS VALEDORES GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY AT OXMOOR ROAD This truck serves tacos, antojitos, and torta sandwiches. Its gordita is a must try, pork chicharrones sandwiched between house-made crispy thin masa pancakes.
Picasa
MI PUEBLO 216 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY The selection of meats, vegetables and dried chiles is unparalleled. The market also sells Caribbean, Central and South American and African fare. A vendor makes tortillas inhouse. SABOR LATINO 112 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Mainly features Peruvian dishes like beef Lomo Saltado, fried seafood Jalea and appetizers like tamales, empanadas and Leche de Tigre, a spicy ceviche.
MAYA RESTAURANTE MEXICANO 308 OXMOOR ROAD Classic Tex-Mex, with specialty margaritas.
34
TAQUERIA EL PARRANDERO 2651 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Located at the Chevron station at Green Springs and Valley, it’s an al fresco destination for late-night tacos, torta sandwiches and other street food. TORTAS LOCAS 44 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Mexican snacks and entrees like Costilla de Puerco (pork ribs) and Caldo de Res (beef soup).
SUPER OFERTAS 406 WEST VALLEY AVENUE RED MOUNTAIN PLAZA Small Latino market with a modest butcher counter.
ALACARTE.AL.COM
MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
International
FLAIR FOOD for
PURPLE ONION DELI AND GRILL
Picasa
Picasa
NAJI PITA GOURMET
Picasa
PURPLE ONION DELI AND GRILL 479 GREEN SPRINGS HIGHWAY Gyros arrived in Birmingham a half-century ago. Purple Onion is a multi-location chain selling the pita wraps, and Greek and American deliciousness.
Picasa
MEDITERRANEAN FOOD MARKET 430 GREEN SPRINGS – GREEN SPRINGS CENTER This market was the first to sell halal meat. Look for spices, grains and other specialties from Palestine, Syria and other countries.
NAJI’S PITA GOURMET 166 WEST VALLEY AVENUE JouJou’s pita bread is baked here. Naji’s restaurant makes one of my favorite gyros. The market stocks canned goods including fava beans and cracked-wheat bulgur.
So, go and explore the astounding global foods paradise along Green Springs Highway. And make sure you bring a healthy appetite and an adventurous palate. A Fresh Take On Alabama Food & Drink
35