Eating my way through Birmingham, AL

While in Birmingham for a meeting and a cooking segment on ABC”s Birmingham news to promote Myasthenia Gravis ( a neuromuscular disease my dad has) awareness month, I explored the food scene.

After my mom and I scanned the internet for restaurant recommendations and reviews, we happened upon the Little Donkey (Homewood). Birmingham Magazine voted it the best new restaurant of 2012. I loved the decor of rustic industrial charm.

A basket of warm chips and spicy salsa was our start to the meal. After much deliberation we decided on sharing the Torta De Cerdo for our entree. A smoky pulled pork atop homemade bread layered with pinto beans, cheese, and guacamole was its description. Served alongside was a rich tomato broth for dipping. I am not much of a bread eater so I opted for a side of their homemade corn tortillas. My mom dove right in while I built my pork taco. We couldn”t complete our meal without their side of elote (corn on the cob served street vendor style with cotija cheese and ancho chili powder), a contrast of sweet, salty, and a touch spicy all-in-one.

For our dessert, we walked next door. Just a few steps away is the coffee shop, Octane and popsicle shop, Steel City Pops.

Espresso Popsicle = “Affogato”

My mom dipped her chocolate popsicle in espresso and enjoyed the creamy rich chocolate and coffee flavors. Steel City Pops offers a variety of popsicle flavors including my sister, Brittyn”s favorite- buttermilk.

Preparing my peaches & “buttermilk” cream popsicles while chef Scottie prepares his baked grouper and vegetables on Birmingham”s ABC news.

What”s for lunch?

My mom and I have eaten at the high end Bottega restaurant for dinner but we have never tried their cafe next door. Tip: Experience the  food Bottega has to offer but at a more reasonable price at their cafe which is open for lunch and dinner while Bottega is only open for dinner.

Corn on a pizza? We were intrigued. Remembering that we just put up over 150 ears of sweet corn from our garden had us even more interested. We needed several recipe ideas for corn.

One bite and I was hooked. Bursts of juicy sweet flavor popped in my mouth as I sunk my teeth into the corn studded pizza. Crunchy, chewy pieces of bacon added a contrast to the sweet corn with a salty note. The wood fired oven baked pizza crust was perfectly chewy and crispy. The crust which is sometimes thought of as just a vehicle for the toppings and an afterthought to the pizza was  flavorful with a bit of texture from a dusting of cornmeal before being baked.

We walked off the corn pizza with several hours of antique and thrift store shopping. We had built up quite an appetite and were ready for an early dinner by the time 5:30 p.m. rolled around. On our list of recommended restaurants from a friend was El Barrio in downtown Birmingham.

The decor was recycled chic. Hanging over the rustic dark wooden booths were lighting made from roof vents. Chalkboard painted walls showcased the special of the day.

A fusion of Mexican and Southern was evident from the menu items. A grilled chorizo meatloaf, Mexican bbq chicken, and more. We decided upon the zucchini escabeche for our appetizer.

The addition of fried okra won me over. Grilled zucchini pieces were topped with an escabeche vinaigrette, lima beans, fried okra, and queso fresco.  This dish was devine! Salty, sweet, acidic, crunchy, creamy, and everything in between was showcased on the plate.

Seeking comfort food, we chose and shared the chorizo meatloaf. The description on the menu sounded mouthwatering with the grilled chorizo meatloaf atop spinach cotija-mashed potatoes and a ranchera sauce. I could have cleaned my plate but restrained myself. Always in a recipe developing mode, I thought of a combination of andouille sausae and beef for a creole meatloaf.

In my book, a meal can not be complete without a side of warm crispy cornbread with creamy butter. Their cornbread did not have the traditional pie slice shape but was cut into thick rectangles. The crispy outer coating, achieved from a visit on a sizzling griddle, was perfection.

I can not wait until my next visit to Birmingham. I am sure if I don”t have a reason to visit soon that I can come up with one. haha! Until next time, I will definitely be creating the Mexican street vendor style corn for my family”s 4th of July cookout.