By Chanda Temple

Some chefs make meals. Frank Stitt made a movement.

For more than four decades, Stitt has been a quiet force behind Birmingham’s rise as a culinary destination. Long before the awards, the cookbooks, and the national attention, there was just a man in a kitchen, committed to honoring local farmers, Southern heritage, and the belief that a great meal can change everything.

Because of the role he’s played in the city’s food scene, local artist and photographer Arden Upton has created an exhibit in his honor. The exhibit is on display at Birmingham City Hall on the second floor near the elevated crosswalk as part of Birmingham Restaurant Week, which will take place July 17 – 26. The exhibit, which is the first time Birmingham Restaurant Week has had such a showcase, will remain up into August.

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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.  

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 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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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 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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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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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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