North Italia’s summer menu hits all the right notes

By Chanda Temple

When I recently walked into North Italia at the Summit in Birmingham to try their summer menu, I asked the visiting chef what I could expect.

The first word out of his mouth was: Love.

“You’re gonna taste all of the love that we put in our food,” said Chris Curtiss, North Italia’s corporate chef and director of Culinary Research and Development. “Everything is made from scratch. All of our pastas are made by hand. We’ve sourced the best ingredients.”

He did not lie.

The Lumache Alla Norcina didn’t just show up, it took a seat, made a scene and shut the table down. The cream? So rich. That fennel sausage? Loud in the best way. Combined with black truffle, herb breadcrumbs and shaved asparagus, it was luxury in every bite. (I even heard the server call this dish “scrape-the-bowl good!” )

The Braised Short Rib Marsala appeared like a general on a mission. It was fully in charge. Coming in as back up was its army of beech mushrooms, snap peas, heirloom carrots and black truffle risotto. Together, this was a full-on takeover with flavor in command.

And the Tiramisu? Its espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone mousse and chocolate pearls made it the showstopper for the evening. Thick, cold and creamy, I felt like saluting. Then, I asked for an encore.

Dish after dish, it was evident that North Italia did not come to play this summer. They came to slay. (Their summer menu will be available until late October.)

“It’s our take on modern Italian cuisine, and we tried to base all of our dishes on a certain region of Italy but through a twist that will appeal to a lot of people,” Curtiss said.

So, settle in and get ready because North Italia is reporting for duty with love in every layer.

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Fat Charles: Tacos, Legacy and Love After Loss

By Chanda Temple

When Charles Pilot and Chris Pilot launched their Fat Charles OG Tacos in 2019, Birmingham stopped and took notice.

They were soft tortilla shells filled with smoked chicken or brisket; two to three freshly-grated cheeses; colorful, homemade Pico de Gallo; and their own creamy concoction known as OG Sauce. The tacos came with a presentation that pulled you in, and a flavor that refused to let you go.

Tacos are what's king at the Fat Charles food truck in Birmingham. (Photo from Fat Charles Corp.)
Tacos are what’s king at the Fat Charles food truck in Birmingham. (Photo from Fat Charles Corp.)

As soon as Fat Charles BBQ opened, a long line quickly formed. Hours later, “Sold Out’’ would be written across the menu board. “There is a restaurant on every corner in Birmingham, and just to know that somebody wakes up and comes and wants food from us, it was a blessing then and it’s a blessing now,’’ said Chris.

The brothers, who are Birmingham natives and graduates of E.B. Erwin High School in Center Point, were like Batman and Robin, tightly connected in working to make Fat Charles BBQ a household name.

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Cutie Chutes are glamming up Birmingham party plates

By Chanda Temple

In 2021, Lauree Blair was working a full-time job, using her social work degree to help those in need. On the side, she ran a brand new charcuterie catering company known as Cutie Chutes.

But when there was a funding issue at her full-time job, she was laid off. She wondered: “What next?” God had the answer. He told her to “Put your energy into Cutie Chutes.”

Lauree hesitated at first. So many questions filled her head, and fear pierced her heart. But Lauree operated in obedience and pushed forward.

What came next left Lauree stunned.

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Toasted Yolk brings a new breakfast vibe to Birmingham

Colette Lewis and her brother, Charles, recently held the grand opening for The Toasted Yolk Cafe, a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot in downtown Birmingham on 20th Street South. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

By Chanda Temple 

Colette Lewis remembers how excited she was to get her first Easy-Bake Oven.

It was Christmas morning, and she was about 7 years old. She pulled out packets of cake mix as her father plugged in the toy oven. After the first layer was done, Colette’s brother, Charles, who was about 3 years old, couldn’t wait to try it.

“That was our first time cooking,’’ Charles recalled. “It was good.’’

Now, decades later, the siblings, who grew up in Flint, Michigan, are excited to be cooking up something together again, but on a much larger scale. On Monday July 14, they hosted the grand opening for The Toasted Yolk Cafe, a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot in downtown Birmingham on 20th Street South, between Synovus Bank and Panda Express. Their franchise is part of the Houston-based Toasted Yolk brand. Birmingham is the company’s 51st store.

“We are offering good food, good portions and a good vibe,’’ said Charles. “It’s what Birmingham needs.’’

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For Fatimah Jackson, Healing Was Just the First Course

By Chanda Temple

One month after deciding to leave her banking job of 16 years to start a new career in information technology (IT), Fatimah Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In denial, thinking the doctors had gotten it wrong, she sought second, third, and fourth opinions. Six months later, she was in treatment. It was the summer of 2020.

For the next year and a half, Jackson underwent chemotherapy and radiation and later had a mastectomy. During treatment, she looked for things to keep her busy. Because she was vegan — a lifestyle that excludes the use and/or consumption of animal products — she started doing vegan meal prep for others to make money. As she posted photos of vegan lasagna, curry bowls, and salads to Facebook, she gained a following.

“People said the [food] looked good but they wanted to know where the meat was,” Jackson said of her meals. “I told them, ‘You don’t need meat.’”

A few friends decided to take Jackson up on her “no meat” comment and started using her meal prep plans, too. Then, those friends posted their own pictures of Jackson’s food. Her following continued to grow, and people booked her for pop-up events which led to her selling vegan food through her new company, Solcial Veg, in August 2022.

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Birmingham Chef Frank Stitt is focus of new art and photo exhibit

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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Homewood’s Ironwood Kitchen Launches New Menu That Redefines Southern Comfort

By Chanda Temple

Last night, Ironwood Kitchen and Cocktails in Homewood, AL did something special.

They debuted a brand-new menu by Executive Chef Kirstyn Bielawa, who is giving Southern hospitality a whole new flavor.

Upon my arrival, I was escorted to the patio, where I sat under a golden Alabama sky and watched a firepit flicker and a guitarist strum familiar tunes. As a breeze settled in, servers began floating through with trays filled with Gulf oysters, shrimp cocktail, candied bacon, and corn and cheddar fritters crowned with tomato jam and roasted corn.

Now, here’s a confession: this was my first time trying a raw oyster straight from the shell. I’ve had them fried, and even charbroiled. But raw? Never. I stared at it, unsure of my next move, until a kind stranger leaned over and said, “Just swallow it.” So I did. And I’d do it again because those oysters? They deserve a standing ovation. (See photo below.)

Then came The Hanger, which is a smoky candied bacon coated in chipotle brown sugar, presented dangling from a wooden stand. Before it even made it to my plate, a server hit the bacon with a flame. Fire or no fire, that oh-so-pretty piece of pork didn’t last long. To this day, I still think about it. Yum!

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Volunteer slots still available for the World Police & Fire Games in Birmingham

By Chanda Temple

June 15 is the deadline to sign up to be a volunteer for the World Police and Fire Games, which will be in Birmingham June 27 – July 6.

Different opportunities are available, including registration, competition assistant, athlete check-in, timers/counters, results runners, medals, set up and tear down, and more. A majority of the volunteer slots are in Birmingham, but other slots are in Jefferson, Shelby and Talladega counties. There are no remote positions. Some positions, such as registration, check-in, score keepers, etc., are available for those who cannot stand for long periods of time. Groups and clubs are encouraged to register, too.

Applicants must be 16 years old by June 1, 2025 to volunteer.  

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Birmingham foot soldiers to re-enact the 1963 Children’s Crusade

By Chanda Temple

Foot soldiers and more than 200 students will gather in Kelly Ingram Park on Friday, May 9 to re-enact the 1963 Birmingham Children’s Crusade, also known as the Children’s March. Participants will meet at the park’s pavilion at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., they will gather at Sixth Avenue North and 17th Street North to start walking toward Birmingham City Hall.  They will end their walk at Boutwell Auditorium, where they will watch a 40-minute documentary and hear from speakers. Organizers estimate that they will arrive at Boutwell around 9:30 a.m. Several community partners will have tables set up in the Boutwell lobby for students to collect resources.

Birmingham’s historic Children’s Crusade, which took place May 2-10,1963, involved more than 1,000 students walking downtown to talk to leadership at City Hall about segregation. At the time, many students left their schools to conduct peaceful marches. They were arrested, released from jail, marched again and arrested again. Children were sprayed with fire hoses and attacked by police dogs. The event, which compelled President John F. Kennedy to publicly support federal civil rights legislation, eventually led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  

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The John Lennon Tour Bus will roll in front of Birmingham City Hall on April 29

By Chanda Temple

Food trucks will be present in front of Birmingham City Hall on Tuesday, April 29 when the John Lennon Tour Bus rolls up for the public to visit.

The bus will be parked on Short 20th and open for free tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This bus tours across America, showcasing its one-of-a-kind mobile recording studio created by Yoko Ono in memory of her late husband and Beatles legend, John Lennon. Throughout the day, selected Birmingham students will be creating music inside the bus studio and learn about the music industry.

Organizers said this will not only be a chance to appreciate Lennon history but also support entrepreneurs running their food trucks.

Food trucks will start serving at 11 a.m.

The following vendors are slated to attend:

Amber’s Desserts

Frozen Rooster

Terrific Treatz

Yummy Ice

Corazon

Luvin Freshly Lemonade

Hit Different BBQ

Battle Axe Feast

Good Ole Dawgs

Craving Cajun

Yo Chef!

Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at  http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple. 

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