Southern History Book of the Month: Magic City Cravings: The Most Requested Recipes from Birmingham Restaurants Then & Now
by Mary Anne Ellis, Southern History Department, Central Library
Magic City Cravings: The Most Requested Recipes from Birmingham Restaurants Then & Now
Martie Duncan with Chanda Temple
Foreword by Taylor Hicks
For people who enjoy good eating, this time of year is worthy of celebration in song: “Food, glorious food!” Perhaps you like a home-cooked holiday dinner, or maybe your family prefers going out to a restaurant to celebrate. Magic City Cravings will appeal to both preferences as it serves up a smorgasbord of recipes from Birmingham restaurants—the best of yesterday and today.
If you’re nostalgic for some of those Birmingham dishes you thought you’d never taste again, head straight for the chapter “Gone But Not Forgotten Favorites,” in which you’ll find treats like the Ensley Grill Cinnamon Rolls, Joy Young’s Egg Foo Young (remember when Joy Young was the only Chinese restaurant in town?), Marsh Bakery’s Coconut Cake, and the She-Crab Soup from Cobb Lane—supposedly lauded by Julia Child as the best she’d ever eaten. Quite a recommendation.
In addition to the recipes, there’s a culinary history of Birmingham that includes “Greek Restaurant Roots”—if you’ve lived in the Birmingham area for very long, you’ve probably eaten at a restaurant owned by one of the Greek families that have left their mark on Birmingham cuisine, ranging from Pete’s Famous Hot Dogs, originally run by Gus Koutroulakis, to George Sarris’ Fish Market. Other ethnic influences on the Birmingham food scene include numerous Italian, Chinese, Jewish, Indian, and African American families. And Birmingham’s love affair with food continues to this day, as evidenced by the excitement over the recent opening of the Food Hall in the former Pizitz Building downtown.
People who are new to the Birmingham area would probably find the “Where to Eat What” chapter very useful with its suggestions on how to locate a good meal, whether it’s breakfast or brunch or happy hour, or even “Late Night Bites.” What type of food do you crave? Check the listings for “Meat-And-Three”: A Birmingham tradition: meat and 3 vegetables for the uninitiated—and by vegetable, we mean mac ‘n cheese.
Maybe you’re hunting for “A Great Burger” or “Decadent Desserts.” And great food doesn’t have to have one fixed location; be on the lookout for fantastic offerings via Food Truck from Big Spoon Creamery or Snapper Grabber’s Coastal Kitchen. There’s also a handy map of Birmingham area neighborhoods to help you locate your choices more easily.
So whether you prefer fine dining out or home cooking for your holiday meals, reserve some time to take a look at Magic City Cravings; if it doesn’t make you lick your lips and go “mmmm,” you should have your doctor check to make sure your taste buds haven’t shriveled up and died. Enjoy a delicious holiday season!
For further information:
Martie Duncan on Food Network
Chanda Temple
Pizitz Food Hall
“50 Essential Birmingham Restaurants”
“20 Alabama Restaurants We Wish We Had Back”
Martie Duncan with Chanda Temple
Foreword by Taylor Hicks
For people who enjoy good eating, this time of year is worthy of celebration in song: “Food, glorious food!” Perhaps you like a home-cooked holiday dinner, or maybe your family prefers going out to a restaurant to celebrate. Magic City Cravings will appeal to both preferences as it serves up a smorgasbord of recipes from Birmingham restaurants—the best of yesterday and today.
If you’re nostalgic for some of those Birmingham dishes you thought you’d never taste again, head straight for the chapter “Gone But Not Forgotten Favorites,” in which you’ll find treats like the Ensley Grill Cinnamon Rolls, Joy Young’s Egg Foo Young (remember when Joy Young was the only Chinese restaurant in town?), Marsh Bakery’s Coconut Cake, and the She-Crab Soup from Cobb Lane—supposedly lauded by Julia Child as the best she’d ever eaten. Quite a recommendation.
In addition to the recipes, there’s a culinary history of Birmingham that includes “Greek Restaurant Roots”—if you’ve lived in the Birmingham area for very long, you’ve probably eaten at a restaurant owned by one of the Greek families that have left their mark on Birmingham cuisine, ranging from Pete’s Famous Hot Dogs, originally run by Gus Koutroulakis, to George Sarris’ Fish Market. Other ethnic influences on the Birmingham food scene include numerous Italian, Chinese, Jewish, Indian, and African American families. And Birmingham’s love affair with food continues to this day, as evidenced by the excitement over the recent opening of the Food Hall in the former Pizitz Building downtown.
People who are new to the Birmingham area would probably find the “Where to Eat What” chapter very useful with its suggestions on how to locate a good meal, whether it’s breakfast or brunch or happy hour, or even “Late Night Bites.” What type of food do you crave? Check the listings for “Meat-And-Three”: A Birmingham tradition: meat and 3 vegetables for the uninitiated—and by vegetable, we mean mac ‘n cheese.
Maybe you’re hunting for “A Great Burger” or “Decadent Desserts.” And great food doesn’t have to have one fixed location; be on the lookout for fantastic offerings via Food Truck from Big Spoon Creamery or Snapper Grabber’s Coastal Kitchen. There’s also a handy map of Birmingham area neighborhoods to help you locate your choices more easily.
So whether you prefer fine dining out or home cooking for your holiday meals, reserve some time to take a look at Magic City Cravings; if it doesn’t make you lick your lips and go “mmmm,” you should have your doctor check to make sure your taste buds haven’t shriveled up and died. Enjoy a delicious holiday season!
For further information:
Martie Duncan on Food Network
Chanda Temple
Pizitz Food Hall
“50 Essential Birmingham Restaurants”
“20 Alabama Restaurants We Wish We Had Back”
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