News for May 2011

Vulcan Park hosts exhibit of Alabama Folk Art

In celebration of the Year of Alabama Music, Vulcan Park and Museum presents The Music Lives On: Folk Song Traditions Told by Alabama Artists, an exhibition of works depicting the region’s great musical traditions created by the state’s most celebrated folk artists. Those represented in this colorful exhibition include such acclaimed artists as Lonnie Holley, Joe Minter, Charlie Lucas, and Thornton Dial. Through the creations of these great artists, visitors to Vulcan Park and Museum will encounter a parallel artistic universe – the world of blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, and other popular forms of music that define Birmingham, the state, and the region. The exhibit will be on display through Aug. 26.

For more information please see www.visitvulcan.com.

Edited: May 24th, 2011

FINDING REALLY OUTSTANDING FINE DINING

You may feel as I do. There are many “fine dining” restaurants that do not hit the mark of really outstanding food in the maze of eateries. It is always a serendipity moment when one discoveries a nugget of pure gold in a field of mediocrity. “The Classic on Nobel” is such a restaurant. Truly, a 24 carat experience in dinning.

We had been hearing such good reports about The Classic on Nobel (located on Nobel Street in Anniston, AL), so we dropped in for lunch this week.

Upon entering the restaurant you are given pause by the immensity of the main dining room itself. The 18th century architecture is absolutely stunning and the décor is elaborate and rich in detail yet warm and inviting.

The tables are draped with white table cloths and fresh flowers in long steam crystal vases as the center piece.

But I deflect from the most important item; the food. The menu has a vast selection of scrumptious offerings from “Crispy Mandarin Glazed Chicken” to “Chilean Sea Bass”. However, with all the mouth watering entrees to select from, there was one that had a clarion call for any Southern boy or girl. It was one of the dishes chosen by the Alabama Tourism Department as, “One of the 100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die”. The Shrimp and Grits, but don’t be fooled, not just any shrimp and grits. I see why they were selected as one of the dishes to eat before you die. They are to die for indeed. The dish consist of Jumbo white gulf shrimp scampied served over grits with fresh collard greens, Andouille sauage, tomatoes and bacon topped with shaved parmesan cheese. Now, that’s good. It will make a Southerner out of a Yankee any day of the week. It truly is indescribable and has to be experienced. Of course, we began our meal with one of their many wonderful salad selection. We choose the “Nobel Salad” which is prepared with fresh greens, sliced strawberries, sliced apple, cranberries, crumbled bleu cheese, spiced pecans and a tangy dressing.

Then for the finale, and you just have to taste this before you miss out on one of the best deserts ever eaten. “The Bread Pudding”. Now, that sounds rather generic, however it is anything but what you imagine that dish would taste like. It is truly out of this world desert. Can you tell I liked this food? As an add enrichment to your dining experience, the service was without exception wonderful.

We met the owner and manager, David Mashburn during our visit. Such a likable gentleman with a obvious concern for serving outstanding food and meeting the needs of his patrons.

I can’t wait to return to Noble Street and enjoy the Classic on Noble. Here is their website for additional information. www.classiconnoble.com

You will not be disappointed, but very pleased when you visit the Classic.

Edited: May 20th, 2011

Pepper Place market in Birmingham expands

Pepper Place Saturday Market, a place for local farmers and food entrepreneurs to showcase their products, begins its expanded season with some new sounds. Pepper Place Saturday Market opened April 16 with a small area for farmers selling fresh strawberries, plus a few other vendors in the garden parking lot at the corner of 28th Street and Third Avenue South. The market begins its expanded season through Oct. 8 with 80 vendors showcasing their fresh vegetables, jewelry, artwork and music, spread out to other areas around Pepper Place, said Lisa Beasley, the market manager for Pepper Place. The market is open each Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. After Oct. 8 the market will continue opening each Saturday to Dec. 17 with about half the number of vendors, Beasley said.The market, now in its 12th year, has traditionally had musicians. But this year the market will be an official venue for the Year of Alabama Music. In addition to some of the market’s traditional musicians, including Mike Hipp, Grover Cleveland, and Fiddlin’ in the Parlor, there will be musicians making their first-ever appearances, market officials said. The market is collaborating with Birmingham Arts and Music to bring Kurt Jenkins, Josh Vasa, Rick Carter and Jon Poor to the Front Porch Stage. Also, the market is working with Birmingham’s Grey Haven Music Community to bring their musicians to the 29th Street Stage. Also new to the Pepper Place stage are Birmingham’s RAW Jazz Trio, Montevallo’s Horses, As Is and the traditional Irish group, The Vulcan Eejits.

One goal of the market is to support the local farming system in Alabama and bring fresh locally grown produce to people in the Birmingham area, Beasley said. “We also want to support our local artists and musicians,” she said. “We have a diverse culture here in Birmingham. … We enjoy bringing those folks out and sharing their talents with the community,” Beasley said. A lot of producers make foods such as salsa, mustard, and cookies to sell at the market, Beasley said. Some are start-up companies looking to expand into supermarkets, she said. “It’s fun to see them start up their business and grow,” Beasley said. Among the new vendors who will participate this summer are an artisan bread company from Huntsville and, in about a month or so, a farmer from north Alabama who will sell mushrooms grown in a greenhouse, Beasley said. As in years past, local chefs will be holding a cooking demonstration at 9 a.m. each Saturday through September 3 at the back porch near 29th Street South.
   

Edited: May 19th, 2011

Birmingham chef Frank Stitt inducted into Who’s Who of Food and Beverage

Frank Stitt was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America” at the foundation’s annual award dinner at Lincoln Center in New York City on Monday. The honor is awarded to individuals in the U.S. food and beverage industry who have made significant and lasting achievements and contributions to their professions. Stitt is chef and owner of Birmingham’s Highlands Bar and Grill and is featured on the cover of the Alabama Tourism Department’s “100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die” brochure. Alabama native Rick Bragg was also honored with a James Beard Foundation journalism award for the article “The Southerner’s Guide to Oysters” he co-wrote for Garden & Gun magazine.
Runner’s World lists Oak Mountain State Park trail as one of the top in the nation
From the article “Double Oak Trail recognized by Runner’s World” by Patrick Hickerson in The Birmingham News:

A national publication listing the top 25 trail runs in America has a metro Birmingham trek nestled among marquee destinations such as the Appalachian Trail, Grand Canyon and Ha’ena State Park in Hawaii. Double Oak Trail at Oak Mountain State Park is part of “The Crown Jewels” in Runner’s World’s The Trail, a special, trail-running publication. The blurb notes the 17-mile trail passes a lake and hardwood valleys, with a few “punchy climbs” to ridges decked with pines. It concludes noting rocky terrain and other features that “make for a rewarding run.” That’s not the only mention for Oak Mountain in the magazine. The XTERRA Oak Mountain Runs on May 21 fall under “32 of the top trail running races, from sea to shining sea.” And Double Oak Trail, also popular with mountain bikers, will play a lengthy role in the XTERRA, which will have a marathon and half-marathon. It also offers a 10K and 5K that go through a fabled mud pit.”I think it’s a wonderful benefit for the park to be recognized on a national level,” said Oak Mountain Superintendent Michael Jeffreys. “Our staff and volunteers have worked to make our trails the best possible for the public.” Brandon Mader of Huntsville is a familiar — and successful — trail runner at Oak Mountain, where he won 10K, 19K and 21K races last year. He hopes to run the full marathon — 42K — next month. Like other trail runners, he noted that Oak Mountain has several great paths along with Double Oak that offer different scenery and challenges. “I like Oak Mountain quite a bit,” Mader said. “There’s quite a bit of variety in the trails. You’re constantly going through different regions of the park. Some is going up and down ravines, others are flatter, on the ridges with the pine trees.” He has run the park’s trails in November, March and June and favors the warmest setting.
   

Edited: May 12th, 2011