Hospital Food----My how it's changed>>>For the better

I work for a huge academic healthcare center which recently implemented a new "room service" type menu for patients. There are multiple options for various diets (e.g. low sodium, low fat, glycemic, etc.) The patient satisfaction reviews are through the roof! There are even seasonal options that were developed by a local chef who is a James Beard nominee. He routinely holds cooking classes for the hospital chefs that prepare the food. Pretty impressive.

sheilal in General Chowhounding Topics

Bhm - Where do you buy your spirits?

I always use the state store. But it probably depends on the WHICH state store that you go to (e.g. choose a Mtn Brook one over a Roebuck one). I saw a Pappy 20 year recently on the shelf (it was a first!). But they routinely have Makers Mark, Knob Creek & Bookers. Admittedly, I'm a fairly recent bourbon convert, so maybe these aren't high-end enough for you?

sheilal in Central South

BHM - Food Truck Round-Up tomorrow

The hamburger from Shindigs is great!!! The pork belly buns and short rib buns are wonderful as well. Haven't tried Spoonfed yet.

sheilal in Central South

Foods you dread making because they’re time-consuming

Shanagain, I'm with you on the gumbo. While it can stew unattended with little supervision, it's the darn prep of all the ingredients that take forever. And the roux!! It takes about an hour of constant stirring to get that deep caramel color. I make a HUGE batch once a year, enjoy a serving or two and then freeze the rest. At least my efforts are rewarded.

sheilal in Home Cooking

Grocery Stores in Bham

The next cold spell . . . which will probably be in October. :)

I just learned to make it this winter. I've always been a ground beef, tomato based chili lover, but this stuff has me converted! Thick & rich, and luscious! OMG! The leftovers (when there are some) are fabulous wrapped in a corn tortilla.

sheilal in Central South

Saturday lunch in Birmingham this week

All the places you mentioned are fine dining establishments. Most are not open for lunch. However, most open at 5 or 5:30 so you could get an early seating if you'll still be in town. If not, here are a few suggestions:
-The sister restaurant to Bottega is open for lunch. Bottega Cafe is adjacent. The food is much more casual, but still really good.
- The Fish Market is a couple of blocks away from UAB Hospital and is a lunch staple. Fresh fish with a Medi twist. The oysters are really good.
- Surin West is a good to great Thai place. The sushi is good and the chicken noodle bowl (I get it Thai hot) is fabulous, and a great value.
- Taziki's is a fast casual place that have a wonderful special each Friday & Saturday. Penne pasta with grilled chicken, feta, basil, tomatoes & balsamic dressing. Yum.
- Silvertron Cafe is a very short drive from UAB. They have a pretty diverse menu so you should be able to find something to your liking. The triple salad platter is my go-to. Shrimp salad, pasta salad, & chicken salad.

Hope this helps.

sheilal in Central South

New food truck

Looks great! I love a good pho or bahn mi.

sheilal in Central South

Grocery Stores in Bham

Whole Foods is very close to Mountain Brook so you should have no worries there. And let's be honest, if you can afford to live in Mtn Brook, shopping at Whole Foods on a regular basis won't be an issue. I'd love to be able to shop there a lot. I'm like a kid in a candy store. SO much variety. I'm a condiment junkie and I walk out of there with flavored vinegars, hard to find hot sauces, chutneys, mustards, pickled items, & salts. YUM!!

Back on topic, Mtn Brook has a lot of really good restaurants, so you won't lack dining options. A local legend - Gilchrist Drugs has a great old fashioned lunch counter with fabulous pimento cheese sandwiches and cherry limeade. A must try for you! Dram/Avo is getting a lot of buzz lately. I haven't personally been, but have read good things about it. Ollie Irene is up for a James Beard award this year for best new restaurants. Local ingredients with a nuevo southern flair. Try using Yelp and Urbanspoon for reviews, menus, & maps. Urbanspoon is mostly for restaurants, but Yelp can help out with doctors, dentists, cleaners, etc. Hope you like it in the 'Ham!!!

sheilal in Central South

Grocery Stores in Bham

Vestavia is a fabulous area to live in but not a mecca of great food. Luckily, you're centrally located enough to where no place in the metro area is an unreasonable drive.

Publix will likely be your market of choice. If you like Cuban food, I recommend Kool Korner. It's a dive, but it's wonderful. Mugshots has a great hamburger.

sheilal in Central South

Grocery Stores in Bham

If I may be so bold . . . what area of town are you looking at? Perhaps I can offer some localized advice for you.

sheilal in Central South

What are your favourite taco fillings?

I'm a huge meat eater, but my favorite tacos are carmelized onion with sauteed mushrooms. Add some slices of avocado with shredded lettuce, salsa, cilantro and a squeeze of lime! Wrapped in a charred corn tortilla! Marvelous!

sheilal in Home Cooking

Grocery Stores in Bham

IMHO, Publix is the best chain supermarket in the Birmingham metro area. Unparalleled service with good selections. They have very good meat options. It's the only supermarket (Whole Foods excluded) where I can find good lamb. They have an excellent deli/bakery. Piggly Wiggly's are independently owned and can vary depending on location. The ones I've visited have fairly large wine selections. Winn Dixie's can vary also depending on where they are located. They have great beef and pork selections.

If you are looking for Hispanic goods (based on your username), none of the local supermarket chains do a great job. Surprisingly, when I need a variety of dried peppers, Masa, or corn tortillas (to make a bowl of red Texas chili), I end up at Aldi's. There are a few Hispanic markets scattered around town, but they aren't usually located in the suburbs.

Tis the season for farmers markets. So fresh produce can be found under overpasses, on the side of the road, or at Pepper Place (look it up, it's fantastic). Publix has great produce as well, but at a price. Aldi's has limited produce options (which vary from week to week), but their prices are cheap. Avocados for .99, tri-colored peppers for 1.49 for 3, pineapple for .99. pint of strawberries for .99. Save on produce at Aldi so you can buy the butterflied leg of lamb at Publix.

sheilal in Central South

Birmingham. Lunch Tuesday

Saw's BBQ in Homewood! It's authentic southern bbq. Smoked chicken with white bbq sauce or the pulled pork with the vinegary red bbq sauce! OMG. It's fabulous. Open from lunch til 7pm.

The Fish Market in Southside has an extensive menu and is very very good. They are open from lunch until dinner.

sheilal in Central South

Missing Mancha's

Nuclear Green I think. It's been sssooooo long since I had a Killer Whale I don't even remember what all was in it. Just that it was enormous and completely delicious! Bob Carlton tweeted that Little Donkey's tamales were really good, so I'm going to have to go & try them. I hope I'm not in for another disappointment.

sheilal in Central South

Mexican Easter Ideas

Try adding powdered chipotle to your "normal" recipe. It adds a bit of heat and a smokey flavor. Delish!

sheilal in Home Cooking

What to do with orange marmalade?

I make a sauce for pork tenderloin. Beef & chicken broth reduced with chipotle, shallots & orange marmalade. It is divine!
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pork-Tenderloin-with-Chipotle-Marmalade-Sauce-103263

sheilal in Home Cooking

lamb for Easter that isn't gamey and isn't chops.

I like to make a tzatziki sauce to go with my lamb. Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (no seeds!), macerated garlic and a little hint of horseradish! Yum! Kinda like the tzatziki sauce you get with a gyro.

sheilal in Home Cooking

Saws in Avondale

OMG! So excited about this!!

sheilal in Central South

almond milk aficionados

I cook by feel so don't have specific quantities, but here goes:
Brown your sausage, remove but leave the drippings in the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low. I usually use a lower fat sausage (chicken or turkey/pork combo) so sometimes there's not enough fat left in the skillet. If this is your predicament, supplement with bacon greast (which I always have in the refrigerator) or butter. Add roughly equal amounts of all-purpose flour to make a roux. Whisk the hot fat and flour together. The consistency should be about the consistency of playdough - not liquidy. Add your salt & pepper to taste at this point. Reduce heat to low. Gradually add the almond milk (or evaporated or regular or skim - depending on your preference). (I usually only add about a half a cup to start with and about a fourth of a cup on going until it's the consistency I want.) Whisk the liquid into the paste. Keep adding milk gradually until the gravy is the consistency you desire. Some people like thin gravy and some like thick. It's totally up to you. Remove from heat and add your crumbled sausage. Give it a stir, test for more seasonings. Put over a biscuit or a slice of toast and enjoy.

sheilal in Home Cooking

Help near Trussville, AL? Limited transportation and picky eaters....

Depending on your price point & flavor preferences . . . I recommend:

Fine Dining ($$$$)- Highland's Bar & Grill-Southside (Chef Frank Stitt is routinely nominated for James Beard awards, Bottega-Southside (another Frank Stitt place - Italian), GianMarco-Homewood (great Italian), Cafe DuPont-Downtown, Ocean-Southside (unbelievable seafood), Hot & Hot Fish Club-Southside (Chef Chris Hastings is a James Beard nominee this year).

Moderate casual dining ($$-$$$) - Bettola-Lakeview area (great neopolitan pizzas & Italian), 26-Southside (sister restaurant of Ocean), Ollie Irene-Mountain Brook (another James Beard nominated restaurant), Chez FonFon-Southside (yet another Frank Stitt place-bistro food), Surin West-Southside (Thai,cheap at lunch, more expensive at dinner, good sushi).

Cheap eats ($) - Full Moon Barbq (various locations), Saw's bbq-Homewood (wonderful white sauce that can't be found anywhere else in Bham), Dreamland-Southside (famous for their ribs & peppery sauce), Purple Onion (various locations-great gyros, Chicken & Seafood Box-Trussville (great fried chicken, if a bit salty).

sheilal in Central South

What to do with too dry cake?

+1

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Help near Trussville, AL? Limited transportation and picky eaters....

emtilt, I live in the Trussville area. Welcome to our fair city. We are a fairly suburban area so ,unfortunately, there is no public transportation within the city. If you don't have a car, you'll have to walk or call a cab. All cab companies are based out of Bham which is about 15-20 miles away from Trussville, so it could take a long time and a lot of money to get around that way.

That area of Trussville (I59/I459) is not pedestrian friendly. It's an extremely busy area with tons and tons of traffic. There aren't a lot of hotel options there, so I'm assuming you're either at the Hampton Inn, Marriot or Hilton. If you're at the Hampton or Hilton, there is a Hooters fairly close (across a 3 lane road). Across the 5 lane highway, there's Habaneros (Mexican), El Cazador (Mexican), Lee Garden (Americanized chinese), Mizu (Japanese). These are all fine restaurants...not 5 stars, but good.

If you're staying at the Marriot on the HILL you can walk down (but then back UP) to the new Olive Garden or Red Lobster (no review necessary here!). The Marriot sits across the access road to the Pinnacle shopping center where there are many options, however, it's a fairly good sized outdoor facility so the walk will not be a picnic. In the perimeter buildings there's: Jim & Nick's bbq (good), Chili's (meh), Lone Star Steakhouse (ok), Cajun Steamer (ok), Red Robin (great custom hamburgers). Attached to the Pinnacle are: Five Guys Burgers (good), Rock & Roll Sushi (good), La Catrina (not ur usual Mexican, but good).

There's only 1 "bar" in Trussville (although many restaurants have a bar area) and it's Velma's on Highway 11 (just a couple of miles from your location). It's a dive bar...very small with karaoke sometimes. The only club "Tipsy's" is a college crowd hangout (don't know if that's your thing or not). For a cocktail bar experience you'll have to go into Bham proper.

I don't know what you mean about "picky and conservative". Is that no ethnic? Meat & threes? Steak & potatoes only?

I would suggest that you rent a car so that you can explore different areas of Bham and get some really stellar cuisine. Trussville has okay to very good restaurants, but not great. You won't starve, but you won't be wowed.

sheilal in Central South

Moving to Bham: Food and living area recs.

Dax, I re-read my post from your topic and alas, some of the restaurants are now closed or my opinion has changed on their deliciousness. I no longer consider Nabeel's worthy of my time or money. Locale and Los Angeles are now extinct. But on the plus side, we've acquired a couple of cuban places (Kool Korner & Miami Cafe) and at least one Korean place (Ginza). It's actually pretty interesting to see how 2 or 3 years later, some places remain on top while others fall by the way-side.

sheilal in Central South

Moving to Bham: Food and living area recs.

Unfortunately, there is not an abundance of great authentic taco/Mexican places here to make you feel at home. The Taco Truck in Greensprings/Homewood area is the most authentic around, but certainly not fine dining. I'm on a search for fabulous tamales in Bham, but haven't found one yet. And an oaxacan mole can't be found either. The Hispanic friendly grocery stores are located (mostly) in the Hoover area if you tend to cook with those familiar ingredients. And you can't find a bowl of "red" here to save your life. You'll have to make that for yourself.

Here are some of my favs:
Seafood - fine dining - Ocean
Seafood - casual dining - The Fish Market
Haute Southern - Highland's Bar & Grill or Cafe Dupont
Old Southern meat & three - Niki's
Italian - fine dining - Gianmarco's or Bottega
Italian - casual - Guiseppe's
Thai (not a lot of choices) - Surin West for lunch/Surin 280 for dinner
Authentic chinese - Red Pearl or Mr. Chen's
Americanized chinese - Shanghai
French bistro - Cafe de Paris or Chez Fonfon
Fancy hamburgers - FLIP burgers
Local hamburger legend - Milo's
Middle Eastern/Medi casual - Purple Onion or Al's
Barbeque - Saw's
Indian - Mughal or Silver Coin

There are a lot of great food options in Homewood. Forest Park & Mountain Brook have a few, but are a very quick drive to many, many great options.

I suggest using Yelp or Urbanspoon for reviews and menus and such. We don't have a MenuPages for Bham if you're used to using that.

I hope y'all enjoy living here. It's a great food city! The politics can be a bit offputting at times, but all in all, there's no place I'd rather be.

sheilal in Central South

Birmingham -- Anyone eating anything good these days?

Just read that Ollie Irene is up for a James Beard award. All the good talk must be true. Can't wait to try it.

sheilal in Central South

favorite coffee mate/ international delights creamer flavor?

I'm a Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha gal! Luv it!!

sheilal in General Chowhounding Topics

Missing Mancha's

Have you tried Kool Korner yet? I've heard good things about their tamales. More cuban style than Mexican (whatever that means).

sheilal in Central South

almond milk aficionados

I'm a Blue Diamond convert. IMHO it's the best milk substitute around. I use the unsweetened original in anything that requires milk. I even make sausage gravy with it and it turns out great!! I use it for all my baking and have never had anything but stellar results.

sheilal in Home Cooking

Alabama regional food - specialties

Almost forgot, whatever you serve, it must be accompanied by sweet tea!!

sheilal in Central South