Dixie Fish Company - Hopefully not sinking ship

Dixie Fish Company is one of the newest editions to Hwy 280’s ever growing dining scene. Located in the old Bahama Breeze building, the atmosphere is perfect.

It was my husband’s choice, but as a seafood enthusiast, I had no objections. We sat outside on the porch. The weather was perfect, but beware of the glaring sun if you go later in the day. The porch has several TV’s, so it’s a great spot if you want to catch whatever game is on.

In the beginning, the service was great. I asked several questions about the local beers and our server offered to give us free samples. I have a Yellow Hammer and my husband chose the house beer. Both were quite good, however, the price didn’t go down quite as pleasantly. Served in tiny signature glasses, the rang up at $6 and $7 a piece! (Key word: tiny).

We started with crab dip ($10.50). It was good, but compared to other crab dips, it ranks about a 5 or 6. They also do not give you enough chips to eat all the dip.

After waiting a good 20 minutes with no word about our entrees, we finally received the fried catfish with slaw and fries ($14.75) and the oyster tasting ($18.50 for a dozen). The catfish left much to be desired, but the oysters were fantastic, if you like jazzed-up oysters. The tasting includes 4 oysters of the following flavors: Planked Oysters, Orange and Blue Oyster Poppers and Parmesan Broiled. The planked are topped with apple smoked bacon and roast garlic cream baked on a plank, orange and blue are fried crispy, tossed in Crystal sauce, honey and butter and topped with bleu crumbles and parmesan broiled are topped with Parmesan breadcrumbs and broiled in garlic butter. I do think the price was a little high, but it was still a great meal.

Not exactly the price point we were aiming for on a Sunday afternoon.

The prices are high for what is offered. The atmosphere is wonderful, as long as you aren’t near screaming children like we were, but the service seems to be a little wishy-washy.

I’ll definitely go back, but I will give it some time to work out some kinks and possibly some price changes.

 

Rating: B+

Thanksgiving in the Ham

Thanksgiving; a time to reflect of the gifts we have all been given over the past year, and of course, to spend time with the people we most enjoy. For many of us, that person has come to be Rita, the five-star waitress at Cracker Barrel.

If your family tradition for Thanksgiving isn’t sitting around a cornucopia-covered table where little cousins wipe their boogers on the table, your grandmother constantly berates you about your weight and your Uncle Steve still brings his ex-wife Linda, even though everyone knows they have been divorced for six years, then there is no need to panic. The restaurants of Birmingham are here for you. Hallelujah! Let’s start the thanking!

Veranda on Highland is offering a 3-course, prefixed menu for $55. The first course options are: Country Gumbo - Andouille, Smoked Chicken, Ham Hock,
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup - Spiced Brown Butter, Homemade Marshmallow
Fall Farm Salad - Faro. Red Quinoa, Compressed Pears, Baby Beets, Radish, Pumpkinseeds, Cider Vinaigrette
Roasted Brussels & VOH Ham - Spiced Pecans, Aged Sherry Vinegar, Poached Farm Egg, Venison & Duck Terrine - Port Plum Jam, Brioche
Poached Florida Rock Shrimp ($3 sup.) - Frisee, Baby Radish, Celery Hearts, Citrus Aioli

The second course options are:
Southern Thanksgiving Feast - Roasted Turducken, Fall Vegetables Fried Yams, Stuffing, Cranberry, Giblet Gravy
Stuffed Suckling Pig - Cornbread Stuffing, Roasted Apples, Brussels, Braised Farm Greens, Mustard
Florida Red Grouper - Fennel Confit, Leeks, Fingerling Potatoes, Smoked Bacon, Frisee, Herb Vinaigrette
"Southern Pot Roast" - 16oz Braised Bone In Short Rib, Roasted Root Vegetables. Potato Puree, Cipolini Onions, Veal Jus
Double Cut Colorado Lamb Chop - Caramelized Turnips, Baby Beets, Young Carrots, Kale, Sherry Mint Gastrique,

The last course options are:
Alabama Apple Crisp - Housemade Ice Cream, Carmel
Pecan Tart - Whiskey Whipped Cream
"Pumpkin Pie" - Bourbon Custard, Gingersnap Crust
Bitter Sweet Chocolate Mousse - Port Poached Plums, Spiced Tuile

Shula’s will be serving a special plated brunch from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and a reservation only dinner from 5:30 to 9:30.

The Bright Star will also be serving a 3-course Thanksgiving meal for $18.25. This includes a drink, appetizer, meat with two sides and a dessert.

Bistro V is offering Thanksgiving catering. Make sure to call to pre-order and everything is available next Wednesday as well as Thanksgiving Day.

The menu consists of:

14 lb Fried Turkey (Serves 6-8) $60
22 lb Fried Turkey (Serves 10-12) $85
Cornbread Dressing (Serves 6-8) $25
Oyster Dressing (Serves 6-8) $45
Fresh Cranberry Sauce (Serves 6-8) $12
Squash Casserole (Serves 6-8) $32
Sweet Potato Casserole (Serves 6-8) $32
Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese (Serves 6-8) $32
Creamed Corn (Serves 6-8) $32
Sautéed French Green Beans (Serves 6-8) $32
Giblet Gravy (Serves 6-8) $12
Pumpkin, Chocolate Chess or Pecan Pie (Serves 6-8) $35
Coconut or Red Velvet Cake (Serves 12) $55

Ruth's Chris Steak House three-course, fixed-price Thanksgiving menu will include your choice of Caesar salad, house salad or Louisiana seafood gumbo; roasted turkey breast with cornbread-herb stuffing and cranberry relish and choice of garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with roasted garlic, creamed spinach or sweet potato casserole; pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream.

Irondale Café has the same option available for pick up Tuesday Nov 20th or Wednesday Nov 21st.

Cajun Steamer is selling pre-ordered Cajun Turkeys.
Their menu includes:

Slow Roasted Hen Turkeys, 10-14 lb: $32.99
Hickory Smoked Boneless Ham, 6-8 lb: $4.99/lb
All sides by the quart including cornbread dressing and gravy: $8.99/quart
Homemade Pies: $12.00

Homewood Gourmet is offering a pick-up menu for Wednesday, November 21. The side dishes include: Spicy Pecans, Creamy Parmesan and Artichoke Dip, Cornbread Dressing, Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Potatoe Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chess Pie, Oatmeal Pecan Pie and Pumpkin-Pecan Bread Pudding with Caramel Bourbon Sauce.

Here are more options to avoid the dog food can-shaped cranberry sauce:
Denny’s, IHOP, Waffle House, Golden Corral, Cracker Barrel, Moe’s BBQ in Hoover will have their tailgate special for pick-up and Rogue Tavern.

Urban Cookhouse

I have started my mission of eating every item on the list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die. My husband keeps reminding me that I have until I die to complete the list, but since I'm never sure when that might happen, I am doing this as fast as I can. The first items to be checked off were the Chipotle Braised Pork Sandwich and Half Baked Cookie from Urban Cookhouse.

I went to The Summit location; it’s new and looks very similar to an earth-toned Zoe’s. You order at the counter, take a number and have your food brought to you.

Chipotle Braised Pork Sandwich with Hot Cheddar Pasta

I went with the Chipotle Braised Pork sandwich with hot cheddar pasta (aka mac and cheese). I only got water to drink, but immediately regretted not getting the housemade strawberry lemonade. They also appeared to have a good wine selection, but it was Sunday lunch so I decided not to start a fuss with the church crowd.

The sandwich was good, but lacked in the chipotle area. I would’ve liked a little bit more heat, so I wouldn't get this if you're looking for a good kick in the mouth. The sandwich comes in the form of two sliders. Don’t let this fool you. Those little things are packed full or meat and will hold you over for quite some time. The hot cheddar pasta was average; a nice texture but lacked in flavor. I’m a sucker for mac and cheese though.

My husband got the Urban Cowboy with a side salad. We both thought it sounded great. His only complaint was that it needed some sort of sauce (he found Tabasco by the trashcans as we were leaving). He also isn’t a fan of honey mustard dressing, but said their honey mustard vinaigrette was one of the best he has ever had.

We ordered the Half Baked Cookie with the rest of our meal because it takes 20 minutes to prepare. It comes out smokin’ hot in an individual cast iron skillet. The ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie that is perfectly crisp on the top is covered with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. My original thought was to have one bite and be done, but before I knew it, the whole thing was gone. I try to watch my dessert intake, as most do, but I left Urban Cookhouse without any regrets (oh, except the strawberry lemonade) and a larger waistline.  



Half Baked Cookie

If can’t manage to gorge yourself with the cookie, opt for some of Millie Ray’s Orange Rolls. These recently became my favorite breakfast roll, but I wouldn’t say no if it was offered with my lunch or dinner.  I think a roll is served with every “Fork & Knife” plate, but you can also order a whole basket or an order to bake at home. (Yes, they’re frozen, but they’re made locally).

Gettin’ Grubby: Urban Cookhouse’s motto is “Buy Local, Eat Urban.” That gives it extra points in my book. They offer as many local items as possible, depending on the season. Another cool aspect is that most of the meats are cooked in a kamado-style cooker (Big Green Egg) and this allows for tons of flavor with less fat. Jackpot!

Atmosphere: eh, 6. It’s nice and new, but nothing special

Service: For an order at the counter place, it’s a 9.

Food: 7.5. I’ll be back soon to try a different entrée.

The Ridge Eat and Drink

I spend so much time at this place; it’s hard to believe I haven’t tried everything on the menu. The Ridge Eat and Drink is tucked back off Rocky Ridge Road in Vestavia. You either have to be looking for it or already know it’s there. As sister to Cahaba Heights’ Mudtown, The Ridge is a delightful addition to Vestavia.



Tuna App after I had eaten half

Last night, I started with the Grilled Tuna Tataki. All the apps are great, but if you aren’t in the mood for something fried, try the tuna. The sweet potato chips are perfectly crisp and I am not kidding when I say the blue cheese bacon dip is to die for! The flavor is unbelievable and I don’t even like blue cheese!

The salads are a nice surprise. In a sports bar-esque type atmosphere, you wouldn’t expect to find such unique beds of lettuce with the freshest ingredients. The homemade dressings really make it.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich w/ onion rings

 The sandwiches are hit or miss. A few of them are on the bland side, but most hit just the right spot. My picks would be the Cuban, Monte Cristo, Rueben (with Russian dressing) and Fish Tacos. Last night I went with the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and I have now found my new favorite menu item. The chicken is smothered in their Cahaba sauce (buffalo with a slightly better flavor… get it on the wings too) and topped off with a blue cheese slaw. Again, I’m not big on blue cheese, but the slaw was perfect with the Cahaba sauce. I have to give props to the onion rings as well. I consider myself somewhat of an onion ring connoisseur, and these were at the top of my list.

My husband got the Ribeye and said it was cooked spot on. Their grilled veggies are literally the best I have ever had. They are a perfect side to any entrée.  

Ribeye w/ mashed potatoes and veggies

Oh, did I forget to mention our beverages? Beer, of course. They have an excellent new wine menu and the signature mixed drinks are great too, but there is nothing like some good fried food and beer. My favorite right now is the Terapin Octoberfest.

Now for the best part. It has to be a big deal for me to do dessert, but when I heard the words “fried pies,” I was hooked. They were offering apple and chocolate. I ordered the chocolate and ate it so fast I didn’t even have time to snap a picture. To put it simple, pie is gooood.

Getting’ Grubby: I have seen a lot of complaints about it being upstairs.  If you eat as much of the blue cheese bacon dip as I do, your butt needs to be walking up some stairs. The service is wonderful. This literally is the friendliest staff I have ever come across. If something isn’t right, let them know. Lastly, they have a Sunday brunch that makes me wish everyday was Sunday. Stuffing yourself with their Shrimp and Grits is a great way to start your day of rest.

 

Service: 8.5

Food: 8

Atmosphere: 7.5

Chick-fil-a

If you're not boycotting, go get these! Somehow I have made it my whole life without ever even knowing Chick-fil-a had grilled nuggets. Well, they do and they are UHmazing! You will not be disappointed.

Kids meal 6 piece

They may not look super appetizing, but trust me, they are packed with flavor!

Moe's Original Bar B Que

Being from the South makes us all barbecue connoisseurs by birth. Yes, there are some of us who stop what we’re doing to bow down to Memphis six times a day, but Birmingham tends to do it right too. (At least we all agree that pork is the real barbecue).

Today I am reviewing Moe’s Original Bar B Que. It might have first opened in Colorado, but these recipes come straight from the Deep South.



Redneck Nachos

For a good time, check it out on a Wednesday night for good specials: $5 Redneck nachos and 50 cent wings.

I have been to Moe’s many times, but this time I went with the nacho special. The chicken is superb, but everything else leaves you wanting a little more. Probably more cheese in my case. It just seems to be lacking something to “wow!” me. I’m a sucker for nachos though, so I still keep coming back for more.

Their platters and sandwiches are all good, but the smoked wings are what set them apart. They are so nice and smoky with just a little kick (or a big kick in my case). The side of red ranch is perfect for dipping!

Smoked Wings with Red Ranch

They always have a great choice of sides. I have to give them props for understanding the importance of macaroni and cheese. In Alabama, we know macaroni is a vegetable and I don’t believe barbecue should be served without it. From the banana pudding to the watermelon salad, I have never had a side from Moe’s that I didn’t love.

Gettin’ Grubby: I have been to all the Bham locations. Lakeview have the best atmosphere, Vestavia is more family oriented but with terrible parking if it’s crowed and the new Hoover location seems like they are still sort of figuring things out as far as service goes. All have great food and great beer, so really no complaints. Two things not to miss out on: the cornbread and the bushwackers!

Service: 7

Food: 8

Atmosphere: 6 (If you ever visit Auburn’s location, it’s a 10)

Petruccelli’s Italian Eatery

I love Italian and have been dying to find a great traditional Italian eatery in the Bham area. I bought two Groupons for Café Lazio and Petruccelli’s. If you haven’t been to Café Lazio, go! I’ll send out my review on it sometime soon.

As for Petruccelli’s Italian Eatery, our first visit didn’t turn out so well. They are currently closed on Sundays for remodeling. No big deal, we made it about a week and a half later. They have a great Happy Hour that lasts until 7 every day. It’s $2 off glasses of wine and martinis. Monday through Wednesday they have half off bottles of wine. You really can’t beat that deal!

Again, we ordered water and a bottle of Greg Norman Shiraz, one of my husband’s personal favorites. The prices looked fantastic, but I ordered soup and my husband got salad instead of an appetizer.

The bread came first and left much to be desired. They were giant rolls that seemed more like flavorless, stale cinnamon rolls. I was not a big fan, but bread is my weakness, so obviously I ate the whole thing.

My Tomato Gouda soup was wonderful. The tomato flavor was not too strong and the little pieces of Gouda made it even better. They only offer two salad dressings, but my husband’s vinaigrette was very good.  

For my entrée I order the Chicken Florentine and my husband got the Chicken Parmigiana. I had already chosen the Florentine, but it was recommended by our server as well. It was one of those dishes that starts out sort of “ok,” but then turns into something great. I am a huge fan of Chicken Florentine, so my standards were set high. By the time I had finished, I was completely satisfied.  

When our server brought our check, it seemed a little high for the great prices we had seen earlier on the menu. We both remembered our entrees being around $9, not $15, so we asked our server about it. It turns out we were given the lunch menu. She spoke to the manager and we were charged the lunch price for our dinner portions, no questions asked.

Gettin’ Grubby: Weird bread, but awesome Happy Hour to make up for it. Our server was good, but a little spacey. She also wouldn’t let up cork our bottle to take our leftover wine home, so we just finished it there.

Service: 7

Food: 7

Atmosphere: 7