One meal. ONE MEAL. That’s all I really had time for when I went to Birmingham, Alabama this past weekend for Food Blog South. I got in late Friday night, spoke Saturday morning, had time for lunch (my ONE MEAL) then had the keynote, book-signing and after party to attend that night before flying back to L.A. the next morning.
I polled folks on Twitter and received many terrific suggestions; unfortunately, most of them were closed for lunch. Hot and Hot Fish Club: closed for lunch. Chez Fonfon: closed for lunch (at least on Saturdays). One suggestion, though, wasn’t only open for lunch, it seemed to be walking distance (more on that in a second) from my hotel. I settled upon Frank Stitt’s celebrated restaurant, Bottega.
According to Google Maps, Bottega was only two miles from my hotel. I could walk two miles, easy.
Only, based on the stunned reactions of the Birmingham residents I talked to afterwards, Birmingham’s not really a walking city. I learned that lesson the hard way: while tracking my progress on my phone, I almost stepped on a dead raccoon. That is not a joke.
But you know what? Despite the difficulty of traversing dirt paths near highways, I enjoyed my walk. Look at all the local color I soaked in:
At last, I made it to the restaurant and scored a seat by the window.
I should tell you here that, a long time ago, I purchased Frank Stitt’s Southern Table (incidentally published by my same publisher) and fell in love with it. It effortlessly mashed up the sensibilities of a European chef with the good natured-charm of a Southerner. And that’s precisely what happens at Bottega; it’s Italy meets Birmingham.
The room reflects that: big windows, lots of sunshine, a poster for Orangina.
From my seat, I could soak in the whole room which was peopled with Southerners out for an upscale Saturday lunch. Some folks were dressed to the nines; I was dressed more to the sixes and sevens (name that musical!) but no one seemed to mind.
Enough with the atmosphere… you want to know about the food. The first thing that came out was warm focaccia and a bowlful of olive oil:
Point: Italy. But I wanted some Southern goodness mashed up with the Italian fare–after all, I was in Birmingham–so I ordered a pizza with Benton’s Country Ham and ricotta. But first, a salad.
This salad may look simple, but it was really accomplished. The barest amount of dressing–undetectable vinegar–with fresh gem lettuce, toasted walnuts, crisp apples and Roquefort. I’ve had salads like this before but what made this one stand out was the subtlety and the provenance of the ingredients. Everything tasted like the best version of that thing you could imagine, which is the highest compliment you can pay a salad. I did have some trouble eating it, though: instead of cutting up the lettuce, I just went for it and pieces of walnut and cheese went flying everywhere. Apologies to the woman in the hat who went home wearing a piece of my heirloom apple.
And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for, the apotheosis of Stitt’s cuisine, a pizza made with Benton’s country ham, ricotta cheese, a fried egg and fresh arugula:
Take a look at that. You probably won’t be eating that anywhere else in the world and that’s just the kind of thing I want to eat when I travel. The ham was pure South: salty, smoky, meaty. The balance, again, was masterful, though the crust was slightly less-than-compelling. It’s not that it was a bad crust–how could it be with such a talented chef in command–it’s just that it wasn’t a memorable crust. The outside crackled like a good crust should; the insides, though, were kind of just there.
That’s my only critique.
And who cares about crust and insides when there’s THIS for dessert?
That, my friends, is Bottega’s famous 7-layer coconut pecan cake. It’s a wonder, a technical marvel, 100% Southern and 100% terrific. I ate three bites and called it quits.
I also called a cab. As much as I enjoyed my walk there, this meal put me in a food coma and I’d need to go back to my hotel to watch Cash Cab and figure skating before the evening’s festivities. But I’m so glad my one meal in Birmingham happened at Frank Stitt’s Bottega. It’s a one-of-a-kind restaurant you can’t imagine existing anywhere else.
EVITA, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” blah blah blah. Also hooray for figure skating, you should write about that for the next Olympics: What to eat while watching whatever Sochi 2012’s version of Evan Lycacek vs. Ygnevy Pluchenko is. That battle was pretty epic. That pizza looks yummy (I’m a sucker for arugula and egg on pizza). We have a similar-ish pizza right here in downtown Durham. I think the Triangle in NC should be your next Southern food destination!
The answer is EVITA. And the song is Don’t Cry for me Argentina.
Hmmm – so the story’s out – while we were noshing on BBQ, you were white table clothing it at Bottega (where I could just about eat only that bread dipped in olive oil for a meal). I, too, can’t believe you walked. But hey … down here, we’re not used to the idea that sometimes it’s easier just to walk it, than get a cab uptown. Next time, it’s Hot & Hot for you, so plan to stay and sit a spell, Adam (that’s how we do it down here).
Good review. You nailed the pizza description. You did get to have some of that famed cake though, so, I must say, your tastebuds weren’t hurtin’.
That “local flavor” in the 2nd photo up there – that’s Vulcan. And, we are very proud of he and his barely-clad bum here in the Ham.
Come back soon!
Thank you! I wondered who that was.
I’d love the recipe for that cake
I’d love the recipe for that cake
That coconut cake looks delicious!
Impressive that you walked the two miles from Homewood to Southside; glad you decided to cab it back (uphill ‘over the mountain,’ as we say here). But as a lifelong resident of Birmingham (except for that short 20-year interlude in Norfolk/Virginia Beach), let me assure you that we DO walk. A lot. And particularly in Homewood (Ed’s Pet World) and on Southside. The Highland Avenue area, at Bottega’s front door, is usually teeming with locals on a pretty weekend afternoon, walking their dogs and just hanging out in the several parks along Highland. Come back, and bring your dog!
Your travel photos are quite excellent! Scrolling down reading your piece and seeing the initial one appear – for “Ed’s Pet World” – really made me chuckle. A nice touch in taking the shot as a patron was opening the door, too. Thanks for a nice piece!
Oh I would have skipped the conference lunch and given you a ride in exchange for letting me steal a few pieces of that cake!
I enjoyed hearing you speak at the conference and would have happily driven you if only I’d known
Hope you’ll come back to Alabama we have lots of good food here
I would seriously go back to ‘Bama for a piece of that cake. You had me at pecan & coconut!
You made me homesick :)
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