With beloved Birmingham staples Ovenbird, Bettola and Hot and Hot Fish Club, Pepper Place is a known foodie destination. Saturday mornings, you'll see the entire city descend on the old bottling plant for the award-winning farmers market, where shoppers fill woven baskets with local honey, Hinkel’s fresh sourdough, wildflowers and seasonal veggies.
Late summer brought two exceptional additions to the Pepper Place food scene.
BLUEROOT
California native Jennifer Ryan brings bright, clean and nutrient-dense SoCal goodness to her airy flagship location. Salads and bowls overflowing with local produce are made to your specifications—with plenty of options for those with food sensitivities. Beautiful grab-and-go displays feature a beet hummus almost too pretty to eat, probiotic sodas and a variety of superfood snacks. Our recent visit started with the Santa Fe Bowl: a hearty mix of salad, quinoa, black beans and chili-lime sweet potatoes topped with roasted cherry tomatoes, radish, goat cheese, cumin pumpkin seeds and chipotle vinaigrette. We couldn’t resist the dark chocolate tahini brownie, which, despite being vegan, gluten and dairy-free, is one of the most decadent desserts we’ve ever tasted.
The Son of a Butcher
The handsome, dark exterior of Evans Meats’ Birmingham retail outpost, The Son of a Butcher, sets the stage for the welcoming and perfectly curated specialty shop. Don’t be fooled by the name—The Son of a Butcher stocks more than just savory meats. Hard-to-find cheeses as well as seafood and accoutrements for your charcuterie board can be found here too—along with an incredibly knowledgeable staff. On a recent visit, cheesemonger John Litzinger noted that the shop sources from many affineurs around the United States and internationally. Looking to impress? Opt for the Lincolnshire Poacher from famed London cheese retailer Neal’s Yard Dairy. “It’s like Cheddar and Swiss got married,” said Litzinger. Want to expand your knowledge of all things fromage? “Stay tuned for upcoming events on the cheese side of things,” hinted Litzinger.