Food + Beverage

Behind the Scenes and the Seasons

Larder Foods connects Birmingham chefs to earth’s bounty  Article by Denise K. James | Photography by Andrew Thomas Lee The morning I was scheduled to speak to Knox Fanelli, we had to switch our call from video to phone. As the owner of Larder Foods, Fanelli was out and about, grabbing heirloom tomatoes for clients in the restaurant industry. “We’ve reached a point in the season where everyone else is out of them, but our Amish and Mennonite friends still have them,” he explains. “The supply...

Food + Beverage

Ben’s Friends

In the Service of Sobriety Article by Christiana Roussel | Photography by Mary Fehr The forward-facing side of the hospitality world is enthralling: farm-to-table cuisine, aproned chefs visiting tables of effusive diners, the dance of servers and an overflow of conviviality. The “Front of the House” looks magical. Behind the scenes, there is fire, heat, emotions running at full throttle. The desire to outperform, to exceed expectations, to succeed in the fast-paced, hard-driving world of...

Arts + Culture

Fruits (and Vegetables) of Labor 

At Sloss Metal Arts, the produce is always fresh Article by Denise K. James | Photography by Mary Fehr If you’re grocery shopping in the Magic City, there’s a chance you’ll catch Sloss Metal Arts staff members Virginia Elliott and Ian Skinner in the produce aisle, seeking a perfectly formed strawberry or mushroom to transform into food sculpture. International markets are another great scouting spot, and Mr. Chen’s is a favorite, especially after staff lunches, but the hunt continues even...

Food + Beverage

Snacks with a Somm

Uncorked & Unexpected Pairings from Rachel Mobley Photography by Ambre Amari Wine pairing has a reputation for being complicated. It conjures images of white tablecloths, elaborate dishes, and a sommelier debating Burgundy or Barolo. But the same principles that make a restaurant pairing work apply just as easily to the foods eaten standing over the kitchen counter. Rachel Mobley’s number one rule? Don’t overthink it. People can get so caught up trying to find the “right” pairing that they...