• About
  • Brush with Fame
  • Cooking Classes
  • Publishing
  • Testimonials
  • Videos
  • Personal Chef Services

Snacking in the Kitchen

~ Culinary Adventures In & Out of the Kitchen. Recipes, Reviews, Culinary Musings.

Category Archives: Alabama

I’m in print!!!

12 Wednesday Aug 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Southern Living, Writing/Publishing

≈ 1 Comment

I just wanted to let all of you know that my photo is included in the Southern Living Magazine Party Book in stores right now! I’m the one in the blue!

The book also features 3 or 4 stories that I wrote.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Great Vegetable Run

04 Monday May 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Southern Living, Volunteering, Writing/Publishing

≈ 2 Comments


Last weekend I sorted and delivered groceries to those in need along with local high school students and adult volunteers. It was a rewarding and emotionally challenging event.

Read the full write-up here.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Best Sweet Potato Fries in Birmingham and Beyond

21 Tuesday Apr 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Restaurant Review, Southern Living, Sweet Potatoes

≈ Leave a comment

Read about a local Birmingham restaurant that serves the best sweet potato fries (in my humble opinion).

Black Market Bar on Highway 280 under Chef Jordan Cox

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Lebanese Festival in Birmingham

19 Sunday Apr 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Baklava, Birmingham, Falafel, Festival

≈ 2 Comments

It’s Festival Time! This weekend, Birmingham was THE place to be for a Lebanese festival at the St. Elias Maronite Church. What comes to mind when you think of festivals? Food, crowds, music!

Food:
I sampled a selection of hummus, fallafel, and baklava. The rating went as following:
Hummus ($3) – pretty well balanced with lemon and garlic. The pita bread served with hummus was disappointing – you got half of a cold, stale-ish pita served in a zip-lock bag.

Falafel ($7) – This is definitely not Amsterdam Falafel (one of my favorite local spots in Washington DC). The falafel balls – made from ground up chickpeas and spices – were unfortunately cold and mushy. The flavor was good, but I really missed the light, golden brown balls that you typically get in a falafel sandwich. The sandwich was served in a large pita, which again was cold, and was so large that it overpowered everything that was inside – falafel balls, a smear of hummus, pickles, tomatoes and mint. This was actually the first time I had mint inside a falafel sandwich – not sold on the idea.

Baklava ($2/piece) – I saved the best for last. Dessert was great! I tried both pistachio and walnut baklava. Layers of phyllo dough saturated with honey and sugar, filled with chopped nuts. A touch of rose water and orange blossom added to this Lebanese delicacy.

We listened to live music by Amin Sultan band and people watched. And then it was time to head out.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Below Zero – Guidelines for Freezing

14 Tuesday Apr 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Freezing, Southern Living, Writing/Publishing

≈ Leave a comment

My second blog post is up on Eating My Words site for Southern Living 🙂

Check it out to learn basic guidelines for freezing your food and which items are better left out of the freezer.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Is that your car outside with NY license plate?

13 Monday Apr 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Russian, Writing/Publishing

≈ 2 Comments

I was at a Blockbuster’s location, sifting through the movies that I haven’t seen yet and wanted to watch (a very small pile) when a man approached me asking if the car parked outside of the store with NY license plates was mine. I got worried – was there something wrong with my car?

Turns out, the man was just curious because he has lived in New York prior to moving to Birmingham. When I told him that it was in fact my car, he detected an accent and asked if I was Russian. I said I was. And that was a start of a 10+ minute conversation, at the end of which I wanted to pull my hair out and run away – I did leave the store in such a hurry, that I left behind my cell phone.

Back to the man – he informed me that his great-grandparents were from Russia. Where in Russia you might ask? KIEV!!! For those of you who might not know, Kiev is a capital of Ukraine. So I informed him that his great-grandparents were actually from Ukraine, not Russia. Oh, but he insisted that Kiev used to be a part of Russia. Really? Interesting. But I stood my grounds.

Then he continued asking questions and talking in a very obnoxious way up until the moment I paid for my movie and left. And the movie? Not even worth it! It was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, II. The first one made me fall in love with Greece and I’ve been looking forward to seeing the second one, which disappointed, like most sequels do.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Check me out :)

10 Friday Apr 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Grits, Southern Living, Writing/Publishing

≈ 2 Comments

It’s been a long time since my last post. Rather than writing here, I’ve been making mental notes and taking photos (which eventually will make it over on this blog).

But I wanted to share an exciting news. I am beginning to write for “Eat My Words” – a food blog from the staff of Southern Living magazine.

Check out my first blog In the Land of Grits

I plan to contribute to the blog on weekly basis. Have an idea for a post? Let me know, and keep on reading!

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Vietnamese in Birmingham Or….

14 Saturday Mar 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Coffee, Pho, Restaurant Review, Vietnamese

≈ 3 Comments

…how a Jewish Food Fair turns into a casual lunch at Pho Que Huong.

Last Sunday, I had every intention to enjoy knishes and matzo ball soup at a Jewish Food Fair held at a local Temple Emanu-El. But something happened as I entered into a crowded hall, lined with tables that held egg-brushed challah bread, sliced brisket, pastrami sandwiches and freshly baked sweets. I walked around, through the crowd of hungry individuals, and decided that I was craving something else – plus there wasn’t a knish to be seen. And so, I turned and left the synagogue.

Where to for lunch? It was a beautiful sunny and warm Sunday afternoon, and I thought it’d be a perfect chance to go for a drive to a restaurant that I have been wanting to try for a few weeks. Why Pho Que Huong? Simple – after two months in Birmingham, I was craving something other than grits, bbq, and biscuits. And a light, flavorful, and inexpensive Vietnamese cuisine would do a trick, or so I hoped.

The menu was pretty standard – a wide selection of pho, noodle soups, noodle bowls, and traditional Vietnamese sandwiches made with french baguettes and sliced pork. Since this was my first time at the restaurant, I decided to go the traditional route – spring rolls, pho, and a Vietnamese iced coffee.


The spring roll – an upsetting disappointment – it had me seriously worried that the rest of the meal would only get worse. The rice paper was thick and chewy, not transparent and light like it needs to be. And the filling wasn’t much better. It seemed that instead of flavorful pork or shrimp and crisp vegetables, this spring roll was filled with noodles and lettuce. The dipping sauce helped slightly, but not enough to save this roll. Word of advice – skip the spring roll on your visit!

And then the pho arrived. Accessorized with fresh basil, lime wedges, and sprouts, the bowl of pho was sweetly perfumed. The key to good pho, in my opinion, is a clear, flavorful broth that is perfectly balanced with the addition of freshly squeezed lime, torn basil leaves and a touch of hot chili sauce. The slices of flank steak and rice noodles are a nice addition – the steak in my bowl was perfectly tender and lean, the noodles twirled just right around the chopsticks. The verdict – one good bowl of pho!

The ending to the meal? A healthy doze of caffeine – a traditional iced Vietnamese Coffee. The set up – a glass of ice, a shorter glass with condensed sweet milk on the bottom and a dripping coffee on top. You have to patiently wait until the coffee has finished dripping, then stir the coffee with the condensed milk and pour over a glass of ice. The end result? Perfection.

I will happily return to Pho Que Huong and hope you will too.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Small Victories

13 Friday Mar 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, GPS, Gym

≈ 1 Comment

For the last few months, I have tried to go to the JCC gym trying to take advantage of my two-month free membership. Sadly, my less-than-present love for the traditional work outs has kept me far away from the elliptical and arc trainers at the gym. On the days that I did make it over there, I was literally holding the wheel of my car for dear life as I took one turn after another, following one curvy road before taking yet another one. The drive home would be even worse, since apparently street lights have not been invented in Birmingham as of yet.

Luckily, my GPS has been a pretty good guide. And for the most part, I have managed to veer to the right, instead of the left, and correctly counted three turns as a British voice of my GPS clearly instructed “take a left, then keep left, then take the third right.” I believe I have named my British GPS co-pilot Ben – very British.

Back to the point. The last time I was driving to the gym, I decided to silent Ben and check to see if I could get to my destination on my own. And I did! I took all the right (and left) turns and when I arrived at the gym, I shared my success with the desk attendant. She smiled and simply said “small victories.” That got me thinking…sometimes, celebrating the smallest of victories can bring a satisfaction, even if short lived. And why not? Each small victory is just a step toward a big victory.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

March 1st – Happy Snow Day, Birmingham!

01 Sunday Mar 2009

Posted by snackingkitchen in Alabama, Birmingham, Snow

≈ Leave a comment

Well, for once the weather forecasters were correct. Following a few days of 60-degree weather, it is in fact snowing in Birmingham, Alabama.

On March 1st, of all the days, the trees are covered in snow, the impatient buds that looked so full and ready to burst just a few days ago, are probably freezing, covered by the new blanket of white powder.

The snow is quietly, gracefully falling down, finding its resting place on the ground, and sticking to it!

Perhaps, Monday will be a day off work.

Want to share?

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • August 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • June 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007

Categories

  • Alabama
  • Allrecipes.com
  • Appetizer
  • Arugula
  • Asparagus
  • Avocado
  • Bacon
  • Baking
  • Baklava
  • Balsamic
  • Bananas
  • BBQ
  • Beans
  • bed and breakfast
  • Beef
  • Beets
  • Birmingham
  • Book Club
  • Bread
  • Breakfast
  • Brunch
  • Burger
  • Cake
  • Cauliflower
  • Caviar
  • Cereal
  • Challah
  • Cheese
  • cherries
  • Chicken
  • Chili
  • Chinese
  • Chips
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Cookbook
  • Cookies
  • Cooking
  • Cooking Classes
  • Corn
  • Crafts
  • Cravings
  • Culinary Instruction
  • Cupcakes
  • Curry
  • Dairy
  • Dairy Free
  • Decorating
  • Dessert
  • Dinner
  • Dolmas
  • Drink
  • Eggs
  • Events
  • Falafel
  • Fall
  • Farmers Market
  • Festival
  • Fish
  • Fitness
  • Five Ingredient Dish
  • Food Competition
  • Food Revolution
  • Food Styling
  • FoodBuzz
  • Freezing
  • French
  • Fruit
  • Furniture
  • Gifts
  • Giveaway
  • Gluten Free
  • GlutenFree
  • GPS
  • Grains
  • Greek
  • Green Beans
  • Grilling
  • Grits
  • Guacamole
  • guest blogger
  • Gym
  • Happy Hour
  • Healthy
  • Hillel
  • Holidays
  • House Decor
  • Ice Cream
  • Ideas
  • Indian
  • Iowa – Cuisine at home
  • juice
  • Kale
  • Kids
  • Kitchen
  • Kosher Food
  • Lamb
  • Lunch
  • Mango
  • Meat
  • Meatless Monday
  • Mediterranean
  • Mexican
  • Mint
  • Mother's Day
  • Mushrooms
  • Mussels
  • Mystery Ingredient
  • New York
  • Nuts
  • Outside the Kitchen
  • Paleo
  • Passover
  • Pasta
  • Peppers
  • Pho
  • Photography
  • Pizza
  • Plantains
  • Pork
  • Portland
  • Portugal
  • Potatoes
  • Product Review
  • Purim
  • quick and easy
  • Quinoa
  • Recipe
  • recipe development
  • Recipe Testing
  • Restaurant Review
  • Rice
  • Risotto
  • Russian
  • Salad
  • San Francisco
  • Sandwich
  • Seafood
  • Seattle
  • Shrimp
  • Sides
  • Snacks
  • Snow
  • Soup
  • Southern Living
  • Spain
  • Spanish
  • Stir Fry
  • Sushi
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • tacos
  • Teaching
  • Thanksgiving
  • The Culinary Institute of America – Updates
  • Tomatoes
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • vacation
  • Vegan
  • Vegetables
  • Vegetarian
  • Video
  • Vietnamese
  • Volunteering
  • washington
  • Washington DC
  • Watermelon
  • whole30
  • Wine
  • Writing/Publishing
  • Year in Review
  • You Buy I Cook
  • Zucchini

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: