Photography by Gabrielle of Honest Fare. This Tomato, Squash and Coconut Milk Bisque looks like the perfect fall accompaniment to a hearty salad or sandwich. And the entire process is filled with techniques that will make you feel like a…

On a cool day, there’s nothing like a great soup to warm up your hands and heart. And chowder is the king of soups. You can make it for pescetarians (clam or seafood), vegetarians (corn or vegetable) or meat lovers…

Each country has its own stereotypes. For America, most outsiders think we all drive Ford Mustangs and are obsessed with being clean. For Ireland, it’s leprechauns and potatoes, lots and lots of potatoes. I’m not complaining about the potatoes. They’re my…

Photography by Rebekah Burder for Honeysuckle Life. As you can see from the photo above, we are both fully off Paleo, and I can’t say that I’m all that concerned. While today’s lunch is a dairy and grain filled quiche,…

Consider this the week of caramelized onion recipes! One last recipe to share and then I’m done. Until next week that is! Anywho, this Grilled French Onion Sandwich recipe from The Yummy Bits looks A-MA-ZING. Use it for those last…

I have yet to bake a pie or quiche crust perfectly. I consistently don’t roll a big enough circle, leaving big gaps in the edge. But they always taste great, so I’m not that concerned. I used leftover onions from…

Cider is one of my favorite fall beverages, and, thankfully, it’s served nationwide in Ireland, with several brands and flavors available in every petrol station, grocer, and neighborhood shop. If you love it like I do, here’s a great soup…

Have a grilling man in your life? Get him a set of Ross Dobson cookbooks. They’re filled with manly recipes like crabcakes and seafood chowder guaranteed to give you an off day (or month) in the kitchen.

Photography by Stacy Richardson. Heaven help me, I’m salivating just looking at these images. Dreamcakes Bakery, located in the Homewood area of Birmingham, sells the best cupcakes I’ve ever tasted. My personal favorite is, you guessed it, the wedding cake…

Photography by Rebekah Burder for Honeysuckle Life. Cafe Jonah and the Magical Attic created by Souper Jenny.  With a name like that, you know it’s going to be really good or really weird. Throw in a mini soup bus, a varied and unique…

  Photography by Honeysuckle Life. What can be said about Lucy’s Coffee and Tea in Southside? It’s this quirky combination of a coffee shop and home. Lucy herself may greet you with a smile. Her employees are friendly and funny….

  Photography by Honeysuckle Life. Have you noticed the trend in restaurants towards simple menus based off local ingredients and sources? Trattoria Centrale is one such restaurant that keeps it simple: Pizza, pasta, salad; six days a week. It’s the perfect place…

Photography by Honeysuckle Life. Diplomat Deli in Vestavia is one of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants only the locals know about. It’s not likely to be featured in magazines, and the decor is somewhat shabby. It’s not hip or fancy. So why…

Photography by Honeysuckle Life. A bustling area until the 60′s, racism, desegregation, and white flight created a wasteland of Birmingham’s downtown area. Business moved or failed. Historic hotels and buildings were boarded up, and until ten years ago, sadness tinted…

Photography by Honeysuckle Life. Vino is one of those rare Birmingham locations that’s completely modern. This little city isn’t short on well-designed restaurants, but it is short on modern venues.  This outdoor patio is perfectly clean and shaded. Just my…

Photography by Honeysuckle Life. Chez Lulu is one of those rare gems in Birmingham where you can find a bit of European atmosphere. A long-time local favorite, it’s perfect for an intimate date or ladies who do lunch. Named after…

  Photography by Honeysuckle Life. The sidewalks and benches in front of Steel City Pops rarely sit empty for long. Just two short months after the store opening, you’ll find countless sticky faced customers hurriedly devouring their chosen popsicle before it melts. Forget the…

  Photography by Mary Britton Senseney. Food Styling and Recipe Development by Tonya West. Grilled peach pizza. Read that again, and pause for a second or two. Yep, you read that correctly. Check out the mascarpone and vanilla filled recipe,…

  Photography by Honeysuckle Life. Until this summer, my use of basil was limited to pastas and pestos. Now that we’re limiting refined carbs, I’ve had to step up my game. This recipe from a friend became an instant favorite….

Photography by Spindle Photography. If you’re looking for a professional photographer or creative that lives in Birmingham, Alabama, chances are they’re having a drink at Urban Standard. It’s one of my favorite locations, and if you have a chance to visit,…

Photography by Amy Isaacson of Playing House. Did you know gazpacho is a colonial recipe? From Wikipedia: “There are a number of theories of its origin, including as an Arab soup of bread, olive oil, water and garlic that arrived…

Sandwiches are not something I normally crave, but after having this Strawberry and Basil Panini at Cafe Jonah in Atlanta, I can’t get enough. These thick layers of toasted bread with sliced strawberries and goat cheese are delicious enough on…

Photography by Honeysuckle Life. Two Dog Restaurant in Gainesville, Georgia is one of those cool restaurants where you immediately feel welcome and at ease. The combination of quirky decor, original art, and great Southern food is irresistible. My favorite details are…

Zucchini and Feta Balls with Tzatziki Dipping Sauce by Closet Cooking. These. Look. Delicious. Maybe I’m just terribly hungry, but these fried balls of zucchini, feta, and herbs look so good. Perfect for a Greek dinner party.

Photography by Honeysuckle Life. To be honest, when we chose this recipe we weren’t sure if it would work. Sometimes new recipes completely flop. But even if the pecans didn’t work we  had enough food to replace it. This was…

Photography by Rachel Ball.   Popovers are these perfect bits of fluffy heaven. When served warm, I can’t get enough of them. Well heck, I’ll even eat them cold. This basic popover recipe with cherry filling is being added to…

Photography for Olive & Thyme. Loving the clean and modern feel to this Toluca Lake cafe, Olive & Thyme. And look at that cheese selection? A-mazing! And the desserts. Ok, off to make lunch. Clearly I’m hungry.   Photography by…

  Photography by Milas Deli. Little cafes like this might be in my top twenty favorites in life. You’ll find them everywhere, from Michigan to Nicaragua, Alabama to Ireland. Cafes with great traditional menus full of comfort food, simple homespun…

Roasted Strawberries with Rice Pudding from A Beautiful Mess. So, roasted strawberries. I’m not sure what I think about this. Reportedly, they’re amazing because the roasting makes them really sweet and brings out every bit of the flavor. If you’re not…

Raw Peach and Blueberry Cobbler by Whole Family Fare. There’s a point where I just can’t eat scrambled eggs for breakfast again. It happens about every two weeks. I push my eggs from in front of me, make a face, and…