#Alabama Culture

[inboundremblog]

Signature Dishes You Can't Ignore at Alabama Restaurants

Credit: Image by Ahmad No More | Pexels

12 Unforgettable Foods to Sample in Alabama Restaurants

Choosing the right place to eat can often mean pulling out your phone to search for popular spots in the area, not to mention figuring out what to order. For food lovers, Alabama's culinary scene is like a treasure chest waiting to be discovered! Deciding what to try first can feel overwhelming, especially when you're looking to experience the true essence of Southern cooking. To help you out, here are 12 unforgettable dishes you must try at Alabama restaurants!

1. Alabama White BBQ Sauce

Most other parts of the country use BBQ with tomato-based sauces, but the home state of Alabama bases its signature style on a different kind of white sauce with mayonnaise, vinegar, and spices. This tangy and creamy sauce is usually served over smoked chicken, though it goes flawlessly well with other meat dishes. And although you can find it in patches across BBQ joints around the state, Big Bob Gibson's BBQ in Decatur fits the bill for its flavor.

2. Fried Green Tomatoes

Another Southern classic that you can't miss is fried green tomatoes. This is a staple in several restaurants in Alabama and is usually served as an appetizer or side order. It begins with unripe tart tomatoes coated in a seasoned cornmeal batter and then fried in oil. This creates a crunchy but golden outer layer that is soft and tangy inside. Try them at The Irondale Caféfor a truly authentic taste. This iconic spot, located just outside Birmingham, is said to have invented the dish!

3. Gulf Coast Shrimp

One wouldn't do themselves justice if they left the Gulf Coast without trying one local favorite: shrimp. Sweet and tender, these daily catches are cooked in every fashion imaginable, like boiled, fried, grilled, or spicy shrimp boil. They consistently taste fresh and delicious, no matter how they are prepared. A great place to try this local delicacy is Lucy Buffett's Lulu's Restaurant in Gulf Shores, where the shrimp is served in various dishes, including shrimp po'boys and shrimp and grits.

4. Seafood Gumbo

Gumbo is a Louisiana classic with a thick, savory broth with bold flavors, seafood, vegetables, and rice. Alabama's coastal cities put their twist on it, and restaurants add their own toppings. Usually, it’s loaded with shrimp, crab, oysters, and sometimes fish. It’s perfectly seasoned and smoky. The locals’ choice for the best-rich flavorful bowl is Wintzell’s Oyster House in Mobile.

5. Fried Catfish

Fried catfish is an Alabama staple at any Alabama restaurant. Hushpuppies and coleslaw usually accompany its tender, flaky flesh. Cornmeal is often used to season the batter. It provides that crunchy texture and flavorful coating. You will get a fantastic plate at the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores: crispy, juicy, and delicious.

6. Hot Chicken

Any of Alabama's hot chicken joints will not have any of its spice-looking customers disappointed. A variation of Nashville's hot chicken, Alabama's very own means your plate is layered with crispy fried chicken covered with a spice seasoning mix. Cayenne pepper and paprika, among others, bring on the heat. It is served over a slice of bread topped with pickles. Check out Hattie B's Hot Chicken in Birmingham, which offers crispy, spicy, and flavorful pieces.

7. Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is among the best sweet Southern desserts. It is rich and satisfying, made with a sticky, caramelized filling and loaded with crunchy pecans. It's a must-have dessert, especially when dining in Alabama in the fall or winter. Montgomery's Alabama State Farmers Market offers some of the finest creations, with a buttery crust and rich filling.

8. Chicken and Dumplings

Comfort food comes to mind at the mere mention of chicken and dumplings. Tasty and tender chicken pieces in a savory broth with soft, pillowy dumplings represent the epitome of an old favorite Southern dish. It is perfect when you need a warm and filling meal to see you through the winter months. Alabama has its version, with a twist on the seasoning, making it extra unique. You can find a great bowl of chicken and dumplings at G's Country Kitchen, serving a perfect balance of flavors in every bite.

9. Biscuits and Gravy

Fluffy, buttery biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy are a breakfast staple in Alabama. Combining rich gravy and light biscuits is satisfying to start the day. You'll find this dish at many Alabama diners, but The Orginal Pancake House in Birmingham is famous for its perfectly baked biscuits and creamy, flavorful gravy.

10. Barbecued Ribs

Alabama knows how to do BBQ, right. There's nothing quite like the excitement of smoked, tender, barbecued ribs. Meat falling right off the bone and smokiness marrying with tanginess in the sauce makes a heavenly bite. The ribs taste incredible, whether accompanied by baked beans, cornbread, or coleslaw. Visit Saw's BBQ in Birmingham, famous for perfectly smoked ribs and luscious sides.

11. Collard Greens

A Southern meal always includes collard greens. Cooked very slowly, the greens swim in a rich broth, often flavored with some pieces of ham hocks or bacon. This dish perfectly complements Southern dishes like fried chicken, BBQ, and catfish. Hattie's Soul Food serves some of the best collard greens in the state, making them the perfect side to accompany seafood.

12. Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and grits is a common dish all over the South, but Alabama's twist on the classic is spectacular. Plump shrimp sizzle in garlic and spices with each bite, served over creamy grits. It's almost always topped off with a savory sauce; sometimes, bacon or sausage adds to the flavor. Orange Beache's GTs On The Bay is most remembered for its fantastic shrimp and grits, which are flavorful and served piping hot.

Conclusion

Alabama restaurants never disappoint whether you're in the mood for comfort food or fresh Gulf Coast seafood. The dining scene is diverse and rich in flavor, with dishes representing the state's deep Southern roots. The next time you find yourself here, sample these 12 unforgettable dishes and taste the best of what Alabama offers.

Explore the best Alabama restaurants at https://localpropertyinc.com/lifestyle/restaurants/ and experience authentic Southern cuisine and hospitality.

Discover must-try dishes at Alabama restaurants highlighting the unique flavors of the South.

[reagansfunkyart]

Bama Miku.

[queerism1969]

[yeoldenews]

Hi! It seems like fireworks and firecrackers were a very common item in Santa letters, to the extent that they’re often thrown in at the end along with fruit like a ‘default’ Santa gift. If you know, why and when did fireworks stop being a go-to present for kids to ask from Santa?

This is actually something I keep meaning to dig into more.

It was almost exclusively a Southern practice (particularly in the Deep South), but was so universal there that it's honestly more unusual for Southern kids to NOT ask for fireworks than to ask for them. I'm not sure if there were cultural aspects to this or was just because it makes more sense to give them where it's actually warm enough to shoot them off.

They seem to have been given primarily as a stocking-stuffers, as they are almost always listed alongside the standard fruit, nuts and candy.

From what I've seen, requests for fireworks dropped off sharply in the early 60s, though I as of yet haven't found any convincing reason as to why.

That's a bit early to coincide with the general shift away from little boys asking for firearms, which seems (from my observations at least) to be largely correlated with the advent of video games in the 70s and 80s.

It's possible it may have been a natural result of child safety standards evolving beyond the 'sure, give your six-year-old explosives, what's the worst that could happen?' that seems to have been the dominant attitude for the first half of the 20th century.

If anyone from the South has any insight on this I'd love to hear it.

[sbrown82]

Beat they ass…but make it fashion!

[intheholler]

I love your photos. They capture some of the mystery and shadow of Appalachian culture. Thank you for sharing them.

I'm a gay man, born in Alabama, left in 1973, and San Francisco has been my home since 1986.

you're real sweet <33 i'm glad you dig the images.

the original purpose of this blog was actually just me fuckin around and collecting pictures that i felt represented my journey to finally loving my appalachian self and the place that birthed me, and ones that helped me work through what it felt like to grow up as an ex-christian lesbian up a holler. so, this ask makes me feel good. so does your presence here

i should get back to that sometime lol

thanks for being here <333

[easeupkid]

people with onsite laundry will never understand the epic highs and lows of laundromat life

[churchsideblog]

I guess I just...I know there's a lot in our history that we've done wrong, but is wanting to be proud of my culture really so much to ask? To say who I am in public without being treated like an object of pity for how I grew up? i'm terrified to tell my friends what I believe in case they reject me over stereotypes. the catholics think we're not Christians, the liberals think we want gay people dead, my brother's best friend moved to evangelical country and started talking like we were monsters, and I can't even find solidarity within the church because everybody's too busy trying to assimilate with people who want us dead.

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

if your conclusion after reading Hillbilly Elegy (and I don't think most people who say this did read it) is "J.D. Vance is from Ohio, he's not a real hillbilly and knows nothing about Appalachia," you missed the entire point of the book.

[odinsblog]

“Iggy Azalea is the walking embodiment of how white women will fetishize Black womanhood — from co-opting our speech and vernacular to paying thousands to replicate our physical aesthetics to birthing Black children — but will refuse to stand in solidarity with Black women.”

THAT part.

Not only is Iggy Azalea a culture vulture, but she also lied about having no contact with Tory Lanez because she mistakenly thought her sloppy ass letter wouldn’t be public.

Shoutout to Meghann Cuniff, the reporter who broke this story. She don’t miss 🎯

Iggy’s full letter (grammatical errors and all) beneath the page break.

👉🏿 https://www.legalaffairsandtrials.com/p/iggy-azalea-to-tory-lanezs-sentencing

Iggy Azalea’s full letter written to a Los Angeles judge prior to Tory Lanez’s sentencing, obtained by @meghanncuniff:

“Dear Honorable Judge Herriford,

I'm writing to you in regards to a case in your court.

My name is Iggy Azalea and I've been a successful musician for the last decade.

Ive sold over 65 million records throughout my career, had number 1 hits on the billboard hot 100 and broken records previously held by 'The Beatles'.

My music has been nominated for 6 Grammys and I have a multitude of other musical awards.

Throughout my career I've toured with some of the biggest acts in music: from Beyonce to Pitbull.

Ive also collaborated with everyone from Britney Spears to Jenifer Lopez. In short, like yourself, I'm great at what I do and I'm well respected by my peers.

Becoming successful is incredibly hard to do and maintaining success is even harder.

The music industry is not designed to empower Artists - especially not women.

You learn to expect misogyny at every turn, no matter how much you've personally achived.

Sadly I've spent my entire career battling sexism and bad behavior behind the curtains.

One unfortunate consequence of that is I am victim of abuse myself.

I must make note of the things ive suffered through so that you understand definitively:

I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser.

In fact, its the very reason I felt it imperative I share my viewpoint as a woman in music: in regard to Daystar Peterson.

You are presiding over his case and It would mean a great deal to me if you'd please let me share with you why "Tory Lanez" is far from your average entitled rap star.

I believe in justice and I know you do too. You've dedicated your life's work to it and I respect that deeply.

Thats why im taking my time to do this, because I know the person you are understands in order to truly conclude what a fair sentence is, You need better understanding of who the person you're sentencing IS at their core.

Judge Herriford, I was elated when I saw your name in relation to this trial because you have a reputation of being a very fair judge.

In fact its one of the reasons I was sadnned Daystar had subpar legal counsel and did not take the stand at his own trial.

We've all been frozen in fear before. The unfortunate side effect of his choice is he's been painted in the most unrecognizable way: to you, the jury and the public.”

And a big fuck you! to all the other sorry ass celebs who tried to excuse or minimize what Torey Lanez did and then tried to drag Megan Theee Stallion - The Shade Room, Drake, DJ Akademiks, Kelsey Nicole, EJ King, 50 Cent, LeBron James, Remy Ma, Meek Mills, 21 Savage, Tasha K, Joe Budden, Lil Baby, Kylie Jenner, Nicki Minaj

[federer7]

Car Culture Saturday afternoon in Florence, Alabama. June 1942

Photo: Arthur Rothstein - Library of Congress

[mymusicbias]

[rebelyells]

We remember our Ancestors who fought against their cultural extinction. The same applies today. God Bless the Southland! Love this Texas Monument! Keep History Alive. 2,257 Battles were fought to defend their homes.

[kemetic-dreams]

In Alabama slave narratives, it was documented former slaves used graveyard dirt to escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad. Freedom seekers rubbed graveyard dirt on the bottom of their feet or put graveyard dirt in their tracks to prevent slave catcher's dogs from tracking their scent. Former slave Ruby Tartt from Alabama, said there was a conjurer who could "Hoodoo the dogs." An enslaved conjurer could conjure confusion in the slave catcher's dogs which prevented whites from catching runaway slaves. In other narratives, slaves made a jack ball to know if a slave would be whipped or not. Slaves chewed and spit the juices of roots near their enslavers secretly to calm the emotions of the slaveholders which prevented whippings. Slaves relied on conjurers to prevent whippings and being sold further South

[fakkubunny]

I do anime tattoos in Mobile, AL and Orlando, FL 🩵✨

IG: @FakkuBunny