menu poetry: Rojo

Now, I feel like I’m really in the Christmas Spirit. Not so much because of food, but because of a quick visit to the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham with a friend to see It’s a Wonderful Life. I must admit, in the past I always said I didn’t care for this movie, that it wasn’t my favorite. Gasping usually ensued.

But, now I’ve changed my tune a bit. Maybe I watched it too long ago to remember or maybe I never saw it all the way through, but seeing it last night as part of the Holiday Film Series, I was moved! Almost teared up, even. We would all do to remember this life and this world wouldn’t be the same without us alive in it, and to remind others of the same.

Before the movie, we filled our bellies at Rojo, one of my favorite local restaurants. They have a Latin menu and an American menu, but I’ve never ordered off the latter because the former is too tasty to resist! Simple, flavorful, well-seasoned, and always good.

Last night I had: tacos with grilled chicken, onion, cilantro, spicy tomatillo salsa and rice and beans on corn tortillas.

The dimly lit Rojo wouldn’t have allowed for a good pic, and I was too hungry for all that anyway.

Third Time’s the Charm

We braved the line of cars tapping their brakes down the two lane road. We dodged and weaved amongst the pedestrians crowding the sidewalks and crosswalks. We squeaked into the Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg an hour before closing time.

The waitress put this in front of my face:

Wild blueberry pancakes with blueberries in them, on them, and, see that adorable little pitcher there?, from it flows blueberry syrup with yes, more blueberries. A delectable trifecta, I must say.

Our trip to the mountains afforded beautiful views of a outdoorsy variety, too. I’ll get to that.

menu poetry: Carmelo Cafe

The town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is known outside the South mostly, if not exclusively, for a football team known as the Crimson Tide. There may be people who don’t know of the town or its team, of course, I’m just generalizing.

For me, though, football is not king, but I guess you could say food is.

Having lived in this town as a high schooler, I know it pretty well, but I’m always on the lookout to be surprised or find something new.

My mom and I did just that on Saturday before we attended the annual Kentuck Festival (which was fantastic! I took pictures. I hope they turn out so I can share).Carmelo Cafe is a relatively small place with a daily, blackboard menu. We arrived, we sat, we debated the finer points of the fish tacos versus the pimento cheese burger with bacon or the Roast Beef Po’Boy.

The first thing that caught my eye ended up being what graced my plate and pleased my palate: Walnut-crusted fried chicken with a honey habanero glaze, speckled butter beans, and Gouda grits.

And, so, a surprisingly tasty lunch was had.