The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel has focused on the incomparable food the state enjoys.  The year 2005 is officially “The Year of Alabama Food.”   Alabama is more than grits and bar-b-q!   You are officially invited to visit Alabama and, “bring your appetite!”

Alabama Tourism’s web site, www.800alabama.com list over 1,300 special events (http://800alabama.com/events/ ) scheduled for 2005.  The Group Tour Guide of Alabama is available from the state website, and is an excellent guide for vacationing in groups, or as a family.   This year there  is even a contest to decide the state dish of Alabama!  July 16th, the restaurants compete in the final cook off to be named the Official State Dish of Alabama.  There will be a myriad of activities in Birmingham associated with this event.  This would be a great time to visit historic Birmingham.  Online at http://www.bcvb.org/ you can find what is happening and what is cool (http://www.bcvb.org/ttd-attractions-list.asp) in Birmingham.  Over fifty exciting places to visit, and remarkable  things to do, await your visit.  Birmingham has an outstanding zoo, science museum, Imax Dome, theme parks, water parks, sports car racing, historic places to visit, fishing, golf, and Civil Rights Movement landmarks. Not to mention the many places designed to satisfy your hunger, no matter what your taste.   One cannot think of Birmingham without thinking of  Frank Stitt III.  Highlands Bar and Grill which opened in 1982 has become one of America’s truly great dining experiences.

A report from the New York Times http://www.highlandsbarandgrill.com/press/nyt.html reviews the fine dining Highlands has to offer…  “ Mr. Stitt's impact on the food scene in Birmingham extends far beyond Highlands. He has two other successful restaurants in the same neighborhood -- Bottega, which has a more Italianate menu, and Chez Fonfon, a basic bistro with a boule court. Furnished with treasures collected with the help of Patrick Dunne, a New Orleans culinary antiques dealer, it has a menu that runs to the likes of steak frites, omelets and trout with brown butter.”  What you read at web site http://www.highlandsbarandgrill.com/press/ will definitely impress you.  Gourmet Magazine list Highlands at 5th place in the top 50 restaurants in America, the James Beard Foundation list him as the “best chef in the Southeast,” and the praise continues.

Birmingham is home to another one of the state’s outstanding chefs – Clayton Sherrod.   Executive Chef/Owner: Chef Clayton's Food System, a catering business based in Birmingham, but his influence is world wide. Take a look at this remarkable man  - http://www.touralabama.org/yof/ambassadors/sherrod.cfm .   

Clayton's shrimp and       grits served

       "a-la'-fancy."

Little different than down on the farm hu?

How about a third famous chef? Christopher Hastings,  chef and proprietor of Hot and Hot Fish Club http://www.birminghammenus.com/hotandhot/ is a chef of national recognition.    Directions to the restaurant can be found at http://www.birminghammenus.com/hotandhot/directions/index.html, 2180 11th Court South, Birmingham, Alabama.  Pictures below...

A unique area to visit is the Alabama mountain area  which Decatur, Alabama is the center.

This is primarily the area above Birmingham, including Huntsville.  Decatur,  nestled in the Tennessee River Valley, boasts a rich and colorful history.  This area of the state has great food varying from “country Alabama” to “fine dining” abounds in this region.  Simp McGhee’s

(http://www.touralabama.org/yof/restaurant/details.cfm?ID=27 ) in Decatur (725 Bank Street) is one of the “fine dining” events of the area.  The Convention Visitor’s Bureau has an outstanding web site,   http://www.decaturcvb.org/ . 

I personally would never visit this region of Alabama without experiencing Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q.

The past seventy five years of business has brought Big Bob’s more awards than their walls can hold!  I am willing to bet you can’t look at the pictures without getting hungry and wanting to “pack up” and head that way http://www.bigbobgibsonbbq.com/main.htm.  The food is even better than the pictures!

Huntsville is a community full of surprises, if you are not familiar with the area!  Not only has it been the center of our national space program for many years, but is one of the nations’ top fishing and golfing destinations.  Another surprise - the fine dining at 801 Franklin – which is also the restaurant’s name.  This is truly a “world-class” place to dine. Were this in New York, San Francisco, Dallas – it would be among the very top dining places, and a “don’t miss” place to eat!  801 Franklin won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2004.  It is here in Huntsville, Alabama and one certainly does not want to miss this dining experience. 

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While visiting the city, take time to drive up to Buritt on the Mountain www.burrittmuseum.com , located just off of Monte Sano Boulevard – home of the Burritt Mansion built in 1936 and a living museum of farm life in the 19th century.  The Huntsville Museum of Art at 300 Church Street www.hsvmuseum.org , offers a “big city quality art museum” experience.

Dining at 113 Grant Street in Decatur is another wonder gourmet experience. Simply known as 113, has won over 40 culinary awards in the past years! http://www.cafe113.com/   Here one will find a very large selection of fine wines as well as menu selections that are certain to please.

North Alabama keeps surprising the traveler.  The community of Cullman http://www.cullmanchamber.org/visitor/default.htm has a lot to offer the traveler.   The web site http://www.cullmanchamber.org/attractions/default.htm details some of the places worthy of your visit.  Four eighteen-hole golf courses, fishing at Smith Lake, lots of antique shopping, and don’t forget a meal at All Steak Restaurant 314 2nd Ave (above Cullman Savings Bank Building) for prime rib, seafood, and one of the best breakfast meals in the United States http://www.touralabama.org/yof/restaurant/details.cfm?ID=19 . 

The state is home to a number of Civil War Battle Reenactments annually. 

Happy traveling and happy eating.  .