EatBHM

There are many reasons I love Birmingham Restaurant Week. The most important perhaps is the exposure to new restaurants. This year, I ventured off my beaten path and journeyed to one of the Hoovers…the one near the Galleria. Across from the Mercedes dealership on Highway 150, I found a zen little Japanese inspired structure that is the home of Pacific Rim.

It is nice to see the options for locally owned restaurants in Birmingham’s suburbs expanding.
The Lin family has been creating Japanese cuisine in Birmingham for almost a decade. During Birmingham Restaurant Week, they have two options for lunch and one for dinner. I chose Lunch Option A (Japanese Egg Roll + Crunchy Shrimp Roll) and added a ginger salad with an iced tea.

The waiter was friendly and quick to respond. While I waited for my salad to arrive, I couldn’t help but notice the lovely contemporary interior and clean lines in a space filled with natural light. The sushi and drink bars stand side by side along the far wall of the dining room. Booths and tables populate the space and offer various intimate seating options.

When I moved back to Birmingham almost a decade ago, it didn’t take long to discover the jewel that is Continental Bakery. At first, I would visit whenever I needed an afternoon coffee. As time went on, I found myself going earlier in the day. Eventually, I became a part of the Bakery Bunch that seemed to convene at Continental every morning. It was made up of a group of salesmen, doctors, attorneys, real estate agents and creatives that chose to start their day with a quirky group of friends and a great cup of coffee. Pets were always invited to the patio.

Bakery Bunch gatherings extended beyond the bakery and it was not uncommon to find the entire group celebrating the beginning of summer or a new year together in someone’s backyard. The number of friends that I can trace back to Continental Bakery is a little mind boggling at times. I don’t go as often as I use to but when I do stop by, I always see familiar faces.

This guest blogger is a bakery connection that has become a great friend. We often meet for coffee…sometimes planned days in advanced, sometimes impromptu and sometimes by happenstance when we are both just craving one of Continental’s sesame bagels with Primavera Coffee. I said if he would write the post for me, I would let him keep his mayorship for a few days.

Guest Post by: Craig Fowler

It’s been said that the best machine man ever invented was the bicycle. The reasoning was that no other design had so perfectly, simply, and efficiently accomplished what it was built to do. The minimal design made it the perfect essence of what it was supposed to be, no more, no less.

Obviously this is a very subjective argument. How well does a venture accomplish exactly what it was supposed to do, no more no less? This standard of judgment boils down subjective arguments to something much more manageable.

This is what I think of when I think of Continental Bakery in English Village. The appeal lies in many smaller things (amazing baked items, breads galore, an authentic, unpretentious decor, familiar faces of friends starting their day, etc.) But overall, I would say that Continental is great because it achieves the measure of doing exactly what it was designed to do, no more no less, and they do it extremely well. They bake. And that baking produces excellence all around, in a simple enjoyable package of environment and presentation that is exactly what it’s supposed to be.

You’ll find small tables to enjoy the fare, or sit outside along the sidewalk if the weather is nice. The bakery is adjacent to Chez Lulu and shares ample sidewalk space so there’s usually plenty of room. What you will not find is free wifi, big comfy chairs, or any other amenities to encourage hours of hanging around. This isn’t a coffee shop, although many of the regulars do come to hang out and enjoy the beans along with the baked (and, coincidentally, they do serve coffee from one of the city’s best small-batch roasters, Primavera). No, this is a bakery. Choose your croissants, bagels, scones or muffins, or if you’re savvy enough, something from off the menu to start the day. But don’t, I repeat, don’t forget the daily fresh breads.

The Breads! Sourdoughs, Focaccias, Rye, Pain au Noix, Challah. Traditional yeasted breads, wild yeast breads, yeast-free, specialty. Also the baguettes! Exactly how an authentic French baguette should be.

There’s just so much for a bread lover that it’s hard to choose. In today’s carb-fearful world, it’s a true gem to have a place nearby that says “to heck with that, let’s make something great”. It may not be a place that makes you want to sit for hours on a laptop but their hook is the daily special breads that make you want to come back everyday they’re open for business.

It makes for a Foursquare mayorship worth fighting for.

Now, I’m just a guy who works in software, certainly no food expert like many. And the explosion of food opinions in the past few years with mainstream culture jumping on the foodie wagon is nothing shy of staggering. But like software that’s a joy to use, I do know what I like to taste. I can appreciate the senses of quality with the best of them and I recognize my opinion of excellence when I eat it. One of the many great things about food is, like any creative endeavor, is meant to be enjoyed by others. If it is enjoyed by others, then the creator’s job is achieved.

Continental Bakery is recognized for the attention to craftsmanship that Carole Griffin and her team put into their offerings. Natural ingredients, natural methods, and true caring for doing exactly what the place was created to do, nothing more, nothing less.

Just don’t try to steal EatBHM’s mayorship.

;) Thanks Craig!

Located at 1909 Cahaba Road in English Village. They open at 7:00 AM and close at 5:30 during the week and 6:30 on weekends. For casual lunch or dinner, try Chez Lulu next door.

Food: Owner, Carole Griffin is the real deal. She finds inspiration in Alabama’s resources. I’ve watched Shirley (the baker) negotiate a deal on the patio for figs grown right on Red Mountain. Now THAT, my friends, is local. You can be sure that the bakery cases are filled with indulgences that are from the freshest ingredients possible. This is the epitome of “the best of all things in moderation” montra.

Service: This is a popular place and well staffed. They rely on word of mouth and the words are nothing short of glowing. This means that  you may encounter a crowd if you happen to be there at peak times. It is worth the wait so don’t be a grump and ruin it for the rest of us.

Atmosphere: Unapologetically European. I dare you not to fall in love.

What makes Continental Bakery worth a visit?

I can haz a bite of that bagelz?

• Maggie the black Brussels Griffon that is not ashamed to beg for a bite of your bagel…or Moe the Cocker Spaniel or Sir Charles Sugar Bear the English Bulldog or Jackie O the Corgi or Cocoa the Miniature Dachshund… In my book, pet friendly patios are place that I want to be.
• They always have pie.
• The food is amazing.
• You will find yourself among friends…always.
• You just might start a conversation here that will change your life… I did.
• Craig wanted me to add “…makes me want to go buy a new bread knife.” I’m not saying he is wrong, I’m just not making any guarantees.

Birmingham, Alabama has several Food Heroes and Amanda Storey is without a doubt one of them. Her enthusiasm for food equality that crosses socioeconomic boundaries is contagious and lights up a room. She has great stories from her journey and is definitely on the guest list for my perfect dinner party. Amanda leads our Food Revival.

Originally posted on FoodRevival.com 03/05/2011:

One of my favorite fundraisers from last year was the WE Community Gardens fundraiser at Cafe Dupont. You see, WE Community Gardens is one of my absolute favorite things about Birmingham. See video below to understand why.

WE Community Gardens is located in the West End neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. West End also happens to be one of our Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities neighborhoods too. Many folks ask me, “Why West End?” and you might be surprised to hear my answer. Sure, there is a laundry list of why West End would benefit from grant-funded health initiatives, but West End is also a place full of undeniable passion and that’s why I’m so excited about the *many* opportunities sure to come West End’s way.

Since starting this initiative to fight childhood obesity in Jefferson County (and in West End), I’ve learned many valuable life lessons. Some of those lessons I had to learn the hard way. Some lessons I learned by sitting still and listening. WE Community Gardens has taught me to understand and appreciate the importance of a community’s work and that the work should represent, employ, appreciate, encourage, and INCLUDE community members.

So when an event comes along that supports a vision I believe in and happens to benefit friends and a community I care so much about, you bet I’m going to be there. Add Chef Chris Dupont’s food to the mix and you had me at fried okra, people.

I know that I’m always asking my Food Revival friends to give. The truth is, my life has been transformed by our local food community and I get caught up in the energy of wanting to share it with you. I’m challenged daily to find additional support for the burgeoning food revival taking shape in this city. I ask you to give because I absolutely believe that when people – and I’m talking teachers, day care directors, farmers, gardeners, educators, counselors, and a plethora of folks behind the scenes serving *YOUR* community every single day – are supported, we will be better for it. Our city and county will be better for it. You and I will be better for it. More importantly, young folks will be better for it because they will feel that support and may find the hope they truly need to know that their life is precious and that they matter.

I hope that you join me March 19 at Cafe Dupont as we celebrate Ama Shambulia, Myron Pierre, RG Lyons, and countless supporters/volunteers and say together – in unison – that we support WE Community Gardens and West End. A big thank you to Whole Foods Market for donating ingredients for the dinner and Chef Chris Dupont for his amazing work. Thanks to Derek Trimble for the fantastic artwork!

Tickets are $125 per person. You can buy tickets by clicking “give” on the website (no worries, just click here) and indicate you are purchasing tickets for the dinner OR you can reach out to RG Lyons and reserve tickets today: rglyons@gmail.com. Seats are limited so act fast!

Let’s face it: You get a fabulous meal created by Chef Chris Dupont (James Beard semi-finalist) AND you help an amazing community partner. Seriously? Win. Win.

See you there. March 19. 6:30. Cafe Dupont. Done and done.

Grateful beyond measure,

Amanda

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