We are constantly surprised and honored by the talented and generous chefs that agree to be a part of our Friends of the Café dinner series. A look back through our Journal shows just how many brilliant individuals have traveled to our corner of Alabama and offered their time, energy, and creativity for a good… Read on

Scott Peacock, native of Hartford, Alabama, was in his late twenties when he met the legendary, late Edna L ewis, considered to be the “Grand Dame” of Southern cuisine. At the time, Scott was chef for the governor of Georgia, and he and Miss Lewis were assigned to cook together for a fundraiser—though neither of… Read on

There is a lot you can say about Scott Peacock: James Beard Award-winning chef, engaging storyteller, companion to Edna Lewis, budding farmer, writer/filmmaker, experimenter with indigo—yes, you got that right, indigo. Several weekends ago, my daughter Maggie and I took a road trip to meet Scott at his home in Marion, Alabama. We were joined… Read on

I have a deep respect and admiration for the work happening at Rural Studio, located in Hale County, Alabama. Founded in 1993 by the late Samuel “Sambo” Mockbee and D.K. Ruth, the studio is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. After having the chance to visit the stunning Yancey Chapel in 2008, I noted on the… Read on

For over a decade, we’ve had the joy of collaborating with Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic, the visionary husband-and-wife duo behind Heath Ceramics. For the newest Heath Ceramics x Alabama Chanin collection, Natalie, Cathy, and Robin set out to create two new hand-etched designs that represent each company’s heritage and work in the preservation and… Read on

Sending love from all of us @ Alabama Chanin. Let’s stick together.   P.S.: Discover some of what we’re currently loving (here at Alabama Chanin and beyond):  Ashley Cardigan  Biscuit Experiences with chef Scott Peacock  The Waffle Sweatshirt  Upcoming Project Threadways Symposium: Textiles and Activism  Heath Ceramics Tile  Rosanne Cash’s Toe-in-the-Water, Let’s-Try-This-Again Spring Tour  Helton Rose Skirt … Read on

“Every colour harbours its own soul.” — Emil Nolde  Last week we explored the world of natural dyeing in anticipation of our collaboration with Botanical Colors. This week we highlight and share friends, inspirations, makers, growers, and trailblazers in the world of natural dyeing. Like Alabama Chanin, these artisans share a passion for sustainability and the preservation of heirloom plants and processes…. Read on

From top left: Hable Suns Apron, Camellia Etched Dinner Plate from Alabama Chanin x Heath Ceramics, Cornbread Sticks from Alabama Studio Style, Cocktail Napkins in Natural, Stenciled Pumpkin Pie, David Mellor Pride 5-Piece Stainless Set, Sparkling Manhattan  “Forever on Thanksgiving the heart will find the pathway home.” – Wilbur D. Nesbit  We encourage celebrating safely this holiday season… Read on

“The Alabama tomato is truly a wonder. It takes on the color of the deep, red soil and the taste borders somewhere between sweet and tart. I grew up eating these tomatoes straight out of my grandparents’ garden in Florence, Alabama, and after having lived away from home and in Europe for over 20 years,… Read on

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow – Audrey Hepburn  Originally planted during World War I and World War II, victory gardens offered food security, reduced pressure of the food supply, and encouraged morale during wartimes. They have made a resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with many citizens of communities across the world going… Read on

“What’s more important than recipes is how we think about food, and a good cookbook should open up a new way of doing just that.” ― Michael Symon October is National Cookbook Month. In observance, this week we share just a few of our favorite contemporary cookbooks. We hope that they will encourage you to… Read on

“Food is everything we are. It is an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.” ― Anthony Bourdain This Thursday kicks off The Gathering at The Factory, and next week, we welcome the community for the first annual… Read on

The Slow Food movement and its principles have inspired Alabama Chanin’s commitment to slow fashion. We take their mission of Good, Clean, Fair to heart, as we attempt to make responsibly, grow connections in our community, and espouse sustainable practices. In order to further these beliefs, we look to build relationships with others who want… Read on

… the role of the architect, or the designer, is that of a very good, thoughtful host, all of whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests—those who enter the building and use the objects in it. – Charles Eames A place at the table. What does that mean?  It means… Read on

During June 2018, Natalie took month-long respite and creative journey during her residency at The Hambidge Center in the woods of north Georgia. She reflects on her time there and shares her experience for which she is eternally grateful: In the summer of 2017, I was going through what will always be known to me… Read on

Steven Satterfield is co-owner and chef of Miller Union, a restaurant located in Atlanta’s west side that focuses on seasonal ingredients. His relationships with local farmers and producers are the driving forces behind his menus. Chef Satterfield is an active member of Chef’s Collaborative, Southern Foodways Alliance, and Georgia Organics. In 2015, Satterfield released his… Read on

The past year has been one in which we’ve continually searched for beauty and hope; undoubtedly, 2017 has been a year unlike any other. As a company, our response to this year has been to look within and search for new meaning in what we do, to seek inspiration in the work of others, and—perhaps… Read on

2017 welcomed exciting changes, friends and collaborators, and community involvement to The Factory Café. In July we welcomed new head chef, and Florence native, Ray Nichols. Our menu saw exciting changes with the addition of Antipasti Mondays, The Factory Burger, house made pastrami, and seasonal grit bowls on the brunch menu. We continued the tradition… Read on

The day is nearing. Saturday, Scott Peacock will be in house, hosting his Friends of the Café Dinner. We’ve shared Scott‘s varied talents with you on the Journal over the years. Scott is (currently) an experimenting indigo farmer and dyer, an avid influencer of Southern food culture, and inspiring writer and oral historian. Who wouldn’t… Read on

As part of an ongoing exploration into indigo and other natural dyes, we are spotlighting artists we consider to be experts in the field—including Scott Peacock, Donna Hardy, and today, Kathy Hattori. Kathy is one of the founders of Botanical Colors, a well-respected source of materials, support, and educational offerings for those seeking to employ… Read on

Yesterday, we announced the lineup for our 2017 Friends of the Café dinner series. Visiting chefs Scott Peacock and Ashley Christensen are familiar to our Journal readers, and today we want to introduce Asha Gomez—our guest chef in August. Asha Gomez is an Atlanta-based chef who combines influences from her birthplace in Kerala, India, with… Read on

Alabama Chanin hosted our very first Friends of the Café Dinner in May of 2014, and since then we’ve experienced meals and enjoyed gatherings that were nothing short of magical. In retrospect, we almost cannot believe the lineup of talented chefs who have graciously donated their time for these special fundraisers: Sean Brock, Ashley Christensen,… Read on

It is (finally) the time of year to begin the Tomato Sandwich Diet. THE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER TOMATO SANDWICH Wheat bread Homemade mayonnaise (see below) Heirloom tomato slices – patted dry Salt & pepper to taste HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE – from a recipe by Scott Peacock 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature (very important)… Read on

Alabama Chanin’s first-ever sewing workshop took place in 2008 alongside a seminar on Southern cooking, organized and presented by our friend and collaborator, Angie Mosier. While the sewing participants stitched and chatted, the food preparers fried up some chicken, steamed collard greens and made pot likker, then baked the most delicious Lane Cake. At each… Read on

I first tasted the fried chicken at Watershed restaurant in Georgia about 10 years ago, while visiting friend and colleague, Angie Mosier. This was also my first meeting with Scott Peacock, the then-head chef of Watershed who led them to a James Beard award in 2007. Scott’s close friend and culinary mentor, Edna Lewis, is hands… Read on

Maggie has her Valentine’s Party this morning at school and she started the day jumping up and down saying, “I am so excited. I am so excited. I am so excited.” Her enthusiasm for this holiday has been amazing to see crescendo as the week comes to a close. This (almost) four year old girl has… Read on

My holidays – up until Monday morning – were all about cookbooks. We made birthday dinners (Fried Chicken a la Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock), holiday brunch (Turkey Pot Pie a la Screen Doors and Sweet Tea), buttermilk rolls (The Joy of Cooking) back-yard picnics (Bunyan’s Barbeque and anything from White Trash Cooking #2), homemade truffles… Read on

After our “Sewing, Cooking and Community” extravaganza in Atlanta, just about everyone asked me about Angie’s Pimento Cheese recipe (pronounced “puhmenaaacheeeez”). The first time I saw Angie’s recipe, it surprised me to see onion included, but now I firmly believe that this is the trick.

I recently asked my friend Angie Mosier about brining chicken & her reply was that ”everything you need to know about brining chicken can be found in The Gift of Southern Cooking by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock.” I learned from Anige that you cannot write about the southern table without paying homage to the… Read on

It’s hard to believe that we are more than halfway through 2020 and The School of Making’s Year of Color. Such a year, we could never have fathomed—and, in so many ways, still cannot. Contemplation, making, and gathering inspiration for the future have become a go-to coping mechanism for me—which has been expressed through adding… Read on

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi Explore the links below to discover who, what, and where we love. Love yourself. Love your family, friends, and neighbors.   Love good company.   Love your team. Love the planet. Love good food.   Love to travel. Love to create.  … Read on

We have, over the years, done quite a bit of experimenting with natural dyes, and we try to integrate naturally dyed fabrics into our collections of low-impact dyed yardage whenever possible. We have also been lucky enough to benefit from the wisdom of many natural dye experts. Picking up from a conversation we had last… Read on