Search Results for: tomato

August 15, 2020
CRAFTING THE PERFECT TOMATO SANDWICH
“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

May 1, 2019
A RECIPE FOR GREEN TOMATO PIE (+ LAST CHANCE COOK + DINE)
As summer gardens get planted, many of us are looking ahead to tomato season. Collecting juicy red tomatoes fresh from the garden is many home gardeners’ pride and joy. For those who can’t wait, we reshare a recipe below from our friends at Blackberry Farm for their Green Tomato Pie with Buttermilk Crust from the… Read on

June 28, 2017
ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN’S HOMEGROWN TOMATO PIE @ THE FACTORY
In honor of our recent Friends of the Café Dinner with chef Ashley Christensen, The Factory Café is featuring a tomato pie recipe from her cookbook, Poole’s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner. Ashley’s Homegrown Tomato Pie will be available from June 27th – July 1st (or until we run out of tomatoes), with… Read on

May 3, 2017
SFA FRIED GREEN TOMATOES + SHRIMP REMOULADE
In celebration of National Shrimp Day on May 10th, The Factory Café will serve Fried Green Tomatoes + Shrimp Remoulade made with Royal Red Gulf shrimp for lunch next week. With a recipe from the SFA Community Cookbook, this dish will be available from May 9th – 12th. Natalie and the Alabama Chanin team constantly… Read on

July 6, 2016
TOMATO SANDWICH DIET
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

June 25, 2014
HOT AND HOT TOMATO SALAD
This month, we launched our “Friends of the Café” Dinner Series with James Beard award-winning chef Chris Hastings. When searching for like-minded chefs and restaurants to collaborate with for our ongoing chef series in the café, Chris was one of the first people who came to mind. His dedication to locally-sourced ingredients is something we… Read on

June 11, 2014
TOMATOES WITH BASIL + GOAT CHEESE
Nothing tastes like summer quite like a fresh, home-grown tomato. In fact, I embark on a tomato sandwich diet each summer. While I’m still patiently waiting for my own garden plants to get ripe enough for picking, I’m enjoying the vegetables from my CSA share each week (and of course, our locally-sourced café ingredients). Good… Read on

April 23, 2014
BLACKBERRY FARM’S GREEN TOMATO PIE
It is no secret that Southerners love green tomatoes. We fry them, pickle them, stew them, bake them in pies, and even write books about them. Readily available at the beginning and ending of each summer season, this under-ripe fruit has a firm flesh and an acidic, sour taste—which allows them to be used in… Read on

August 15, 2012
TOMATO + TOMATO PIZZA
Last week, during a photo shoot at my house for our new Indigo + Carmine pieces, my son Zach took time from his busy day of new fatherhood and running his growing catering company to make us lunch: a simple, delicious pizza piled with tomatoes. This summer has been hard on my garden. Many of… Read on

May 23, 2012
GARDEN & GUN (+ A TOMATO SANDWICH)
Thanks to Garden & Gun for making our dinnerware their Editors’ Pick for the June/July 2012 issue. Beautifully hand-crafted pieces. Perfect timing for summer parties and entertaining. Even better timing for my summer tomato sandwich diet (recipe included). The etched salad plate is the perfect size for a single, delicious sandwich and I’ve got tomatoes in my… Read on

October 6, 2011
TOMATOES + FASHION
In 2006, Leslie Hoffman of Earth Pledge asked me to write a short paper for inclusion in their Future Fashion White Papers. I recently came across the volume while browsing my library and the essay stirred up so many memories from that time. As the last of my tomatoes drop to the ground, I wanted… Read on

July 26, 2011
LEFTOVER BISCUIT + TOMATO PIE
This recipe was the lucky culmination of a recent visit to the Lodge Factory Store in Scottsboro, Alabama, the abundance of cherry tomatoes in my garden, and leftover biscuits from this morning’s breakfast. It features the biscuit recipe from page 80 of the Alabama Stitch Book and is a riff on the Put-Up Tomato Pie… Read on

August 16, 2021
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 33/52 | 2021
“Okra flower and okra” from Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks through the Seasons by Steven Satterfield. “Let things taste of what they are.” —Alice Waters August produces an abundance of fresh vegetables from the garden, at farmers markets, and on the menu at local eateries. Popular in our community this season are corn, tomatoes,… Read on

July 26, 2021
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 30/52 | 2021
“Summer has filled her veins with light and her heart is washed with noon.” —C. Day Lewis Long days and short nights, travel and adventure, rest and relaxation, summertime connects us with the natural world, inspires exploration, and delivers bountiful gardens, fresh vegetables, and our beloved tomato sandwich. Follow these links to find readings and resources for… Read on

July 23, 2021
SLOW LIVING + LADY FARMER
When I was younger, creation was a part of the everyday lives of the women and men living in my community, especially for my grandparents. People—most often those living in rural communities like my hometown—were deeply connected to the land. They made their own bread, got milk from their own cow, and grew everything they… Read on

August 17, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 34/52 | 2020
“Ruth Asawa Postage Stamp Book. Showcasing Asawa’s wire sculptures, the pane includes 20 stamps, with two each of 10 designs, featuring photographs by Dan Bradica and Laurence Cuneo.”, 2020 by U.S. Postal Service. “I love the rebelliousness of snail mail, and I love anything that can arrive with a postage stamp. There’s something about that person’s breath and… Read on

January 21, 2020
Q + A WITH JOHN CARTWRIGHT OF RIVERTOWN COFFEE
To immerse our makers into the community that surrounds Alabama Chanin, this year chef John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee, located in downtown Florence, will be joining us at The Factory to bring his own brand of Southern cooking to each workshop. We recently sat down with John to discuss Rivertown Coffee, the food community in… Read on

November 13, 2019
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ: TANDY WILSON + A RECIPE
For the final dinner of our 2019 Friends of the Café series, we hosted James Beard Award-winning chef Tandy Wilson for a special evening that combined savory with sweet and included personal touches to each dish. Benefitting Project Threadways, the evening featured a brief discussion of Project Threadways by Carolyn Barske, director of the Muscle… Read on

October 9, 2019
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ: CHEETIE KUMAR + A SUMMER COCKTAIL RECIPE
In August, The Factory Café hosted celebrated chef and literal rock star Cheetie Kumar for a special evening of savory and sweet offerings highlighting her Indian and American culinary background. We were also joined by renowned wine importer Eric Solomon, who curated delightful wine pairings for each dish. Benefitting the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA), the… Read on

August 12, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 33/52 | 2019
“The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.” ― Shauna Niequist, Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table Summer is a great time for entertaining. Longer days and warm… Read on

August 8, 2019
THE SCHOOL OF MAKING + THE FACTORY CAFÉ: WORKSHOPS THROUGH 2019
It’s hard to believe, but 2019 is past its half-way mark. The School of Making and The Factory Café is keeping busy with workshops scheduled from August through late Fall. Our workshops are open to makers and cooks, amateurs and skilled alike. We invite you to join us: On August 10th the team will be… Read on

July 24, 2019
Q&A WITH CHEF CHEETIE KUMAR
Born in India, the now-Raleigh, North Carolina-based chef Cheetie Kumar’s life in America began in the Bronx, New York. She and her family lived in a small apartment in an immigrant neighborhood, where she began to cultivate her new Indian-American identity. Her mother began introducing Cheetie to her culinary heritage at an early age, teaching… Read on

July 8, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 28/52 | 2019
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock, The Use of Life Summer is in full swing here in Alabama… Read on

June 17, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 25/52 | 2019
“For me, summer hasn’t really started until tomatoes reappear in local farmers’ markets.” ― José Andrés Today, June 17th, is National Eat Your Vegetables Day. Locally sourced organic vegetables have always been the cornerstone of the meals served at The Factory Café, and like many of our readers, farmer’s market produce is a staple on… Read on

May 15, 2019
THE GATHERING SUPPER CLUB RECAP
April 11th not only kicked off the third annual Gathering at The Factory, but it also brought the second Supper Club dinner of 2019. The fare was rooted in Italy and meticulously prepared by our Factory Café using ingredients from local farms and purveyors. The evening started with pizzetta bianca, cannellini and anchovy crostini, and… Read on

May 6, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 19/52 | 2019
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” ― Jane Austen, Emma Alabama Chanin’s Leisure Collection gets a refresh tomorrow with revamped classics and the addition of a few new pieces that are sure to become favorites. With relaxation on our minds, this week we share some of our favorite refreshing and easy… Read on

April 8, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 15/52 | 2019
“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
October 10, 2018
FRIENDS OF THE CAFE: KELLY ENGLISH
The latest featured chef for our Friends of the Café dinner is Memphis-based Kelly English of venues Restaurant Iris, Second Line, and and Biloxi’s Magnolia House. His approach to Southern food, paired with international flavors, has helped Kelly make his name on the culinary scene. English was raised in Louisiana and studied pre-law at the… Read on

August 29, 2018
A LOOK BACK: JULY’S SUPPER CLUB @ THE FACTORY CAFÉ
For our July Supper Club, The Factory Café invited chef Josh Quick of Florence’s Odette to helm the kitchen with chef Ramon Jacobsen and their team. John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee Company—who partnered with us for our May Supper Club—joined them in the kitchen. The evening was filled with summer harvest bounty. Odette is located… Read on

August 15, 2018
SUMMER VEGETABLES + BUTTERMILK-HERB DRESSING
Summer is the season of vegetables, whether from your local farmers market or your backyard garden. And there are countless summer veggie recipes on the Journal, like this one for a Southern Antipasti, the beloved Tomato Sandwich (the secret’s in the homemade mayo), or a Grilled Vegetable Quiche. At The Factory Café, we eagerly anticipate… Read on

July 23, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 30/52 | 2018
“Cooking well doesn’t mean cooking fancy.” — Julia Child The bountiful harvests of summer make simple, fresh dishes, made from in-season vegetables and fruits, possible. Pair these with staple meats and seafood and summertime is sure to be delicious. In honor of this warm weather fare, this week is all about summer-eats. Blackberry Farm’s Green… Read on

May 30, 2018
Q&A WITH CHEF REBECCA WILCOMB
Rebecca Wilcomb has worked for and under the tutelage of several renowned chefs, including Keith Pooler at Harvest and Ana Sortun at Oleana, both in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Even so, it is safe to say that she has found a place to truly shine at Herbsaint in New Orleans, Chef Donald Link’s flagship restaurant. After moving to… Read on

February 14, 2018
APPLE BBQ SAUCE
Last week we shared a group of recipes inspired by cooking over open flame. We’ve written extensively on the subject of BBQ and its respective sauces in the past, and even barbecued wedding dresses for the Southern Foodways Alliance. And though winter isn’t the ideal time to BBQ, we bring you a seasonal take on BBQ… Read on

August 9, 2017
ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN DINNER RECAP
Our most recent Friends of the Café Dinner, helmed by Ashley Christensen and her team, was another memorable milestone in our ongoing friendship and professional relationship. We have always proclaimed Ashley to be a badass, and she proved herself worthy of the description, once again. She has dedicated such an enormous amount of time, energy,… Read on

May 17, 2017
FRIENDS OF THE CAFE + SCOTT PEACOCK
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

March 15, 2017
LIFE SKILLS WITH HUGH ACHESON
Hugh Acheson is a practical man. He’s witty and inventive, too, but he has the ability to cut through nonsense like a hot knife through butter. Hugh opened his Athens, Georgia-based flagship restaurant 5 & 10 in 2000 and followed in 2007 with a second space, The National. He has since opened the Atlanta-based Empire… Read on

October 19, 2016
JOHN CURRENCE’S BIG BAD BREAKFAST
As we have reported more than once, the annual Southern Foodways Alliance symposium is a pretty magical occurrence where like-minded individuals come to discuss, debate, celebrate, and (most importantly) eat the very best of what the South has to offer. It was at one of these events where we first really got to know chef… Read on

October 29, 2015
NOVEMBER + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
I looked down at my calendar recently and was stunned to realize: this year is almost over. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was thinking summer vacations and tomato sandwiches. Now, I have to shift gears and get into holiday mode—quickly. It seems the older I get, the more I seem to… Read on
September 3, 2015
SEPTEMBER + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
September comes as a bit of a relief this year, as it brings more routine, less travel, and a few moments to relax. While I’ve enjoyed my unforgettable summer with Maggie (especially our cross-country train trip), most parents will agree that there’s just the slightest feeling of liberation when your child goes back to school (albeit… Read on

August 12, 2015
FRIENDS OF THE CAFE DINNER: ROB MCDANIEL
My initial introduction to up-and-coming Alabama chef Rob McDaniel came through my son, Zach. Years ago, Zach was traveling home from a Doo-Nanny celebration and stopped for brunch at a restaurant along Lake Martin in south Alabama. The unimposing atmosphere and spectacular meal he found at the SpringHouse restaurant had him hooked. He raved for… Read on

July 30, 2015
AUGUST + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
The months of June and July were wonderful and hectic in lots of beautiful and fun ways. There was plenty of travel, including our trip to Blackberry Farm and the cross-country train trip that Maggie and I took to San Francisco. With August comes a welcome bit of calm, just before our house gets back… Read on

July 2, 2015
JULY + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
Summer is now officially in full swing. As adults, we rarely get to indulge in a full-scale month of vacation—as our children often do. But, in July I like to take a few extra days to enjoy summer with my family and friends. Maggie absolutely loves July (and July 4th festivities are some of her… Read on

May 27, 2015
JUNE + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
We’ve written each month about how quickly this year is FLYING by—and this month is no different. I caught myself telling someone the other day that I’m only going to be away a couple of weekends this coming month; I plan to spend the other weekends at home working in the garden, which could use… Read on

May 7, 2015
MAY + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
I am happy to greet May, partly because April came “as advertised”—dropping buckets of rain—but also because May is filled with so many good things. So many, in fact, that I might feel differently by month’s end, but for now I am ready. There are workshops, both at home and afar. Maggie finishes school at… Read on

March 18, 2015
CANNING CALENDAR
The process of canning and preserving is just one of the “living arts” that we are thrilled to see making a comeback. This year at The Factory Café, we have set ourselves the goal to “put-up” as much of the bounty of summer as we possibly can. (Not to mention my plans for my own… Read on

February 25, 2015
MAKESHIFT DINNER SERIES (PAST AND PRESENT)
Last year, we launched our Friends of the Café Dinner and Factory Chef Series, which was quickly established as part of our Makeshift initiative. As with most things here at Alabama Chanin, the idea evolved over time from an interesting idea into something bigger. In 2015, we are continuing to host Friends of the Café… Read on

February 2, 2015
ON DESIGN: THE SCHOOL OF BAUHAUS + CREATIVE PROCESS
In October of 2014, and as an extension of our Makeshift initiative, we began a new series of events and conversations called On Design. This series explores art, design, makers, relationships, and how those who create can elevate craft in general. Natalie hosted our inaugural event, which was an exploration of the school of Bauhaus… Read on

January 7, 2015
COLLARDS & CARBONARA
Vino or Moonshine? Both, please. Memphis chefs, Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman’s new cookbook, Collards and Carbonara: Southern Cooking, Italian Roots published by Olive Press, showcases their distinctly Southern-Italian dishes—or is that distinctly Italian-Southern dishes? Either way, it’s fusion cuisine with an accent. The two chefs and best friends opened the upscale Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis… Read on

August 20, 2014
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ, SOUTHERN FOODWAYS, AND ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN
Alabama Chanin’s Friends of the Café Piggy Bank Dinner for Southern Foodways Alliance, featuring Ashley Christensen, was a singing success last Thursday. Not only did the ingredients sing on the plate, but our diners have adopted the habit of singing to our featured chefs. This time, Ashley Christensen was serenaded with a round of Happy… Read on

August 13, 2014
Q+A WITH ASHLEY CHRISTENSEN
Last week, we introduced you to Ashley Christensen: chef, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and badass. She is August’s featured chef in our café (and collaborator for our upcoming Piggy Bank Dinner). Ashley recently spoke to us about good food, sustainability, community, and what she has planned next. AC: Congratulations on your recent James Beard Award for Best Chef:… Read on

July 30, 2014
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ, SOUTHERN FOODWAYS, AND VIVIAN HOWARD
Last Friday night, we hosted our second “Friends of the Café” dinner, which also served as our first Piggy Bank Dinner fundraiser for the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA). Chef Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer restaurant and the Peabody-award winning television series A Chef’s Life traveled to The Factory from North Carolina for an evening of delicious food, cocktails, much… Read on

June 18, 2014
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ + CHRIS HASTINGS
Last week, we hosted our inaugural “Friends of the Café” Dinner, featuring chef Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club. Chris and his team came to The Factory for an evening of superb food, lively conversation, and support for the Alabama Gulf Seafood organization.

May 30, 2014
MAKESHIFT 2014: A RECAP
Two weeks ago, our team left New York feeling excited and energized—and with the conversation at The Standard the night before fresh on our minds. This was the third annual Makeshift, held in New York each spring during Design Week. Over the years the conversation has shifted—but our goal of learning how certain themes cross… Read on

May 28, 2014
FIRST PRIZE PIES
Allison Kave, a truly creative baker and expert on all things pie related, credits her mother with her passion for food. Her mom, Rhonda Kave, is owner of Roni-Sue’s Chocolate in New York’s Essex Street Market. Growing up, Rhonda had a rather unexciting childhood filled with canned and boiled vegetables and she wanted more nutrition… Read on

May 19, 2014
GRAVY #51 – CANNING MEMORIES
From Gravy #51: “Canning Memories” By Frank X Walker Indian Summer meant Saturday morning courtyards and door screens opened and waiting for urban signs of harvest. No new moons or first frosts, just the welcome staccato and horn of an old flatbed truck, overalls and mud-caked boots. Grandmothers who still clicked their tongues and called… Read on

April 9, 2014
JACK-O-LANTERN FARM + COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
As most of you know, Alabama Chanin strives to support local farmers whenever possible—especially now that we’ve opened The Factory Café and are sourcing local and organic ingredients for all of our dishes. Our kitchen manager, Arron, has built a strong relationship with our friends Steve and Connie Carpenter, who operate nearby Jack-O-Lantern Farm. Each… Read on

March 26, 2014
THE SOUTHERN BAKERY + SUGARBAKERS’ WEDDING CAKE
My love for cake, from traditional layer cakes to simple pound cakes, has been well documented over the years. While I delight in the homemade sweets of the South, one of my favorite cakes comes from a local bakery here in the Shoals called Sugarbakers. The family owned-and-operated bakery opened over twenty years ago in… Read on

February 19, 2014
CHICKEN STEW
As a Southerner and a cook, I often find myself included in lively debates about regional cuisine, long-winded discussions of the dozens of types of barbecue preparations, cornbread recipe swaps, or conversations on the perfect biscuit dough. Those of us who love food treasure the dishes we were raised eating and love to swap recipes… Read on

January 29, 2014
GARDEN & GUN DRINKS
These days it’s rare that I get the chance to sit down and read. Between second grade homework and taking out the compost (which seems an endless—and perpetually thankless—chore), my days don’t involve moments to sit, read, and ponder. In fact, “pondering” seems to have become a lost art in our busy, busy, busy (badge… Read on

August 7, 2013
MACRAME HANGERS + KITCHEN HERBS
This summer’s harvest has begun to reveal its bounty. Tomatoes and cucumbers are in full-swing and soon I will have all of the squash and zucchini I can stand (and plenty for the neighbors) not to mention, beautiful Italian basil, which I love with a tomato sandwich. I recently received this book, Vintage Craft Workshop,… Read on

June 26, 2013
ONE PAN, TWO PLATES
It is a goal of mine to have as many sit-down dinners with Maggie – and our guests – as I can each week. My summer garden continues to grow and I am so anxious for those first tomatoes (my favorite part of summer). You hear talk on all fronts about managing time, finding the… Read on

June 5, 2013
IN THE (KITCHEN) GARDEN
Popular culture, social media, and our peers are all embracing a trend in home gardening across the country (though few of these gardens are as radical as Ron Finley’s median-turned-vegetable-garden project in Los Angeles). A guest for dinner last night mentioned that “even Oprah is on trend now,” having planted her own garden. Here in… Read on

March 27, 2013
GULF SHRIMP + A RECIPE
It’s been nearly three years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, and the repercussions still linger. Tar balls continue to wash up on shore as we wait patiently to learn how much BP will pay in restitution. But the fishing, shrimping, and oyster industries have rebounded in strides, as… Read on

March 20, 2013
GREEK LOVE
We try to share a staff lunch once a week here in the studio. It gives everyone a chance to sit down together, laugh, and share ideas. We are, after all, a family of sorts. This week we had hoped to entertain and enjoy time with our friend and collaborator Anna Maria Horner, to whom… Read on

February 13, 2013
PINK DEVILED EGGS
I get lost in the thousands and thousands of captivating images and creations shared daily on Pinterest. One thing leads to another and before I know it I’m fifteen tabs deep in my web browser… While pinning to our boards recently, I came across a beautiful food blog – one of many that belongs on… Read on

January 2, 2013
THE YEAR IN EATS (+ A NEWFOUND LOVE FOR SORBET)
This year saw our Journal take a more structured tone and we devoted particular days to particular topics. Wednesday’s became Recipe Wednesday and we worked to get ourselves organized and cook. EVERY WEEK. It was quite a feat of organization since we also run the production office, online store, design, pay bills, and as I… Read on

December 12, 2012
DIY COTTON JERSEY PULLS (OR ROPES)
I use ropes made from our organic cotton jersey fabric for wrapping all of my holiday packages (and for many other things–as evidenced in the DIY instructions below). If you have ever ordered garments or fabrics from our online store, you will have found your contents tied up in one of these Cotton Jersey Pulls. Follow… Read on

October 17, 2012
GRAVY #44 – PLEASANTLY LUMPY BARBECUE SAUCE
Thank you to the Southern Foodways Alliance for allowing us to share “Vinegar and Barbecue: Tales of Live Cultures and Red Herrings” by Hugh Acheson. The perfect prelude to a barbeque infused Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium weekend. Oxford, Mississippi awaits. xoNatalie From Gravy #44: In the world of barbecue, vinegar is a seasoning, a spritz, a wash—an… Read on

September 5, 2012
WEDNESDAY NIGHT + A NEW DECK
A few weeks back I hosted a small outdoor Wednesday night dinner to welcome friends Nathalie Jordi and Brett Anderson to Florence (and to celebrate my new deck).

May 30, 2012
MAKESHIFT 2012: CRAFTING DESIGN + A BLOODY MARY
We finished our week of MAKESHIFT with Crafting Design, a chair workshop hosted at Partners & Spade in New York City. From the New York Times piece “Pull Up a Chair, Then Fix It” by Andrew Wagner: “Last Saturday, as part of a conference called MakeShift, Natalie Chanin, the founder of the fashion label Alabama… Read on

May 20, 2012
MAKESHIFT 2012: REVERSE APPLIQUÉ AS METAPHOR
Our sewing circle at The Standard, East Village was a rich mixture of folk from a range of professions and diverse lives. Cathy Davidson, one of our first time sewers, has written the most beautiful essay about her time with us and created a fantastic example of Reverse Appliqué as metaphor: Reverse Appliqué @alabamachanin or… Read on

April 25, 2012
DIY BEER COCKTAILS
For me, the warmer, sunny days of spring mean patio lounging and a cold, crisp beverage. It’s during this season that beer spikes in popularity in my house, becoming my libation of choice. But cracking a cold one doesn’t necessarily mean simply turning up the bottle or emptying its contents into a cold mug. On… Read on

March 23, 2012
THE HEART: RICK BRAGG AND “THE CHOICE”
When I returned to Alabama over a decade ago to start the project that has become Alabama Chanin, I had NO IDEA that this simple project would surround me with stories of cotton, mill work, and, quite honestly, the history of the small community where I grew up. This blog is proof to the fact… Read on

March 7, 2012
GRILLED VEGETABLE + WHITE CHEDDAR QUICHE
For our weekly Studio Lunch, my son Zach prepared a savory Grilled Vegetable + White Cheddar Quiche with cherry tomatoes. In a move that delighted me, he delivered it to the studio and included a heaping salad of fresh greens- Butterhead lettuce, Red Oakleaf, and arugula- all from Jack-o-Lantern Farms, one of our local farmers’… Read on

February 8, 2012
WEDNESDAY RECIPES: A SOUTHERLY COURSE
Martha Hall Foose’s A Southerly Course: Recipes and Stories from Close to Home, has landed on our bookshelf in the studio- then made its way into the kitchen (and our hearts and minds). In her book, Martha’s recipes are accompanied by fascinating stories of life and times in the Mississippi Delta. It makes me want… Read on

February 1, 2012
TALES FROM THE SOUTH’S FORGOTTEN LOCAVORES
After a few months and a busy holiday season, I’ve finally begun to process the experiences of my momentous trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium. I left the event full of delicious food and copious amounts of knowledge. More specifically, Elizabeth Engelhardt’s talk, “Tales from the South’s Forgotten Locavores,” filled my hungry… Read on

January 24, 2012
SARA’S LIVING ARTS
When I began work at Alabama Chanin almost 10 years ago, I had no concept of what the company did or what it would eventually mean to me. I walked into my interview in my only suit, having answered an advertisement in the paper. As soon as I found out what the company did, I… Read on

January 4, 2012
GET YOUR GRAVY (+ MAKE BROAD BEANS)
Get yours online and join the Southern Foodways Alliance that you can have this kind of deliciousness mailed to your door (with a side of grated tomato): Slow-Roasted Broad Beans by Sheila and Matt Neal of Neal’s Deli, Carrboro, NC – from pages 8-9 of Gravy #42 WE THINK OF OUR PASTRAMI PLATE AS… Read on

November 4, 2011
SLOWING DOWN
Thanks to all the HEATH Ceramics team for this lovely piece on Alabama Chanin in their November Newsletter: Slowing Down (and Sitting Down) with Alabama Chanin Stitch and clay intersect to create modern heirlooms in our newest collection Slow down. This may feel like an impossible pursuit, particularly in this season, but when Heath Ceramics… Read on

October 7, 2011
ECOSALON FRIDAY (AGAIN)
Where did the last two weeks go? Read my bi-weekly post @EcoSalon on the importance of being wobbly. And thank you to my friend George for the gift of a simple garden gnome – so many, many years ago. Perhaps I will watch Amelie tonight! There’s No Place Like Gnome I planted my fall garden… Read on

September 24, 2011
THE COOLEST PLACE ON EARTH
The Museum of Electronic Wonder & Late Night Grilled Cheese Parlour is exactly as the name implies: part museum, part sandwich shop. Brainchild of Adam and Krista Bork – of Food Shark fame, this is the place for late-night gatherings in Marfa, Texas. Open from 9:30 until “thirty minutes after the last bar closes,”… Read on

September 21, 2011
PICO DE GALLO
I arrived back from Berlin to find that tomatoes are still dropping off the vines in my backyard. I just can’t seem to keep up with them this year. In a situation like this, the best thing to do is to make Pico de Gallo. A great dish for the heat of summer, it’s also… Read on

August 28, 2011
(RE)DETOX – DAY 7
(Re)Detox – Day 7 – and I have to say that it is so much better to detox with friends than alone. We have been sharing lunches, telling stories, laughing, and, at times, commiserating. This round has been easier for me (although I had a little slip on Friday night that involved a bottle of… Read on

August 24, 2011
THREE SISTERS AND A NEW TRINITY
Last weekend, I finally got a chance to read my Gravy: Special Louisiana Edition, the Spring 2011 Issue of the Southern Foodways Alliance’s “Food Letter” to its members. (Better late than never!) On page 6 of the downloadable PDF, you will find a story about – and a recipe by – Susan Spicer of New… Read on

August 5, 2011
CUT-UP WATERMELON SALAD
When our good friend Kristy brought this amazing dish to our last weekend workshop, I instantly knew it would become a summer staple in my kitchen. The sweetness of the watermelon balances perfectly with the acidity of the tomatoes, and the hint of mint makes it extra refreshing on hot day. Everyone was asking for… Read on

July 31, 2011
DETOX DAY 5
The book Clean, by Alejandro Junger, has been sitting on my nightstand since December of last year. Over the last months, I have read parts of it and “toyed” with some of the recommended practices (eliminating aluminum pans from the kitchen, drinking clean water, etc.), but it has taken some time for me to actually… Read on

November 8, 2010
WORKSHOPS + WALKING CAPE
Thank you to everyone who came to our studio in Florence last weekend to participate in the Weekend Workshop. What a great group… the stories, fellowship, sewing, and laughter were perfect. A special thanks to Amy for sharing the sewing of her beautiful wedding dress. What a special way to start a lifetime of beauty… Read on

October 29, 2010
FRESH AIR
The first day (and night) of cold has arrived like a breath of fresh air… tomatoes pulled from vines for fear of frost and our walking cape is my new best friend.

October 20, 2010
GREEN GRAPES + SIX WEEK SLAW
According to friends, I might be the only person in North Alabama still harvesting tomatoes. I was angry at myself for not getting them in the ground earlier this year; however, it seems that my busy life made the perfect storm for a great harvest. One of Zach’s friends gave me a load of heirloom… Read on

February 8, 2010
SNOW + 1/2 CHILI
A blanket of snow gave a surprise visit in Alabama today and, in typical Southern fashion, we celebrated by closing the city and cooking. I made a pot of my famous secret-recipe chili – one of my favorite dishes. So… here you have my secret chili recipe.The secret is really in the homemade chili powder:… Read on

June 2, 2009
COMING HOME
Although the travels of the last months have been truly wonderful, there is nothing quite like coming home. My garden survived the neglect and the tomato plants are now at shoulder height with green pearls of delight starting to form. And while I have been a bit lax in keeping up with reading and writing, I have… Read on
July 17, 2008
THE GIFT (PART 2) – OR SQUASH ON THE DOORSTEP
Okay. If you live in the South (and perhaps everywhere else for that matter), summertime is filled with anonymous gifts left on your porch. Martha Foose writes, “When it is not possible to eat all the squash that comes out of the backyard garden quickly enough, the Kornegays have admitted to leaving anonymous gifts on… Read on
June 5, 2008
ROSES LOVE GARLIC
It has been a really busy week. I had intended to post every day about the wonder and beauty of our simple garden. Now it is Thursday and here you have the second post of the week. Perhaps there will be time to elaborate as the weekend approaches. This is the first year that I… Read on

June 2, 2008
THIS WEEK IS GARDEN WEEK
I am inspired by my garden. These small beds that run around and behind my little house will feed my family this summer. Thanks to our compost, we are pleasantly surprised by all of the volunteer tomato plants that have sprung up in every spot that we spread this luscious soil. Maggie and I watch… Read on

May 12, 2008
TUSCAN CHEVRE
I briefly mentioned Belle Chevre in a post from a few weeks back and feel compelled to talk more about this company today. I had the opportunity to meet Tasia recently and fell in love with her story, her passion and the Tuscan Chevre that she so kindly left at our studio. Last night, in… Read on

April 13, 2008
STAIN REMOVAL WISDOM TO LIVE BY
My mother taught me that it’s important to use the beautiful things in your life every day. She gave me her first set of china with the one direction that I should use it and enjoy it, not store it in a closet. I have taken her advice to heart with all of the things… Read on

December 2, 2007
IN SEARCH OF A COOKIE
One of the most beautiful dinners I have ever experienced was with my friend Angie Mosier. It is not only that the food was so wonderfully delicious but mostly because of Angie’s love for the smells, tastes and histories of the foods we were eating. That night, she described a slice of tomato in a… Read on