When you think of top foodie destinations in the Southeast US, many of the popular cities are overcrowded, incredibly expensive, and a bit overhyped. I’m here to tell you about the lesser known GEM of Birmingham, Alabama. We spent Labor Day weekend in The Magic […]

First of all, I just want to say thanks for stopping by my blog! I am the youngest in a big family of 6 kids and I grew up in the kitchen watching the women (and men) I admire most cook up some really delicious southern food. I was blessed to grow up surrounded by great cooks and some of my favorite memories of my childhood involve cooking alongside my mom and grandma, learning how to make something simple taste amazing.

Now I am a wife and mother, trying to travel and experience as much as possible! I live in Raleigh, North Carolina and I love exploring this beautiful and diverse city. My recipes are inspired by the constantly expanding food scene here as well as anything I can get my hands on abroad! I live to travel and try local food, whether it’s just a road trip to Asheville or a flight to Paris. One of my favorite parts of traveling is experiencing dishes and ingredients I’ve never tried, then coming home and figuring out how to re-create it.

When I am home, I love to entertain. There’s something really special about being able to serve a home cooked meal to the people you love. Watching my family pass plates around the table while roasting each other and laughing so hard it hurts is an unforgettable moment that you just can’t get in a restaurant. These are the memories that you cherish for a lifetime.

I’ve done everything from small, intimate dinner parties to catering for 75+ people. I can tell you the secret is in the preparation and learning how to roll with the punches. Another thing to remember is – practice makes perfect! You can’t be a good cook if you only attempt to do so once every three months.

I’m a complete perfectionist, so anytime I encounter something while cooking that I’m not “good” at, I will try over and over until I master it. My greatest challenges to date are scratch pie crusts and cheesecakes – why is it so hard to crimp a pie crust edge that doesn’t look like a hot mess? In fact, baking did not come naturally to me. Cooking savory food was a breeze, but ask me to measure out 20 ingredients and “gently fold” is an art I had to learn with many failed attempts along the way. But with enough determination, you can conquer anything you set your mind to.

When I’m not not cooking, I love to explore the Triangle both indoors and out. My other hobbies include reading, DIY home projects, and hiking.

I hope that by reading my recipes, you’ll be inspired to get in the kitchen and make something amazing. And if you fail… learn to laugh at yourself, toss your massively cracked cheesecake in the trash, and order take-out. Explore your city and have fun doing it.

One of my favorite ice cream shops in the Triangle is Andia’s Ice Cream. Until recently, it was at least a 25 minute drive from my place. But this month they finally opened a location on the East side of Cary, so it’s now only 9 minutes from me! This is highly dangerous but I’m so happy about it. 

Andia’s asked me to create a recipe with one of their flavors to promote the new location and I knew right off the bat I wanted to use their Baklava ice cream. It’s a staple flavor on their menu and for good reason because it’s delicious! I knew I needed a cookie that was not too sweet or soft so that it wouldn’t overtake the flavor or crumble when assembling into an ice cream sandwich. 

I love chocolate and pistachio together and this flavor combo just works. The cookie is firm and buttery with great flavor but not too sweet, and the ice cream is just sweet enough with hints of nutmeg and flakes of Baklava. Total deliciousness all around! 

Even if you’re not close enough to Raleigh to warrant picking up a pint of this ice cream, you can still make these cookies at home and eat them on their own or create a combo of your own with your favorite ice cream! Ice cream sandwiches are fun to do with kids since cookies can be simple in nature and they can help you build the sandwiches.

The first step for these cookies is prepping the pistachios and chocolate chunks. I used a large chocolate bar from Trader Joe’s and cut it into small pieces but you could also use chocolate chips or any other chocolate you have on hand. You’ll just need 1/2 cup when it’s all said and done. I also crush the pistachio nutmeats in a food processor to make them smaller. If they are full size, you will have a lot of difficulty cutting the shortbread into slices after refrigerating.

Now you can start working on the base dough. As always, you HAVE to use truly softened butter. Not microwave softened butter and definitely not margarine! Shortbread cookies are very buttery so this part has to be technically correct. All you do is cream butter and sugar together, then add vanilla extract, and flour. There are no eggs in shortbread cookies.

Once you have the base dough, mix in the pistachios and chocolate until they are evenly distributed within the dough. Then split the dough into two halves, and roll each half into a log shape. I do this with my hands. Then you’ll need to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours so that the butter hardens again and they are hard enough to cut into slices.

Cut each log into 1/2 inch thick slices and put 2 inches apart on parchment paper. This should make about 24 cookies. Keep in mind that shortbreads don’t spread like other cookies so you can put them a tad closer together than your average chocolate chip dough.

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You only need to bake these for about 10-12 minutes until you see the edges slightly brown. Don’t over cook them or they will be tough! When they come out of the oven, sprinkle them with flake salt. Don’t miss this step!! It is seriously so much better with the salt. I know it’s weird but it amps up the flavor, trust me on this one.

Add a generous scoop of the Baklava ice cream and now you have a really delicious and unique dessert! The best part is, since shortbreads are on the smaller side, you can totally have two or three of these, right? That’s what I’m telling myself.

Hope you like this recipe as much as I do! If you make these cookies, please tag me on Instagram so I can see! Handle: @beckeatsworld 

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup roasted, salted pistachio nutmeats (shelled)
• 1 cup unsalted butter (two sticks), softened
• 1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• flaked sea salt, for topping
• 1 pint Andia’s Baklava Ice Cream, or ice cream of your choice

• Prep chocolate chunks and pistachios if not ready, set aside. Pistachios should be ground in a food processor to be small bits.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat on high speed until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract, scraping the bowl down if necessary.
• Beat in the flour until just combined. Remove from stand, and mix in the pistachios and chocolate by hand.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and separate into 2 halves. Roll each piece into a log shape about 2-3 inches thick. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Unroll the dough logs and slice it into 1/2 inch slices gently. If the nuts or chocolate breaks up the dough while slicing, gently press it back together with your hands.
• Place cookies on the parchment about 2 inches apart and bake for 10-2 minutes, or until cookies start to slightly brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with a pinch of flaked salt – do not skip this step! Let cool and serve,

Cheerwine is a North Carolina tradition and one of the many products that was born in NC. Every year around the holidays, Cheerwine releases a limited edition batch of their Cheerwine Holiday Punch – and if you haven’t tried it yet, I know your first question will be, what does it taste like?

This seasonal soda is made by taking classic Cheerwine and adding pineapple juice and ginger ale. So it’s pretty sweet with a cherry and pineapple vibe to it. It’s great on it’s own but also serves as a mixer for cocktails!

For the choice of liquor inside the drink, I chose a local gin – Durham Distillery. Their Conniption Gin is great and definitely hides in such an already flavorful cocktail. If you don’t like gin, my alternate suggestion would be bourbon.

First, I start by filling a cocktail shaker with 2 ounces of Gin, 1 ounce of raw egg white, a few pieces of fresh cut pineapple, ice, and a dash of cinnamon. I shake this for about 2 minutes so some of the juice from the pineapple mixes in with the cocktail base and the egg white gets frothy. Here’s what it should look like when you pour it out into the bottom of your cocktail glass:

After that, I just top it off with the Cheerwine Holiday Punch as much as I’d like. Then I add fresh rosemary for garnish and a slice of pineapple on the rim!

To me, this drink screams festive and it’s perfect for impressing your friends. I’ve always loved cocktails with egg whites because it adds a richness to the cocktail and looks really cool. Don’t be afraid of it!

Below is the official recipe. Next time you stop into the grocery store, grab a 2 liter of the Cheerwine Holiday Punch! It’s great on it’s own and in this cocktail.

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Egg White
• 2-3 pieces fresh pineapple
• 5 cubes ice
• dash ground cinnamon
• 1/2-3/4 cup Cheerwine Holiday Punch

• In a cocktail shaker, add gin, egg white, pineapple, ice, and cinnamon. Shake for 2 minutes then pour into a chilled cocktail glass
• Top off with about 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup of Cheerwine Holiday Punch. Add ice if desired. Garnish with fresh rosemary and an additional slice of pineapple. Serve immediately.

When you think of top foodie destinations in the Southeast US, many of the popular cities are overcrowded, incredibly expensive, and a bit overhyped. I’m here to tell you about the lesser known GEM of Birmingham, Alabama. We spent Labor Day weekend in The Magic City and loved every minute of our time there. Birmingham has all the essential components of a prime weekend destination – charming neighborhoods, unique and interesting museums, hiking trails, boutique shopping, and of COURSE – amazing restaurants. Did you know Birmingham is home to 7 different James Beard Foundation awards for chefs and restaurants? Here’s the lowdown on where we stayed, what we did, and what we ATE!

The Redmont Hotel

2101 5th Ave. N, Birmingham, AL 35203

The Redmont Hotel is located in downtown Birmingham and a perfect location for exploring the surrounding areas. The hotel was established in 1925 and has well appointed rooms, valet parking, and a great rooftop view of the city. The hotel is also a part of the Hilton brand, so you can use points to book this hotel if you are a Hilton Honors member. 

Where to Eat in Birmingham

If you love good food, you’ve got to check out these spots in Birmingham! Birmingham has it all… everything from soul food to good BBQ to upscale dining. We really wanted to jump into the food scene so we tried many different spots and they were all uniquely impressive.

Situated in the charming Five Points South neighborhood of Birmingham, Chez FonFon offers an upscale French bistro inspired menu with something for everyone. The burger here is locally known to be one of the best and it did not disappoint! My personal favorites were the Steak Tartare and the amazing Basque Cake dessert which was a rich, decadent, and buttery finish to our meal! 

If you’re craving a well-made pastry or dessert, take a stroll in the English Village neighborhood of Birmingham and stop in at Continental Bakery! They had these adorable Alabama-shaped shortbread cookies with a heart design for Birmingham. We also tried the almond croissant and a cookie sandwich. They had an incredible amount of treats to choose from. I wanted to get one of their mini cheesecakes, but it was just too much for two people!

The Frothy Monkey is known for their breakfast and brunch options and it doesn’t have to be a Sunday for you to indulge in this menu! We ordered several breakfast items including avocado toast, biscuits and chorizo gravy, and a peach seasonal French toast but don’t skip the lattes! The Havana latte really hit the spot for me – it’s a latte with espresso, steamed milk, condensed milk sauce, cinnamon, and star anise.

This was my favorite meal and restaurant from our visit to Birmingham! It’s no wonder that Chef Chris Hastings received a James Beard Award for Best Chef South based on his work here. The restaurant interior and exterior is so charming but still casual, while the food is anything but ordinary. The best plate of the night for me was the tomato salad. Fresh, local, heirloom tomatoes with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, finished with corn, lady peas, fried okra, bacon, and aioli. All together it was one of the best dishes I tried all summer! The other dishes we ordered were also fantastic – the Bone in Pork Chop, Bread service with cheddar biscuits and basil butter, Seared Tilefish, and Blackberry Cobbler.

Bottega Cafe is another one of Frank Stitt’s restaurants, a local restauranteur and one of the Birmingham winners of a James Beard Award. Bottega is an upscale Italian spot later in the night, but the cafe is open for lunch and touch more casual. My favorite dishes were the Baked Feta and the Roast Beef sandwich! Jack ordered the pizza and we both shared one of their beautiful and decadent desserts.

On a search for the best brunch in Birmingham, The Essential came highly recommended and I completely agree! They make many of their dishes and components from scratch. I really loved the Sourdough Pancakes with whipped ricotta, blueberry compote, and sliced almonds on top. Another favorite was the Brunch burger which was Big Mac style with special sauce, pickles, and shredded lettuce. The cocktail menu and coffee selection made this spot perfect for a hearty brunch!

Our last meal in Birmingham was at Automatic Seafood and Oysters and this place was hopping! The design and interior is so funky and intimate, and the food was top notch. The yeast rolls with honey butter are the perfect way to start off your meal. My favorite dish was the seared scallops with fig agrodolce!

I knew we had to have some good BBQ while visiting Alabama, and it was hard to narrow down which spot I wanted to try, as Birmingham has lots of popular choices! I settled on Rodney Scott’s BBQ and I was really impressed with the food. Of course we had to try the infamous Alabama White BBQ sauce which is best used on smoked white meats, such as Turkey or Chicken. My favorite part about this spot was that the sides and Banana Pudding are on par with the meat! Nothing to sacrifice here… order it all!

What to Do in Birmingham

When you’re not eating your heart out, there are so many things to keep you busy in Birmingham. Here are some of my personal favorites.

As a girly girl, I was not expecting to enjoy this museum but it was SO cool and I really enjoyed the time we spent there! They have floor after floor of famous motorcycle models dating back to 1867, in addition to classic vintage cars and other similar items. They have meticulously restored all of these motorcycles and cars to their original pristine condition and it is an amazing sight to see.

The Birmingham Botanical gardens are free and open to the public every day of the year! Which means this is a great activity to do on a Sunday when other attractions may be closed. They have a conservatory, a Japanese garden, a formal rose garden, and many many more sections. The gardens are partially shaded and beautiful at sunset.

Every Saturday morning at Pepper Place, there is a fun market with local famers, butchers, and products and it’s a must do! When we visited it was very busy but they had everything from jewelry to home decor, to all types of food products. We snagged a pastry from one of the vendors and I got some earrings! If I lived locally, I would have loved to pick up a pretty bouquet of flowers as well.

• Visit the Vulcan Statue and museum
• Visit the Birmingham Museum of Art
• Go brewery hopping in Avondale
• Go hiking on Ruffner Mountain with a great view of the city
• Go boutique shopping in the neighborhoods of Homewood, Mountain Brook, and English Village

As you can see, we had an eventful and delicious weekend in Birmingham! I hope this blog post inspires you to consider Birmingham for your next trip.

After writing the blog post on heated outdoor patios for Raleigh, I received so many requests to make the same list for the surrounding cities in the Triangle. It’s taken me a while and I’m sure the list is probably missing a few restaurants, but […]

Jump to Recipe

I know when you see the word cauliflower, you aren’t jumping out of your chair and running to the grocery store to make this immediately. But you should, because it’s one of the best cauliflower dishes I’ve ever had! 

Eating healthy is hard sometimes. Everything isn’t coated in cream and covered in cheese, but I try really hard to create lean meat and veggie recipes that are balanced and healthy, but still packed with flavor like they should be. No one wants to eat gross plain steamed Brussels sprouts, or the canned Le Seur peas my dad loved growing up that I’m still having nightmares about! Don’t worry, you will LOVE this veg recipe and hopefully add it to your list of healthy weeknight ideas. 

To start this dish, you roast the cauliflower in olive oil, curry powder, and garam masala. These are two wonderful Indian spices with so much to offer if you aren’t afraid to cook with them. I only recently introduced them into my cooking and I regret not doing it sooner. 

While the cauliflower is roasting, whisk together the ingredients for the tahini sauce. For the herb element, you can use dried herb seasoning like an Italian Seasoning mix, or you can use a variation of fresh herbs if you have them. Sometimes I use the pre packaged chopped herb mixes in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Other times I’ll pick random fresh herbs from my herb planter boxes, if I’ve managed to keep them alive!

Once you’ve made the sauce, set it aside and prepare the cilantro, green onion, and peas if you haven’t already. Add the cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and then pour the roasted cauliflower in the bowl as well. Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently stir until everything is combined. Serve warm and enjoy! 

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If you make this recipe, post it to Instagram and tag me so I can see how good it turns out for you! My handle is @beckeatsworld

• 1 head cauliflower
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tbsp garam masala spice
• 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup green onion, chopped
• 2/3 cup frozen fresh green peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

Tahini Sauce:

• 1/3 cup tahini
• 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 3 tbsp water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp italian seasoning or fresh herbs of choice

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
• Cut the cauliflower into florets and place in large mixing bowl. drizzle on olive oil, add curry powder and garam masala spice. Toss until cauliflower is coated. Spread out on the baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes or until desired crispness.
• While the cauliflower is roasting, prepare the tahini sauce by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Remove the roasted cauliflower from oven and toss with green onions, cilantro, peas, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. Pour the tahini sauce over the mixture, gently toss until incorporated and serve warm.

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