From Naysayers to New Flavors, Sara Cole Brings Egyptian Food to Rural Alabama

By Chanda Temple

The blood that runs through Sara Cole’s veins is half Egyptian and half Southern, a blend that shows up in her food story.

Chef and writer Sarah Cole, from Greensboro, AL with her husband, Robert Fitzpatrick, and their son, Theo. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Chef and writer Sara Cole, from Greensboro, AL with her husband, Robert Fitzpatrick, and their son, Theo. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

That mix is what fueled her dream of bringing Egyptian food to Greensboro, a rural city in west-central Alabama, where fast food chains and meat-and-three restaurants appear across the landscape like dots on a domino. While friends supported her, some people questioned her vision. Their whispers got back to her: “Make sure she knows to include something very Southern on the menu because we are probably not going to like her spices too much.”

The words stung, but Sarah refused to let negativity stop her because they were just opinions, and opinions don’t build dreams. Courage does.

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Dinner, dessert and a movie

By Chanda Temple

If you are planning to eat before or after catching “Love, Brooklyn” in Birmingham, the team at Sidewalk Cinema has you covered.

Both Chloe Cook and Corey Craft recommend Salud Taqueria . Chloe loves their tacos, and Corey goes for the Pastor Al Trompo tacos, which features thinly-shaved pork shoulder, fresh pineapple, red onion and cilantro. (But here’s a tip: the Pastor Al Trompo, which is marinated overnight in a family recipe, is not available on Sundays.)

Salud's Pastor Al Trompo taco is made with pork shoulder, pineapple, red onion, cheese and cilantro. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Salud’s Pastor Al Trompo taco is made with pork shoulder, pineapple, red onion, cheese and cilantro. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

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A packed room, a powerful voice and a day to remember

By Chanda Temple

Ninety-five minutes.

That’s about how long I stood in line today to meet New York Times Best-Selling author Kennedy Ryan and have her sign my book, “Before I Let Go.”

And during that time, something struck me. I stood in a line full of mostly women. They were happily chatting and holding tight to their own best-selling books by Kennedy. Their ages were wide-ranging and so were the places from where the attendees came.

Greenville. Atlanta. Huntsville. And more!

They joined me in standing 95 minutes and some even longer just to say, “Hey!!” to Kennedy and snap a photo with her. As they shifted their weight from side to side, their faces never grew weary. Instead, their faces filled with anticipation.

“My life has been changed!” one woman exclaimed as she exited the room and held one of Kennedy’s books like it was her first born.

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Birmingham’s Cutie Chutes Serves Up Faith, Flavor and Fresh Ideas

By Chanda Temple 

One week before Willie Williams was to host an event at his art studio in North Birmingham, his catering fell through.  

Unable to contact another caterer, he wondered what he was going to do. He found his answer after tasting the sandwiches Lauree Blair of Cutie Chutes had prepared for a Yelp Elite event that was being held at Willie’s Studio 2500 just days before his own event. 

“Divine timing kind of hooked us up,” Willie said as he talked about Lauree. “You’d think she’d have just regular sandwiches. But she took it a step further and made them unique.”

Think gourmet sandwiches made withmaple Dijonaise, maple glazed ham and Swiss cheese, warmed inside croissant bread that’s encrusted with honey on a griddle. There was also a pretzel bun filled with Lauree’s homemade Buffalo chive spread, Blazin’ Buffalo chicken, butter lettuce, Vermont white cheddar, marinated tomatoes and hickory bacon. 

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Alicia’s Coffee Co-Owner Works on Birthday and Labor Day to Serve Community

By Chanda Temple

Naimah Elmore had a choice.

Today is her 42nd birthday and Labor Day, and she had originally planned to be off. But after thinking about how much people enjoy visiting Alicia’s Coffee shop in downtown Birmingham, she decided to be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Alicia's Coffee is located at the A.G. Gaston Motel in downtown Birmingham. They offer more than 60 flavors of beverages, breakfast and lunch. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Alicia’s Coffee is located at the A.G. Gaston Motel in downtown Birmingham. They offer more than 60 flavors of beverages, breakfast and lunch. This is their Harlem Renaissance, which is made with almond syrup, vanilla syrup, their cold brew, cane sugar, cold foam and topped with a dash of cinnamon. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

“Sometimes, it goes back to ‘What are you willing to sacrifice?’ ” Naimah said. “Are you willing to sacrifice being off on a holiday and just being at home? Or, can you get up, get out in the community and open up the doors?”

“You have to be able to make a sacrifice to get the things you want in life.”

Roc Harrell, left, and Naimah Elmore are the co-owners of Alicia's Coffee. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Roc Harrell, left, and Naimah Elmore are the co-owners of Alicia’s Coffee. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

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Roy Wood Jr.’s New Movie, Love, Brooklyn, comes to Birmingham

By Chanda Temple

In between bites of a croissant dressed in strawberry jam, Birmingham native Roy Wood Jr. sits in a Washington, D.C. hotel room, waiting for a flight back to New York.

He is fresh off comedy tour appearances at U.S. Air Force bases and still catching his breath after a quick trip to Scotland for a conference. But on this day, the comedian, actor and writer isn’t talking about stand-up or global travel. He is talking about love, the kind that drives his new film, “Love, Brooklyn,’’ which will be shown Sept. 5 – 18 at Birmingham’s Sidewalk Cinema in downtown Birmingham.

In the film, Wood plays Alan, who is married and is the best friend to Roger, the main character played by Bessemer native Andre Holland. As single Roger tries to make decisions about relationships, Wood provides comic relief.

“Every character is going through a change, except for me, to a degree,’’ says Wood, 46. “I’m considering whether or not I’m happy in love, and Andre’s character is trying to decide who he wants to be in love with.’’

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Where Cherith Fluker Ate While Writing ‘Secret Birmingham’

By Chanda Temple

Cherith Glover Fluker walks into General coffee shop on Birmingham’s Clairmont Avenue and orders food that helped fuel her future as a first-time book author.

Coffee, black. Cinnamon roll, warmed.

She settles in at a small chestnut-colored table that’s flush against a huge window. Looking through the glass, the city street starts to stir as people walk their dogs or jog past for a morning run. It’s a scene that played on repeat for Cherith for almost a year as she visited the coffee shop six or seven times to jot down notes for, “Secret Birmingham: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure.”

Cherith Glover Fluker pauses for pic with her new book, "Secret Birmingham,'' inside the General coffee house, where she made the final decision to write her book. The project took a year, and she visited the shop several times to reflect on her writing process. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Cherith Glover Fluker pauses for pic with her new book, “Secret Birmingham,” inside the General coffee house, where she made the final decision to write her book. The project took a year, and she visited the shop several times to reflect on her writing process. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

The book, which highlights well-known and not-so-well-known nuggets about the Magic City, was released on Aug. 1, which was a big day for Fluker. But an even bigger day for her was in April 2024 when she decided to stop letting her fears of wondering if she was “good enough” to write a book, get the best of her.

“This is my table when I come here,” she says, as steam rises from her coffee cup and sunlight streaming through the window sort of bounces off the glaze on the cinnamon roll. “This is where it all started.”

Cherith Glover Fluker loves the homemade pastries made daily at General, a coffee shop in Forest Park. Her favorite is the blueberry scone, bottom left. She also likes the cinnamon roll, top right, and the olive cake, top left. She has not tried the cheese danish, bottom right. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Cherith Glover Fluker loves the homemade pastries made daily at General, a coffee shop in Forest Park. Her favorite is the blueberry scone, bottom left. She also likes the cinnamon roll, top right, and the olive cake, top left. She has not tried the cheese danish, bottom right. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

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Giving back never tasted so good at RyRy’s Wings, Fries and Pies

By Chanda Temple

Ever since he was a kid, Ryan “RyRy’’ Burch has loved pizza.

And today, at the age of 43, he’s living his dream of running a food truck, RyRy’s Wings, Fries and Pies, which produces pizzas that are all the rage. People line up to get their fill of his handmade dough, freshly cut vegetables and red sauce with just a hint of sweetness.

“A lot of times, we don’t pursue things because we don’t think we can do it,’’ Ryan said, as the scent garlic and other seasonings hung in the air at his food truck. “But I’m just glad I went out there and did it. I learned a long time ago, that if God gives you the vision, he will give you the provision.’’

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Alicia’s Coffee Brings Beats and Brews to Birmingham with the Brown Sugar Set

By Chanda Temple

It’s always a vibe at Alicia’s Coffee LLC., where drinks are served with a side of community and conversation.

But this summer, they’ve added a fresh brew to their batch, and we’re not talking coffee beans. It’s a live DJ with drink specials known as the “Brown Sugar Set,” which is scheduled to go from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with DJ JRad today, Aug. 9, at their shop inside the A.G.Gaston Motel, 1510 Fifth Ave. North.

Roc Harrell and Naimah Elmore wait on a customer at Alicia's Coffee at the A.G. Gaston Motel. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Roc Harrell and Naimah Elmore wait on a customer at Alicia’s Coffee at the A.G. Gaston Motel. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

The “Brown Sugar Set” was created in collaboration with The Modern Green Book and Voltron Printing to showcase some of Alicia’s Coffee’s mocktail specials. The name was inspired by the 2002 romantic comedy movie, “Brown Sugar,’’ which highlighted entrepreneurship and the love for hip hop.

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