Happy Raider-Versary

 

Ranked as one of the 45 Best Alabama Blogs & News Websites to read, The Birmingham Restaurant Raider concept was started out of passion and determination to bring awareness to local restaurants. Since 2009, I have been able to attract readers & followers from all over the globe, prior to the massive food blogger surge. 

Many of the personal conversations I've had with travel bloggers, notable journalists and food enthusiasts from outside of our area have definitely aligned with my mission. A memorable moment was an international call I had with a Vietnamese chef who'd seen my blog. We have a few social media friends in common and I'd long admired his work as well. We talked about local restaurants that offered some of the cuisine that he enjoyed preparing in his own kitchen. 

Other memorable moments include being invited to collaborate with national brands & non-profits for worthy causes. 

The best moments have come from watching restaurants in our area experience growth & expansion or having a restaurant owner email me thanking me for a glowing review. 

Over the years, I have been able to host a variety of giveaways in the form of cash, restaurant gift cards, food festival tickets, even several random anonymous restaurant tab payments. Giving back to people who read, share & follow my reviews and social media posts is one million percent the biggest reward of all. 

My reviews are always anonymous, because making a name for myself has never been the focus of this concept. I write original content from a consumer's point of view. If I can't write a positive review, I reach out to management alerting them of the problem. Do I have bad experiences? Absolutely! Handling them privately benefits the restaurant a great deal.... another reason for anonymity.

As a thank you to all of the readers & followers in the city, I will continue to give back. To celebrate 13 years of The Birmingham Restaurant Raider, I will be anonymously paying 13 restaurant tabs all over the city during the entire month of October. 

Will you be one of the "Lucky 13"?  You've got to eat to win! 😀

Also, I've partnered with ASAP.com (formerly Waitr) for the entire month of October. Visit their website and use the promo code: BHAMRAIDER for FREE delivery of your order of $12.00 or more! *Valid in Birmingham October 1st through October 31st. 

To get unlimited FREE deliveries, sign up for an ASAP Unlimited subscription and get the first 30 days free!!  

Thanks SO much for going with me on my quest to spread the word about ALL of the great food in Birmingham & surrounding areas. Your interaction means the world to me!!  

~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

#RaidBham

Experience The New Momotarō Birmingham

The name Momotarō translates to “Peach Boy” and originates from a popular Japanese folklore story. The peach namesake is reflected in Momotarō’s tea flavors and its logo. The new location in Birmingham is Momotarō’s third in the nation, with cafés in State College, Penn., and Ann Arbor, Mich. The 2,350 square-foot space that Momotarō occupies in Five Points South can seat more than 40 guests and was completely redone and transformed in preparation of the opening. The space contains new plumbing, a new kitchen and a custom-created, hand-crafted interior – all built and installed by Yu and his team. 

Momotarō, an Asian café serving poke bowls, sweet and savory crepes, rolled ice cream and teas, opened it's Birmingham location on October 10th in Five Points South near  Pickwick Place at 1011 20^th St. South. 

Momotarō’s take on Asian cuisine fuses street food flavors and concepts from Japan and Thailand and serves them in a modern and sophisticated fast-casual café setting. All of the menu items at Momotarō are assembled, plated and prepared right in front of guests, and a host of fresh ingredients are easily viewable along the 32-foot marble top counter.

On the menu, guests can find build-your-own poke bowls and rolled ice cream, Japanese crepes - both sweet and savory - and an assortment of Thai-inspired flavored tea and milk tea. Each tea and juice drink is made fresh to order and is highly customizable. With eight different types of tea leaves and numerous flavoring options, Momotarō boasts one of the most diverse flavored tea palettes

Momotarō

1011 20th St S, 

Birmingham, AL 35205 

(205) 407-5648

Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Momotaro

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/momotarocafeuab/

Thanks for reading & sharing, 

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider 

"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You"

 

REVIEW "Get Your Fix At Cookie Fix!

MMMM... Have I got a warm gooey story for you! There are certain smells that are easily identifiable to me: fresh cut grass, mom's famous meatloaf and fresh baked cookies.
I recently had the pleasure of stopping in to visit the team at Cookie Fix, one of Homewood's newest go-to spots. Located in the popular SoHo section of town, Cookie Fix has already developed an impressive clientele and an even more impressive reputation. When you walk inside, the smell of fresh baked cookies smacks you right smack dab in the face.

They are a "small batch" cookie shop that features a selection of daily hand crafted cookies that are available in "ready-to-bake" dough form or hot & fresh out of the oven. They even sell mini cast iron skillets to use when baking the individual cookies.

The staff was amazing. They gave great details about the business and the process. A friendly face is definitely always the icing on top of a dining experience.
My box of cookies included:

• Traditional Chocolate Chip
• The Presidential Chocolate Chip
• Oatmeal Salted Dark Chocolate Caramel
• Healthy Peanut Butter: flour-less with lower butter & sugar content
• The White Trash: white chocolate, pretzel & toffee
• The M&M Chocolate Chip
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk
• And their brand spanking new item, The Coffee Oreo Chocolate Chunk

 I know that was a mouthful. I had a little taste of them all and YES..... They were all amazing.
 The bad part about this is that the cookies are so large that you might be forced to share.



* Just a little serving suggestion by yours truly, all of these would go great with a scoop of Bluebell Bride's Cake ice cream and I think you will definitely be in heaven.





For more information on how you too can get your Cookie Fix, visit their website at cookiefixnow.com/
2854 18th Street South
Homewood, AL 35209
Follow them on Facebook facebook.com/CookieFixHomewood/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cookie_fix/
Twitter @cookie_fix

Thanks for reading & sharing!

~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Shhhh....Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You!"
#RaidBham
#CookieFix
Don't Drive Get a Lyft https://www.lyft.com/invite/RAIDBHAM2017

http://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/

*Click to enlarge Images*

Fresh Baked Specials

Hand crafted & ready for the Cookie Fix ovens

Ready To Bake

Pick up a cookie fix t-shirt

The mini cast iron cookie skillet