Exploring The City With Birmingham Taste Tours

Launched in September 2018, Birmingham Taste Tours founder Annie Reynolds brings the food tourism trend to The Magic City.

The food tourism trend has begun in the metro Birmingham area. 

Walking food tours have been a source of entertainment and education for locals

and tourists alike for years in other cities. Previously voted one of  Zagat’s 30 Top Food Cities , Birmingham was the only one not utilizing walking food tours as an economic stimulator and (let’s face it) a really fun way to eat the city. Birmingham Taste Tours currently offers a walking food tours.  
The Downtown Tour: a 3 hour guided walking, food, drink, and historical tour of the Downtown neighborhood. Customers will sample 4 to 5 eclectic tastings from our most authentic, locally owned restaurants.

They will hear about Birmingham's  culinary history and culture and the people who helped shape it.

The Downtown Brunch Tour: On the Saturday brunch tour you will visit at least 3 restaurants and our local food hall to sample many traditional southern brunch items. You’ll be given the opportunity to indulge in classic brunch cocktails as well.   

The tour will consist of a discuss about the ongoing revitalization of Birmingham and specific new developments that are currently underway. Learn about Downtown’s history and its expected growth in the coming years.

This 3-hour tour will take you within a 1.5-mile walk of some of the popular streets of Downtown, where you will find locally owned shops and weekend neighborhood markets as well. The goal is to leave the food tour participants with the impression that Downtown is no longer just a weekday destination.

 It's Nice To Have You In Pepper Place Tour:

Enjoy this newly appointed Entertainment District and bustling Farmer’s Market on this 2 1/2 hr walking tour. Guests will enter several local eateries and sample both food and beverage tastings along the way. You will also hear from local farmers and artisans at the market and be able to purchase directly from the vendors. $10 worth of market tokens will be included in your tour ticket to use as you wish. You will hear the history of Pepper Place, taste what it has to offer, and see the neighborhood’s new and exciting growth!

The goal is for the tourist to feel comfortable adventuring throughout the city while getting a taste of local cuisine. Quite simply, it is a way for a tourist to become a local in 3 hrs.

Locals will hear fun stories of Birmingham they may not have heard before and have the opportunity to eat at several of their favorite restaurants in one day.

At Birmingham Taste Tours, guests get more than just a meal. They get a memory.

For more information about tours, please visit their website at

www.bhamtastetours.com and also look for them on Instagram, Facebook and

Twitter.

If your restaurant/business would like more information about becoming a partner, shoot an email to info@bhamtastetours.com.

Thanks for reading & sharing! 

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

Est.2009

"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You"

Mixing It Up At Pizitz Food Hall

If you grew up in Birmingham during the Pizitz Department Store glory days, being inside of this building will definitely bring back memories. Saturday afternoon's downtown were a lot different back then. 

These days, as a re-purposed structure, an entirely new set of memories are being made. 

 If you have not been to The Pizitz Food Hall in Downtown Birmingham, you gotta go! Plain & simple. 

There is something for EVERY kind of appetite & budget. 

I had a business meeting with a start-up company on a recent Saturday and was excited when the Food Hall was suggested. I'm always jumping at the chance to try something new each time.

We decided to mix it up a little and grab a little grub from more than one food stall. 

From the menu at Ichicoro Imoto, we decided on a couple of Karaage Rice Bowls. Mine consisted of roasted chicken, rice, pickled veggies, ginger, scallions & garlic. My lunch mate's consisted of all of that with an added soft boiled egg. 

One note about Saturday's at The Pizitz Food Hall, although there is ample seating, it gets pretty crowded and it's definitely a day when families gather for brunch & lunch. So arrive early or be prepared for the large crowds.  







We shared an order of ground turkey egg rolls from Mo:Mo: with a house made dipping sauce. These egg rolls are pretty amazing. Although their famous dumplings are a standout, I'd definitely try these again.

 We washed down our meals with water, but later opted to try a couple of craft cocktails from The Louis Bar at The Pizitz Food Hall which is located in the very center of the food hall. In addition to cocktails, they have a vast selection of wine, beer for those over 21. I tried a glass of their eggnog & my lunch mate had the apple cider mimosa. Just the right finishing touch a very productive meeting. 
 

As usual, The Pizitz Food hall provided a great experience & food variety and makes for a great meeting space. 

Fore more information about these restaurants and other available spaces inside of this historic Birmingham landmark, visit  http://www.thepizitz.com/food-hall/ 

120 19th Street North
Birmingham, 35203 

Thanks for reading & sharing! 
"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You"  
#RaidBham

Inside The Pizitz Food Hall "A Visit With Tropicaleo"

 The Pizitz Food Hall is a multi-tenant food court style establishment right in the heart of the Magic City. Inside you will find something for everyone. Everything from gourmet waffle dishes to Israeli cuisine. You can stick with your tried & true or try something new. There is something inside the Food Hall for you!

Having transitioned from pop-up dinners around the city, one of my favorite local businesses has a highly coveted spot inside of the new Pizitz Food Hall.
I stopped in to visit the winner of  Rev Birmingham's 2016 Big Pitch , Tropicaleo at the REVEAL Kitchen inside of the Food Hall.

Tropicaleo is the only restaurant that features authentic Puerto Rican cuisine at this location. The menu is simple but packed with several delicious options to choose from.

We started out with an order of their house made fried plantain chips. If you like plantains as much as I do, you will absolutely love these.

Next on the list,  their infamous Cuban sandwiches. I tried the Pulled Pork: slow cooked, moist pork tossed in a Sweet Guava BBQ sauce. Mmmmm. Heaven in your mouth. 😋😋
 My dinner companion had the Pollo Cuban sandwich: Chicken breast, hot, melted provolone cheese, topped with their "house sauce". Folks, these sandwiches are everything!

In addition to these amazing sandwiches, we could not resist the urge to try the Mofongo, a traditional Puerto Rican dish with an amazing flavor. This dish comes with a side of fragrant & flavorful Cilantro rice. The flavors of the Mofongo & rice blended perfectly.

For dessert, we each tried the flan topped with fresh strawberries. If you have never had flan, I suggest you put it on your bucket list of foods to try.

Not interested in trying the chicken or pork? You can always opt for one of their popular vegan menu items.

Stop in to Tropicaleo to experience some of the best that Birmingham has to offer.

Keep an eye out for their new Avondale/ Crestwood location coming in July 2017!
They will be located at 4426 4th Avenue South.

For more information on Tropicaleo visit http://www.tropicaleo.com/
On Twitter @tropicaleobham
On Instagram @tropicaleobham/
And Facebook facebook.com/tropicaleobham/

For more information on The Pizitz Food Hall  including hours & location
visit http://www.thepizitz.com/food-hall/

Thanks for reading & following me as I #RaidBham


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

*click images to enlarge*

Pulled Pork Cuban

Chicken Mofongo w/ Cilantro Rice

 

Plantain chips

Flan (dessert) 

Outdoor seating