“For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.”
Proverbs 5:21
We have certainly been in garden mode here at Everyday Living…and I have enjoyed every minute of it! I have loved sharing my gardening journey with you all and I am so impressed by all of the links you shared on my first link party! Today, I want to switch gears to talk about something else that I love: food. I’m pretty sure we can all agree on that topic! Butch and I have long been fans of all types of food, but especially true Italian cuisine. With three trips to Italy, it has become our favorite next to our beloved food of the the South. We have literally eaten our way through our stops in Italy…the freshest seafood on the Grand Canal in Venice…a wood-fired Pizza Margherita on the isle of Capri…heavenly cannoli in Lucca…the creamiest gelato in San Gimignano…the unbelievable pastas in Rome’s trattorias…ok, I will stop. I am making myself hungry, and I am sure you get the picture!
Fortunately for us, we don’t have to travel very far to enjoy the best of Italian food! 60 miles down the road from us is Birmingham…the home of Alabama’s most celebrated chef, Frank Stitt. Birmingham’s foodie scene can be traced back to Chef Stitt as he put it on the food map with his famous Highlands Bar and Grill and the French cafe Chez Fonfon that is next door…but those aren’t his only restaurants in the area. Today, we will be visiting a beautiful Palladian-style building on Highland Avenue, Bottega Favorita that houses his other two restaurants. The dressy main dining room occupies one side with the more casual cafe occupying the other side. Both experiences are wonderful, but today we will step inside the cafe and sit down for a quick bite! Like I said, it is more casual, and Butch likes that no coat or reservations are required. But on occasion, I do manage to get him all dressed up for the dining room! And yes, it is Italian, but you can expect to find the freshest southern vegetables to show up in your pasta or risotto! Buon Appetito!
The cafe’s Pompeii red walls, huge brick wood-fired oven, long bar and communal table combine for a truly Italian style food experience!
After being seated, Butch looks forward to the quick arrival of the Bottega infused olive oil and the best ever focaccia! Our kitchen is never without Bottega olive oil which is available for purchase.
Snacks and salads are so good that we have to indulge. We often share a wood-fired pizza as an appetizer…Louisiana crawfish, Alabama-made Conecuh sausage, ricotta, and bulb onion is perfection…
…polenta croqueta with Benton’s ham and parmigiana…
…I have made this wonderful appetizer with the recipe from the Bottega Favorita Cookbook – roasted red and gold peppers filled with soft goat cheese, pine nuts, and sweet sultanas and lots of fresh basil…
…a fresh salad of Brussel sprouts, apples, Pecorino, and hazelnuts…
…Bottega spreads – hummus, roasted beet and yogurt, pimento cheese and pita…always fresh and delicious appetizers!
If you are a regular reader, you know Katy, our chosen daughter. I enjoyed introducing her to Bottega Cafe way back in 2013. Let me say, she became a fan!
Main dishes change seasonally as well as the entire menu. I can never turn down pasta – bucatini with fresh field peas…
…a Southern staple of fried green tomatoes with fresh corn…
…a favorite entree of chicken scaloppine with polenta, capers, and local greens…
…I often prepare risotto as a main dish and I love to try risottos at Bottega – this one with Gulf shrimp, butternut squash, and mushrooms was perfect for an autumnal dinner…
…a beautiful spring dish of agnolotti, crawfish, Vidalia onions, and sweet peas…
…silk handkerchief with crabmeat, lemon, and sweet peas…entrees are fresh and never disappoint!
Katy and I celebrated my niece at Bottega before the birth of our precious great nephew.
Espresso is a must after dinner!
Desserts are special at all of Frank Stitt’s restaurants. For the past two years pastry chef Dolester Miles has been a finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef by the James Beard Foundation. Dol’s version of tiramisu, the classic Italian dessert, uses slices of polenta cake rather than ladyfingers. Let me just say, it appears often at our table…
…a blueberry version of tiramisu is enjoyed when the berries are fresh in the summer…
…coconut pecan cake with anglaise is Butch’s personal favorite. Touted as one of the South’s best coconut cakes, I have made Dol’s famous cake, and my family says it rivals Bottega’s…
…another favorite of ours is the strawberry cheesecake. As huge dessert fans, we always finish our dinner at Bottega Cafe with dessert!
As the weather warms, the white umbrellas are raised for alfresco dining in the courtyard!
On a recent Friday evening, I spent a perfect night with my man! I hope you all were able to eat, drink, and be Italian with us today!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Katherines Corner, Share Your Cup, 21 Rosemary Lane, Love Of Home, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined, Celebrate & Decorate, Chatham Hill on the Lake
Oh my goodness, Pam, you’re killing me with these food photos and descriptions! I love Italian food and would try ANY of these (more than once). And I just now am making the connection with who Katy is – ♥!
Rita, I was killing myself organizing my photos! Katy is such a precious chosen daughter. Thank you for finding her blog and commenting. She is an excellent writer and I have been encouraging her to take up her blog again!
I am hungry now!! That foccacia had me at first look!!
I have been drooling over all your photos for the past 10 minutes Pam, and now of course I’m craving pasta, focaccia, and a decadent dessert!! So many stunning dishes, you are so lucky to have traveled so extensively and had the real thing, your photos are fabulous~ thanks for the virtual Italian experience!
Jenna
Jenna, I could eat focaccia all day…thanks but you are the queen of all in the kitchen with your fabulous recipes! Do you have either of Frank Stitt’s cookbooks? I highly recommend!
I’m glad I just ate breakfast because your food pics are beautiful. I love Bottega and Chez Fonfon! Certainly enjoyed our lunch at Chez Fonfon a while back.
I’m not sure how you stay so slim and trim being the cook and foodie you are. I’m jealous!
You certainly could write and photograph for food magazines.
I’m off for a early morning walk on the beach.
I am jealous that you are walking on the beach and I am dead heading and watering pots! It has suddenly gotten very dry here! Have fun!
Pam, of course I love the food pictures, also being a fan of Frank Stitt and his restaurants. But the photo of Hannah, Katy, and you is my favorite. I hope all of you have that photo framed.
So sweet, my dear friend!
All of your photos tell me why Italian is my favorite food.
Agreed, Linda!
Pam? Really? Was it necessary for you to post these beautiful food pictures? LOL! My mercy! It’s a little before 9 am and I want to try all that food! Ha! And WOW! That first picture is breath taking! Hoping you enjoy your weekend. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much sweet Cindy! Hugs and blessings~
Oh my! This looks so delish! Italian is one of my favorites, too and we cook i a lot but when you hit a restaurant you have the benefit of a skilled chef and big menu! This one just makes my heart sing! And the “people pictures” are wonderful! There’s a lot of love here!
Jeanie, thank you sweet friend, and yes there is a lot of love!
Dang Pam, these are. Exquisite. I have been on a detox for 13 months. Dessert is not something I can have easily as I have to be gluten free, dairy free, oat free, soy free and so on. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert so that’s out. Oh well, I feel much better and have lost weight so can’t complain but someday tiramisu will be on my menu.
Alice, I am so glad that the detox has made you feel better. My husband and I have been on Whole30 since the end of January. It is a 30 day program to reset your system, and we have decided to continue eating that way all week and on the week-ends we veer off of the diet, somewhat. We feel better and that is working for us, so far! I do hope that one day you can eat tiramisu!
No fair. I’m hungry! It all looks so wonderfully delicious! ?
It made me hungry, Kim ?
How wonderful. I gained 10 pounds just looking at all the wonderful food. Thanks for sharing-going on a diet now.
Oh, I know how you feel Sandy!
What gorgeous food pictures and Italian is one of our favorites as well. But, we certainly do not have a restaurant nearly that nice in our area. Happy weekend!
Thanks Lea, we manage to drive the sixty miles often for such great food!
I am Italian and my mouth is watering. Everything looks just amazing.
Thanks so much, Carrie!
Pam: What a wonderful post with such fabulous pictures. I am now starving and it is only 10:30 a.m. Must think of something grand for dinner. Thank you for this great dose of inspiration !
Have a lovely weekend,
Sandra
Thank you Sandra. I have eaten each one of those dishes!
So many great looking foods…. Yum!
Thanks Joy!
Aaaand now I’m hungry! Thanks for the gorgeous photos – everything looks absolutely delicious.
Thanks for visiting!
Pam! That food! Wow.
Amalia
xo
It was so good, all of it!
Oh my word! I need this cookbook! Thanks for sharing at HSH!
Thanks so much, Sherry!
My husband spends a lot of time in Italy on business and just came back from there. He loves all the food there as well. They do have great food. I love all of the great cheese. I always brings me home some.
All of your pictures look amazing.
Bev
Thanks so much, Bev. Spending time in Italy is always good!
Goodness me! That all looks amazing!! Mimi xxx
Mimi, it was all fabulous! ?
Delicious food and great photos!
Thanks so much, Maristella!
Oh yum! I just ate dinner and this still has made my mouth water!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks so much, Jann!