James Beard Awards

Birmingham is known as a foodie town. That can mean barbeque or dinner at a James Beard Award winning restaurant. But, the Magic City also has a history with the humble peanut. The Cassimus family settled in Birmingham after leaving Greece in 1907. Soon after, D.J. Cassimus was selling fresh roasted peanuts on downtown’s bustling Morris Avenue. Now, you’ll find boiled peanuts there, too.

In this edition of APR Notebook— I became news director at Alabama Public Radio in September of 2009. One of my first stories involved James Beard award-winning chef Frank Stitt of Birmingham. It was prompted by this, arguably the worst oil spill in American history.

I became news director at Alabama public radio in September of 2009. One of my first stories involved James Beard award-winning chef Frank Stitt of Birmingham. It was prompted by the 2010 BP oil spill.