Chef Frank Stitt
Highlands Bar & Grill, Bottega, and Chez Fonfon
Birmingham, Alabama
April 16 - 18, 2010

Birmingham’s Frank Stitt has been on our list for years - and we are so excited to have him in our lineup! Frank’s culinary journey began in San Francisco and includes such mentors as Alice Waters, Simone Beck and Richard Olney. His travels took him throughout the French countryside working in vineyards in Provence as well as Burgundy and finally back home to Alabama to foods and traditions that continue to be so much a part of his vision. His first restaurant, Highlands Bar & Grill, opened in 1982. Here, Frank combines consummate French technique and the seasonal flavors of “both south’s” - of course the local south, but the south of France as well. At Highlands, humble southern ingredients such as stone ground grits and country ham meet French sauces and braises creating superb flavors and elegant balance. Wanting to experiment with all he encountered in Italy, Greece and Spain he later opened Bottega and Bottega Café, and then lastly Chez Fonfon. Chef Stitt has been named Best Chef Southeast by the James Beard Foundation, and all of his restaurants have been featured in an abundance of publications. Gourmet Magazine has named Highlands #5 in the list of “The 50 Best American Restaurants,” and Bon Appetit called Frank one of the culinary “Legends of the Decade.” Highlands Bar & Grill, Bottega and Bottega Café, and Chez Fonfon bring to tangible form the passion Frank has for the romance and allure of the regions the four restaurants represent. In addition to returning to Europe whenever possible, he is always researching old and new recipe books, history books - anything that may spark an idea for something new or add richness to a dish already on the menu. Frank is also the author of two highly acclaimed cookbooks including Frank Stitt’s Southern Table: Recipes and Gracious Traditions from Highlands Bar and Grill and Frank Stitt’s Bottega Favorita: A Southern Chef's Love Affair with Italian Food.

One and two night packages available. Pricing starting at $360-$855 plus taxes. For more information on culinary weekends and to book your weekend package, please call 866.451.6750 or 662.451.6750.