Cornbread Feb 2026 193 Scaled E1793731635646 — Mom’s Sweet Cornbread from Little Bird (Foxglove Communications)

A pair of popular dishes from Alabama restaurants made Food & Wine’s list of best food they had in October.

The popular food publication gave a shout out to 11 total dishes across the country and two of them are found here in Alabama including:

Mom’s Sweet Cornbread at Little Bird | Fairhope
Sea Bar Spoon at SeaBar by Little Betty | Birmingham

“After talking about food, writing about food, and editing stories about food all day long, you better believe Food & Wine editors are eating well outside of the office. In October, we dined at more than 100 restaurants around the world, testing out hot culinary destinations and returning to reliable standbys. We ate countless dishes, but there were a handful that our editors couldn’t forget. Here are the 11 best.”
Food & Wine

Keep reading to see what they had to say about the Alabama dishes + how you can try them for yourselves.

Mom’s Sweet Cornbread at Little Bird

Cornbread is certainly a dish served year round but something about the fall seems to make it taste just a little bit better.

“When I realized that Bill Briand’s menu at Little Bird pays tribute to his mother Virginia (“Ginny”), a Naval nurse and skilled cook, I had to order the Mom’s Sweet Cornbread. I’m so glad I did. Made with milk, honey, and a little Creole seasoning whisked into the batter, it’s served whole and piping hot in a mini cast-iron skillet with a light sprinkle of Maldon salt. Its crackling, crispy brown crust and barely sweet, tender crumb were delicious with the whipped chive butter served alongside it. And, as we discovered toward the end of the meal, it was even better with a scoop of the restaurant’s housemade brown butter ice cream.”
Karen Shimizu, Food & Wine executive editor

This is the second time this year the restaurant has received national attention. In September, Little Bird was included on the New York Times 2026 Restaurant List.

Want to try it at Little Bird for yourself? Here’s what you need to know:

Location: 404 Oak Ave, Fairhope, AL 36532
Hours
- Sun-Wed dinner: 5PM-9PM
- Thurs dinner: 5PM-10PM
- Fri-Sat dinner: 3PM-11PM
- Mon-Thurs lunch: 11AM-3PM
- Fri-Sat lunch: 11AM-3PM
- Sunday brunch: 10AM-3PM
- Cocktail hour: 3PM-5PM daily

Check out the full recipe for Mom’s Sweet Cornbread on Mobile Bay Now.

Sea Bar Spoon at SeaBar by Little Betty

Little Betty in Mountain Brook got another nod following their big night at the Michelin Guide ceremony in Nashville.

Their newest venture SeaBar has quickly become a favorite spot for seafood lovers in Birmingham. Food & Wine pointed to a one-bite dish that is a must-try for any customer.

“At SeaBar, the coastal contemporary dining room feels light and airy, with warm, subtle gold accents. That aesthetic is mirrored in the Sea Bar Spoon, a single bite from the restaurant’s raw bar. Buttery toro and ikura dressed in truffle oil create a decadent foundation, ponzu cuts through the richness, earthy sesame oil adds depth, and puffed rice brings a delicate crunch. This playful contrast of flavors and textures made for a wonderful, thoughtfully composed amuse-bouche that’s every bit as radiant as the atmosphere.”
Andee Gosnell, social media editor

Here’s what you need to know to try it for yourself: