On this episode of “Hot off the Press,” Chef Pete and his sidekick Chef Nick Dimario sit down to dish with Gulf Coast culinary guru and food writer David Holloway. A native of Louisiana, Holloway moved to the Mobile area where he has spent the past 30 years writing for the Press Register. His AL.com food column “Generous Portions” is a staple of the Alabama food beat, bringing readers the latest in cuisine coverage with an emphasis on eating seasonal and locally-produced food.
From recipes and cookbooks to restaurant reviews and food contests, Holloway covers the food beat “like gumbo covers rice, thick and with a hint of spiciness.” His search for Alabama’s best hamburger is one of his best-known recurring features. When asked what inspires his column ideas, Holloway says “whatever I’m hungry for when I sit down at my computer to write.”
Pete chatted with Holloway this past week about the vitality of the restaurant scene in the Mobile area and the Port City’s rich culinary history that dates back more than 150 years—deeply rooted and influenced in Greek culture as reflected in the Mediterranean-inspired seafood dishes of beloved eateries such as Constantine’s and Rousso’s.
Both agree that the uniqueness of the food along the Gulf Coast ties it together like a common language and that the future of the restaurant industry in this area is looking vibrant.
Connect with David Holloway at dholloway@al.com or on Twitter @eatingdude.
This episode was recording in the Deep Fried Studios, at The Container Yard in Mobile, AL.