Ashley Mac, Mac, Mac, We'll Be Back, Back, Back!

After our big night at The Bright Star and all that wonderful James Beard award winning Chef Tory McPhail food, you might think we would never eat again.  You would be wrong.  The next day, after checking out of our hotel room, what do you think was the first thing we did before leaving Birmingham?  That's right...we looked for a place to eat!  We tossed around a few ideas, but Merri had been to a new place recently and since she had enjoyed it, we decided to try it out, too.

Ashley Mac's was started by Birmingham native, Ashley McMakin, and her husband, Andy.  Ashley began by catering out of her home, but business was so good, she quickly realized she needed to open up a shop outside of her home.  The first Ashley Mac's opened in 2007 in the Bluff Park area of Birmingham.  Now the business has expanded to two more locations in the Birmingham area.

Ashley Mac's has been getting a lot of attention lately.  It has been featured in Southern Living and Taste of the South magazines, in the Birmingham News and on blogs like Southern Plate.  Ashley has also been on local Birmingham stations demonstrating some of her yummy recipes.  She has really hit the big time now that Ashley Mac's is on Three Friends and a Fork!

The menu at Ashley Mac's is pretty extensive. It includes several kinds of sandwiches, from their Signature Chicken Salad and Pimento Cheese BLT to meaty varieties like Beef and Bleu or Hot Ham and Swiss and a Veggie Wrap for the non-meat eaters in your group. Likewise, the salad offerings are plentiful.  There are several varieties of leafy green salads, as well as Greek Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad and Broccoli Slaw.  Additionally, there is a Spinach and Feta Tart which can be combined with a salad or soup of the day.  Soups are available during colder months only.  We know, because we were thinking about getting some soup, but, alas, it was August and there was no soup.  The desserts included selections like cupcakes, brownies, shortbread and cookies.

 So, what did we order?

Well Merri and Julie got the salad trios which, for Merri, included Chicken Salad, Greek Pasta Salad, and the Mandarin Orange Salad

and for Julie, Chicken Salad, Mandarin Orange Salad and Broccoli Slaw. Their salad combo plates were beautiful and colorful.

Sherri had the Apple Havarti Sandwich made with sliced turkey, havarti cheese, fresh greens, homemade honey mustard spread and crisp apple slices drizzled with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Sherri had a side of fresh fruit with her sandwich.   That sandwich was filling, unusual and tasty!

I opted for the Signature Chicken Salad Havarti Cheese Melt, with a side of Greek Pasta Salad.  The chicken salad was piled high on a fresh, buttery croissant.  It was sooooo good.  I am not normally a big cheese eater, but that creamy havarti was perfect on the delicious chicken salad.  

No Mayo Lu went safely with the Spinach and Feta Tart and the Mandarin Orange Salad.  There was no way for her order to be ruined with a smear of mayonnaise, mustard or catsup with the selections she made.  She loved the quiche and the pretty salad.

We wound up our meal at Ashley Mac's with some of the Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cookies and the Almond Shortbread.  They were both delightful!  As you already know, I love shortbread, so that one was a no brainer for me and who doesn't love a chocolate chip cookie!  Yes, I know what you are thinking...after our meal the night before we should have left off the dessert, but, I promise, we only did it so that we could give you a complete report.  We are such professionals!

We enjoyed our lunch at Ashley Mac's and we will happily go back the next time we have a chance.  It is great to see an Alabama girl do so well in the culinary arena.  

 Three Friends and a Fork and our sweet friends, Julie and Merri, give Ashley Mac's
3 Homegrown Yums UP!