Birmingham is a true ‘foodie’ town now with multiple fine restaurants from which to choose, attracting tourists from all over the country. But it’s always been innovative and resourceful regarding food. These unique items were among those first invented in Birmingham and many are still available.
First the PROGRAM! Birmingham boosters Stewart Dansby and Tom Cosby had the audience enthusiastically participating in a “Birmingham IQ” quiz highlighting the many superlatives that make Birmingham a great place to live. Did you know…? WOW! The audience was impressed by stats and amenities that are often overlooked by Birmingham natives.
Birmingham Historical Society President Wayne Hester begins the annual meeting as the audience reviews multiple choice answers to the “Birmingham IQ” quiz by Tom Cosby and Stewart Dansby.
Stewart Dansby and Tom Cosby created a list of multiple choice answers to test Birmingham’s knowledge of their city.
Pictured left to right: Stewart Dansby, Maury Shevin, Jennifer Chandler (Vulcan Park & Museum), Graham Boettcher (Birmingham Museum of Art), and Tom Cosby. Maury Shevin was the winner of the Birmingham IQ test. Jennifer and Graham donated prizes along with prizes from Lyric Theater, Rickwood Field, and Birmingham Historical Society.
Next the BOOK!
Birmingham Historical Society members all received a copy of Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City, a definitive guide of over 50 years of research by Marjorie White about her adopted city. Tasked with directing the organization as a newcomer, one of her first goals was to create a guide and many years and over 70 publications later, this is the not-to-be-missed result. A book signing by Marjorie White followed the meeting.
Available locally at Thank You Books, Shoppe, Birmingham Museum of Art, and at Birmingham Historical Society.
After the quiz, Birmingham Historical Society VP, Rick Sprague, reported on the progress of the society since a survey produced a strategic plan that was published in 2020. He noted that ALL goals have been achieved and in some cases surpassed!
Followed by the CAKES! In recognition of the guide book’s history, all of the cakes entered used recipes that were over 50 years old with some interesting stories to accompany them.
Judges left to right: Christiana Roussel, Sonthe Burge, and Charbett Cauthen. BHS Trustee and cake contest organizer, Carolanne Roberts, chats with Christiana.
Thank you to all who participated and especially to all who attended!
Thank you to all those who participated! Lots of hard choices every year, but lots of fun this year tasting all the chocolate creations! Thank you once again to Trustee Carolanne Roberts for organizing this popular event. And a special thank you to this year’s judges:
Susan Swagler – Food Writer
Pam Lolley – Former Southern Living Test Kitchen (and both members of the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier
17-year old Robert White – aspiring chef and enthusiastic taste tester!
Award Winners
Aunt Irene’s Devil’s Food cake by Olivia AllisonChocolate Ice Box Cake by Susan HaskellBarefoot Contessa Cake by Marjorie Lee White
Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane FranklinJolly Roger Rum Cake by Patrici SpragueVery Good Chocolate Cake by Anne LedvinaFlourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace WhiteGerman Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth HesterCzech Kefir Cake by Anne LedvinaThank you to our Judges! Susan Swagler – food journalist, Pam Lolley – former Southern Living Test Kitchen, and Robert White, 17 year old aspiring chef!
Best Visual Presentation: Aunt Irene’s Devil’s Food Cake by Olivia Allison.
Judges’ comment: “Beautiful presentation: hearts and flowers.”
Best Flavor Profile: Chocolate Ice Box Cake by Susan Haskell
Judges’ comment:“ “Loved the combination of lady fingers with the airy light icing.”
Baker’s comment: “It was served for special occasions when I was growing up. The recipe was my grandmother’s. I do not make it often.“
Most Pleasing Texture: Barefoot Contessa’s Chocolate Cake by Marjorie Lee White
Judges’ comment: “Lovely texture and very professional looking”
Most Chocolatey Cake Creation: Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane Franklin
Judges’ comment: “Very rich with deep chocolate flavor and a hint of orange.”
Baker’s comment: “This elegant flourless chocolate cake is topped with a Grand Marnier whipped cream. Hints of citrus and clove-perfect for the holidays with family and friends! Recipe from Tricia Stuedman. I make it often for the holidays.”
Best Memory Statement: Jolly Roger Rum Cake by Patricia Sprague
Judges’ comment:“ “Loved the mix of pirates and church ladies, made us laugh.”
Baker’s comment: “It is a favorite of Caribbean Pirates and Southern Church Ladies., Just the thing for a little morning nip with tea” The recipe is Ann Best’s. I make it as often as needed.”
Best Overall Cake: Very Good Chocolate Cake by Anne Ledvina
Judges’ comment: “Definitely lived up to its name. wonderful!!!”
Baker’s comment: “This is a recipe from Edna Lewis and James Peacock, two Southern cooks. I make it often.”
Kudos to The Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace White
Baker’s comment: “My grandmother used to make it all the time when I was younger. It has been one of my favorites for years. It is my grandmother’s recipe. I do not make it as much as I would like to.”
Kudos to the German Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth Hester
Baker’s comment: “This cake was made by my mother every year for my birthday as a child. It’s still one of my favorite cakes although I rarely make it. Recipe from the New York Times. I do not make it often; it takes too long to make!’
Other cakes presented:
Czech Kefir Cake by Annie Ledvina.
Baker’s comment: “This is a classic chocolate cake of the Czech people. All Czechs cook it for birthdays and other occasions. It is my father’s recipe. Yes! I make it often.”
Mimi’s Chocolate Cake with Aunt Cam’s Frosting by Carolanne Roberts
Baker’s comment: “We ate it at every function, but I’d never tried making it until yesterday. A challenge! Both women died in the 1960s — hope they’d be proud of me! The recipe is by Eleanor Bishop and Cam Bishop.”
Chocolate Applesauce Cake, Chocolate Apple Cake, and Mint Chocolate Ice Box Cake (made with Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies) , the latter cakes iced with a Ganache by Marjorie White.
Baker’s comment: “Profiled on Instagram, these cakes sounded good and were said to be quick to make and bake. They were neither quick nor easy to make and bake, but three loads of the full dishwasher later, they were quite tasty.”
Czech Kefir Cake by Anne LedvinaChocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace WhiteFlourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane FranklinGerman Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth HesterMint Chocolate Icebox Cake by Marjorie WhiteBarefoot Contessa Cake by Marjorie Lee WhiteChocolate Chip Pound Cake by Carolanne RobertsVery Good Chocolate Cake by Anne Ledvina
A much anticipated part of Birmingham Historical Society’s annual meeting is the cake and/or pie contest featuring members’ historic recipes. Cakes are judged and prizes are awarded each year based on creativity, taste, memories, and presentation.
This year’s contest was all about chocolate! Conceived each year by BHS Trustee Carolanne Roberts, this year’s theme was “The Great Chocolate Cake Contest” – the richer and more decadent, the better! Lots of participants meant that there were not enough prizes so new awards were invented to properly acknowledge all the hard work of this year’s bakers!
The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society featured an array of ‘Fruity Wonders‘ cakes from participants as young as 14, as well as entries by four different members of the same family who love to bake. Yum! Thank you to all who participated. Winners in multiple categories were announced at the meeting.
Always a popular annual event, this year’s entries included one cake which gave a nod to the speaker’s topic on Ancient Life in Alabama and was crawling with dinosaurs instead of fruit. The young baker explained that the dinosaurs were eating the fruit layer because it came into being during the age of dinosaurs! A special thanks to Trustee Carolanne Roberts who organized this event.
The annual Birmingham Historical Society meeting next year will be February 26th, 2024, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. As always, it will include a popular cake contest (and tasting!) after the featured speaker. Judges select multiple winners with 2024 categories listed below. Memorable family recipes are always a big hit with the judges! The meeting is FREE and open to the public. So start thinking of your best recipes that are filled with fruit! Need inspiration? Lots of ideas below…
Thank you to all who shared cakes, stories, and recipes at our Annual Meeting last night. While our judges selected winners in five categories, all participants received a BLUE RIBBON for sharing a cake, as well as much appreciation from all those who attended the meeting and were able to taste them! There was a big variety and remarkably, no two cakes were alike.
Special thanks also goes to our two judges, Susan Swagler and Pam Lolley for a difficult job selecting winners. Susan is a Food, Books & Lifestyle Writer and a founding member & past president of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Birmingham and you can follow her at Savor.blog. Pam is retired from twenty years in the Southern Living test kitchen, a free lance cook, and also a member of Les Dames D’Escoffier. Thank you, judges!
Clockwise from top left on full screen: Potato Caramel Cake (most unusual cake), Caramel Cake (most vintage cake), Napoleon (most beautiful cake), Grand Aunt Mrytle’s Lane Cake (best memory cake), Miss Tinsley’s Sour Cream Pound Cake (best overall cake)
Most Unusual Cake: Potato Caramel Cake (Alleen Cater) – secret ingredient, mashed potatoes! Pam Lolley said her 20 years in the Southern Living test kitchen, she’d never heard of using mashed potatoes in a cake and it was delicious!
Most Vintage Cake: Caramel Cake (Elizabeth Hester) – this brought back wonderful childhood memories for the judges and was considered a standard in most southern kitchens
Most Beautiful Cake: Napoleon (Vasilisa Strelnikova) – the judges appreciated the care with which this cake was decorated and said the baby’s breath was a beautiful addition
Best Overall Cake: Miss Tinsley’s Sour Cream Pound Cake (Wilson Green) – the judges agreed that you can’t beat a good pound cake and this was delicious. One BHS attendee stated that Myrtle Tinsley was one of her church members and friend, a former schoolteacher, and a dynamite cook!
Best Memory Statement: Grand Aunt Mrytle’s Lane Cake (Don Cosper) -the secret ingredient was a cup of whiskey, somewhat scandalous among these Baptist bakers! This original cake recipe is one of the oldest in Alabama and was immortalized in To Kill a Mockingbird.
All the cakes were accompanied by childhood stories and we hope that one day the Birmingham Historical Society can assemble these recipes and stories into a book!
Several members of the audience recalled when President Franklin Roosevelt came to Jasper, Alabama to attend the funeral of William Bankhead. The thousands (estimated 40,000) who attended can attest to the importance of the Bankhead family’s political influence in Alabama for several generations,
Did you think that the Bankhead Highway was local (like I did)? Far from it! Come hear more about it Monday night at the BHS annual meeting and learn about the remarkable Bankhead family of Alabama.
While most of us know a cake walk to be a joyful celebration where the best bakers have an opportunity to show off their skills, it wasn’t always that way! In fact, the cake walk had its origins in Afro-American history:
The cakewalk was a pre-Civil War dance originally performed by slaves on plantation grounds. The uniquely American dance was first known as the “prize walk”; the prize was an elaborately decorated cake. Hence, “prize walk” is the original source for the phrases “takes the cake” and “cakewalk.”
From NPR: The Extraordinary Story of Why a Cakewalk Wasn’t Always Easy
Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “a black American entertainment having a cake as prize for the most accomplished steps and figures in walking; a stage dance developed from walking steps and figures typically involving a high prance with backward tilt; an easy task.”
The Cakewalk seems to have begun in the days of slavery, when black folks strutted along in a fanciful manner in imitation of formal white dancing. Supposedly the name comes from the custom of the master awarding a cake to the couple who put on the best performance. The dance came back around in the twentieth century when white folks started to imitate the black version.
From Mary Miley’s Roaring Twenties, “Just What is a Cake Walk”?
