Exploring Destinations North Alabama Mountains

and boiled crawfish and crab. In a throwback to his earlier days 20 years ago in Hernando, he offers the Timbeaux Salad, a mixture of fresh greens, bacon, a hard-cooked egg, tomatoes, green onions, and croutons tossed in a blue cheese dressing. McMath chose the name for his latest restaurant for a reason — it’s an homage to St. Bernard Parish next to New Orleans.

“It’s known as ‘The Parish’ and I spent a lot of childhood memories eating on the west end of New Orleans,” he says.

He also preferred that the 60-seat restaurant be located in a commercial strip mall, another nod to the Bayou State.

“Down in Louisiana, there are these restaurants serving authentic foods but they’re in nondescript locations like strip malls or shopping centers,” McMath says. “Nothing fancy on the outside.” While the idea of tackling a new venture from the ground up may seem born from a selfish interest, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to McMath’s operations. “I have great guys who work with me at Junior’s,” he says. “They’re really good employees but it’s a small place with no room to grow. So, I opened this restaurant and they run it.” At age 50, it’s the ideal arrangement for McMath, who only wants to cook these days. “I really want to spend time just cooking and with my family,” he says. Behind that simple wish, however, still lurks an ambition that again puts everyone else ahead of his own selfinterests — he supports men from Warriors Heart, creating work opportunities at both Junior’s and The Parish. No matter the chapters of McMath’s culinary career, the one constant has been his dedication and lifelong interest in heritage foods. His future dreams include a homestead where he can raise food, keep animals, and continue living close to the land and local food traditions. “I guess you could say I love the true traditions and learning the old ways,” he says. “Growing tomatoes, trading foods, keeping chickens or raising cows. It’s all about tracing the roots.”

McMath’s three children have followed him around their entire lives, fishing with their father, hunting and cooking over open fires. Raised on poke salad, boiled pig’s feet, turnip greens with vinegar sauce, and buttermilk cornbread, McMath has never turned his back on his childhood. “I call these taste memories,” he says. “I remember my mother’s table covered with wet wash clothes when cleaning pig’s feet.” Until McMath heads out to pasture — literally — The Parish is his home, and since its opening the response has been more than favorable. Unlike other small businesses and restaurants struggling to keep employees as of late, The Parish has remained fully staffed. Feeling grateful for the positive response and resolved to continue cooking, McMath never wavers. “We’re very proud of our work and product,” he says. The Parish only serves supper and reservations aren’t required, although tables fill up fast and hosts regularly maintain wait lists.

An award-winning freelance writer, Karen Ott Mayer has followed Miles McMath’s culinary talents for more than 20 years, both on paper and in his restaurants.

Trees, Trails, & Mountain Music

By Verna Gates | Photography courtesy of Alabama Tourism, John Dersham and Verna Gates

Northeast Alabama comes alive in autumn with colorful foliage, outdoor attractions, and shopping and events in the quaint towns of Mentone and Fort Payne.

The colors of fall match the vibrant history and characters inhabiting Lookout Mountain in North Alabama. Native Americans walked these trails and rested and celebrated in the mouth of cool caves, leaving their mark on places like Manitou Cave. Desoto State Park and Little River Canyon preserve the botanical wonderland of the state that claims the No. 4 spot in U.S. biodiversity. Music springs from the sounds of winds and waterfalls, heard in the rhythms of bands like Alabama. The crashing of waterfalls hints at the pluck of characters who carved out communities in the mountains and now carve out the old crafts plied for centuries. Mentone The sleepy burg of Mentone invites you to slow down, sit back, and return to a time when front porches opened up to friends, as well as scenic vistas. Life is best enjoyed in the fresh, clean air where birdsong is more common than traffic noise. This “Gateway to the Appalachians” charms with its natural beauty and unique culture. During the fall, the best way to view colors is to wait at Mentone’s Brow Park for sunset. The sun’s golden orb hits the horizon in hues complimenting the explosion of leafy artistry. This public park provides picnic tables for a snack, cup of coffee or a glass of wine to toast the celestial event introducing nightfall.