This week on The Localist, Neal Sims, chef de cuisine at .bowl, is joining Carrie to tell us all about ghost kitchens, a concept new to Birmingham and spearheaded by the team behind Brick & Tin. If you’re not sure what a ghost kitchen is, don’t worry — Neal and Carrie describe exactly what that means! Before the pandemic hit, Neal was climbing the ranks of the restaurant industry in New York City. He details the big-name restaurants he worked at, what led him to move home mid-pandemic, and how he got back into the restaurant industry in Birmingham. Neal tells Carrie how he approaches the menu at .bowl, and their ethos behind local produce and sustainability. Neal and Carrie touch on issues with using services like Door Dash, and why .bowl’s in-house delivery service is far better. They wrap up with some of Neal’s favorite menu items, a preview of what to expect on the spring menu, and how to get your hands on your own bowl.

Mentioned in this episode: Bowl. Brick & Tin Church Street Coffee and Books Satterfield’s Momofuku Ssam Bar Mary Claire Britton of GreenHouse on The Localist Podcast GreenHouse Toast Cook Out CarrieRollwagen.com @ThinkLocalist on Instagram