HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Church Street Family Hospitality is a collection of ten restaurants owned by two people: Stephanie Kennedy-Mell and Matt Mell. The food scene in Huntsville is growing, and these eateries, each with a different concept, are a big part of that. FOX54's Ken McCoy takes you to a few of them in his three-part Food for Thought series.
Sea Salt: Oysters, shrimp, lobster, and even items for those who aren't into seafood. Kennedy-Mell says it's an eclectic menu in a unique, seaside-themed space in downtown Huntsville. Maine Lobster with potato chips. Ahi tuna tacos with avocado. Florida snapper ceviche with sweet potato and roasted corn. Even grown-up grilled cheese.
Mazzara's: Kennedy-Mell says this Italian restaurant is named after her grandparents, and the recipes are family recipes as well. This restaurant had more of a labor of love associated with it for the couple. They were going for an immersive experience in a historic home in downtown Huntsville. The menu features charcuterie, tapas, salads, entrees, sides, and desserts, all homemade.
Episode 2: Pourhouse and Church Street Wine Shoppe
Pourhouse: Just a little way from downtown is the first rooftop bar in Huntsville, Pourhouse. Stephanie Kennedy-Mell wanted it to have the vibe of a beach bar she went to at the Jersey Shore...a comfortable place where people could get food and drink and just hang out, with music, sports on the TVs, local beers, and fun, colorful specialty drinks.
Church Street Wine Shoppe: This is where it all started back in 2014. Kennedy-Mell and her husband wanted a place designed to look and feel like a Northern California Wine Country tasting room. They brought more than 50 wines to Alabama that had never been here before. And wine is a big part of all of their restaurants, helping them bring a little bit of the West Coast they love to the Tennessee Valley.
Episode 3: Purveyor and Catacomb 435
Purveyor: Pureveyor is one of the Church Street Family that comes alive after 5. Stephanie Kennedy-Mell describes it as "fine dining with a casual twist". The atmosphere is dim lighting, good music, a bar atmosphere with good food and unique cocktails that James Bond would enjoy. The menu changes regularly, but a recent feature of osso buco took three days to make, from scratch. Next to Purveyor is Purveyor Piano Bar, open from 10:30pm to 1:00am Thursday-Saturday, with food, drink, and live piano music.
Catacomb 435: This isn't an easy place to find. It's modeled on an underground speakeasy, and hidden down off Jefferson St. Kennedy-Mell says the speakeasy, which is another word for whisper, dates back to Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal and underground backroom bars were created. But Catacomb isn't your typical bar. One of the cocktails available is "Dealer's Choice". Kennedy-Mell explains, "You choose one spirit and two flavor profiles, and a drink is made for your mood and palate."