Winding down a Whirlwind Huntsville Food Tour!

(Author’s Note: This is Part 3 of a 3 Part series chronicling our trip to preview Huntsville Restaurant Week! Be sure to start with Part 1 HERE.)
Happenin's in the Ham take on Huntsville
More food?! Challenge accepted!


We had just finished resting up for a bit at the Westin after a delicious breakfast and massive lunch on day two of our Huntsville trip! The Huntsville Visitors Bureau still had plenty on our agenda. It was dinner time and we were off to Nick’s Ristorante, an upscale Italian restaurant tucked away in South Huntsville!
Nick's Ristorante Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomato Salad


This restaurant has an adjoining cigar lounge and a guy who sings Sinatra while you eat! We met up with the rest of the bloggers and got right to the menu!
Lamb Lollipops at Nick's Ristorante
Lamb "Lollipops"


Appetizers included a Fried Green Tomato Salad and Lamb “Lollipops”!
Nick's Ristorante Veal Chop
Veal Chop
Nick's Ristorante Scallops
Scallops. Yes, you can eat the flower!


For our entrees we decided on Veal Chop and Scallops, both of which are garnished with a beautiful orchid that, fun fact, is technically edible!
Nick's Lemon Pillow
Cuscinetto Limone (“Lemon Pillow”) Con Sherry


Both of these dishes were phenomenal! Dessert was no exception. We were treated to a few items including a Cuscinetto Limone (“Lemon Pillow”) Con Sherry & Baked Alaska which they set on fire once it’s on the table! Nick’s definitely has the classic Italian atmosphere!
Cotton Row Bloody Mary Bar
Cotton Row Bloody Mary Bar


On our final day in Huntsville we had a farewell brunch at Cotton Row! This is another high end restaurant located near Huntsville’s historic district.
Chicken Paillard
Chicken Paillard with a Peach


At Cotton Row we both had a made to order dish that featured grilled Chicken Paillard served on a bed of blackeyed peas and diced peppers, and topped with a poached egg and grilled peaches!
Cotton Row Peanut Butter and Jelly in Phyllo
This ain't your momma's PB&J!


The dessert was one of our favorite dishes of the trip! It was a Peanut Butter and Jelly in Phyllo! It contains strawberry compote, chocolate ice cream, salty peanuts, marshmallow fluff, and a brownie! The brownie and peanut butter were served warm. It was decadent!
Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Huntsville Botanical Gardens


Our final stop in Huntsville ended up being our favorite! We visited the Huntsville Botanical Gardens! While the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is free, you do have to pay admission to the gardens in Huntsville. It didn’t take us long to see why!
Minotaur Fight
Russell "fighting" a Minotaur!


What was meant to be a quick stop ended up being a 3hr stroll through beautiful gardens, a corn maze (Ah-Maize-ing!), and photo opps with mythical creatures! (Russell “battled” a Minotaur!)
Huntsville Botanical Gardens Butterfly House
The Butterfly House was Magical!


The Gardens also has the largest indoor Butterfly House in the U.S.! With its vaulted mesh ceiling, flowing water features, and both plants and butterflies galore, it feels like you are walking into Wonka’s Chocolate Factory! (“Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three.”) It’s like a world of pure imagination!
Amber in the Butterfly House
Amber Spreading her Wings!

We had such an amazing time exploring Huntsville! We got to do the exact thing we encourage visitors to Birmingham to do! Birmingham will always be our home, but we will never turn down a visit to our North Alabama neighbors.
Happenin's in the Ham at Big Spring Park Huntsville
Big Spring Park


A HUGE thank you to the Huntsville Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau! We were honored to be included in this event. We’d also like to thank Westin Huntsville for being such gracious hosts as well as all of the participating restaurants who were kind enough to provide such wonderful food! Now we are geared up for Birmingham’s own Restaurant Week 2018!
Taco Bus
The Taco Bus
Straight to Ale
Straight to Ale at Campus No.805


We didn’t even get to mention the “Taco Bus”, the retro Pints & Pixels arcade/restaurant, or the amazing breweries at Campus No. 805! So, if you find yourself with a free weekend, and the desire for a fun trip, we strongly recommend heading just 2hrs north to check out what’s Happenin’ in Huntsvegas! You’ll be glad you did!

-Russell & Amber


*Our trip to Huntsville was sponsored by the Huntsville CVB, but all of our opinions are our own.*