This year, Birmingham’s restaurants garnered an impressive five James Beard Award nominations. Bham Now is sitting down with each nominee to learn more about their backgrounds, inspiration and goals.
Eric Bennett, co-owner of the Southside favorite Continental Drift, was recently announced as a 2026 semifinalist for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service by the James Beard Foundation.
Those who haven’t visited the Southside spot yet are missing out on a vibe co-owner Bennett describes as “’80s, ’90s cinema and like Miami meets Birmingham.” The “drift” in the name isn’t just for show — the menu actually changes its geographic inspiration two to three times a year. Currently, the team is serving up flavors inspired by Northern Italy, but a brand-new “continent” is just weeks away…