In Mobile’s beloved Oakleigh Garden District sits a historic house that is now home to The Hummingbird Way Oyster Bar. Cozy and intimate, it welcomed me in this summer for an evening of thoughtful hospitality and some truly memorable food. But as a Birmingham gal, what impressed me most was the way Chef Jim Smith uses local ingredients to tell the story of our Gulf Coast—by honoring the people, traditions, and ingredients that make this region so special, and with a deep sense of intentionality.
Since opening the Mobile restaurant more than six years ago, Smith has watched it become part of the city’s food scene and, in the process, become part of the community itself. That relationship has meant more to him than he could have anticipated.
“The way the city has embraced both me and the restaurant has been really meaningful,” Smith says. “I’m incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received.”…