‘Real food’ at Real & Rosemary

by

For Jennifer Mims, rosemary is the first herb she remembers seeing her mother use in the kitchen. It’s part of a childhood in small town Alabama where farmers markets were the only way to get fresh produce and real, homemade food was a staple.

She’s bringing those same sensibilities to the table with Real & Rosemary, which held its soft opening on March 9 at 1922 29th Ave. S.

“I’m trying to keep things really simple,” Mims said of the restaurant concept.

The lunch and dinner restaurant has been planned by Mims and business partner Nate Carlson since May 2015. Real & Rosemary, from its patio benches to the wood, fabric and marble used in the interior seating, is built around a sense of comfort and a slightly patchwork style.

“It’s such a beautiful building with all the brick in it. I want it to feel like it’s been lived in,” Mims said. “I hope customers feel welcome when they come.”

Some of the unique design elements include a painted sprig of rosemary on one of the exterior walls, a marble dining bar near the entrance and a “living wall” of plants on the patio.

The menu is built out of Mims’ childhood memories, travels and her own experiences in the kitchen. She said the experience of cooking all of her daughter’s baby food for two years taught her a lot about nutrition, but she also realized there simply wasn’t enough time when her second child was born. The dishes at Real & Rosemary are designed to be both tasty and filling, while made of ingredients she’d be happy to feed to her children.

“I feel that’s a type of food you can eat over and over again, with good flavor profiles,” Mims said. “Eating clean, real food is a good way to live.”

Real & Rosemary will serve fast casual dishes based around vegetables and lean protein, as well as soups, salads and sandwiches. There will be beer and wine all day, as well as a cocktail bar that opens at 4 p.m. 

Mims said customers can dine in or get catering or to-go orders. Along with regular parking in front and behind the building, Mims said there will be spots specifically for to-go order pickup. 

The city of Homewood added some parallel parking spots for her restaurant in front of the building. Because downtown spots are always hard to get, Mims said she hopes the easy walk from 18th Street to her storefront will encourage pedestrian diners.

Mims said there will likely be organic and local ingredients in some of the menu, but the restaurant will be focused more on ingredients with less processing and additives.

The first goal for Real & Rosemary, Mims said, is to become a close member of the Homewood community. She said she’s already received positive reactions from residents and fellow downtown business owners. Eventually, Mims said she would like to expand the business and take her “real food” concept to new locations. Since she’ll be at Real & Rosemary every day, Mims also has a personal goal for the restaurant.

“When the restaurant opens, there’s a very good chance I’ll never have to cook at home again,” she laughed.

Real & Rosemary