Husband-and-wife chefs Chris and Laura Zapalowski own Homewood Gourmet, a longtime café staple that blends Cajun flavors with Southern-style cooking.

The restaurant opened in 1997 under Franklin Biggs, who became known for gumbo, fish plates, salads, rollups and poboys. After a cancer diagnosis forced Biggs to step away in 2010, the Zapalowskis — both former chefs at Birmingham’s James Beard Award-winning Hot and Hot Fish Club — took over.

Chris, a New Orleans native, brings Creole influence while Laura, a Birmingham native, highlights Southern comfort and seasonal produce. Together, they emphasize local ingredients, homemade sides and from-scratch cooking in a casual setting.

In 2023, Homewood Gourmet moved to a larger 1,500-square-foot space at 2705 Mamie Foster Place, where it contin

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