Photos by Elizabeth Gelineau
In a bucolic field in Foley’s countryside stands a stunning bodega with steaks displayed like art in a gallery, immaculate produce stacked in enamel bathtubs and pristine freezers stocked with award-worthy casseroles. It’s difficult to imagine such an elegant concept took form in a single day, but co-owners Mark White and Jeremy Alston of Magnolia Meat & Grocery did just that. “It kind of came about on our annual waterfowl hunting trip to Canada, and on our 24-hour drive there we had come up with the idea,” says White. “But we’ve gotten to get quite creative with it. This was just an opportunity for us to spread our wings in the culinary world a little bit.”
Whether customers are looking for prime cuts of meat or more fantastical creations, they’re always in for something special. “Our vision is more for something like your local neighborhood butcher,” says Alston. “We want you to be able to come in and tell us, ‘I want a ribeye an inch-and-a-half thick,’ and we’ll cut it for you. We really try to keep our beef top-notch — different cuts, good marbling, high-graded — always choice or above. Our sausages have really taken off too. We make our own. We grind it, cure it, case it, smoke it — the whole process. We have a few standard ones, but we’ve been experimenting with some ideas like an apple pie sausage, and we did a jalapeno cheddar sausage that was really good. But we’re just trying to make the stuff our customers want.” As co-owners of Moe’s Original BBQ, including the adjacent one at the Foley Fishers and Farmers Market, they should know something about the meats their customers are craving.
Patrons who aren’t interested in cooking can still find something to enjoy at Magnolia Meat & Grocery. “We have some take-and-bake freezer stuff for people wanting something for holidays and special events, and we have a regular menu with a handful of items and some chalkboard specials for lunch that’ll rotate,” says White. “We just want to put things on the menu that taste good and maybe remind them of little stories and the food they grew up with using good ingredients. That’s what we’re always shooting for.”
Magnolia Meat & Grocery is already a local treasure, but White and Alston are excited for their concept to take a life of its own. “We constantly evolve, and we have a ton of ideas, but right now we’re honing in on what we’re doing and perfecting it,” says Alston. “We’re passionate about Southern cuisine, and we’ve always been strong believers in making good food the right way. People see what we’re going for and keep coming in and really dig what we’re doing. So, as we continue to grow, we want to keep reflecting that.”
On the Menu
Fried Baloney Sandwich
A childhood favorite gets a grown-up upgrade. A thick cut of smoked, fried baloney topped with American cheese is sandwiched with lettuce and tomato between two pieces of golden toast.
Surf & Turf Po’boy
With tender bits of sirloin, fried Gulf shrimp, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, briny pickles and house-made remoulade, this mammoth of a po’boy offers the best of land and sea.
MAG Burger
Straight from the Napa Valley of beef, this smash burger made from the highest-quality meat is accentuated by cheese, shaved onions, pickles and an original burger sauce you won’t find anywhere else.
French Fry Po’boy
French fries are so much more than just a side dish. This Southern sandwich features layers of crispy fries, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and a healthy slather of “debris gravy” in a French bread baguette.
Magnolia Meat & Grocery • 20733 Miflin Road, Foley • Mon 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Fri 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.,
Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Sun
