This year’s debut of the MICHELIN Guide Southeast confirmed what Birmingham diners have long known: this is a special place for food. For pastry chef and restaurateur Kristen Hall, the recognition affirmed the vision behind her standout eateries. MICHELIN honored her French bistro, La Fête, with a Bib Gourmand award, celebrating exceptional food, service, and ambiance at an approachable price point.
Kristen is also the pastry chef behind Bandit Pâtisserie and a driving force behind several beloved restaurants across the city. Her unconventional journey is a reminder that passion rarely follows a straight line.
PinThis week’s FACE of Birmingham is pastry chef and restaurateur extraordinaire Kristen Hall. Image: Caleb Chancey Photography
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m from Dalton, Georgia, a small southern town tucked in the foothills of northwest Georgia. I moved to Birmingham to go to Samford University, where I graduated with a degree in pre-medical biology. I then went to graduate school at UAB, where I received a master’s degree in public health.
After graduate school, I began working at UAB and spent a decade building a career in donor development and fundraising at the School of Medicine.
Can you share more about your professional journey?
In the summer of 2013, I began baking at home with my two young daughters, Emma and Eleanor. While baking was fun and such a nice opportunity to create memories with them, I also wanted them to grow up in the kitchen and develop skills to care for themselves once they were living on their own.
We would bake on the weekends and then share our creations with friends and neighbors (we would leave packages of treats on doorsteps and ring the doorbell and run away!) We became known as “The Baking Bandits,” and that’s where Bandit was born.
This little adventure blossomed into a pop-up shop in 2013, followed by months of sell-out mornings at the Pepper Place Farmers’ Market. I quit my job at UAB in the summer of 2014, and the last decade has been quite a wild and glorious ride.
We are grateful to all our sponsors:
Congratulations on La Fête’s Bib Gourmand Award from MICHELIN! What does the award mean to you, and what makes La Fête such an outstanding dining experience?
Thank you so much! The recognition from this award has been incredible, and I’m so proud of my team at La Fête. I think a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand award exemplifies everything we hope for at La Fête. Our goal is to create an experience of true hospitality, where you feel like a regular the second you step through our door, even if it’s your first time.
The menu, the team, and the space are all designed to make you feel like you are in a cozy, French-inspired home.
You wear many hats — owner, pastry chef, and even interior designer. What drives you to be so immersed in the details and day-to-day of your restaurants?
The details are really where I feel like I do my best work. As an owner, I enjoy curating spaces that reflect the energy of what we do. From the wallpaper to the chairs to the way the restaurant flows, it all works together to create a memorable experience for both our guests and my team.
As a chef, curating a menu is very similar … as is creating that perfect pastry. It’s thinking through every aspect of how the experience will be enjoyed and ensuring that all of the details work in harmony. I truly love it so much!
PinCozy seating, delicate florals, and warm accents hand-picked by Kristen define the joie de vivre atmosphere at La Fête. Image: Caleb Chancey Photography
You have championed several successful restaurants in the Magic City in a short period, and after a career transition, no less! What’s your secret to standing out as an eatery in this town?
Thank you! I think the success of a venture is in the ability to take a vision and dig into every aspect of the experience for the guest and the team. I also think that building a team that shares your values and definition of hospitality is a non-negotiable. It is a really hard business, but I can’t imagine it any other way.
We are grateful to all our sponsors:
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I spend as much time with my daughters as I can. (I’m a great Uber driver. Ha!)
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
I’m really inspired by flowers and gardening at the moment.
What is your best piece of advice?
Be afraid, but do it anyway. The world needs your dreams to come to life.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without:
Coffee (a cappuccino, ideally)
Sunshine
A pedicure
PinLa Fête is also known for its handcrafted cocktails and curated French wine collection. Image: Instagram
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Last delicious local meal: Lapeer
Favorite place to vacation: Paris
Your go-to gift to give: A massage
Favorite recent TV show binge: Ted Lasso
Book(s) on your bedside table: The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest
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Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
Dining and Cooking