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Finding culinary gems in your city or a road trip away just got easier.

Martie Duncan's fifth book, "The Alabama 100 Best Recipes, Restaurants & Road Trips," is on shelves and has everything you need to explore Alabama's delicious bites.

Duncan, a Birmingham native, chef, event designer, podcast host, television star and author, learned to cook alongside her mother and has spent her much of her life traveling and exploring food. Her experiences led her to audition for the eighth season of "Food Network Star," which aired in 2012. Though she did not win, she has appeared on other Food Network shows and made lifelong friends with some impressive culinary players. Maybe you've met some of her friends at The Hangout Oyster Cook-Off, an event she helped produce and grow over its 10 years.

Her newest book gives a nod to Alabama Tourism's "100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama" list, which got a refresh in 2024. Duncan said she wasn't planning to write a book so soon after her last one, "Sweet Home Alabama Destinations & Dishes Worth the Trip," but when the Alabama Tourism office calls, you answer.

"Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell reached out and told me that 2024 was going to be the Year of Alabama Food, and they were going to revamp the '100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama' brochure," Duncan said.

Duncan said Sentell encouraged her to hit the road and write another book to celebrate Alabama's year of food. She noted the state didn't produce her book, but Sentell said he felt it would complement the updated "100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama" list.

If you are wondering if Duncan influenced the dishes that made the list, you aren't alone. While she didn't help compile the list for Alabama Tourism, she did advocate for some dishes she felt deserved a spot.

"I was very vocal about some of them," Duncan said. "There were some dishes that I didn't understand why they were not on the list."

Within the pages of this book, you will find more than just 100 of Alabama's best dishes. The first section, Two Days Away, encourages readers to pack a bag and explore 12 different towns and cities like Huntsville, Montgomery and the beaches. Each area lists where to go for coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner — and don't worry, she also includes spots for drinks and sweets.

"I give you a little base camp hotel suggestion and then everything you want to do with food," Duncan said. "I don't tell you where to go shopping. I don't tell you where to spend your day. I tell you where to eat."

Another notable chapter is the Alabama Favorite section, inspired by writer Sean Dietrich. Duncan said she asked him for a quote for her last book, and he responded with an essay about cornbread. Some of the section's topics include sweet tea, fried chicken, cornbread, barbecue and banana pudding.

"I thought it would be fun to do a section where I could list more restaurants," Duncan said. "I list 20 to 25 places I think have the best version of that favorite."

The Alabama Favorite section shows how Duncan strives to shine a light on Alabama's hospitality industry. During a December book signing at Fairhope's Page & Palette, featuring six local chefs featured in the book, chef "Panini" Pete Blohme summed it up perfectly.

"She's like the grand dame of Alabama food," he said. "She got on 'Food Network Star' season eight and has not stopped busting her ass. What she does is put a spotlight on so many of us."

That spotlight goes beyond the book. Duncan said she wants every chef, cook and restaurant owner to view this as their cookbook.

"The Alabama 100 Best Recipes, Restaurants & Road Trips" is available at Page & Palette, The Hope Farm and Sunset Pointe at Fly Creek Marina in Fairhope, BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets and The Gulf in Orange Beach and The Hangout in Gulf Shores. Duncan recommends calling ahead to ensure the location still has books in stock. For a full list of retailers, to order a personalized signed copy or to see where Duncan will stop on her book tour, visit www.martieduncan.com.