I’ve Been Everywhere
Pity for you.
I rolled into Gallatin, Tennessee to Tori Nelson Young’s chili. “You can’t eat it. The stuff made Tom sweat.” Ha. Those two sat and watched me scarf a whole bowl without drinking a thing.
MTM and I enjoyed two meals at Alegria, a Mexican haven in the Green Hills section of Nashville. Go there, people. It’s awesome. I especially loved the mural.
City House is our favorite Nashville restaurant. I celebrated a sell-out launch party with clams and sausage, and I can’t think of a better surf-and-turf combo.
I spent several hours at Bliss Cafe on the historic square in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Yum, people. Visit Merry. Eat big city food with a small town view.
Mary Howard and Stephen King fed MTM and me on an overnight in Tupelo, Mississippi. I almost lost MTM to Stephen’s Man Cave. Vintage bikes are a common interest. No Stephen King would be complete without a mastery of meat, and Mary Howard complemented the meal with slurp-worthy sides, salad and dessert.
MTM and I ate The Big Willie at French Camp, Mississippi’s Council House Cafe. A Bible retreat serving up Big Willie? You’ll have to visit to check me.
The Malt Shop in Natchez, Mississippi fed us after a delightful visit with Miss Ethel at Hope Farm. Two malts. French fries. Onward to Covington, Louisiana.
Ham and brie on sourdough? Yes, please. Toad Hollow Cafe in historic Covington, Louisiana is a local mecca. I wiled an hour there with my lovely cousin Lori.
Baton Rouge’s Superior Grill taught me the true meaning of a Louisiana Go Cup. I had to scarf every bite of my fish tacos to soak up the margarita(s).
For my last Louisiana meal, I dragged my cousin Lori to ACME Oyster House for buttery chargrilled oysters and red beans and rice. Even Baby Cousin Violet approved.
Peter at Peter’s Pottery in Mound Bayou, Mississippi recommended I lunch at The Warehouse in Cleveland before my Cotton Row Bookstore appearance there. I always listen to locals. You should, too. Their Italian panini was HEAVEN.
I met Brenda and Charles Davis of Mamie’s Cottage for my last Mississippi dinner. They chose Rusty’s Riverfront Grill in Vicksburg, Mississippi, their favorite spot. If you’re ever in the area, it should be yours, too. Fried oysters. Sunset on Mark Twain’s river. PERFECT.
I wasn’t home ten minutes before Carnell came over and stole a quarter of my Nonna Randazzo’s King Cake. Too bad he didn’t steal the baby. Guess who got him in a breach birth? Just guess?
26 Comments
thanks for the tips, food and drinks are indeed an important part of memory. i love the carry cup margarita )
I can’t believe they allow those in Louisiana. They even have drive-thru daiquiri places. And I didn’t post my funniest quip here. While in line at Walmart, the “impulse purchase” area was booze, booze, booze……all with the new lower price signage.
that is so crazy and funny –
Now I’m starving!!!!!!
I think I ate another meal after I wrote this post………
Hooray! So glad you got the baby. And glad you didn’t swallow it. 😉 This has made me hungry too. I need to take that Southern food / music / literature road trip I keep planning. I just need a ’50s or ’60s big American convertible to do it in.
’56 Caddy would do nicely.
The Trace region is teeming with great places to eat. A car like that would be perfect. 🙂
Charleston to Asheville
Asheville to Nashville
Nashville to Memphis
Memphis down the Mississipi and over to the Trace
The Trace to New Orleans
New Orleans along the Gulf Coast
Across Florida to the East Coast
Up to Brunswick and Savannah and back to Charleston
How’s that? Did I forget anywhere?
Should not have read this on an empty stomach. Now I’m going foraging for food.
I just ate breakfast, and responding to comments is making me hungry.
All that stuff before breakfast. Man. I think I gained a couple pounds reading this post.
I haven’t had the nerve to haul myself onto a scale since I got home, Jim.
Did you buy some Tupelo honey?
I cannot share my favorite food memory, because there are so many! Many around our own table.
The best cajun food there is, right in the middle of Illinois cornfields. The best crab cakes ever in Philly, a long ago Halloween with our OK friends in a German restaurant in a midwestern ‘burb where we ate wiener schnitzel, had a pumpkin carving contest, and all sang a Dixie song. Farm fresh eggs in the Nutmeg Inn. The best cannoli in the North End of Boston, right across from the Old North Church . . .
Really, the best was that Halloween, almost 40 years ago. The restaurant was in the basement, down a long flight of narrow stairs (the poor wait staff), the food superb (our friend lived for a time in Germany and said it was like being back), all the tables were given pumpkins to carve and we won, thanks to my Antler Man/artist. Nary a Halloween goes by where either our friends or we comment on that Halloween. 🙂
I bought some real Mississippi mud at Peter’s Pottery. I wanted to have a piece of it every day. 🙂 No tupelo honey.
Have you every posted about that Halloween, Penny? I’ve never been a fan of German food, but you might just change my mind.
I haven’t posted it, Andra. Maybe this October. 🙂
My sister-in-law and I were just talking about our fond food memories. The first time my brother introduced us to each other (he had told me that he thought she was “the one”), we headed to a place on the south side of Chicago for seafood. It’s gone now, but it was so good. After they married and moved to a new house, my sister-in-law and I drove around looking for good place for tacos. They were great! These were bonding times with my sis-in-law. Some people complain about their nightmarish families. I’ve been truly blessed with my in-laws.
Food is the perfect path to bonding, isn’t it? Every time I eat tacos, I’m going to think of you and your sister-in-law. 🙂
A song comes to mind, “I’ve been everywhere man, I’ve crossed the desert…” But instead of “I’ve” I’m singing “You’ve.” So wonderful.
By the time I rolled into Cool Blow, I felt like I’d been everywhere. All this driving is tough on my soul. Headed up to my parents’ later today, with a stop at Scott’s BBQ.
Food can certainly be a source of bonding with others.
I want to thank you for your postcard bookmark. It’s a thoughtful, generous gift.
I’m glad you like it! They were fun to put together for a select group.
Yum. I gained 5 pounds reading this post! Kind of cruel to post photos of delicious food in January when my commitment to healthful eating is flagging. Still, I have to admit that every meal looks worthy of note, which is more than I can say for my recent dining experiences. 😉
It is very hard to visit that part of the world and not eat my way through it………
I need to go out to the kitchen to find something to eat…
I’m glad my tummy’s full of breakfast, or I’d be eating again, too.
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