Friday, September 12, 2008

Home Cookin'

Okay, so let's just say you know a young woman who grew up in the mid-Atlantic region of the country. A region known for its outstanding seafood, not the least of which this young woman practically cut her teeth on. You could also say though the particular states she lived in were technically southern they were by no means Southern. So, "Home Cookin'" (as I have come to call Southern fare) in my definition was always Cracker Barrel, because it was about the closest you got to the ham-hock in your green beans, butter in every nook and cranny of your casseroles kind of food.

My life has been revolutionized, living here in Middle Tennessee. Oh sure, I will always be a seafood-lover who craves a good and plentiful crab feast at least once a year, the kind where shells end up falling down your shirt or flying across the room in a gluttonous fever. But Southern food. Man. It's good stuff.

My mom likes to tell the story that as a child, you could tell me just about any type of food, including vegetables, was a "casserole" and I'd eat it. Who knows where that came from, but it sure gave me the propensity to almost automatically love the food that is so very abundant in this region of the country. And I have to, because it's everywhere - especially at every family function on Cliff's side of the family. I used to not touch squash with a ten foot pole, and now after my fair share of eating artery-clogging squash casserole, I actually enjoy the vegetable. Even, lightly sautee it in cooking spray and I'll eat it. I just like it, now. And the same for asparagus. And green tomatoes. And zucchini. I have converted, through the means of frying and trying, to be an equal opportunity vegetable lover, even when merely steamed with not a bit of butter or oil gracing it!

Oh, and don't even get me started about okra. I used to loathe the food. The first and only time I ever ate it, it was squishy and soggy in a gumbo. When I found out they fry it down here, I guffawed, wondering why in the world you would choose to demoralize the act of frying with such a vegetable? And now? Thanks to my in-laws, I crave it. Like one would crave chocolate, chips, or even soda. Fried okra is my vice.

So today, after much debate (which was all between my inner voices who couldn't decide between three restaurants WITH THE SAME EXACT TYPE OF FOOD), Kim and I decided on what has quickly become the Neeley's favorite local restaurant - Barbara's Home Cooking - for lunch. And wouldn't you know, I prayed the whole way there that Miss Barbara had decided, in her good nature, to put poppyseed chicken on the menu. When we got there? Sure enough, in bright purple marker on the white board sitting on the front porch, my day had been made. Densely warm, to-die for rolls, a big glass of sweet tea, poppyseed chicken, macaroni and cheese, and fried okra (but, of course!). I know, not in the least bit, was that meal of any nutritional value in the pyramid sense, but it fed my soul, that's for certain.

Barbara's is just one of many places we love (Loveless Cafe, Dotson's, Country Kitchen, Monell's) and dare not frequent, but I have decided, after today, that it is absolutely the best. So, if you haven't tried it, please do.

And would you invite me to come along with you?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will go with you for lunch ANYtime.

Anonymous said...

I make a great poppyseed chicken, myself. Served with my fav comfort casserole- green bean! You'll have to come over for dinner sometime soon!

Anonymous said...

mmm Dotson's. I miss it. they make the best banana pudding *drool*. I love southern home cookin!