joiei

especially considering that in 1898, Key West was the largest city, population wise, in the state of Florida, followed by Jacksonville then Pensacola. But do you have to be a redneck if you consider yourself a Southerner? Or do you have to be a Southerner if you consider yourself a redneck? I find the figures for the coastal South interesting and revealing, in that it appears that area has a more distinct southern feel to those who live there than do the inland states. From my reading this thread, food as defined by southerners can vary from area to area with a few mainstays across the board. The food culture of the South has changed and evolved over time according to the availibility and the demands of the residents of that particular region.

Here is a link to a story in the DMN about serving grits during the holidays with suggestions to make them special. you might have to register to read the story, it's free.

This story from the Tulsa World talks about ethnic markets that are now appearing in this market. I have been to some places in KC with the ever bubbly moosnsqrl. The growth of ethnic markets in this part of America is a blessing for some of us. The ability to find ingredients that you can't find at Albertsons or Dillons is a definite plus. The new Las Americas market on Admiral is very much a full line hispanic grocery with all those different cuts of meats and a great array of chilis. The asian market in OKC is also pretty remarkable. And Kabani's here in Tulsa is my go to for middle eastern needs. Where do you go?

The Metro Diner on 11th street (part of the original Route 66 highway) is closing. I was never really impressed with the food there, but that was just me. It seems a lot of Tulsans have some attachment to the place, even though it really isn't all that old. The new diner down by the Harley Davidson store on Sheridan has better food.

I bow to you k8. I think we will be seeing tea caviar in a lot of applications in the near future. How fun. THanks for sharing.

I found this paper on restaurant reviewing that might help create some ideas to help explore these questions from here(I hope this link works)

dude, you just have to drag yourself out of bed earlier in the day. 10am and you expect lots of goodies, that is faith.

So u.e., have you taken yourself down to 119th across from Sprint World Headquarters to check out the Artisian Francais yet, their pastries are pretty excellent. If not, you need to get out of up north more often.

I keep telling myself I'm only going there to look at prospective holiday gifts... for OTHER people... to give away... yeah, that's it. ← is this like all the stuff that i just bought at Sur la Tabla is intended as gifts for friends, lets hope so, otherwise, I have to start rebuying for them.

Torte-tort-tart you say tomato I say tomato tell us what it taste like not what to call it! ← unless you say torta.

I have never heard of it, but with that name, I would be in line early to check it out. edited to add the link clickety here, could be a road trip. I have always wanted a reason to go to that part of the world.

I enjoyed this particular sentence that Brett offered.

This sure does sound like the part of the South I grew up in. For what it is worth, the James Beard house defines the South as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (yeah), Louisiana and Mississippi. They define the Southeast as Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. They define the Southwest to include Texas and Oklahoma. Missouri is in the Midwest. All those border states like Maryland and Virginia belong to the Mid-Atlantic.

Besides the home-smoked... where do you favor for BBQ outings? ← Any response I would give would be very outdated, I'm afraid. We don't go out for 'que as a rule. I have had occasion to eat Fiorella's food frequently as they seem to cater everything I attend (I know, it wouldn't seem like it if their style were to my taste). I should make the rounds again, I guess, but it seems to be such a personal thing that recommendations may or may not be helpful. I know Katie Nell really loves Jack Stack so if she were visiting from out of town and listened to me, she would never have found her cheesy corn Over the years we've been far more inclined to go to little places no one has heard of than the big 3 or 4. I have been meaning to try Jones BBQ in KCK - the place joiei sneaked-off to without me on his last visit ← I have been busted. It was worth going back to, the folks were very nice and the beans were damn good. I don't remember anything about "Cheesy Corn", Katie Nell, what the heck is that?

Yes, three times in the couple months since we've been in town, most recently yesterday morning. This is one of a couple posts to compose, so more detail anon, but suffice to say, the Sat and Sun morning country breakfast (two of the three visits) is terrific. BBQ was quite good, not quite great, though more about my context for that judgment in another post. If it takes me longer to get around to posting, and you happen to go for dinner in the meantime, I'll leave you with this advice: Get the corn fritters. Thanks Aaron! The reason I ask is that recently, a very good friend gave me a gift certificate to RJ's of a rather generous sum. I need to find a way to spend it all... perhaps Thanksgiving this year will be RJ's!! I don't suppose those corn fritters would be any good after a car-ride back up to the Northland??? ← I will come up if your buying. seriously, just kidding. lol.

not to mention Brocato's for some spumoni

I took the advanced test and still came up 100% Dixie. I guess you can take the boy out of the deep south (Northwest Florida Panhandle also known as part of the Redneck Riveria, just try buying some cheap coastline now) but you can't take the southern out of the boy.

I came up 100% Dixie. Is your grandfather General Lee?! Sure did make my day.

Welcome to the fray, onrushpam, and we appreciate your input. I was just wondering where Jaymes was (to give us a voice of southern Missouri) then remembered she was off galavanting around Mexico on an RV Train. From your descriptions, it sounds like we all would of enjoyed meeting your grandmother.

Drive through the Delta region anywhere and about the only southwest you will find is taco bell. Even up in the Ozarks, they have very little in common with anything southwest. Some of the finest church BBQ I have ever had was at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena Arkansas which is south of Memphis on the Mississippi River. And when I have been in Heber Springs, catfish dinners are much more easily found than foods inspired by Coyote Cafe. So my vote for Arkansas is that it fits the bill as a Southern Foods State.

Vinegar on fries, I grew up in the far deep south and didn't experience that until I went to areas more inhabited by northerners. Where I was from, people who grew up north of Birmingham were really close to being considered northerners and all. My input on Texas is that my great grandmother went from Mississippi to Itasca, Texas in a covered wagon when she was three years old. Her father, a circuit preacher didn't agree with all that was happening with the Civil War and decided to move his family to where it was safe. My west texas (they had a dairy farm in Coleman then moved to Big Lake) grandmother did not cook with so much of the Mexican influences, but more of her southern roots. She made a killer Chocolate Cream Pie.

from this link Elementary Chef

My book just arrived from Amazonuk (took for friggin ever) and I have finally had a chance to browse through the book. The first thing I will make is the garlic soup. The recipes are not filled with a lot of techno equipment or hard to find ingredients, I think I can find most everything even here in Oklahoma. There are several of the ravioli recipes I will be trying. Though out the book, Georgio has little tidbits about his life, it is interesting to read the bits about working at the Savoy. I do not regret getting this book.

Congratulations on your win, All the cakes were amazing to me. I salute your alls artistry.

Yep, you're instincts are correct (clickety). It looks kinda like Stix, the Japanese/Sushi chain at The Legends in its upscaliness (if you can use upscale, I can use upscaliness ) and they have a Mission Statement - I hope never to eat in a restaurant with a written mission statement, preferring the more traditional menu. I wonder if their servers have to go to 7 Habits training? ← Wow, truly scary stuff. Run away.... ← there should be no reason a restaurant web site should have so much flash and NO MENU. The picture gallery is all full of people who are nameless and the ones of the actual restaurant make it look pretty plain, like a knock off of PF Changs Pei Wei chain. (and I refuse to pronunce that name like they tell me too, to me it will always be the Pee Wee restaurant)