[Best BBQ in the South?]

My fave is Morris' (previously Sonny's), a little trailer on a county road that serves up some kickin' hot sauce (full of pepper seeds) and soul food too, if you're up for some chitterlings and pig's feet.

I can give more info if any of these sound good to you.

Those definitely sound good. I have never had a pig's foot. Might just have to...little trailers on a country road seem like they would have the best BBQ. Can't wait to try.

Starkville's about a hour and a half west of Tuscaloosa, on US-82. Take the Clayton Village/MS-182E exit, and go right. Maybe half a mile to a mile, take a left just after a small bridge (the road is 16th Section Road, I can't remember if there's a sign). It'll be on your left with a flashing sign.

We had some friends that called this place "the happiest place on Earth". Used to be run by a guy whose real name was Roosevelt Nickels. They changed the name when he died, but it's still the same family. I usually go for the pulled pork with the hot sauce. Don't get the beans though, they're just Campbell's. But why would you get beans when you can get chitterlings? It has some odd hours, your best bet is Thurs-Sat. I'd make sure you have cash or check, too.

Here's a Google map. They have the marker too far north; it's actually just north of MS-182.

[Best BBQ in the South?]

I've lived in Mississippi for the past 15 years, but I'm more aware of my local joints than any kind of renowned "must-go" place.

In Jackson there's Chimneyville Smokehouse. Seems to be pretty famous down there.

The Delta's known more for tamales and catfish than BBQ, but I'm certain you wouldn't be disappointed from a trip through Greenville or Clarksdale.

Here in Starkville, there's Little Dooey's, which is the favorite of ESPN when they come to town. My fave is Morris' (previously Sonny's), a little trailer on a county road that serves up some kickin' hot sauce (full of pepper seeds) and soul food too, if you're up for some chitterlings and pig's feet.

I can give more info if any of these sound good to you.

[Author-less Cookbooks]

Every time I walk into a major bookstore, I see prominently placed shelves of author-less cookbooks. Things like "New Vegetarian Feasts" and "Homestyle Chicken Recipes", usually for pretty cheap. They're all pretty bare-bones and focus on pictures, but there's no denying the sheer quantity of recipes they contain.

Where do these books come from? Is there some vast store of corporate recipes out there that publishers pick and choose and combine into big flashy books for the bargain shelves of bookstores around the world? Are these books miserable as a rule, or have you ever gotten anything good from them?

- Joel

[Digesting a New Cookbook]

What do you guys do when you buy a new book? Read through for ideas? Make one or two recipes? Cook your way through it (in any meaning of the phrase)?

Just to add to the discussion, I have... ten, including a gem from the feminist '70s called "The Political Palate".