[Rikrich]

Hi Folks!

I was raised in Pennsylvania, lived in Maryland for 12 years and have now lived in Indianapolis for nearly five years. I have never actually eaten any Southern style food (with the possible exception of fried chicken, if that counts). What kind of dishes would you recommend if I were to pay a visit to Alabama? And I do hope you all will pardon me for being a Yankee. But this Yankee is a very quiet, courteous and considerate cuss. Anyway, your replies and suggestions are most welcome. Have a good one!

[johnrex62]

What part of Alabama are you going to visit? I lived in Northern Alabama for a while and I would recommend Catfish, Ribs, Country Fried Steak, and Hamburgers. There are many diner style cafes that serve what is called a "meat and two sides". This is the southern version of the Blue Plate Special. Very southern and generally very good eating. These are found everywhere although not very upscale.

I am originally from Texas, so I never appreciated the style of BBQ available, but it was also a big part of southern dining. In the Huntsville area I would highly recommend Big Bob Gibson's for bbq. There is also a little place called Soul Burger for a really good homemade style hamburger. The owner really appreciates her customers and shows it.

Other food items attributable to traditional southern cooking are all kinds of vegetables. They are the same vegies you ate back home, but they are cooked in a different style down here. Greens are an acquired taste and mostly not enjoyed by first timers, but there are always exceptions so be a risk taker and give em a try. Green Beans, Okra, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Squash are always great no matter where I have tried them.

[Southlander]

Collard greens & turnip greens, eaten with a good dash of the vinegar in the bottle with little peppers in it.
Fried green tomatoes, natch!
Cornbread make with bacon grease, and NO sugar!
Squash---yellow crookneck squash. Sliced and boiled in water with salt, pepper, butter and a pinch of sugar. Or cooked with onions, cheese and crackers in a casserole- yum!
Fresh veggies of any kind.
Tomatoes from Mama's yard, Daddy's yard, a neighbor's yard or the Farmer's Market
Silver Queen corn, picked in the field that morning (in VERY short supply this year thanks to the drought)
Fresh creamed corn
Remember, barbecue in the South is a noun, not a verb. We "cook out" down here.
Welcome, friend Yankee!

[bankheadbaby]

fried green tomatoes, fried potatoes, fried apple pies...do we see a trend here?
Cornbread, Greens,
BBQ
Shrimp and grits has become a refined dish in these parts.
And yes, different regions of AL (and the South obviously) have different cuisine. Come on down and we'll tell you where to go.

[Northwoods Voyager]

I think y'all are forgetting the sweet potatoes. Some might call them 'yams'. As a side dish and fixed different ways. And tho' not a food, but a beverage: SWEET TEA I love it! Catfish, cornbread, fried okra. Oh, now I'm hungry. Southern cooking is the greatest.

[vasinger]

Virginia Ham
Spoonbread
Ring Tum Diddy
Black Eyed Peas
Sweet Tea
Corn Bread
Fried Chicken
VA Pork BBQ
Brunswick Stew

The list goes on and on

Enjoy!

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by vasinger

Virginia Ham
Spoonbread
Ring Tum Diddy
Black Eyed Peas
Sweet Tea
Corn Bread
Fried Chicken
VA Pork BBQ
Brunswick Stew

The list goes on and on

Enjoy!

Actually, Virginia ham, spoonbread, "ring tum diddy" (I don't know what that is!), VA pork BBQ and Brunswick stew are not Alabama foods. But they are indiginus to other parts of the South.

[Padgett2]

The style is also defined by how the food is seasoned. Veggies are cooked with big hunks of Fat Back, Streak-O-Lean, Ham, or Ham bone,

[aiangel_writer]

Lets not forget the following:

breakfast
hot, home made biscuits with butter or honey or home made muscadine/grape/blackberry/fig/crab-apple/watermelon jelly
fried potatoes
gravy


the rest of the time
Purple hull peas
Speckled butterbeans
cream potatoes no milk, mayonaise instead.
churn sweet pickles
home made tomato soup for the cornbread
peach cobbler
banana pudding
from scratch chocolate cake usually your great grandmothers recipe
skillet fried sweet potatoes in butter and crisco

[bohem21]

Down in the southeast of Alabama, we have always had the Carolina type BBQ(diced pork) served with a vinegar sauce accompanied with Brunswick Stew.

I must my add favorite to the list:
rutabagas

and you are correct, the list goes on and on.........