What city has the best Soul Food/southern cooking? (NYC, live, better)

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

If we're talking about the term then perhaps. I tried checking on where "soul food" came from, but it seems very organic.

I think they were saying that the cuisine itself originated there which is, uh, no. It was brought there by Southerners who moved there during the Great Migration.

The term soul food probably did originate up there because you don't really hear southerners refer to it by that term outside of advertising.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by TANaples

Actually, I heard on the Travel channel that soul food originated from Harlem. It isn't technically a southern food.

LOL! This is the most hilarious - and unbelievable - post of the year.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by johnatl

LOL! This is the most hilarious - and unbelievable - post of the year.

LMAO I second that for sure, Johnatl!

[OMG2010]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

LOL.....lawd......these people are so misinformed. They want to believe everything originated in NYC.

Ok!! Ahh mess.. Isn't it sickening sometimes...

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by TANaples

Actually, I heard on the Travel channel that soul food originated from Harlem. It isn't technically a southern food.

Whoever wrote/spoke that bit of nonsense for use on the Travel Channel needs to be fired for incompetence.

Are you sure you did not misunderstand what was being said? That what many white northerners call "soul food" does not have Southern origins is just too ridiculous for discussion.

[grindin]

I know plenty of white people that eat "Soul" food too. I remember a recently relocated northern transplant getting all offended and out-of-pocket because someone bought fried chicken to a work potluck down here. They quickly shut up when they realized that the White southerners were eating the Fried chicken and swapping recipes for Macaroni & Cheese and Greeens with the Black co-workers.

I will say there are differences regarding what is considered "Southern" and "Soul" food, including seasonings and cuts of meat, but there are more similarities than differences.

I will say that I've been disappointed in a lot of the Southern Food offerings here in Atlanta (of all places). The only places that I like here are Big Daddy's, Paschal's, and This Is It. I haven't been to Mary Mac's Tea Room yet, but I've heard good things about it. I can't even find good fried catfish up here. I'm from Mississippi, so my standards on "good" catfish are pretty high. But restaurants lose that "touch" that only home-cooking can have.

I don't eat that type of food too often (on a mission to lose 50 lbs in 3 months, and that won't happen with a lot of that type of food), so it better be DAMN good when I eat it!

I went to NYC a few months ago, and one of my friends up there wanted to meet at Sylvia's to get that "New York experience on soul food." I told him "Man, I live in the South. Why would I go all the way up to NYC to eat what I can get anytime I feel like it down in Atlanta?" Besides, I heard that Sylvia's has turned into a major tourist trap and is not all that great anymore.

We settled for Ethiopian food instead.

[ladarron]

Originally Posted by TANaples

Actually, I heard on the Travel channel that soul food originated from Harlem. It isn't technically a southern food.

That isn't true.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

For instance, in my hometown of Atlanta we have several really good soul/southern food restaurants like Busy Bee Cafe, Mary Mac's Tea room and the Colonnade just to name a few

The last time I was in ATL, I ate at Mary Mac's and it has instantly become one of my favorite restaurants in the city....REALLY good.

But I think it's an absolute travesty that Charleston and Savannah aren't on this list. I know people tend to think about seafood when they think of these cities, but they've got soul food on lock as well.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by grindin

I know plenty of white people that eat "Soul" food too. I remember a northern transplant getting all offended and out-of-pocket because someone bought fried chicken to a work potluck down here. They quickly shut up when they realized that the White southerners were eating the Fried chicken and swapping recipes for Macaroni & Cheese and Greeens with the Black co-workers.

There are differences regarding what is considered "Southern" and "Soul" food, including seasonings and meat, but there are more similarities than differences.

I will say that I've been disappointed in a lot of the Southern Food offerings here in Atlanta (of all places). The only places that I like here are Big Daddy's, Paschal's, and This Is It. I can't even find good fried catfish up here. I'm from Mississippi, so my standards on "good" catfish are pretty high. But restaurants lose that "touch" that only home-cooking can have.

I went to NYC a few months ago, and one of my friends up there wanted to meet at Sylvia's to get that "New York experience" of Soul Food. I told him "Man, I live in the South. Why go all the way up to NYC to eat what I can get where I live?"

We settled for Ethiopian

Yeah, Sylvia's is overrated, imo. They opened a branch here, and predictably, it didn't last long.

Check this place out for catfish, grindin. They're in the Westside Urban Market.

JCT Kitchen & Bar - Classic neighbhorhood Bistro with authentic Southern Style

[Aficionado]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Yeah, Sylvia's is overrated, imo. They opened a branch here, and predictably, it didn't last long.

Check this place out for catfish, grindin. They're in the Westside Urban Market.

JCT Kitchen & Bar - Classic neighbhorhood Bistro with authentic Southern Style

I knew I wasn't loosing my mind. I remember eating at Sylvia's here back in the mid 90's. It was okay, and was packed at the time. Thanks for helping me out with that, it's been so long ago...