Tennessee foods (Palmer: company, grocery, bridge)

[ZCatcher]

Great post, JMT, and fascinating how diverse the backgrounds are!
I definitely couldn't present my account as authoritative- it was what it said, just something I heard.
Interesting, isn't it, that the account I heard might have been a weird little piece of propaganda demonizing Sherman rather than attribute the dish to slave originators? I'm probably over-analyzing it, but it stuck in my mind.

I'd never heard the name Hoppin' John. Makes you wonder if that's maybe an attempt at spelling an originally-foreign name as well.

I'm doing it again. Great post nevertheless!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by ZCatcher

Great post, JMT, and fascinating how diverse the backgrounds are!
I definitely couldn't present my account as authoritative- it was what it said, just something I heard.
Interesting, isn't it, that the account I heard might have been a weird little piece of propaganda demonizing Sherman rather than attribute the dish to slave originators? I'm probably over-analyzing it, but it stuck in my mind.

I'd never heard the name Hoppin' John. Makes you wonder if that's maybe an attempt at spelling an originally-foreign name as well.

I'm doing it again. Great post nevertheless!

That's an interesting perspective, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone made up the lore of Hoppin' John to make Sherman more evil than he already was (haha). That makes sense.

But whatever it's called, a big heaping bowl of black eyed peas, country ham, rice, and hog jowls for new year's day is soooooo good!!

And the Southern tradition of eating that is so strong, I had to sneak some country ham into my luggage when I went to visit my parents in China for the holidays so they could have Hoppin' John for new year's day. And it was just as good there as it was here. Of course, that's because my amazing mom made it.

[ZCatcher]

I almost forgot Grainger County tomatoes!!! OMG!!!

If you've never had any of these, you'll be skeptical that there's that much difference in tomatoes. If you HAVE had them, assuming you like tomatoes, there's no doubt in your mind that there's a night-and-day difference! Unbelievable!

Shortly after I moved to Illinois, a friend of mine who lives near the Knox/Grainger line was going to send me some of these beauties. He was told in no uncertain terms that this wasn't allowed by any carrier, and that if he tried it, it would be detected. I don't know what they do to you for bootlegging tomatoes, but he wasn't willing to risk it.

Is this true?
Why?
Is there a legal way to do this?

Anyone who could shed any light on this for me would be appreciated.

[klosk]

OH!!!!! How wonderful, I grew up on country cookin' and I make a wonderful Chess Pie. Can't wait for the green maters!! I got away from most of it since living in Albuquerque, different culture different food!!!! My husband is going to be in for a shock when I get back into cooking all the southern foods again. I can't get him to eat cornbread or bisquicks and gravy. He just doesn't know what he is missing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kale is my favorite green. My mother made the best cobblers I ever tasted. I haven' t been able to match is yet. Can't wait till we get there!!!!!!

[ALML]

The weather is ugly today so I'm in the house catching up on all the news from your area.
I've been enjoying the discussion re: food (is anything better I have to tell you all, it's been a long standing tale around here that the only reason my husband married me was because I was the only gal he could find, in these parts, that knew how to cook black eyed peas, cornbread, and greens
It has also become a tradition for many of our friends to come to our home for New Years day.......menu : Ham, black eyed peas, greens, and coconut cake......I can't say it has brought us coins or dollars but we do have a lot of hungry friends!
I've not had Chess pie. I'm going to look it up in my Southern Living cookbooks.....and that's another story. Back in the 70's or
80's, I tried to order Southern Living Magazine. They replied the Magazine for the west coast area was Sunset. After some explaining I did get the subscription and hense the cookbooks. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[Shenandoah]

Originally Posted by alleycat

I had a friend in from Pittsburgh last week. It was his first visit to Nashville. I took him to Swett's in the Farmers Market one day (and then a walk around the Bicentennial Mall). Swett's is a black-owned restaurant that has been in business since 1954.

If you ever visit your friend in Pittsburgh, have them take you to Primanti's in the Strip District. Not for dinner, not for lunch, best time to go is at 1:00 am.
You'll get a HUGE sandwich there, so come extremely hungry. Don't bother to go to any of the Primanti's chain restaurants outside of the Strip District - you get the REAL 'Permanni's' sammich in the Strip District. The meat is piled between two huge slices of Italian bread. French fries on top, then cole slaw on top of that. All in between the bread. Different kinds of sandwiches, like Philly Cheesesteak, but all include french fries and cole slaw in the sandwich. IN the sandwich, not along with.

I'm a HUGE (not physically, that is....) fan of BBQ. I make my own, as my fav restaurant burned down and hasn't rebuilt. If you like BBQ, and you're in Pittsburgh, best place is Elliott's on rt 51 in Large (south of Pittsburgh). I've travelled in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, have tried BBQ there, but I really do prefer my own sauce - made from the secret recipe from my fav restaurant, Blaine Hill BBQ.

I just made BBQ Beef Brisket day before yesterday. YUM! Found this HUGE brisket in the store, snatched that up, and cooked it up! I even sell my recipe on Ebay for my BBQ sauce - it's that good!

Making myself hungry..... LOL!

blessings, shen

[hiknapster]

Grainger County tomatoes are the best ever.

Right now, I'm paying through the nose for tomatoes from the grocery story, but they are just not Grainger County. Hopefully, the recent frosts have not ruined the crop. What will I do?

[Shenandoah]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Grainger County tomatoes are the best ever.

Right now, I'm paying through the nose for tomatoes from the grocery story, but they are just not Grainger County. Hopefully, the recent frosts have not ruined the crop. What will I do?

I LOVE fresh tomatoes, so I'll definitely try Grainger County tomatoes when we're down there.

All this talk of food, really making me hungry! LOL! Just the thought of fresh tomatoes, brings on visions of the first tomato sandwich of the year!
Or, just biting into one, juices running down your chin, all over your hands .... oh man..... and right now, all they've got in the grocery stores are the yukky seemingly indoor grown imitation tomatoes.

blessings, Shen

[Queen1972]

Does anyone like grits? I have never had them and I have heard different opinions. First, do they taste gritty? Do they taste like corn? What are the best mix-ins for it? I am very curious and would like to try them. I was at the grocery store today and all they had was Quaker Oats instant grits, plain. No other flavors. I thought I would get everyone's opinion before I bought them. I miss being in TN and wanted to eat something southern!

[hiknapster]

I love grits with cheese. I have never made them, and I think that they say not to buy instant grits, but I am not sure. You might want to hold off until an "expert" comes by.

They don't taste gritty, and I find them to be far superior to oatmeal. This is coming from a Yankee!