What Southern & Soul Food Should I Serve At This Dinner Party? (coffee, shrimp)

[blueherons]

So I am a southerner who has moved to South Florida and one of my girlfriends and I want to cook for one night for all of our New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania friends.

If you are from the south, what would you not leave off the menu?

If you are not from the south, what would you like to eat?

So far we have:

Fried Oysters
Fried Chicken
Cheese Grits
Collards
Fatback
Mac & Cheese (maybe)

Thanks guys for any and all suggestions. We are probably leaving biscuits off the menu because this will take place outdoors and they can be a PIA.

[Praline]

I'd have shrimp with the cheese grits
I'd definitely have to have gumbo
fried okra
crab cakes

[PennyLane2]

Some type of cobbler or banana pudding for dessert

ETA: How could I forget...deviled eggs

[Dirt Grinder]

Pintos cooked with ham hocks and served with white cornbread.

[CaliDude1]

I second cornbread. You can't leave it off your menu. Cornbread is everything!

[laorbust61]

Baked chicken with gravy and homemade cornbread dressing
cranberry sauce on the side
mustard greens
macaroni and cheese
candied yams
monkey bread
blackberry cobbler and ice cream
coffee

[jim9251]

I am from the south. I would make, chicken fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, fried corn on the cob, corn bread, and for dessert peach cobbler. And sweet ice tea of course.

Oysters? EW.

[suzy_q2010]

You could do squash casserole rather than mac and cheese.

If you do mac and cheese, do not make it from a box!

Some more ideas:

Menu

The tomato pie:

Tomato Pie from Mary Mac's Tea Room

[George Chong]

Fried green tomatoes and sweet ice tea!

[cape_fisherman]

I'd be wary about serving the fatback to your northern brethren. I'd probably opt to use it as seasoning for the collards and maybe fry up a piece separate for everyone.

Your menu sounds good to me. Be sure the grits are cooked well (not gritty) and go light on the cheese.

I'd like to see fried okra since you'll already be frying.