If you're afraid of butter, use cream. -Julia Child

Food brings people together. I was blessed to grow up in a family that ate supper at the table every evening. Politics, history, religion, education; you name it, it has more than likely been discussed and debated at my parents' dining room table. Some of my best memories are of meals shared with family and friends, whether at a kitchen table, in a restaurant, or around a campfire. 

Being a born and raised southerner, I did not realize the significant influence food wielded in the south until I traveled elsewhere. I experienced a greater level of culture shock when I visited the northeastern and western regions of my own country than when I visited Europe. Now I'm not saying people don't enjoy food or have regional cuisine in those sections of America; I'm merely recognizing the vast differences in how food is perceived by southerners versus non-southerners.

 In the non-south, from my experience, food is seen as a way to prolong and enhance the quality of life; the healthier the cuisine, the better. There is also an international influence rarely seen in the south, aside from cities such as Nashville.

Don't get me wrong; I value the benefits of healthy eating. Fruits, vegetables, tofu, and sushi comprise some of my favorite meals. Occasionally, however, southern comfort food is required to maintain sanity and restore one's faith in the kindness of others; nothing says love quite like a homemade pie or yummy, buttery, piping hot casserole. Other times, sanity, philosophy, and humanity have nothing to do with it; I just eat southern food because it tastes good. 
 
Food in the south is tied to family, religion, and funerals. A death, a wedding, a church potluck, a new baby; no matter what it is, a southerner knows there is a casserole to fit the occasion. Health benefits fly out the window. In my opinion, if a southern dish is healthy, it was an accident. Southerners use butter (lots of it) and bacon grease, otherwise known as lard. Yep, not the most appetizing sounding name, but boy howdy, does it take a pot of collard greens to a whole 'nuther level!

 Cornbread, biscuits and gravy, barbecue, tomato gravy, fried chicken, grits, cracklin' bread, greens (collard, turnip, and mustard), Mississippi mud cake--the meals of my childhood are as foreign to my non-southern fellow Americans as if I grew up on another continent.

The following restaurants are the ones that have been added to my list of favorites throughout the years as I traipsed around America, land that I love, due in large part to the food. America has every cuisine on earth represented in some form or fashion. It is pretty amazing, when you stop and think about it. The only serious issue I have with American cuisine involves bread. Eat bread in Europe, and you will quickly realize what I'm talking about. As Julia Child said, “How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?” Agreed, Julia, agreed.

As a disclaimer, the reason you won't find many southern-influenced restaurants on this list is because I was taught to cook by a southern mom and grandma. I have yet to find a southern restaurant that truly captures the essence of the cuisine. Want real southern food? Find some southerners and eat in their kitchen. 

Alabama

Rogersville: Cafe Savanna--a tiny cafe nestled amongst shops on a quiet street. Everything from the bread to the desserts is homemade. Cornbread salad, sandwiches, casseroles, and fresh fruit fluff (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, bananas, and apples in a strawberry cool whip fluff. So good!). Order lunch, sit outside on the patio, and enjoy life in the south!

Florida

Crestview: The Baron's Tea House--This is a new-to-me restaurant, introduced by my grandma in January. I have eaten at many tea rooms, but The Baron's Tea House is in a league of its own. The tea sampler includes a salad with poppy seed dressing, chicken salad, three tiny tea sandwiches, a tea cup of homemade soup, and one dessert of your choice (lemon bar, chocolate chip Amish bread, or a scone). Everything was delightful, from the food to the pretty tea cups lining the shelves. The men chose to eat at KFC for lunch because they said tea and scones were too girly. They missed out on homemade curried chicken salad and the best lemon bar ever for greasy, fried, fast food chicken. And men say women are impossible to understand?

Seaside: Great Southern Cafe--the following description is taken directly from the menu--Grits a Ya Ya, smoked gouda cheese grits smothered with a saute of applewood-smoked bacon, spinach, shallots, garlic, portobello mushrooms, and cream, finished with spiced shrimp and sweet potato hay. Need I say more?

Bud and Alley's Waterfront Restaurant--another fantastic place in Seaside. Bud and Alley's serves a crab cake that deserves a parade. It is fun to sit on the second-story deck and view the gulf while eating lunch.

St. Augustine: The Florida Cracker Cafe--My mom, grandma, sister, and I ate at The Florida Cracker when we visited St. Augustine in 1998. We still talk about the shrimp sauce. You can order alligator, crab dip, fried green tomatoes, and lots of other southern coastal dishes. 

Louisiana 

New Orleans: Artz Bagelz--Jennalyn and I discovered this restaurant last year during our trip to tour the World War II museum. Jenn grew up in New York and is a connoisseur of bagels. Customers can watch the bagels being made on-site. We were very impressed. I think we ate five bagels between us. They were that good.

Kentucky 

Georgetown: Fava's--a restaurant that has been around since 1910, serving yummy burgers, homemade soup, BLTs, and breakfast omelets.

Lexington: Sav's Grill and West African Cuisine--The owner is from Guinea, West Africa. He married a Peace Corps volunteer and moved to Lexington where they opened the restaurant. I recommend the peanut chicken and fried plantains. Delicious! Sav is friendly and his story is really interesting!

Missouri  

Sikeston: Lambert's Cafe--because everyone should eat at a place where homemade rolls the size of softballs are hurled at you from across the restaurant. The food is yummy southern-fare; fried chicken, pork chops, fried potatoes, macaroni and tomatoes, fried okra; can you see we have a pattern in the south? Fried food. Come hungry, be prepared to wait outside on the porch for at least 45 minutes (lots of people love Lambert's, so there is always a long line), and be on the alert for wayward rolls flying across the room; they have been known to hit unsuspecting people in the head. My family first ate at Lambert's 20 years ago. We met Norm, the owner, and he gave us the entire meal on the house because it was our first time there. He was a kind and funny man. The world lost a sunny, generous person when he died.

Montana 

Great Falls: Faster Basset--a restaurant that has paintings of Basset Hounds on every wall, and serves homemade crepes with a variety of fillings (spinach, bacon, and artichoke, turkey-ranch, lemon curd, nutella, strawberries, etc...)--what's not to love?

St. Mary: Park Cafe and Grocery--I will admit bias; I worked at Park Cafe all last summer. But seriously, bias aside, the food is great! I recommend the huevos rancheros, French toast,  bison burger with avocado, fish and chips, and last but not least, pie! I love the lemon meringue, raspberry-cherry, moose moss (mint chocolate chip) ice cream pie, blackberry, and fresh strawberry. The pie crusts are homemade. The pie bakers are up at 5 a.m. rolling out crust and mixing pie filling. The hummus and guacamole are also tasty. The cafe is very popular and has lots of repeat customers. There are long lines, especially at the height of tourist season (July and August). After hiking 10 or 20 miles in Glacier National Park, stop by and reward yourself with a slice (or two) of pie!

New York

Portville: Sprague's Maple Farms--The maple syrup is fresh--really fresh. You can watch it being made. The restaurant serves every kind of maple-inspired dish known to mankind. Cinnamon rolls, pancakes, fudge; you name it, they make it with maple. It is a lovely place in the winter when the snow covers the countryside.

Tennessee

The state that introduced me to the wonders of chocolate cobbler; I will be forever grateful. 

Centerville: Fish Camp--The catfish are raised on-site in two ponds. Breaded in cornmeal, then fried, it is some of the best catfish I've ever eaten. The homemade hot fudge cake should be the town's official dessert. 

Franklin: Bombay Bistro--I discovered this place shortly after moving to the area. From then on, it was a rare occasion when I chose a different restaurant. It serves the best Indian food. It is a widely known fact; I love curry powder--mild, spicy, or hot enough to be classified as lava. This place is a curry-lover's dream. Since it is unlikely I will visit India anytime soon to wander amongst the spice racks and street food vendors, Bombay Bistro is the next best place.

Memphis: Muddy's Bake Shop--Some friends of mine introduced me to this bakery a couple of months ago. With fun, whimsical cupcake names such as Oodlelolly (vanilla/boiled icing and coconut), Frankly Scarlett (red velvet/cream cheese), Pucker Up (lemon), Plain Jane (vanilla), Tomboy (chocolate/peanut butter), and Grasshopper (chocolate/peppermint); it is a cheerful place that serves delicious homemade cakes, pies, and cookies. The line was out the door when we visited.

Casablanca--a Middle-Eastern, Moroccan-inspired restaurant. A dear friend of mine described the ginger, honey, sage tea as "tea from heaven". She wasn't kidding. I recommend the Baba Ghanoush, grape leaves, and hummus with shawerma. The owner is from Israel; a very personable fellow who enjoys talking to customers.

Nashville: The Smiling Elephant--This is my family's favorite Thai restaurant. It was voted best Pad Thai in the city. The fresh rolls, chicken cashew stir fry with satay sauce, sticky rice in a banana leaf, and mango sticky rice are excellent! 

Gojo Ethiopian Cafe--Ethiopian food is unlike any other cuisine I've eaten. I recommend Yemiser Sambussa, a pastry shell filled with lentils, onion, jalapeno, herbs, and spices, then pan fried and served hot, and Yebeg Alicha, tender pieces of lamb simmered in mild sauce and seasoned with fresh ginger, garlic and turmeric. Injera (flat, pancake-like, sourdough bread) is served with every meal.

Noshville Authentic New York Delicatessen--This place had my vote as soon as I realized there were vats of pickles from which to eat as we waited for our food to arrive.  I love the matzah ball soup and the blackened chicken curry salad.

 

Summertown: Shaffer Farms--home of the best barbecue brisket in Tennessee; perhaps in the entire world. I'm a born and raised southerner, so I know good BBQ. Trust me.

Texas
 Odessa: Jorge's--My family and I ate at Jorge's in 2006 when we drove across Texas to attend a World War II air show. The homemade tacos are worth crossing the plains of Texas barefoot in a sandstorm. This place serves menudo (beef or pork stomach). Taco Bell, step aside. Jorge's is the real deal, folks.


 What restaurants are on your list of favorites? What special memories do you have of meals shared around a table with family and friends?