#southern-cuisine

#southern-cuisine

For her series California Foodways, Lisa Morehouse is reporting a story about food and farming from each of California's 58 counties. Mike Reddick, who's worked at CJ's for about five years, sharpened knives. Larry Turner trimmed, rinsed and seasoned slabs of ribs, the way he's done for more than 15 years. Nick Gamble took inventory of the freezers. Watching and managing it all was Gamble's uncle, Charles Evans - CJ himself - who's nearly 80.

The American South is renowned for its comforting cuisine, with home-cooking often deeply rooted in family traditions. Hearty, warming meals are commonplace, and ingredients like pork, seafood, and corn are especially popular. Southern recipes often call for slow cooking or deep-frying techniques, which yield wonderfully satisfying textures and flavors. And, it's not just dinner and dessert that this region does best.

A country breakfast, or farmer's breakfast, is meant to be big and filling. It's a high-calorie meal that can include eggs, hash browns, steak, sausage, ham, bacon, pancakes, grits, gravy, or more. It's traditionally meant to fill you up and give you the energy you need for an early start to the day on a farm. Even during the Depression, farmers got a jump on the day with these hearty meals.

In an article by Southern Living, Huck's was almost immediately named as a prime spot for tasty chicken. The roadside snack is Goldilocks-esque: not too spicy, not too salty and with a soft interior and a crisp exterior. "I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised by their tasty chicken and will be eating it again!" revealed blogger Marty Wombacher of Meanwhile, Back in Peoria. His colorful review noted its value for money, juicy meat, and crunchy breading - emphasizing the tastiness of Butch's dipping sauce.

Once a sprawling restaurant chain in the Southern states, Quincy's Family Steakhouse is now more or less a relic of the past. Without noticing, you might think it only exists in distant memories, but that's not entirely true. There are still two Quincy's locations left, one in Monroe, North Carolina, and the other in Florence, South Carolina, where you can still step in and feel as if you are transported back in time.

It's a beautiful world, indeed, with beau monde seasoning. This French-named, all-purpose blend translates to "beautiful world," but its popularity is perhaps most dominant in the home kitchens of the American South. Although, Ernest Hemingway's go-to burger recipe was seasoned with beau monde - and Hemingway was born just outside of Chicago, nowhere near the South. Clearly, the blend made famous by Spice Islands brand has reached fans well beyond the Mason-Dixon Line.

Whether you're taking a road trip to Disneyworld or simply took a wrong turn at Albuquerque, count your blessings if you find yourself in the South - because you're about to be treated to some mighty fine dining. Images of chicken fried everything and mounds of butter may be the first things that pop into your mind when it comes to Southern eating, but don't be so hasty to judge.

The holiday season just got a whole lot more flavorful with the arrival of "The Bradshaw Family Cookbook," officially launched on September 16, 2025. This isn't just another celebrity cookbook: it's a genuine family collaboration that brings together four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw, his wife Tammy, their daughters Rachel and Lacey, and award-winning chef son-in-law Noah Hester. Co-authored with James Beard Award-winning cookbook author James O. Fraioli and published by Flatiron Books, this collection has already earned its spot on USA Today's "Best Sellers" list.

Homemade buttery biscuits serve as the base for this hearty breakfast, combined with seared steak, garlic, and fresh herbs to create an indulgent meal.

Chef Dorian Southall describes his approach as an immersive narrative, where each menu item reflects seasonal ingredients and cultural homage, marrying bold innovation with tradition.

Necessary Purveyor is an all-day restaurant and market at Ponce City Market, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and grab-and-go deli items. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, and a raw bar.

Black Nile Food Truck serves Halal-certified seafood and soulful Southern classics to New Yorkers, delivering plates infused with intention and built from scratch with love.

Brittany highlights summer favorites, recommending fried green tomatoes and peanut butter egg rolls as perfect seasonal dishes that embody comfort and cultural significance.

Buc-ee's banana pudding is a standout dessert known for its creamy, crunchy, and fruity flavors, made with fresh bananas, vanilla cookies, and pudding.

Fried bologna sandwiches, especially popular in the South, bring a nostalgic flavor while introducing modern culinary creativity, emphasizing both texture and taste in bologna’s crispy edges.

The beauty of potato salad is that it starts with a familiar foundation; from there, it’s all about enhancing traditional flavors with personal taste.

Bourdain criticized Paula Deen for promoting unhealthy food while claiming to represent traditional Southern gastronomy, insisting her recipes undermined authentic Southern cuisine.

The tomato cracker salad, rooted in Southern cuisine, is a simple yet satisfying dish made with crushed saltine crackers, diced tomatoes, and mayonnaise, ideal for summer.

The hamburger patty is filled with flavor and has a surprise of melted pimento cheese in the middle, making these sliders a delightful treat.

The banana and mayonnaise sandwich grew to prominence during the Great Depression as a budget-friendly meal and remains a nostalgic dish for many Southerners.

This recipe will make you slap the dog and spit on the fire. Family and friends eat them right up and don't even leave a crumb.

Whether fast-food devotees or folks enjoying occasional quick-meal splurges, few can resist the drive-thru siren song of tasty chicken biscuits.

Cook Out, founded in 1989 in North Carolina, has expanded to over 300 locations primarily across the Southeast but remains regionally focused without broader national expansion.

Cracker Barrel's transition from a simple gas station stop to a iconic family restaurant illustrates the evolution of a brand rooted in Southern hospitality and comfort food.