Watcha eating?

[IslandTractor]

BBQ joints are usually an exception to the sliced tomatoes...Lewis Grizzard used to say if you didn't see smoke coming from somewhere out of a BBQ joint "...don't waste your time..."

Sounds like good advice. Big Bob's in Decatur had smoke and a fifty plus year tradition to certify authenticity.

In addition to the usual southern style BBQ fare, they also have a delicious smoked turkey which is a particular favorite of mine. I still have Proustian dreams of smoked turkey at a roadside shack on a country road somewhere south of Gainesville on the way to Tampa in 1963. Remarkable how memories like that can remain vivid.

 

[/pine]

Sounds like good advice. Big Bob's in Decatur had smoke and a fifty plus year tradition to certify authenticity.

In addition to the usual southern style BBQ fare, they also have a delicious smoked turkey which is a particular favorite of mine. I still have Proustian dreams of smoked turkey at a roadside shack on a country road somewhere south of Gainesville on the way to Tampa in 1963. Remarkable how memories like that can remain vivid.

If you're not familiar with 'Lewis Grizzard' you should Google him and look for some of his books...several are compilations of his newspaper columns (AJC and CST's)...I think you would appreciate his humor...he had (RIP Lewis) a very unique perspective that makes the reader/listener relate in their own way and even realize why they think about things the way they do...he is pure wit and personal wisdom, nothing heavy...very easy and amusing stuff (you will laugh out loud)...!

Did you try a 'Cuban' sandwich in Tampa? The bread that still comes out of several Tampa bakeries is as good or better than Miami or Havana... But to cite your recollection but some of the best sandwiches I ever had were off catering trucks when I was working in Miami..."roast pork on hot Cuban bread with hot sauce"...one of "them" memories...!

BTW...love a smoked turkey sandwich with homegrown tomato slices...with just a little 'Blue Plate' mayo on white...

If you ever get back to Tampa send me a PM I will rec. a few dining establishments...from the world famous 'Bern's Steak House' to the "original" Hooters...and the best places to get fresh local seafood...!

 

[two_bit_score]

One thing that was unusual with my catfish combo was that it was served with a full slice of raw sweet onion. Is that just a northern Alabama thing or is that common in other regions? We had fried catfish at two different restaurants this weekend and both were served identically: a few whole catfish, baked potato, hushpuppies, coleslaw and the slice of onion. The onion was sweet and mild so it complemented the fish nicely but I'd never seen fish served that way before.

Most real catfish places in Texas fresh sweet onion with their coleslaw. Sometimes not a whole slice like that but at least a ring or two. Hush puppies, pickles, onion usually always standard 'extras'.

That looks like sweet slaw as opposed to the more vinegar based slaw. Man, some good sweet slaw with good hush puppies can't be beat.

.

 

[two_bit_score]

IT, here is a picture of some really good slaw with some ribs from Franklin BBQ in Austin. It was all good!





Good slaw ...and ribs.

 

[whistlepig]

Hopefully a slice of Vidalia onion. The stores around here start getting them about mid-April. I haven't seen any yet.

 

[toppop52]

I only saw the onion with catfish but my experience in restaurants was limited to two catfish joints and one BBQ place where I did not see it.

That's good eatin" Island boy! I love me some catfish! The onion and tomato slice thing is very common in the south, we often have fresh tomato slices with biscuits and gravy.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

That's good eatin" Island boy! I love me some catfish! The onion and tomato slice thing is very common in the south, we often have fresh tomato slices with biscuits and gravy.

Onion slices are not too common here, but more common rural than urban, and more common with chicken fried steak or chicken or BBQ. Sometimes you'll get pickled onions and carrots. Our fried catfish is most usually filets; although I know of one place just short of the Texas border that serves the whole catfish. They almost always serve hush puppies (which I could care less for). Fried oysters are hard to come by, but they can be had if you look hard enough. Cole slaw and Mustard greens go great with old Mr. Catfish!

 

[dmccarty]

...

Did you try a 'Cuban' sandwich in Tampa? The bread that still comes out of several Tampa bakeries is as good or better than Miami or Havana... But to cite your recollection but some of the best sandwiches I ever had were off catering trucks when I was working in Miami..."roast pork on hot Cuban bread with hot sauce"...one of "them" memories...!

More years ago than I care to admit, I was working for a short assignment in Tampa. I had lived in and around Tampa as a wee little kid and while I did not try to find the places we lived I did recognize the Sears at one of the Malls. Anywho, The Cuban bread in Tampa was EXCELLENT! Even the Publix grocery store was selling awesome Cuban bread. I had a couple loafs a week while I was over. At work, there was a small sandwich shop which at Cubans. The short time I was there, I had a Cuban sandwich almost every day for lunch. :licking::licking::licking:

I do miss those sandwiches, THE Bread, ham, pork, cheese, pickles, :drool::drool::drool::licking::licking::licking:

Later,
Dan

 

[sixdogs]

That's good eatin" Island boy! I love me some catfish! The onion and tomato slice thing is very common in the south, we often have fresh tomato slices with biscuits and gravy.

I spent time in Louisiana in 1970 and was surprised that we always seemed to be served tomato slices with a meal. Can't recall if onions as well but always tomatoes. Some of the best food and nicest people I ever met. Well, maybe with an exception or two. Old school Southern women are the best.

 

[MacLawn]

Look at where I live in my avatar! Hey, I know catfish and Vidalia onions!

In case some of you don't know, Mississippi is catfish country, and the Vidalia onion was developed in Vidalia, GA, where my ancestral roots are. These onions were developed by (university of GA? Can't remember) someone in Vidalia, GA, the soil type, etc. there is really the only place that can truly grow Vidalia onions. One of my best friends has a farm near Vidalia - mmmmm, can't wait to go see him!

 

[brin]

Look at where I live in my avatar! Hey, I know catfish and Vidalia onions!

In case some of you don't know, Mississippi is catfish country, and the Vidalia onion was developed in Vidalia, GA, where my ancestral roots are. These onions were developed by (university of GA? Can't remember) someone in Vidalia, GA, the soil type, etc. there is really the only place that can truly grow Vidalia onions. One of my best friends has a farm near Vidalia - mmmmm, can't wait to go see him!

Mississippi is big time catfish country...The Miss. Delta is where all the catfish farms are...I have toured them...My family is from West Point, Miss. and formerly a town that no longer exists..., Graceport, Miss...it was flooded with the resourvoir and dam..many years ago. When I toured one of the catfish farms they explained how they could lose a whole pond of catfish if the pond got off flavor...it would smell like seaweed and a real fishy smell...that would get in the flesh of the fish...quite an operation. We have raised catfish in cages in our farm pond on a much smaller scale but my Dad and FIL supplied a local catfish restaurant for quite some time.

 

[MacLawn]

That's it, Bob! I'm in Columbus, and eat in West Point often. About 15 miles from our place here. Come on out! You're opposite of me, I guess - I'm a native Georgian in Mississippi, you're native Mississippian in GA! I actually kind of live in both places! Try that sometime! Ok, speaking of food - will be eating catfish this week sometime for sure!

 

[brin]

That's it, Bob! I'm in Columbus, and eat in West Point often. About 15 miles from our place here. Come on out! You're opposite of me, I guess - I'm a native Georgian in Mississippi, you're native Mississippian in GA! I actually kind of live in both places! Try that sometime! Ok, speaking of food - will be eating catfish this week sometime for sure!

Mac, So many memories , how they linger...I remember when I was growing up on Sat night all us boys used to go down by the tracks...this is in West Point, and play a game of Tally...Listen how smart this game was...you got to bend over and take whacks to your butt with a leather strap until you yelled tally...the one the held out the longest won...All you won was a tough butt award...LOL...Back then there were colored drinking fountains and the balcony in the theater was for just coloreds...big sign...I always wanted to sit up there but not allowed..I have squirrel hunted and fished all over and around there. My Uncle had a big farm just south of Jackson...Mississippi is a great state...you have best of both worlds..two great states...:thumbsup:

 

[MacLawn]

That's true, Bob. There really are the friendliest people here than anywhere I've lived, including my home state of GA, which I dearly love! Mississippi is not called The Hospitality State for nothing!

Ok. To keep on topic, I just ate a salad for lunch. Somebody needs to invent a catfish salad! Really.

 

[toppop52]

That's true, Bob. There really are the friendliest people here than anywhere I've lived, including my home state of GA, which I dearly love! Mississippi is not called The Hospitality State for nothing!

Ok. To keep on topic, I just ate a salad for lunch. Somebody needs to invent a catfish salad! Really.

I make catfish, tuna and cod cakes, like crabcakes only with the fish. Tastes great!

 

[MacLawn]

I make catfish, tuna and cod cakes, like crabcakes only with the fish. Tastes great!

That'd work for me, top! Last November, I spent the night in emergency room after eating shrimp! Doc said no more shrimp, crab, nor lobster for me!! At this time in my life! A heap of shrimp, a few crabs and lobster are safer now.

 

[toppop52]

I had mild reaction to scallops, which I dearly love. Just some itching around my nose and mouth. Before I could get tested I went to a custom boat builder open house with some friends, they were steaming shrimp and I got very itchy around my collar and face. Went outside and it got better, so until I find out, no shellfish for me either.

 

[IslandTractor]

I had mild reaction to scallops, which I dearly love. Just some itching around my nose and mouth. Before I could get tested I went to a custom boat builder open house with some friends, they were steaming shrimp and I got very itchy around my collar and face. Went outside and it got better, so until I find out, no shellfish for me either.

That's a drag. You might want to get a hold of and carry an epipen until you sort this out with your doc. Worth following up for sure.

 

[toppop52]

My wife tells me that as well.

 

[Rayster]

That time of year;