By Nanette Wiser
SOUTHERN WITH A TWIST This summer, I hope to dine at Tennessee’s Blackberry Farms and in Savannah’s restaurants and fulfill my gourmet desire to sup and sip the best of Southern Living including sausage gravy and buttermilk biscuits, bacon wedge salad with blue cheese dressing, succulent BBQ, fried chicken or green tomatoes, bacony collard greens and peach cobbler. I want to meet the artisans who bring farm to fork – chef, gardener, baker, forager, butcher – and learn their special dishes’ evolution. Did the recipe come from grandma? Or a church cookbook? The Inquisitive Tongue will share all in the fall.
Why not start our Southern Heritage culinary tour right here, right now in Paradise? From downtown St. Pete to the beaches, we sampled new-wave Southern dishes and soul food. Here are some of our faves.
BREAKFAST For biscuits and gravy, chow down at Trip’s Diner, Maple St. Biscuit Company, Bob Evans, Frog Pond (add the chicken and waffles) and at The Mill, also serving a Low Country Benny (biscuit, collard greens, poached eggs, sausage gravy).
DINNER That’s lunch or dinner folks, or in between. For smokey collard greens, my neighborhood go-to is Seminole’s Angry Pepper. Get clucking with Thirsty First’s Captain Crunch-crusted Buffalo hot chicken or Nash’s Hot Chicken and bacon braised collard greens. Also yummy is 2nd and Second’s Nashville style hot chicken fried chicken coated in sweet garlic hot paste, pickles, American on grilled white bread.
For a quickie, I say yay for Po’ Folks’ catfish or Shrimp n’ Cheese Grits topped with bacon, hush puppies, turnip greens and a side of Homer’s Favorite Buttermilk Dressin’.
Best fried green tomatoes? Our vote goes to Urban Brew & BBQ cornmeal dredged fried green tomato (FGT) served with a peppercorn dressing or the FGT- BLT, best paired with a sweet potato souffle, collard greens and melt-in-your-mouth fried chicken. Also downtown, Munche’s Sundries & Restaurant is a good spot for fried chicken and collard greens.
Southern salads are a tradition, and a cool alternative to a heavy lunch, especially at The Mill, where the Southern Belle brims with romaine, red onion, candied pecans, sage derby, peppadews, dried apricots, Southern fried chicken drizzled with Honeycup Vinaigrette. Also, be sure to try The Mill’s crispy fried okra basket with buttermilk vinaigrette and sriracha aioli.
St. Pete’s Ray’s Vegan Soul plant-based dishes are inspired, and seasonal menus change weekly. We love Chef Ray’s creamed spinach, vegan seafood cakes with grits, cauliflower casserole and most especially the red velvet cupcake or peach cobbler when it’s on the menu. Order ahead for SOUL TO GO Sundays pick-up at 1330 49th St. S.
Dunedin’s Prohibition Kitchen + Tap is a Southern Comfort Gastropub (with a twist) bringing you BBQ-inspired dishes, handcrafted cocktails, 37 Taps, and an in-house bakery. You can dine on the artist-inspired patio, also dog-friendly. Start with the Smoked Brisket Sweet Potato Waffle Fries with tomato bacon jam, smoked gouda, chipotle white sauce, scallions, then add a side of bourbon belly baked beans or fried corn bread fritter.
Carolina sauce BBQ is divine. Wash it down with a Southern Mule (Jack Daniels, lime, dram simple and ginger beer). Delish!
BBQ is very personal, but Dr. BBQ’s quirky menu, delectable meats/sauces, the ultimate dessert (Sweet Banana Pudding Parfait) and cool crafted bourbon cocktails can’t be beat.
DESSERT For real peach cobbler, I order online from Aunt Evelyn’s who learned to make beautiful pies and cobblers like her grandmother Iva while growing up in Georgia. Order in a jar or enough for the family. www.auntevelynspeachcobbler.com
