You Need Pie!

World famous Black-Bottom Pie. That's what I was looking for at Weidmann's in Meridian, MS. They've been there since 1870. It was my first trip. Overall, a pretty swanky place. White table cloths and all that. Lots of good looking stuff on the menu, but I was on a pie mission.

Look at this pie. Meringue for days. This was good pie.

All You Need To Know About "Seafood"

No $22 grouper. No $19 snapper. Not here. This is MISSISSIPPI. Sitting on the banks of the Chunky River, it's Boyette's Fish Camp in Chunky, MS.

It just feels like home. I'd just-a-soon eat a big 'ol plate of hot catfish as to eat some fru-fru 4 ounce mahi-mahi with pineapple on a bed of WHATEVER.

All you can eat farm-raised catfish (prices have gone up lately, but still not $22 grouper). Fried, with nice little hushpuppies while you wait. You're not going away hungry.

And there's the view of the Chunky River while you eat. Welcome to Mississippi. Welcome home.

SATISFACTION AT THE POSSUM FEST!

Finally. I made it to the Wausau Possum Festival. Always on the 1st weekend in August. I always seem to miss it. If you want a great southern small town festival, this is it. Get ready to sweat though, 'cause it is HOT!

We're talking Possum. Possum King/Possum Queen/Possum Trot 5K/eating Possum/singing/cornpone baking contest/greasy pole contest/hog calling/rooster crowing contest/possum auction.

I hit the morning with a 0730 start in the Possum Trot 5K. Check out the starting line! Possums lead you the entire route.

Following the 5K, head over to the Possum Parade for some more heat and fun. Here's what you can expect at the parade. Not gonna get this action everywhere!

Parade's over, let's head over for some POSSUM! Get there early, 'cause I imagine they run out pretty quick. Honestly, I've never checked possum off my list of foods I've tried, so I'm eager to add another species to my list. Look at this: 6 bucks and you get possum, sweet potatoes, collards, and cornbread.

Pretty good eatin!

One last picture. Let's don't forget the master of the party!

I'll be back next year.

I'M NOT DONE WITH 'Q!

I've got one more!

Newnan, GA: Sprayberry's BBQ.

Since 1926! Yep, 1926! Alan Jackson bused tables here (not necessarily why you go). Two locations in Newnan - one right by the interstate and one downtown. For full effect, go to the one downtown. If in a hurry, the interstate will do. I'll cut to the chase. Get the Lewis Grizzard Special (google him, he wrote for the Atlanta Constitution about the South; then go get a couple of his books). It consists of a pork sandwich, Brunswick stew, and onion rings (Lewis had a bypass or two and finally the onion rings got him at a reasonably early age). This pork has flavor (not as large a quantity as Little Pigs - see next blog), but wow, it has a great flavor.

Brunswick stew is a fine chop blend. I like. Sauce is very thin. I like, some may not. Those people don't write on this blog. Onion rings have potentially made it to the top of my list. They are light and great. Right now I can't think of anyone that beats them, so that is saying something. Only thing that makes me scratch my head is the sweet pickles. It's all about a dill with 'Q, but I'll get over it for the 'Q, stew, and rings. I drive out of the parking lot satisfied with a smile on my face.

Back to the 'Q

THIS IS THE ONE!

Little Pig's BBQ in Anderson, SC. Pretty much if I'm facing the firing squad, I'm telling them to get me a pork sandwich plate from here. I love this place. I'm happy here. Started in 1965. No ribs, no beef, just pork. One sauce, some tang and red. Enough falls OFF of this sandwich while you're eating it to make most other BBQ places' sandwich. Good dill pickles, slaw with a big gob of real mayo slathered on top. They'll even put the slaw on top of your sandwich for you. Did I mention I love this place? Span a decade (or two) in time and it's still the same great pork sandwich. Not many places can say that.

Little Pig's has never let me down (OK, only once, they were out of BBQ 2 nights before Christmas.) I love it.

This is the Travel Part of the Blog

National Civil War Naval Museum

Off the beaten path in Columbus, GA, this was a pretty cool museum on the banks of the Chatahoochee River. Admission $5.50, I had the whole place to myself. Obviously it's about the naval side of the Civil War. Surprise, surprise, walk in the door and hang a left and there in front of you is the bottom of the CSS Jackson ironclad in its entirety. Very impressive, as it is greater than 200 feet long.

They were working on it when the Yankees showed up and cut it loose. It went downsteam 30 miles and burned and sank. Got pulled up in the 1960's.

Lots more to see in the museum. Good stop if you're in Columbus. Take a walk by the river on the riverwalk while you're there.

LET'S TALK BBQ!

Time for an Aorta Clogging Road Trip!

How about Eufaula Alabama? Let's say Phil's BBQ. I often stop here. This time I brought the camera so I could relay the message. Phil's is the home of "The Best Butts in Alabama".

Phil's is one block off the main drag in Eufaula (there's a big sign). Smoke is pouring out of the joint (as it should be). I opted for ribs this trip. They were tasty. Slaw was excellent; light, not a heavy mayo slaw. Beans were meaty and had a slight molasses/cane syrup "ambiance" to them.

Phil's has a nice selection of sauces to compliment the Q. If in Eufaula, Phil's is definitely worth the stop. They also sell "The Best Butt Rub in Alabama." That alone is worth stopping for.

Great Mississippi Catfish Houses

I love fried catfish. You can go to Florida and get your grouper and your snapper and your mahi-mahi and it's good. No argument. But sometimes you just want catfish. Fried. With hushpuppies. Coleslaw. Sweet tea. Until you gut is bustin'. And Mississippi is the place for all that.

In the first (maybe the last?) installment (it's my blog, I do what I want) of "Catfish in Mississippi", I'm recommending Pop's Fish, Seafood and Steaks. Located in Waynesboro. I'll cut to the chase. Get the catfish fillets. All you can eat. Great, crispy fillets. Before they come out, they'll bring out the slaw (very good) and baskets of hushpuppies with hot melted cheese to dip them into. Go with it. A lot of folks can botch up puppies. These are great with a little bit of corn in them. Go easy on the pups and slaw or you'll fill up. Good eatin'.