Southern Foods - Georgia Appraiser Forum

Ok, I am a huge fan of James Patterson's Alex Cross Series that take place mostly in the south. Reading his current book, not sure why I care but they have mentioned a couple times in the book when mentioning food:
1)Poke Sallet (I always thought it was Polk Salad after the song "polk salad annie"
2)Pone (I thought he meant porn)
3)that people actually eat hogs ears (come on no one actually eats that do they, except maybe Davidv haha?).
Ok, this Oregon gal wants to know what those foods are? Not sure why i care but I just do.

Randy

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11/03/09 at 02:01 PM

Poke Salad is made from Poke Weed

pick young shoots, boil in salt water for 20-30 Minutes, then again in fresh water, Eat it like spinach
My grandmother would make it, it wasn't that good as I remember.

There is a BBQ place in downtown Atlanta that still sells pigs ear sandwich's, I want to get there and try one just so I can say I have.

Of course my friends use to call me Mikey, you have to remember the commercial to appreciate it.

Carol
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11/03/09 at 02:29 PM

thanks and I do remember the Mikey commercial. Ok, what is pone?

Randy

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11/03/09 at 02:32 PM

I always thought that "corn pone" was just another way of saying cornbread, course what do I know?

All most forgot, I am one of those people that enjoys crumbling up warm cornbread in cold buttermilk. You eat it with a spoon and sip the milk. In fact my mother would put a gallon of fresh milk on the kitchen window sill and let it clabber(sour) to make home made buttermilk.

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11/03/09 at 02:53 PM

Ask the country boy... Randy should know down there in his neck of the woods.

Yes Poke Salad (or salit) is made from Poke Weed. Randy is right, it is not very good. Kind of like eating Kudzu or any other weed. It is toxic so it needs to be boiled something like three or four times.

Pone (or compone) is a johnnycake like thing in many places but I have also seen it as a skillet type of corn bread. If you have ever eaten Jamaican johnnycakes, you have pretty much had Pone. Unlike corn bread, it is usually flat cakes and many times very dense.

Yes, people do eat pigs ears down here. As well as ox tails, and pigs feet and cows cheeks. Waste not, want not down here.

Much of all that is "soul" food and you have to remember soul food root, like much of the worlds food, came from a need to use the scraps of foods that were available at the time.

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11/03/09 at 04:35 PM

Poke Weed and Ramps grow wild in the area and used to be a staple for southern folk....

Poke weed and Kudzu is OK baked in bread....

Carol
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11/03/09 at 05:54 PM

Thanks all now I will know what they are talking about in the book. Have any of you actually tried hogs ears, that sounds gawd awful. Seems like you would need alot of whiskey to wash that down

DannyAlmond

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11/03/09 at 07:01 PM

Poke Salad is good. There aren't very many people who cook it anymore because it is poison unless cooked properly. After boiling the salad you should wash it thoroughly, let it dry and then tear or cut it into a texture similar to mustard or turnip greens. Put a little Crisco in a frying pan with some fat back (fatty bacon will do). Fry it with a couple of crushed boiled eggs mixed in. Serve hot with some vinegar.

MMMMM good. My grandmother used to make that with leatherbritches and hominy to go with a nice pork roast. Add some cracklin bread, potato cakes and pinto (soup beans as they are properly called) beans. Wash it down with sweet tea.

Thanks Carol for the post...this really brings back some good memories.

Danny

Carol
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11/04/09 at 01:26 AM

Dang Danny the sweet tea is the only thing I can relate to. My bro in law from Jawja made us grits once. But that is about as southern as I have had. Oh and boiled peanuts, now those were good!

scrc
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11/04/09 at 07:09 AM

#10

Actually the song you refer to is "Poke Salad Annie" not "Polk Salad Annie"

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11/04/09 at 07:35 AM

#11

See I am not from the south but I love SOME soul food. I still can not do chitterlings, I have tried but I can not choke them down. Greens and Hominy are just ok and, I know I will be stoned, but I still can not eat a biscuit. I do not know what the draw is to biscuits, give me a good crumpet or English muffin any day of that dry hockey puck!

Yes, I have had pigs ears a few times. They are pretty good. A bit fatty and basically gristle but if they are very slow cooked and spiced well, they can be very good.

When I was a chef, I made Grits for a Sunday buffet at a 4 star resort I worked at in Colorado. I will never forget the day I asked this lady, "Ma'am, would you like to try some grits." She look perplexed and stated, "Sure, I will try one grit."

BTW: The only way I can eat my grits is with butter, sugar, and milk. I know, let the hazing begin!!!

skelley

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11/04/09 at 04:48 PM

#12

Brandon - you knew that was gonna get some comment. Grits are not cream of wheat or oatmeal!! The secret to grits is to cook the old timey "real" grits that take more than 5 minutes! Little salt, some butter and even cheese if you are serving them with some fried catfish. Yummy!
As far as biscuits go - you obviously have not had a good biscuit. Nicely browned, slightly crunchy exterior and light as a cloud, melt in your mouth interior. Make you want to slap yo momma! Add some real butter and fig preserves and you'll think you're in heaven.
Nope, won't do the chitterlings and I am about as southern as you can get! By the way Carol, my mom used to love chicken feet!!

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Sandra Kelley

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11/04/09 at 05:02 PM

#13

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelley
Brandon - you knew that was gonna get some comment. Grits are not cream of wheat or oatmeal!! The secret to grits is to cook the old timey "real" grits that take more than 5 minutes! Little salt, some butter and even cheese if you are serving them with some fried catfish. Yummy!
As far as biscuits go - you obviously have not had a good biscuit. Nicely browned, slightly crunchy exterior and light as a cloud, melt in your mouth interior. Make you want to slap yo momma! Add some real butter and fig preserves and you'll think you're in heaven.
Nope, won't do the chitterlings and I am about as southern as you can get! By the way Carol, my mom used to love chicken feet!!

Everyone says the same thing about biscuits, "You must not have had a really good biscuit!". I have had things that people consider good biscuits. I have tried the biscuit barn for breakfast. I have tried them at the flying biscuit. I have had them made several different ways by several different people. You are right, I have NEVER had a really good biscuit because I do not think that one exists. My idea of a good biscuit is the Grands flaky biscuits that come in a can. The only way you can get any other biscuit in my mouth is if you slather it in gravy to cover the fact that there is a biscuit under there!

I love chicken feet. There are a few Dim Sum places around that do great chicken feet. I must admit, the "Asian" way is the only way that I have had chicken feet, but they are good.

I am not fond of many "innards" though, so liver, intestine, spleen, heart, kidneys, etc are just out for me although they are eaten down here. I have tried them many times and there is something about the "mineral" taste that I just can not do.

Oh ya, and catfish will ONLY touch my mouth if it is farm raised. The rest is dirt.

BL
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11/04/09 at 05:15 PM

#14

There used to be a Davis Brothers cafteria at the farmers market in south atlanta.. It would serec scrambled eggs with pigs brains, now that was some good food.

JAMESBINGHAM
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11/05/09 at 08:19 AM

#15

Let us not forget the fall menu of poke salad, after the berry are ripe they turn purple. The birds eat the berries and fly over my car and the I find a purple splash, Poke berry on the windshield.
JOB

johnmbryant

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11/05/09 at 09:23 AM

#16

Finally a thread that I can relate to. I was born and lived seven years in Bassett VA. We were poor but I didn't know it. Mama and Daddy raised a garden and chickens. Once we even had a pig. Daddy built rabbit traps for food. In the summer the family often went to pick-your-own strawberry patches.

Saturday supper was pinto beans, stewed tomatoes, onions, cornbread, and real butter from Grandaddy's farm. The beans were the only thing that came from a store.

Sunday Dinner was one fried chicken (for 7 people), mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread, and turnip greens or green beans.

New Year's Day, we had pig's feet, stewed tomatoes, blackeyed peas, and more cornbread. We bought the pig's feet at my uncle's store except when we had that one pig.

Mama canned everything in Mason jars including strawberry preserves.

To this day, I eat pinto beans, turnip greens, pork (can't find pig's feet), blackeyed peas, stewed tomatoes. Fried chicken is out and cornbread is rare.

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11/05/09 at 09:32 AM

#17

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnmbryant

pork (can't find pig's feet),

Hit any of the Asian markets like "Super-H" or the Buford Farmers Market on 285 and Buford Hwy to find pigs feet, ham hocks, chicken feet, etc... They have it all and it is cheap and fresh. You can also try one of the few butchers around like Wilks in Snellville or "The Meat Man" in Lawrenceville. (Wilks is better)

Davidv
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11/05/09 at 01:29 PM

#18

I think it's funny to hear it called "soul food". Hell, it's just food. I had somebody on here a long time ago ask me what in the world is a biscuit bowl when I was talking bout handy things. The very best place to get pigs feet is from the very bottom of their legs. I personally don't eat that, and try my best to stay away from tripe. Thats the area of an animal that I don't find too appetizing. Anywhere else it's game on. Whether it be souse meat, chittlin's, whatever,(oh excuse me) chitterlings. Around here the only part of a pig you can't eat is the yoink. I've had possum and it sux. Thats the greasyest crap I ever had. Bear meats pretty bad. We still to this day eat the salat's, greens, had a pone of cornbread just last night. Nobody's said a word about turtle stew. Thats good eatin. I passed it off one time to my wife and daughter as oyster stew.

Carol
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11/05/09 at 10:05 PM

#19

BL: pig brains please tell me you're joking. Was it on a dare you ate it.
Sandra: I didn't know people ate chicken feet. I saw them once in our grocery store and about puked. I thought they must be for some voodoo ritual.
Davidv: Aren't pigs feet their hoofs? Seriously you can eat a pigs foot?
Damn, when we have a hog slaughered we just get the bacon, chops, roast and steaks from it, who the hell knew the whole hog was eatible.
Ok, you all eat some strange food out there, but I won't knock it cause I haven't tried it.
Roasted peanuts?? Now those our good my jawja bro-in law ordered some from Ga when he lived out here for us at C-mas. Ate grits once he made he put cheese on it if I remember. Not too tasty. Well, the song Polk Salad Annie never made much sense when my dad would sing it (he's an Arkansas boy), actually Poke Sallet Annie makes a little more sense. "gater got your granny" Please tell me I am not the only one that knows that song??

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11/05/09 at 10:30 PM

#20

Carol,

I have attached a Brains and Egg recipe for your convenience

MEP

Attached Files:
Pork_brains.pdf (140.34 KB, 9 views)

JAMESBINGHAM
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11/06/09 at 07:08 AM

#21

Growing up we had fried squirrel,squirrel and gravy, and we cleaned the head and the brains was good. I have not eaten the brains in a long time. thinking back it was not a bad meal. I have eaten growing up,raccoon,squirrel,rabbit,bear,groundhog. I have never had opossum, I did eat the sweet Tatars from around one. We ate what we had, did not know better.
JOB

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11/06/09 at 07:49 AM

#22

From what I understand, Pigs brains are pretty darn tasty... Smooth and creamy texture and take the flavor of what they are cooked in. Kind of like Foie Gras (Fatty goose liver).

I never got eating squirrel, coon , or opossum... Guess I have just never been THAT hungry. But Carrol is right, don't know it till you try it.

I make rabbit from time to time, I just hide what it is from the wife. My son love that stuff though. It is nice that he is willing to try anything, and like it, at 6 years old. We eat snails (escargot) together since mom will not touch them. Nothing like sitting with your son, when mommy is working late, and eating a nice big plate of "Rocky Mountain Oysters". Ahhh... if they could only stay this age forever...

Isn't it funny though.. the "poor" food many grew up on is now making a come back as "high class". You can find bone marrow in some nice restaurants downtown and they want like $25 for two small bones. I saw "sweetbreads" on the menu at a place and they wanted some outrageous price for them. Funny how things come full circle.

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11/06/09 at 09:57 AM

#23

I am passing on "Rocky Mountain Oysters...give me bread and water or a "wood float"

MEP

Davidv
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11/06/09 at 10:11 AM

#24

I remember looking forward to the summer visits to Columbus so I could stay with my cousins in the city. They had cereal. That was special. She was a good kisser too.

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11/06/09 at 10:33 AM

#25

Is she a virgin, of course, leave her alone, if she ain't good enough for her family she ain't good enough for ours.

MEP

BurntOut
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11/06/09 at 10:52 AM

#26

From the "rooter" to the "tooter", we eat everything but the squeal.

hlweeks1
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11/06/09 at 11:00 AM

#27

What was that my moma gave me she called the squeal then?

Carol
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11/06/09 at 12:08 PM

#28

Wood float?

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11/06/09 at 12:22 PM

#29

That is for really poor folks, a glass of water with a floating tooth pick.

MEP

BenWalker
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11/06/09 at 03:35 PM

#30

Here you go Carol...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEpBdDv0waY

Paula Dean has made a fortune cooking southern in the last few years. Not impressed. Been eating that way all my live!!!

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11/06/09 at 03:56 PM

#31

The Elvis Version is better... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzaVpgeHJg&feature=fvw

What the hell does Elvis do with the mic at 1:53?!? And then there was the drug seizure at 3:30 and 4:30... Maybe he is just showing you what happens when you eat Poke without cooking it enough? Gotta love Elvis I guess?!?

Bobby

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11/06/09 at 04:46 PM

#32

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, boiled peanuts.

pnalley

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11/06/09 at 07:48 PM

#33

Chitterlins & pig brains, ugg............. Not going there.

Brandon I'm with you, I don't like biscuits either. And everyone I KNOW say's I just haven't had a good one. Then they save me biscuits and I have to choke 'em down & smile.

I have tried fried squrrell, it is like eating a rats cousin, I don't much want to eat Thumper either

Not eating snails or turtle either, both are NASTY.

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Paula Nalley

skelley

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11/06/09 at 11:12 PM

#34

Now, pnalley, when you make that comment about biscuits, you be sure and clarify that I have never forced one on you. ........'Cause if I had, you would have loved it!!

Nanner puddin is another subject all together!
I love escargot but I don't consider that southern cuisine. I have eaten rabbit and it is good but nothing I would miss if I never had it again. I do love chicken livers, gizzards and hearts but I stick with the basic cuts of the hog. No souse, ears, feet, squealers, brains, etc., etc., etc.

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Sandra Kelley

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11/06/09 at 11:32 PM