I said I was a fan of Po Folks last week, so let’s put myself to the test:
I’ve got 35 on my count. Can’t say I’ve ever had Oyster Salad, though I’ve had both, not together, and I’m thinking I’ve had Chess Pie but I don’t give myself credit for eating it if I didn’t know I ate it. I haven’t had a Poke Salad, either. I’ve heard you can eat it after about 37 simple strainings over 2 days so I questioned the point of it. Just give me collards and I’ll be fine. And still never dared to eat a pickled pig’s foot.
The only one on the list I regret…chitlins. Jesus Christ. They tasted exactly like where they came from, and that wasn’t a good thing, either.
How about you…how’d you score…and, do you think there’s a uniquely southern dish on there that’s missing?
I didn’t try to count what I have eaten because it was easier to count things I haven’t eaten. I don’t even know what oyster salad is, and I have never wrapped my lips around a pigs foot or its digestive tract. All the rest of it I have at least tried once. Most of it I actually cook frequently depending on the season.
Also, you could easily have had a slice of chess pie at cafeteria like Morrison’s and not known that was what you were eating.
When I was a kid we’d all complain if our parents took us to Morrison’s after church, just becuse we were bratty kids. Up until we got to the chocolate pie – then it was all right…
I passed with flying colors….and I’m even from Atlanta! If Po Folks was still around, I’d think they’d need to add Low Country Boil and chili slaw dog to the list!
MMM… Chili Slaw Dog. I’m going out for lunch today.
I’m at 30. The ones I haven’t eaten have either been unavailable (gator tail, rabbit stew), or are rather unlikely to pass my lips (chitterlings, fried gizzards).
You can get Gator Tail at a few places. Henry’s in Acworth has it. A great celebration dinner after the WLOCP.
It probably helps that my better-half is cajun (Lake Charles, LA variety), so I’ve been exposed to a LOT of stuff I would have previously not considered…
I got 35 as well. I did not count oyster salad, but I have had oyster dressing, but that was made by a Yankee cousin of mine so that doesn’t count either . As for something being left off, I would have to say: pimento cheese.
I hit 33. I’m not sure what oyster salad is. I’ve had oyster pie and oyster dressing. Are either of those oyster salad? If so then 34.
I am at 32 & can’t go gizzards & pigs feet or pickled boiled eggs either.
Where are the collars & country ham on this list?
Had all except chittlins, oyster salad and poke salad. Some was just a trial, some are staples. Have heard of way worse things. My mom said when she was growing up, they fried the chickens head! Course the feet were there somewhere! That was in the 30’s. Nothing got wasted.
31 for me. I would add spoonbread to the list.
You get a like just for your avatar/name
I’m like DDB, I’d had all but three or four and I might have had a couple of those without knowing. No chitlins for sure. poke salad? Had oyster’s about every way. oyster stew, fried, raw but Oyster salad? not sure. Mom used to boil pig feet for my brother and I, we loved it, especially when she cooked them in rice. She cooked us fried rabbit, too rubbery. Cooked us fried frog legs, they were pretty good. If you like a fried bologna sandwich, which we loved, add a ring of pineapple on it, damn it’s good. How my dad came up with that, I’ll never know.
36. I haven’t (and won’t) eat pigs feet or chitlins and I don’t even know what oyster salad is.
29…. no chiltlins, pigs feet, poke salad (but boy I’ve pulled a lot out of my yard), or chicken gizzards. Never seen oyster salad.
I came in at about 30. Some of these I was doubtful about because I had never heard the name but may have eaten them under a different name.
In you write up you mentioned collard greens but wasn’t on the list. Could add to the list pickled eggs.
Oh hell, you done started something. Now the whole family contributing —Some extras:
Pound cake
Blackberry cobbler
Rutabagas
Biscuits & gravy
Ho Cake
Potato salad
Tomato gravy & rice
Collard greens
Mustard greens
Low country boil
Fried catfish
Fried chicken
Nanner pudding
I came to add Fried Catfish, but you beat me to it. My family’s restaurant sold channel catfish from the Flint River. 2 men supplied my father. Daddy had an unusual arrangement with them. I was told that he bought them both a pickup and they paid him back with catfish.
As a reformed Yankee 16 was a low bar to clear. 2 visits to Po Folks and going to Snelling for dinner nightly easily covered it.
I think a Yankee made that list. Oyster salad? Never ate pigs feet or chitlins. I still think tomatoes are poison, fried or otherwise, though they’re okay in salsa. I’ve eaten most of the other things, but didn’t bother to count.
Had everything except poke salad (I do love the song though), oyster salad (never seen it but would eat it), and Coca Cola cake (how did I miss that?). TexBaller has a good add on list. Would add okra and tomatoes.
Creamed corn, corn on the cob, corn salad. Watermelon, watermelon rind preserves. Lights (lungs) and tongue. I attended a cookout of cattlemen and pine tree farmers at least once a year. Fried rabbit livers and chittlins were the appetizers. A good old boy in the truest sense of the word (his drawl was the slowest and most unique I have ever heard, may he RiP) fried the livers and chittlins. I reluctantly tasted a chittlin, then could not get enough of them. But you have to know who cleaned then and cooked them. As for pickled eggs, go to a place like Grizzard’s no name bar, have a few beers and eggs, and ride home with the windows down.
Peanuts in coke
Smoked mullet
36
Georgia born, southern bred,
and when I died, I’ll be BULLDAWG dead!!!!!!
when I die
where is the pistachio salad?
I think Oyster salad is like a ham or egg salad, but made with smoked oysters – using mayo or cream cheese or both. Sounds like something my grandma would make.
I’ve eaten more than half of these (and not for the first time) this calendar year!
No ‘southern’ list is complete without Chow Chow.