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.
A couple of times when attending the WLOCP I was served ‘gator tail’ at a restaurant, and maybe it was, but how would I really know? It is similar to eating at a restaurant that sells you ‘grouper’, but they have been known to use some other fish that is faux grouper.
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.
Great list, I got 13 out of 13 on that one!
Add chicken mull.
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
“boilt p-nuts” (proper spelling) should be on the list
Mullet are bait…not for eatin’…lol
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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.
No poke salad or oyster salad (??). I’d add some kind of unusual barbeque-maybe goat. Maybe some southern versions of corn: hominy (not the grit form), corn on the cob, or cream corn. What about pecan pie?
where is the possum and coon, and do not forget the soft shell and snapping turtle? Grandpa would age quail and dove in the smoke house.
Buddy of mine asked me years ago if I had ever had any soft shell turtle. I told I didn’t think so. He said with a straight face, “We ate so much soft shell turtle growing up that the shithouse crawled off.” 😂
Daaaayyyyyuuuummmm.
Love oysters every way but I am also unsure what’s considered oyster salad. Never poke salad but remember daddy (yes, I’m southern) talking about eating it growing up. Also remember the look of satisfaction on his face watching him eat boiled pig ears (a child of the depression folks).
Agree with the yankee written list. It’s COUNTRY fried steak not chicken fried steak.
I came up with 28 that I’ve *cooked,* much less eaten.
Full disclosure … I was born in NE Ohio but moved here in 2nd grade. I lived in GA for all of about 2 years since. Food, food culture, and travel are all truly important parts of my life so I have always been an adventurous eater.
I am almost always wiling to try something especially if it represents an area culturally. There is just two on here that I haven’t had … chitlins and poke salad.
I’ve had every item on the list except Oyster Salad which I’ve never heard of. I’ve eaten lots of raw oysters (straight off the shell with nothing added is best), oysters Rockefeller, steamed oysters, fried oysters, oyster poboys, oyster & Artichoke soup, etc., etc., etc. But I’ve never heard of oyster salad.
Okay, I got motivated and searched the interwebs for oyster salad. Best I could find was that it is a New Orleans dish and basically fried oysters on a salad with spicy dressing or Remoulade sauce.
Not doubting that it is southern, but seems too fancy to be on this list.
Good list. I came in at about 33. IMHO anyone who came in at 16+ that didn’t include grits is still a dam yankee.
My aunt, who lived almost all of her 99 years in Pennsylvania used to talk about regularly having grits when she was growing up. They always had them for dinner in place of mashed potatoes.
I got an eight. Thought that wasn’t bad for someone who mostly grew up in Pennsylvania. My late wife who was a lifelong Georgia Girl and was the biggest fan Andy Landers ever had absolutely hated ambrosia.
Oyster salad is pretty much an oyster po-boy without the bun.
I’ve enjoyed all of these, Chicken liver being an exception on the “enjoyed” part. Fried? Better off as catfish bait. In a pate? Sublime…
Chitterlings? Eww. In a Menudo? Thumbs up.
I don’t get the pig’s foot hate. Trotters make awesome stock; chicken feet do as well. Pickled Pig’s Feet right out of the jar I love, it’s the moped of foodstuff if you’re brave enough to try.
@ Just Chuck: Ambrosia ain’t exactly that if Aunt Sister got in a hurry. Straining scrambled eggs through your teeth is no bueno. Done right All it needs is a little rum…
All except for 4 here. Where is lacy cornbread and pecan pie? Both southern staples.
Chess Pie! I worked at Rich’s bake shop during summers and Christmas break while at UGA and the chocolate chess pie was to die for. My brother-in-law asked for that instead of birthday cake every year. They also made a fine lemon chess pie which I believe is the original dish. I have the recipe for for Rich’s chocolate chess and still make it for holidays. Yum!
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