re: #93 RealityBasedSteve

Chicken and Waffles is a real southern thing. I’m not sure that I get it, and I’ve been here for almost 20 years now.

RBS

Actually chicken and waffles originated in Harlem. I’ve lived in the south most of my life and never even knew of the combo until a few years ago.

Similarly, I’ve eaten grits all my life, but never knew they were paired with shrimp until about 20 yrs ago (they’re a SC low country/Charleston thing). Hip chefs have adopted some of these things and given them publicity.

All southern states don’t eat the same stuff. For instance, liver mush is a distinctly NC offering, and it’s often paired with grits. My grandmother used to serve hash (regular corned beef and something called Castleberry Hash—a brand) back with grits when I was a kid. It was cheaper than bacon or sausage, came in a can so wouldn’t spoil and get wasted like bacon and sausage did in unreliable ice boxes. Yes, some of us still had ice boxes back in the late 40s in the south, and habits die slowly.