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Southern Foodways: Upcoming Southern Food Events

Posted by Melissa Hall, January 5, 2008 at 6:00 AM

Southern Foodways appears weekly as part of our collaboration with the Southern Foodways Alliance, an organization based in Oxford, Mississippi, that "documents and celebrates the diverse food cultures of the American South." Dig in!

Happy New Year! Most of my time in this space is spent talking about the people who are the soul of Southern food—the men and women who grow, harvest, cook, and serve our meals. That’s a huge part of what we do at the Southern Foodways Alliance. We document those stories. But there’s another part to our mission: We also celebrate all aspects of Southern cuisine. How do we do that? Through events—Potlikker Film Festivals, day camps, field trips, fund-raisers, and, of course, our annual symposium.

At each event we bring folks together to talk about, think about, and argue about Southern food. We also eat and drink very well. The schedule for 2008 is already taking shape. And, it’s going to be a great year. If we’re coming to your neck of the woods, won’t you join us?

This weekend, the fine folks at Blackberry Farm are hosting their annual SFA fund-raiser, Taste of the South. It’s a weekend of food and fun. And, oh yes, a weekend where the members of The Fellowship of Southern Farmers, Artisans, and Chefs will welcome new fellows—Scott Peacock of Watershed in Atlanta, Alex and Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farms in Chapel Hill, and Jamie and Jessica Little of Sweetgrass Dairy in Georgia. The fellows will be celebrated with first-rate food from Billy Allin, Linton Hopkins, and Andrea Ruesing. They will be toasted by first-rate wines and spirits courtesy of Jon-David Headrick and Julian and Preston Van Winkle. A silent auction featuring lots packed with art, food, and wine treats from across the South rounds out the bill. Blackberry Farm: 1471 West Millers Cove Road, Walland TN 37886

February: Potlikker Film Festival; Birmingham, Alabama

In February, we’re heading to Birmingham, Alabama for our third installment of the Potlikker Film Festival. On February 23 at WorkPlay Soundstage, Potlikker Birmingham will feature films and poetry from the brothers York. Alabama natives Joe and Jake York will share their cinematic and literary talent. The subject? Food, of course. Music plus food and drink from Birmingham’s favorite spots will round out the bill.

May: Day Camp in Chicago

May 23 to 25 takes us north, following the Blues Highway to Chicago. In concert with Living Blues magazine, we will host our yearly Day Camp in and around the blues joints and soul food restaurants of Chicago.

July: Southern Drinkways Field Trip to Louisville

We’ll spend some time celebrating Southern drinkways as we explore and enjoy Louisville, Kentucky, July 10 to 13 during our annual field trip. Four days of spoonbread, distilled spirits, western Kentucky barbecue, and a rolled oyster or two await.

October: The Southern Foodways Symposium

Finally, October 23 to 26 brings our annual symposium. Held here in Oxford, Mississippi, on the campus of the University of Mississippi, this year Southern drink is the theme. Thirsting for knowledge about the way Southerners drink and why? Talks on sweet tea, buttermilk, scuppernong wine, moonshine, and more will quench that thirst.

For an up-to-date calendar and information about these events and more, visit us at southernfoodways.com.

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