Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Awesome article/ comparison! I have to agree with the others- passover coke is wonderful. :-)

I grew up in Mississippi and now live in Virginia. The only way to make proper southern sweet tea is to start with tea bags that are blended for iced tea. (Luzianne or Community tea bags)

We use four family sized tea bags for a 3 quart pitcher. Start by preheating your container (we use a stoneware pitcher) with hot water from the tap... pour this water out and place tea bags in pitcher along with the tiniest pinch of salt (teeny tiny). Bring 8 cups of water to the boil and pour over tea bags. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove tea bags (do not squeeze bags as this will lead to cloudy tea). Stir in one cup of pure cane sugar while tea is still hot. Add cool water to finish filling pitcher. Allow to cool at room temp.

Serve over ice with a sprig of fresh mint.

Any of the seafood dishes- the St. Patrick was always my favorite... don't know if it is still on the menu or not. Shrimp, lumb crabmeat and a bit of spinach. Heaven!!

Look to west Knoxville for better restaurants, groceries and shops. Fresh Market is okay but Earth Fare is way better (IMHO). I have relatives who live in the area and they love the Sunspot restaurant.

Prices chicken for amazing fried chicken (a Charlotte institution), The McNinch House to be spoiled rotten, Upstream for wonderful seafood, Mert's Heart and Soul for Southern food, Fig Tree (try the bison short ribs- to die for), Beef and Bottle for steak... it depends on which part of the city you will be staying in and how far you are willing to drive.

Also, Dreamland barbecue in Alabama... pure Heaven!

@Pavlov, I agree with you on the Krystal burgers. Sometimes it just hits the spot (especially the double cheese Krystals).

Oddly enough, I never have a problem with Chinese food and MSG. However, the two times I have been dragged by my pre-teen son to Uno Pizza and have had their soup I've experienced the worst migraines of my life. MSG or not it was horrid and I will not be returning... no matter how much the kiddo begs. lol

Pimm's Cup- I adore them!

My husband and I lived in Lawton, OK while he was stationed at Ft. Sill... the ONLY good thing about the town was Braum's. The 107 degree summers, tornadoes, and being in the middle of nowhere (closest Target was down in TX) was trying. Braum's ice cream, shakes and awesome dairy products (available in store in a little shopping area) made our stay there bearable.

Hi Adam! I know Anna Wintour is the editor and Mr. Steingarten is listed as the Features/ Food Critic. But, but, but... his column is missing this month. Ok, going to go make something from scratch now to appease myself.

If you click on the link below and scroll down a bit there is a wonderful article by Robert St. John concerning grits. Growing up in Mississippi we would NEVER sweeten grits- that was always seen as a yankee affectation. :-)

http://www.labellecuisine.com/features/Grits%20Deserve%20a%20Better%20Name!.htm

with melon