I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to
go out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she
LOVES that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!? LOL
Another wanted to go to some place called Carey Hilliard's. I finally
convinced them to go to someplace we couldn't just eat at home and we
agreed to try Paula Deen's restaurant "The Lady and Sons."

We arrive in a drizzle of rain and early, about 5:30 PM and were told to
return at 7:30 PM. Walking the streets I suggested popping into one of
the local bars for a drink and munchie to hold us over? Nooooo..they
don't "drink".. but they wanted to go to a particular candy store and
get the pralines and a big diet coke to carry around with them as they
strolled the area. The pralines could hold a certain attraction, but not
something I want to eat before a meal to come? We trudge on and all the
while we're being rained on (without umbrellas or caps darn it) so look
a bit shaggy by the time we return to The Lady and Sons earlier than the
7:30 reservation time. They bring us right in anyway and we're seated at
what must be the worst table in the place. Right next to the "souvenir"
shop on one side and right next to "the buffet" area on the other. I had
NO idea her restaurant would be just a higher price cafeteria!! And
worse yet my cow-orkers were thrilled to be sitting closer to the trough!

The waiter took almost 10 minutes to come to us, and he did make
apologies for his delay. Everyone ordered iced tea, and I ordered a
glass of red wine (Coperridge Merlot, $6.00/glass). They inform the
waiter that they just wanted to get the buffet, but I wanted to eat off
the menu hoping it would be a bit nicer? I ordered the fried green
tomatoes as a starter, and the steak with tomato pie for my entree. I
assume the starter will arrive before the meal. Silly me.

Someone came around with a basket of johnny cakes (a bit greasy, not
very corny although they are proudly declared to have fresh corn in the
batter) and a very large biscuit. The bread server lays one of each on
our individual small bread plates and points out some syrup on the table
which he says is good with the breads. I miss hearing the type of syrup
it is? One woman at my table takes her bread plate and moves it front
and center to her and pours enough syrup on it to make any pancake syrup
commercial proud and she spreads thickly with her knife. She then
precedes to eat the biscuit by hand and johnny cake with her fork and
knife just like a pancake. I guess pouring a smidgeon of syrup on the
side of her bread plate and dipping small bites into it as she ate
wasn't considered an option? I was just thinking that if she'd put her
napkin on her lap, and perhaps used her fork and knife in a bit nicer
way, she'd have less dribbles on her shirt? Just me being bitchy.. I
know. The johnny cake would have been improved if it hadn't been quite
so greasy, and perhaps some seasoning like cayenne added? They didn't
have a particularly "corny" flavor. Three bites was enough for me. I
didn't bother trying the generously sized biscuit and no one commented
on them while eating so I don't know if it was particularly noteworthy?

The waiter has been gone a while and then returns with the iced teas,
but no wine. I ask him about my wine and he states he'll get it. I sit
and wait. It isn't a priority I guess.

My cow-orkers descend on the buffet and returned singing the praises of
the offerings. Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, cooked cabbage, black eyed
peas, gravy over pork...to me this is school or cafeteria food, whatever
you call it, it just wasn't something I'd go out of my way to eat when
in a city with many renowned restaurants. They are chowing down...
literally. One sings the praises of "good southern cooking" and says I
just don't recognize "delicious homestyle cooking" although I note that
the majority of patrons at the buffet were middle aged obese women. Any
defense of preferring to eat foods that aren't all fried or cooked into
soft pablum fell on deaf ears.

Neither my wine, starter nor my entree have arrived by the time my table
mates have consumed half their meals. Eventually my starter and my
entree all arrived at the same time. I guess calling something on the
menu here an appetizer or starter is just a tease? I had ordered the
fried green tomatoes in part because I like them but also because one of
the women had never tried them before and I wanted to introduce her to
them. About 8 of them arrive on a plate. They weren't fried as I've ever
had or made myself before. These were more in a tempura like coating? On
top of each was some minced pimento (very slightly pickled in flavor
like the jarred ones)and while not quite the flavor of roasted peppers I
was expecting it was truth in advertising eh? In the middle was a small
dish of Vidalia onion relish, which was very tasty. I couldn't taste any
tomato itself because of the "fried" coating flavor. Such a shame.

The beef with tomato pie was billed as "beef tenderloin and mushroom
ragout surrounding our famous tomato pie". The beef chunks were tender
and in a brown gravy that might have been improved with wine or herbs.
Perhaps de-glazing the roasting pan with wine before proceeding with the
gravy? It just didn't have much flavor. The mushroom ragout was chopped
cooked mushrooms with a nice strong mushroom flavor itself but a huge
wallop of salt! Perhaps someone seasoned the dish immediately after
plating it up and sending it out but it was wayyyyyy too heavy on salt
in areas. The salt was off putting, and the dish as a whole
disappointing. My tablemates were being offered a desserts while I was
still eating my meal. I ate about a quarter of the meal and just had
enough. The waiter came around and noticed my untouched food and asked
if anything were wrong? I told him about the salt, but not that I was
just disappointed in the food on the whole. He apologized and left, soon
to return with one of the Deen boys (I don't know which one,very tall
and lanky) who again apologized and asked if there was anything else he
could get me. I explained that I was fine, and how my food had arrived
so much after everyone had starting eating so I didn't want anything
else at that point. He stated he would remove the charge from my bill.
So I was happy with this arrangement.

I can see how this restaurant serves the tourist crowd well, in fact we
saw bus tours dropping off here, but I was not impressed. These folks I
was with are not terribly sophisticated nor adventurous eaters. They
want their fish fried, their veggies soft, three starches per meal and
the same "comfort food" they've always eaten in mom's kitchen and little
more. They value quantity over quality. It was very discouraging.

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
>I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to go
>out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
>seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she LOVES
>that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!?

You are a snob

Frank Drackman wrote:
> "Goomba38" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to go
>> out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
>> seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she LOVES
>> that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!?
>
> You are a snob
>
>
No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
Goomba

Goomba38 > wrote in
:

> Frank Drackman wrote:
>> "Goomba38" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted
>>> to go out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One
>>> woman seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!)
>>> as she LOVES that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a
>>> discussion!?
>>
>> You are a snob
>>
>>
> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
> Goomba
>


I would have gone to Montana for dinner :-)


(Says he who drove many, *many* times from Perris to Elsinore for a
chicken burrito :-)



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

'Enjoy today, it was paid for by a veteran'

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Frank Drackman wrote:
>> "Goomba38" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>>> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to
>>> go out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
>>> seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she
>>> LOVES that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!?
>>
>> You are a snob
> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
> Goomba

Which I agree with, but being condescending to the others in your group is
horrible.

Frank Drackman wrote:

>>> You are a snob
>> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
>> Goomba
>
> Which I agree with, but being condescending to the others in your group is
> horrible.
>
Feh. They like to eat (IMO) bad food, which is also bad for them. They
refuse to try anything out of their ordinary. What is so admirable about
that again? What is wrong with wanting to dine instead of belly up to
the trough? What was so admirable about being in a famous city with
renowned restaurants and yet you prefer to eat at Chick Fillet?

i enjoyed your review, and understand your frustration with your traveling
partners.....................WHY are you with them?






"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Frank Drackman wrote:
>
>>>> You are a snob
>>> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
>>> Goomba
>>
>> Which I agree with, but being condescending to the others in your group
>> is horrible.
> Feh. They like to eat (IMO) bad food, which is also bad for them. They
> refuse to try anything out of their ordinary. What is so admirable about
> that again? What is wrong with wanting to dine instead of belly up to the
> trough? What was so admirable about being in a famous city with renowned
> restaurants and yet you prefer to eat at Chick Fillet?

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Frank Drackman wrote:
>
>>>> You are a snob
>>> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
>>> Goomba
>>
>> Which I agree with, but being condescending to the others in your group
>> is horrible.
> Feh. They like to eat (IMO) bad food, which is also bad for them. They
> refuse to try anything out of their ordinary. What is so admirable about
> that again? What is wrong with wanting to dine instead of belly up to the
> trough? What was so admirable about being in a famous city with renowned
> restaurants and yet you prefer to eat at Chick Fillet?

I don't think that you will ever understand. I have no problems with your
dining choices, but you were incredibly condescending to the others in the
group. Would you be happy to have the others in your group read your
message? Would you be happy if it was one of them writing about your
habits?

">>>> You are a snob
>>> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
>>> Goomba
>>
>> Which I agree with, but being condescending to the others in your group
>> is horrible.
> Feh. They like to eat (IMO) bad food, which is also bad for them. They
> refuse to try anything out of their ordinary. What is so admirable about
> that again? What is wrong with wanting to dine instead of belly up to the
> trough? What was so admirable about being in a famous city with renowned
> restaurants and yet you prefer to eat at Chick Fillet?

Interesting review. I would have expected the buffet to be a bit more
"elegant" than you describe. I have absolutely no problem with the buffet
experience as long they keep it fresh and CLEAN which takes constant
vigilance. A good buffet offers good variety as well as quantity, and no one
says you must over eat, (I don't) although many people think that they must
"get their money's worth" ergo the trough syndrome.

As for Chick Fillet, I'd put them at the upper end of the fast food joints,
although I haven't eaten from there in probably 10 years. Last time was when
I conducted a ribbon cutting for our Chamber of Commerce and they gave us
all some food. Truett Cathy the founder is a very interesting guy.

Larry T

Goomba38 wrote:

> Feh. They like to eat (IMO) bad food, which is also bad for them. They
> refuse to try anything out of their ordinary. What is so admirable about
> that again? What is wrong with wanting to dine instead of belly up to the
> trough? What was so admirable about being in a famous city with renowned
> restaurants and yet you prefer to eat at Chick Fillet?

Heh... reading your review, I'd rather go to Chick-Fil-A (note correct
spelling) than to Paula Deen's place!

Your point is made, though; I think I'd have simply made myself scarce and
eaten alone in a place of my own choosing, rather than subjecting myself to
a meal that I knew I'd feel bad about later.

Bob

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> Frank Drackman wrote:
> > "Goomba38" > wrote in message
> > . ..
> >> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to
go
> >> out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
> >> seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she
LOVES
> >> that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!?
> >
> > You are a snob
> >
> >
> No, I just don't go out of my way to eat mediocre food.
> Goomba

Goomba, I don't blame you one bit! AND, from your description, I wouldn't
have liked the Paula Deen's place either.

kili

Frank Drackman wrote:
> "Goomba38" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to go
>> out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
>> seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she LOVES
>> that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!?
>
> You are a snob
>
>


Nope. Chik-Fil-A is the chicken version of McDonald's. Not horrible if
you want a quick, cheap lunch, but certainly not where you'd go with a
group for a relaxing dinner.

It's too bad that Paula Deen's was such a tourist attraction with the
accompanying bad food and worse service. Most buffets (with a few
notable exceptions) aren't worth much, food-wise. They tend toward high
fat-salt-starch and low flavor.

gloria p

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:40:52 GMT, in rec.food.cooking, Puester wrote:

>
>Nope. Chik-Fil-A is the chicken version of McDonald's. Not horrible if
>you want a quick, cheap lunch, but certainly not where you'd go with a
>group for a relaxing dinner.

I think it's a bit upscale from McDonald's.

And I wish we had some in the UK, they'd make a nice change. They're one
of my favorite fast food places. Well, probably my favorite.

Doug
--
Doug Weller --
A Director and Moderator of The Hall of Ma'at http://www.hallofmaat.com
Doug's Archaeology Site: http://www.ramtops.co.uk
Amun - co-owner/co-moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amun/

On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:54:20 GMT, Doug Weller
> wrote:

>On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:40:52 GMT, in rec.food.cooking, Puester wrote:
>
>>
>>Nope. Chik-Fil-A is the chicken version of McDonald's. Not horrible if
>>you want a quick, cheap lunch, but certainly not where you'd go with a
>>group for a relaxing dinner.
>
>I think it's a bit upscale from McDonald's.
>
>And I wish we had some in the UK, they'd make a nice change. They're one
>of my favorite fast food places. Well, probably my favorite.
>
>Doug

You live in the UK, but you know about Chik-Fil-A? I guess that goes
to show how far our coasts are separated - because I've never heard of
it.

One time on Usenet, sf > said:
> On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:54:20 GMT, Doug Weller
> > wrote:
> >On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:40:52 GMT, in rec.food.cooking, Puester wrote:

> >>Nope. Chik-Fil-A is the chicken version of McDonald's. Not horrible if
> >>you want a quick, cheap lunch, but certainly not where you'd go with a
> >>group for a relaxing dinner.
> >
> >I think it's a bit upscale from McDonald's.
> >
> >And I wish we had some in the UK, they'd make a nice change. They're one
> >of my favorite fast food places. Well, probably my favorite.

> You live in the UK, but you know about Chik-Fil-A? I guess that goes
> to show how far our coasts are separated - because I've never heard of
> it.

I hadn't either, and I'd have thought they weren't a West Coast
place, until I checked their web site:

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/cfa.asp

Looks like they've some near Sacramento, and lots of them between
LA and San Diego. But nothing up here in WA or in Oregon.

I guess my dyslexia is acting up, I keep reading the name of the
place as "Chik-a-fill"... :-)

--
"Little Malice" is Jani in WA
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

Oh pshaw, on Sat 23 Sep 2006 09:11:15a, sf meant to say...

> On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:54:20 GMT, Doug Weller
> > wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:40:52 GMT, in rec.food.cooking, Puester wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Nope. Chik-Fil-A is the chicken version of McDonald's. Not horrible if
>>>you want a quick, cheap lunch, but certainly not where you'd go with a
>>>group for a relaxing dinner.
>>
>>I think it's a bit upscale from McDonald's.
>>
>>And I wish we had some in the UK, they'd make a nice change. They're one
>>of my favorite fast food places. Well, probably my favorite.
>>
>>Doug
>
> You live in the UK, but you know about Chik-Fil-A? I guess that goes
> to show how far our coasts are separated - because I've never heard of
> it.
>

Trust me, Barbara, you haven't missed a thing.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Useless Invention: Double-sided playing cards.

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
snip I finally
> convinced them to go to someplace we couldn't just eat at home and we
> agreed to try Paula Deen's restaurant "The Lady and Sons."
snip
I've watched Paula Deen's show and the restaurant you describe is exactly
what I would have expected. She makes no pretence about what she cooks. I
have noticed that in recent shows she has been branching out into foods and
cookings styles that don't seem to be in her comfort zone. I assume the
producers of the show are behind the change.
Janet

"Goomba38" > wrote

> Another wanted to go to some place called Carey Hilliard's. I finally
> convinced them to go to someplace we couldn't just eat at home and we
> agreed to try Paula Deen's restaurant "The Lady and Sons."

Savannah is on my list of places I would like to visit, and I would
make an effort to go there. Just because.

> The waiter took almost 10 minutes to come to us, and he did make apologies
> for his delay. Everyone ordered iced tea, and I ordered a glass of red
> wine (Coperridge Merlot, $6.00/glass). They inform the waiter that they
> just wanted to get the buffet, but I wanted to eat off the menu hoping it
> would be a bit nicer? I ordered the fried green tomatoes as a starter, and
> the steak with tomato pie for my entree. I assume the starter will arrive
> before the meal. Silly me.

You were in trouble right off the bat. I learned that, if a place is set
up for buffet, that is how their service is geared. The deck is stacked
against you if you don't go with the flow.


> The waiter has been gone a while and then returns with the iced teas, but
> no wine. I ask him about my wine and he states he'll get it. I sit and
> wait. It isn't a priority I guess.

Very annoying, I would have been irritated. You'll GET TO IT?

> My cow-orkers descend on the buffet and returned singing the praises of
> the offerings. Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, cooked cabbage, black eyed
> peas, gravy over pork...to me this is school or cafeteria food, whatever
> you call it, it just wasn't something I'd go out of my way to eat when in
> a city with many renowned restaurants.

That is what she is famous for.

> enough. The waiter came around and noticed my untouched food and asked if
> anything were wrong?

Wow, he noticed.

>I told him about the salt, but not that I was just disappointed in the food
>on the whole. He apologized and left, soon to return with one of the Deen
>boys (I don't know which one,very tall and lanky)

Heh, lanky is not how I'd describe his appearance lately, on their
show. I was taken aback by how much weight he's put on since he
married. Whatever, it's his gut, just sayin.

> so much after everyone had starting eating so I didn't want anything else
> at that point. He stated he would remove the charge from my bill. So I was
> happy with this arrangement.

Well, that was a very nice way to deal with it. Too bad it
happened like that.

> I can see how this restaurant serves the tourist crowd well, in fact we
> saw bus tours dropping off here, but I was not impressed. These folks I
> was with are not terribly sophisticated nor adventurous eaters. They want
> their fish fried, their veggies soft, three starches per meal and the same
> "comfort food" they've always eaten in mom's kitchen and little more. They
> value quantity over quality. It was very discouraging.

Eh, that's what I would have expected, I've seen the restaurant on tv ...
even before she had her own show. I think she was on ... Best of?
I would still go there 'just because' ... but I would be interested to try
some of the expected southern things. For instance, I have never had
collard greens. I would like to try her fried chicken there.

nancy (never thought of Chick-fil-A as a destination eatery)

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
snip

> I would still go there 'just because' ... but I would be interested to try
> some of the expected southern things. For instance, I have never had
> collard greens. I would like to try her fried chicken there.
>
> nancy (never thought of Chick-fil-A as a destination eatery)
>
Oh, me too. I know nothing of Southern cooking and would like to try it
'just because.'
Janet

Nancy Young wrote:

> Savannah is on my list of places I would like to visit, and I would
> make an effort to go there. Just because.

I hear ya.. I thought trying her restaurant out would be more
interesting as well as being a better dining experience for a group
visiting from out of town rather than going to Chick-fill-A as one woman
really preferred. I guess I was stunned first that their was a buffet,
but then that the food was just ordinary offerings. I've seen her show
but never any discussion by her about her restaurant to know that is ALL
she does? It was just a more expensive Morrison's Cafeteria as someone
else likened it. I can get *that* kind of food anyplace. I thought I was
getting something mo'special.


> You were in trouble right off the bat. I learned that, if a place is set
> up for buffet, that is how their service is geared. The deck is stacked
> against you if you don't go with the flow.

Yes, I think I was. I thought it would have been a nice change of pace
for the cooking staff over the volumes of buffet food they have to prepare.


>> enough. The waiter came around and noticed my untouched food and asked if
>> anything were wrong?
>
> Wow, he noticed.

Yeah, he was attentive to that detail. Perhaps more than I would have
expected?

> Heh, lanky is not how I'd describe his appearance lately, on their
> show. I was taken aback by how much weight he's put on since he
> married. Whatever, it's his gut, just sayin.

From looking at her website, I guess it was Bobby that I dealt with? He
really wasn't chubby at all! You know that thing about the camera
adding? It must on him because I saw him and thought "long and lanky."
Certainly not dressed like I would have pictured because I'd seen him in
his cargo shorts, sneaker and old tee shirt wiping up spills on the
buffet line and other tasks. He looked a bit rumpled like he had been
working.. not just "managing" something.


> Eh, that's what I would have expected, I've seen the restaurant on tv ...
> even before she had her own show. I think she was on ... Best of?
> I would still go there 'just because' ... but I would be interested to try
> some of the expected southern things. For instance, I have never had
> collard greens. I would like to try her fried chicken there.
>
> nancy (never thought of Chick-fil-A as a destination eatery)
>
>

lol, I love that "destination eatery" description. Who'd go to a famous
town and out to dine with a group and choose to go there?! LOL

Goomba38 wrote:

> lol, I love that "destination eatery" description. Who'd go to a famous
> town and out to dine with a group and choose to go there?! LOL

That reminds me, since we're talking about Southern cuisine and destination
eateries, has anybody here ever been to the Highlands Bar and Grill in
Birmingham (Alabama, not England)? (www.highlandsbarandgrill.com/) I've got
_Frank Stitt's Southern Table_, and I wondered whether the restaurant was as
good as the book.

Bob

So I guess you didn't like it?

Kris

P.S. - At least it sounds like Paula's son is a proper manager


Goomba38 wrote:
> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to
> go out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
> seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she
> LOVES that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!? LOL
> Another wanted to go to some place called Carey Hilliard's. I finally
> convinced them to go to someplace we couldn't just eat at home and we
> agreed to try Paula Deen's restaurant "The Lady and Sons."
>
> We arrive in a drizzle of rain and early, about 5:30 PM and were told to
> return at 7:30 PM. Walking the streets I suggested popping into one of
> the local bars for a drink and munchie to hold us over? Nooooo..they
> don't "drink".. but they wanted to go to a particular candy store and
> get the pralines and a big diet coke to carry around with them as they
> strolled the area. The pralines could hold a certain attraction, but not
> something I want to eat before a meal to come? We trudge on and all the
> while we're being rained on (without umbrellas or caps darn it) so look
> a bit shaggy by the time we return to The Lady and Sons earlier than the
> 7:30 reservation time. They bring us right in anyway and we're seated at
> what must be the worst table in the place. Right next to the "souvenir"
> shop on one side and right next to "the buffet" area on the other. I had
> NO idea her restaurant would be just a higher price cafeteria!! And
> worse yet my cow-orkers were thrilled to be sitting closer to the trough!
>
> The waiter took almost 10 minutes to come to us, and he did make
> apologies for his delay. Everyone ordered iced tea, and I ordered a
> glass of red wine (Coperridge Merlot, $6.00/glass). They inform the
> waiter that they just wanted to get the buffet, but I wanted to eat off
> the menu hoping it would be a bit nicer? I ordered the fried green
> tomatoes as a starter, and the steak with tomato pie for my entree. I
> assume the starter will arrive before the meal. Silly me.
>
> Someone came around with a basket of johnny cakes (a bit greasy, not
> very corny although they are proudly declared to have fresh corn in the
> batter) and a very large biscuit. The bread server lays one of each on
> our individual small bread plates and points out some syrup on the table
> which he says is good with the breads. I miss hearing the type of syrup
> it is? One woman at my table takes her bread plate and moves it front
> and center to her and pours enough syrup on it to make any pancake syrup
> commercial proud and she spreads thickly with her knife. She then
> precedes to eat the biscuit by hand and johnny cake with her fork and
> knife just like a pancake. I guess pouring a smidgeon of syrup on the
> side of her bread plate and dipping small bites into it as she ate
> wasn't considered an option? I was just thinking that if she'd put her
> napkin on her lap, and perhaps used her fork and knife in a bit nicer
> way, she'd have less dribbles on her shirt? Just me being bitchy.. I
> know. The johnny cake would have been improved if it hadn't been quite
> so greasy, and perhaps some seasoning like cayenne added? They didn't
> have a particularly "corny" flavor. Three bites was enough for me. I
> didn't bother trying the generously sized biscuit and no one commented
> on them while eating so I don't know if it was particularly noteworthy?
>
> The waiter has been gone a while and then returns with the iced teas,
> but no wine. I ask him about my wine and he states he'll get it. I sit
> and wait. It isn't a priority I guess.
>
> My cow-orkers descend on the buffet and returned singing the praises of
> the offerings. Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, cooked cabbage, black eyed
> peas, gravy over pork...to me this is school or cafeteria food, whatever
> you call it, it just wasn't something I'd go out of my way to eat when
> in a city with many renowned restaurants. They are chowing down...
> literally. One sings the praises of "good southern cooking" and says I
> just don't recognize "delicious homestyle cooking" although I note that
> the majority of patrons at the buffet were middle aged obese women. Any
> defense of preferring to eat foods that aren't all fried or cooked into
> soft pablum fell on deaf ears.
>
> Neither my wine, starter nor my entree have arrived by the time my table
> mates have consumed half their meals. Eventually my starter and my
> entree all arrived at the same time. I guess calling something on the
> menu here an appetizer or starter is just a tease? I had ordered the
> fried green tomatoes in part because I like them but also because one of
> the women had never tried them before and I wanted to introduce her to
> them. About 8 of them arrive on a plate. They weren't fried as I've ever
> had or made myself before. These were more in a tempura like coating? On
> top of each was some minced pimento (very slightly pickled in flavor
> like the jarred ones)and while not quite the flavor of roasted peppers I
> was expecting it was truth in advertising eh? In the middle was a small
> dish of Vidalia onion relish, which was very tasty. I couldn't taste any
> tomato itself because of the "fried" coating flavor. Such a shame.
>
> The beef with tomato pie was billed as "beef tenderloin and mushroom
> ragout surrounding our famous tomato pie". The beef chunks were tender
> and in a brown gravy that might have been improved with wine or herbs.
> Perhaps de-glazing the roasting pan with wine before proceeding with the
> gravy? It just didn't have much flavor. The mushroom ragout was chopped
> cooked mushrooms with a nice strong mushroom flavor itself but a huge
> wallop of salt! Perhaps someone seasoned the dish immediately after
> plating it up and sending it out but it was wayyyyyy too heavy on salt
> in areas. The salt was off putting, and the dish as a whole
> disappointing. My tablemates were being offered a desserts while I was
> still eating my meal. I ate about a quarter of the meal and just had
> enough. The waiter came around and noticed my untouched food and asked
> if anything were wrong? I told him about the salt, but not that I was
> just disappointed in the food on the whole. He apologized and left, soon
> to return with one of the Deen boys (I don't know which one,very tall
> and lanky) who again apologized and asked if there was anything else he
> could get me. I explained that I was fine, and how my food had arrived
> so much after everyone had starting eating so I didn't want anything
> else at that point. He stated he would remove the charge from my bill.
> So I was happy with this arrangement.
>
> I can see how this restaurant serves the tourist crowd well, in fact we
> saw bus tours dropping off here, but I was not impressed. These folks I
> was with are not terribly sophisticated nor adventurous eaters. They
> want their fish fried, their veggies soft, three starches per meal and
> the same "comfort food" they've always eaten in mom's kitchen and little
> more. They value quantity over quality. It was very discouraging.

Kris wrote:
> So I guess you didn't like it?
>
> Kris
>
> P.S. - At least it sounds like Paula's son is a proper manager

LOL, as a tourist destination it fits the bill. As a fine dining
establishment it did not. I didn't expect haute cuisine.. I just didn't
expect such ordinary food either.
Yes, I agree that the waiter and her son handled the situation very
nicely and in a seriously prompt fashion.
I left the waiter a better tip (when paying for my wine and the fried
green tomatoes) than one of the women who scarfed down two huge plates
at the buffet.

Goomba38 wrote:
> I was in Savannah on business and a group of us (four women) wanted to
> go out to eat before having to report for duty at midnight. One woman
> seriously wanted to go to Chick-Fillet (the fast food place!) as she
> LOVES that place. I'm still in shock that it was even a discussion!? LOL
> Another wanted to go to some place called Carey Hilliard's. I finally
> convinced them to go to someplace we couldn't just eat at home and we
> agreed to try Paula Deen's restaurant "The Lady and Sons."
>
> We arrive in a drizzle of rain and early, about 5:30 PM and were told to
> return at 7:30 PM. Walking the streets I suggested popping into one of
> the local bars for a drink and munchie to hold us over? Nooooo..they
> don't "drink"..

And God knows they couldn't order a non-alcoholic beverage!

>but they wanted to go to a particular candy store and
> get the pralines and a big diet coke to carry around with them as they
> strolled the area. The pralines could hold a certain attraction, but not
> something I want to eat before a meal to come? We trudge on and all the
> while we're being rained on (without umbrellas or caps darn it)

You're obviously not from Portland, LOL...(inside joke)

>so look
> a bit shaggy by the time we return to The Lady and Sons earlier than the
> 7:30 reservation time. They bring us right in anyway and we're seated at
> what must be the worst table in the place. Right next to the "souvenir"
> shop on one side and right next to "the buffet" area on the other. I had
> NO idea her restaurant would be just a higher price cafeteria!! And
> worse yet my cow-orkers were thrilled to be sitting closer to the trough!

Oh God. The more and more you post, the more I am having flashbacks of
traveling in groups for work...

>
> The waiter took almost 10 minutes to come to us, and he did make
> apologies for his delay. Everyone ordered iced tea, and I ordered a
> glass of red wine (Coperridge Merlot, $6.00/glass). They inform the
> waiter that they just wanted to get the buffet, but I wanted to eat off
> the menu hoping it would be a bit nicer? I ordered the fried green
> tomatoes as a starter, and the steak with tomato pie for my entree. I
> assume the starter will arrive before the meal. Silly me.
>
> Someone came around with a basket of johnny cakes (a bit greasy, not
> very corny although they are proudly declared to have fresh corn in the
> batter) and a very large biscuit. The bread server lays one of each on
> our individual small bread plates and points out some syrup on the table
> which he says is good with the breads. I miss hearing the type of syrup
> it is? One woman at my table takes her bread plate and moves it front
> and center to her and pours enough syrup on it to make any pancake syrup
> commercial proud and she spreads thickly with her knife. She then
> precedes to eat the biscuit by hand and johnny cake with her fork and
> knife just like a pancake. I guess pouring a smidgeon of syrup on the
> side of her bread plate and dipping small bites into it as she ate
> wasn't considered an option? I was just thinking that if she'd put her
> napkin on her lap, and perhaps used her fork and knife in a bit nicer
> way, she'd have less dribbles on her shirt? Just me being bitchy.. I
> know.

LOL...Meerrrrow!

> The johnny cake would have been improved if it hadn't been quite
> so greasy, and perhaps some seasoning like cayenne added? They didn't
> have a particularly "corny" flavor. Three bites was enough for me. I
> didn't bother trying the generously sized biscuit and no one commented
> on them while eating so I don't know if it was particularly noteworthy?
>
> The waiter has been gone a while and then returns with the iced teas,
> but no wine. I ask him about my wine and he states he'll get it. I sit
> and wait. It isn't a priority I guess.

Ugh. I hate shitty service!

>
> My cow-orkers descend on the buffet and returned singing the praises of
> the offerings. Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, cooked cabbage, black eyed
> peas, gravy over pork...to me this is school or cafeteria food, whatever
> you call it, it just wasn't something I'd go out of my way to eat when
> in a city with many renowned restaurants. They are chowing down...
> literally. One sings the praises of "good southern cooking" and says I
> just don't recognize "delicious homestyle cooking" although I note that
> the majority of patrons at the buffet were middle aged obese women. Any
> defense of preferring to eat foods that aren't a

Good Southern food doesn't have to be greasy or overcooked. My MIL
makes some awesome traditional Black Southern dishes.

>
> Neither my wine, starter nor my entree have arrived by the time my table
> mates have consumed half their meals. Eventually my starter and my
> entree all arrived at the same time. I guess calling something on the
> menu here an appetizer or starter is just a tease? I had ordered the
> fried green tomatoes in part because I like them but also because one of
> the women had never tried them before and I wanted to introduce her to
> them. About 8 of them arrive on a plate. They weren't fried as I've ever
> had or made myself before. These were more in a tempura like coating? On
> top of each was some minced pimento (very slightly pickled in flavor
> like the jarred ones)and while not quite the flavor of roasted peppers I
> was expecting it was truth in advertising eh? In the middle was a small
> dish of Vidalia onion relish, which was very tasty. I couldn't taste any
> tomato itself because of the "fried" coating flavor. Such a shame.

Ugh. Nasty.

>
> The beef with tomato pie was billed as "beef tenderloin and mushroom
> ragout surrounding our famous tomato pie". The beef chunks were tender
> and in a brown gravy that might have been improved with wine or herbs.
> Perhaps de-glazing the roasting pan with wine before proceeding with the
> gravy? It just didn't have much flavor. The mushroom ragout was chopped
> cooked mushrooms with a nice strong mushroom flavor itself but a huge
> wallop of salt! Perhaps someone seasoned the dish immediately after
> plating it up and sending it out but it was wayyyyyy too heavy on salt
> in areas. The salt was off putting, and the dish as a whole
> disappointing. My tablemates were being offered a desserts while I was
> still eating my meal. I ate about a quarter of the meal and just had
> enough. The waiter came around and noticed my untouched food and asked
> if anything were wrong? I told him about the salt, but not that I was
> just disappointed in the food on the whole. He apologized and left, soon
> to return with one of the Deen boys (I don't know which one,very tall
> and lanky) who again apologized and asked if there was anything else he
> could get me. I explained that I was fine, and how my food had arrived
> so much after everyone had starting eating so I didn't want anything
> else at that point. He stated he would remove the charge from my bill.
> So I was happy with this arrangement.

Well Bravo for them!

>
> I can see how this restaurant serves the tourist crowd well, in fact we
> saw bus tours dropping off here, but I was not impressed. These folks I
> was with are not terribly sophisticated nor adventurous eaters. They
> want their fish fried, their veggies soft, three starches per meal and
> the same "comfort food" they've always eaten in mom's kitchen and little
> more. They value quantity over quality. It was very discouraging.

Well that's disappointing. Much of the food Paula makes on TV looks
delicious albeit very high in fat and salt, IMO. It doesn't surprise
me too much that the attraction there was the buffet - people who like
to eat like that usually also like to eat a lot of food - regardless of
quality.

-L.

-L. wrote:

> Good Southern food doesn't have to be greasy or overcooked. My MIL
> makes some awesome traditional Black Southern dishes.

Edna Lewis. Nothing more need be said. She made some incredible food.

I liken much of the "southern home cooking" style to poverty cooking
that the southern ancestors dealt to. Put the veggies on to cook while
working the fields, or tending a passel of kids. Way too much starch and
farm fresh veggies prepared so they don't look any different from ones
poured out of a can. Rare spice use, way too much sugar and salt, and a
lot of frying or fat included as nothing was wasted on that hog.
My "southern" ancestors were from Southern Italy.. our "peasant" foods
seemed to taste better to me.

Goomba38 wrote:
> Edna Lewis. Nothing more need be said. She made some incredible food.
>
> I liken much of the "southern home cooking" style to poverty cooking
> that the southern ancestors dealt to. Put the veggies on to cook while
> working the fields, or tending a passel of kids. Way too much starch and
> farm fresh veggies prepared so they don't look any different from ones
> poured out of a can. Rare spice use, way too much sugar and salt, and a
> lot of frying or fat included as nothing was wasted on that hog.
> My "southern" ancestors were from Southern Italy.. our "peasant" foods
> seemed to taste better to me.

DH worked his Uncle's tobacco fields from the time he was old enough to
do as told until he was about 15. They were poor but grew their own
vegetables and subsequently ate many meals with a lot of potatoes,
beans, johnny cakes, buscuits or corn bread, veggies and little meat,
as meat was precious and stretched as far as possible. Those who had
the hardest jobs ate first which was usually the father and the eldest
farm hands/sons, followed by the younger boys, then girls, then at the
end of the heirarchy were the women who tended the house and the little
kids and babies. Many times by the time the women were able to eat
there wasn't much left.

-L.

Goomba38 wrote:
> -L. wrote:
>
> > Good Southern food doesn't have to be greasy or overcooked. My MIL
> > makes some awesome traditional Black Southern dishes.
>
> Edna Lewis. Nothing more need be said. She made some incredible food.
>
> I liken much of the "southern home cooking" style to poverty cooking
> that the southern ancestors dealt to. Put the veggies on to cook while
> working the fields, or tending a passel of kids. Way too much starch and
> farm fresh veggies prepared so they don't look any different from ones
> poured out of a can. Rare spice use, way too much sugar and salt, and a
> lot of frying or fat included as nothing was wasted on that hog.
> My "southern" ancestors were from Southern Italy.. our "peasant" foods
> seemed to taste better to me.

Comes straight from the UK roots of the area, especially the Protestant
Scottish.

re other posters, yeah, you are a snob, and catty too. Being right
doesn't change that. You got out of going to Applebees or Olive
Garden, places where most business travel groups end up. No reason to
air your disgust with your co-workers, or make out like you're so much
better than them.

Greg Zywicki.

Sounds like she just opened a re-hash of 'Morrison's Cafeteria'...the
ubercafeteria chain in the South during the 60's-70's. 'Old fashioned
Southern cooking' done on an industrial scale.

If you really, really, really want 'authentic' Southern cooking try
this....while you are out and about, look for a handwritten sign indicating
a church barbeque or 'dinner on the grounds' fund raiser. THE BEST
collards, potato salads, fried chicken, barbeque, pies, cakes, etc. in the
style of 'original' Southern/Soul cooking is made by somebody's moma in the
church kitchen. Usually a whole lot cheaper as well.
-ginny

Virginia Tadrzynski wrote:

> If you really, really, really want 'authentic' Southern cooking try
> this....while you are out and about, look for a handwritten sign indicating
> a church barbeque or 'dinner on the grounds' fund raiser. THE BEST
> collards, potato salads, fried chicken, barbeque, pies, cakes, etc. in the
> style of 'original' Southern/Soul cooking is made by somebody's moma in the
> church kitchen. Usually a whole lot cheaper as well.
> -ginny

Yeah, that might work well, if you get lucky. I picked up a sweet
potato pie once from a church bake sale. I don't know what kind of
church it was--this was a table set up in a mall parking lot--but the
ladies were African Americans and large. One of the top five pie
crusts I've had in my entire life, with a filling that made you forget
you'd ever heard of pumpkin pie. I go by that part of town about every
other month and I always look for a repeat of the occasion, without any
luck so far. -aem

> Yeah, that might work well, if you get lucky. I picked up a sweet
> potato pie once from a church bake sale. I don't know what kind of
> church it was--this was a table set up in a mall parking lot--but the
> ladies were African Americans and large. One of the top five pie
> crusts I've had in my entire life, with a filling that made you forget
> you'd ever heard of pumpkin pie. I go by that part of town about every
> other month and I always look for a repeat of the occasion, without any
> luck so far. -aem
>
I much prefer pumpkin pie to sweet potato, as pumpkin is usually made a
bit spicier and seems less sweet to me. I wonder what that pie crust was
made from that made it so special? I hope you find it again sometime soon.

I'm always stunned when people are totally ignorant of anything out of
their own personal exposure. Zucchini bread for example? I can't tell
you how shocked some people are to something as commonplace (to me) as
that.

"Goomba38" > wrote

> I'm always stunned when people are totally ignorant of anything out of
> their own personal exposure. Zucchini bread for example? I can't tell you
> how shocked some people are to something as commonplace (to me) as that.

You would have been catatonic at my shock that they made
cake out of CARROTS! (laugh)

nancy

Ginny wrote:

> If you really, really, really want 'authentic' Southern cooking try
> this....while you are out and about, look for a handwritten sign
> indicating
> a church barbeque or 'dinner on the grounds' fund raiser. THE BEST
> collards, potato salads, fried chicken, barbeque, pies, cakes, etc. in the
> style of 'original' Southern/Soul cooking is made by somebody's moma in
> the
> church kitchen. Usually a whole lot cheaper as well.

This is an excellent point, and one I will wholeheartedly second. Those
ladies take great pride in their cooking, and rightfully so. It would cost
less than what you'd expect to pay at Paula Deen's restaurant, and the
atmosphere would be more convivial.

Bob

On 21 Sep 2006 19:21:07 -0500, "Bob Terwilliger"
> wrote:

>Ginny wrote:
>
>> If you really, really, really want 'authentic' Southern cooking try
>> this....while you are out and about, look for a handwritten sign
>> indicating
>> a church barbeque or 'dinner on the grounds' fund raiser. THE BEST
>> collards, potato salads, fried chicken, barbeque, pies, cakes, etc. in the
>> style of 'original' Southern/Soul cooking is made by somebody's moma in
>> the
>> church kitchen. Usually a whole lot cheaper as well.
>
>This is an excellent point, and one I will wholeheartedly second. Those
>ladies take great pride in their cooking, and rightfully so. It would cost
>less than what you'd expect to pay at Paula Deen's restaurant, and the
>atmosphere would be more convivial.

There is a wonderful soul food restaurant in Sacramento called The
Cobbler (you can imagine what they're famous for). It sounds a
helluvalot better than Paula Deen's place (although I probably
would've swooned at the tall lanky son at my side, LOL)

TammyM

You never did say if you got the wine finally

Chris B wrote:
> You never did say if you got the wine finally
>
oops, yes I did! It came at the same time as the entire rest of the
ordered meal. <sigh>

Did you try the deep-fried butter sticks?

--Blair

One time on Usenet, Blair P. Houghton > said:

> Did you try the deep-fried butter sticks?

Oh, gross -- I just felt my left ventricle slam shut...

--
"Little Malice" is Jani in WA
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

Litttle Malice > wrote:
>One time on Usenet, Blair P. Houghton > said:
>
>> Did you try the deep-fried butter sticks?
>
>Oh, gross -- I just felt my left ventricle slam shut...

Paula Deen's target demographic.

--Blair

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:32:08 GMT, unge
(Litttle Malice) wrote:

>One time on Usenet, Blair P. Houghton > said:
>
>> Did you try the deep-fried butter sticks?
>
>Oh, gross -- I just felt my left ventricle slam shut...

That's hilarious! :-)

I once made one of her recipes. It was a kind of "dump" cake. Yep,
dump. I think it was called something like gooey butter cake, using a
cake mix. I should have known better. It was VILE. Absolutely
hideous. Positively barfable. I made it as a part of my usual
offering of Thanksgiving desserts. Had it not been for my pumpkin pie
and pumpkin cheesecake, my family pastry chef reputation would have
been irreparably sullied.

TammyM

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:25:49 -0400, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>I can see how this restaurant serves the tourist crowd well, in fact we
>saw bus tours dropping off here, but I was not impressed. These folks I
>was with are not terribly sophisticated nor adventurous eaters. They
>want their fish fried, their veggies soft, three starches per meal and
>the same "comfort food" they've always eaten in mom's kitchen and little
>more.

Sounds perfectly awful!

>They value quantity over quality. It was very discouraging.

Which isn't unusual for most of the country.