Several of us in Hattiesburg are hosting a Motorcycle event in April.
There are currently folks riding in for this event from 15 different states. Although I do currently live in Southern Mississippi and have lived in the South previously, I'm originally, a Mid-Westerner. We all grew up with different experiences and cultures. That also included the foods that were inclusive in our daily diets and some items that were considered special.
Now, don't go thinking I'm totally inexperienced in the different culture and food categories, I've lived and been assigned in many places on this rock we call home. I've tried Kaegogi in S. Korea, monkey brains in Central American, Gator in FL, snake in several different locales, bear up north, several different versions of wildlife at Game Feeds and many other regional delicacies. BUT, I've had a request to provide Crawfish for one of our meals.
Yeah, I know (and have known for years) people eat them but, quite honestly, I'm not about to eat what I grew up using for fish bait.
Regardless, this caused me to wonder about other regional specific dishes. I'm sure there are other dishes that I wouldn't try but curious as to what interesting/unique dishes I'm missing.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-13-2020).]
Chicken fried bacon comes to mind for my area....actually chicken fried anything, except chicken..
OTOH, I can tell you, that providing crawfish for a relatively large group is not going to be inexpensive. Even with the expected big harvest this year and a drop in prices, it's about $2.40/lb live right now in East Texas and South La. Plan on 3-5 lbs per person, and if it's a bunch of big burly biker type mudbg eaters, go with the high side. Don't forget the potatoes and corn and onions. Plenty of crab/crawfish seasoning and a LOT of Tony Chacheres. (I'm talking lbs of seasoning, not little packages)
One of my favorite regional dishes goes by several names, can have various compositions and is available in any seaside town in Mexico. Coctel Mariscos, Coctel Campechana or Ceviche is essentially raw seafood marinated in a mixture of lime, lemon and tomato juice along with chilis, onions, ginger, cilantro, etc. It can be made with any one of, or any combination of fish and shellfish. My favorite always includes shrimp, abalone and octopus.
Years ago, I stumbled on an absolutely authentic recipe in the "Fanny Farmer Boston Cooking School Cookbook". It is always accompanied by a bottle of hot sauce, my personal favorite is Louisiana Brand; and can be served with tostadas or tortilla chips, but in Mexico it is usually server with saltine crackers.
Crawdads really are just tiny lobsters. If you like lobster, you will love crawdads.
My grandmother was from Booneville, MS and the things I miss most from her cooking are Collard Greens, Blackeyed peas with big chunks of salt pork, boiled peanuts and what I call real cornbread. What most people think of as cornbread is almost like cake, to me. Of course I can fix the collards and blackeyed peas, but I can't get the peanuts and I don't know how she made the cornbread. I have never found anything like it.
OTOH, I can tell you, that providing crawfish for a relatively large group is not going to be inexpensive. Even with the expected big harvest this year and a drop in prices, it's about $2.40/lb live right now in East Texas and South La. Plan on 3-5 lbs per person, and if it's a bunch of big burly biker type mudbg eaters, go with the high side. Don't forget the potatoes and corn and onions. Plenty of crab/crawfish seasoning and a LOT of Tony Chacheres. (I'm talking lbs of seasoning, not little packages)
Noted.
Well, unlike this forum, my Valkyrie forum offers the capability to conduct surveys/polls so, I've asked what the group wants. We're already providing smoked and BBQ'd pork with several sides. A couple of the gents coming asked about the crawfish so, I responded that if enough folks wanted it, I'd go in for a $100.00 of it. We'll get what we get. Reference the seasoning and cooking, I've never done this so, I'm leaving that up to my daughter's S. O. He's a local gent and already has all the necessary equipment and experience. He needs to do this right, he's already got one strike against him. He rides a vibrator (HD).
BTW, Chicken Fried anything is great as far as I'm concerned (except if it's chicken). I don't eat fowl. Chicken Fried Rattle Snake was actually pretty good.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-13-2020).]
Crawdads really are just tiny lobsters. If you like lobster, you will love crawdads.
My grandmother was from Booneville, MS and the things I miss most from her cooking are Collard Greens, Blackeyed peas with big chunks of salt pork, boiled peanuts and what I call real cornbread. What most people think of as cornbread is almost like cake, to me. Of course I can fix the collards and blackeyed peas, but I can't get the peanuts and I don't know how she made the cornbread. I have never found anything like it.
Probably hotwater cornbread. you almost have to use lard to make it right.
One of my favorite regional dishes goes by several names, can have various compositions and is available in any seaside town in Mexico. Coctel Mariscos, Coctel Campechana or Ceviche is essentially raw seafood marinated in a mixture of lime, lemon and tomato juice along with chilis, onions, ginger, cilantro, etc. It can be made with any one of, or any combination of fish and shellfish. My favorite always includes shrimp, abalone and octopus.
Years ago, I stumbled on an absolutely authentic recipe in the "Fanny Farmer Boston Cooking School Cookbook". It is always accompanied by a bottle of hot sauce, my personal favorite is Louisiana Brand; and can be served with tostadas or tortilla chips, but in Mexico it is usually server with saltine crackers.
Just looking at a picture makes my mouth water.
I tried this years ago on a business trip to Monterrey, Mexico, at a restaurant called Los Arbolitos, in a high-end restaurant and shopping area (because Monterrey). I took one bite and nearly threw up. Seeing it and similar dishes makes me physically ill.
I tried this years ago on a business trip to Monterrey, Mexico, at a restaurant called Los Arbolitos, in a high-end restaurant and shopping area (because Monterrey). I took one bite and nearly threw up. Seeing it and similar dishes makes me physically ill.
Hmm, liver does the same thing to me. Doesn't matter how it's prepared. The smell makes me nauseous.
In Taiwan and Thailand, they eat a lot of octopus and squid. (probably Japan too) The squid is usually dried and or smoked and it's THE snack of choice in movie theaters instead of popcorn. It's mostly the tentacles and the stiff membrane from the body was removed before packaging. Comes either shredded, chopped or whole. Very popular as a snack everywhere. It wasn't terrible, tho salty as heck and still had that 'bait' odor/taste to it.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 02-14-2020).]
and real cheese curds, none of that block stuff. 
