Explore the culinary genius of the Deep South

24 September 2024

For many of us, food is a big part of any holiday, and that goes double for travel in the USA, especially in the Deep South. Whose mouth doesn’t water at the mere mention of iconic Southern specialties such as jambalaya, gumbo, grits, fried green tomatoes, soft-shell crabs, and catfish? Food is a way of truly immersing yourself in the Deep South region, whether in beachfront shacks cooking up the freshest seafood or in upmarket, fine-dining venues.

Explore the culinary genius of the Deep South

A taste of tradition in Louisiana

Gumbo, etouffée, beignets, boudin, jambalaya, and pralines all exist in recipes passed down through generations of Louisiana residents as an intrinsic part of their Cajun and Creole heritage. World-famous hot sauce Tabasco also originated here more than 150 years ago and is still produced exclusively on Avery Island in southern Louisiana just outside Lafayette. New Orleans even invented the cocktail, in the mid-1800s – the Sazerac was the 1^st cocktail, a mix of whisky, absinthe, bitters, and sugar – but they have created plenty of others besides depending on your taste.

Mouthwatering Mississippi

Mississippi offers distinct culinary adventures of its own. On the coast it’s all about seafood and barbecue, in much-loved venues such as the Blow Fly Inn in Gulfport and The Shed Barbeque in Gulfport and Ocean Springs. In the Delta, you’ll find plenty of catfish and tamales in popular venues such as Airport Grocery in Cleveland and The Donut Shop in Natchez. Other iconic spots include the Crystal Grill and Lusco's in Greenwood, The Little Dooey in Starkville (for barbecues), and Brent’s Soda Fountain in Jackson, recognisable from the film The Help.

Soulful music and food in Tennessee

Tennessee’s iconic music is matched by its deeply comforting cuisine. Unmissable foodie experiences centre around barbecue fare, such as the kind found at Puckett's Grocery in Franklin and Nashville, which has been cooking up a storm for 70 years or Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous where you can enjoy “Memphis style” barbecue ribs. For “Hot Chicken” check out Gus's World-Famous Fried Chicken in its original location Mason in West Tennessee or the original “Nashville Hot Chicken” at Princes Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville, where legend has it this was invented as a revenge dish! For small town restaurants stop in Lynchburg for some old-time hospitality at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant for some fantastic family style Southern fare.

The barbeque state of Alabama

Alabama is also big on barbecue, with some outstanding restaurants across the state – among them Dreamland with its mouth-watering ribs in ten venues scattered across the state. Other signature dishes include oysters at Wintzell's in Mobile, while eating fresh seafood from the fishing village in Forrest Gump, Bayou La Batré near Mobile, is a must. Why not check out Automatic Seafood, where the chef was names best in the South in 2022! For another famous locale, visit the Irondale Café in Birmingham, the Original Whistle Stop café in the book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café

The Deep South lends itself beautifully to a classic US road trip – a big part of your open-road experience is the freedom to stop off for fabulous soul food and other tasty local delights. As an alternative to a self-drive, you can also travel on an organised tour, by old-fashioned riverboat, or by rail – US national operator Amtrak is shortly to reopen the Gulf Coastline linking Mobile, Alabama with New Orleans via Bay St Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula.

Existing routes are the Crescent Route from New Orleans, with stops in Hattiesburg (Mississippi) and Tuscaloosa and Birmingham (Alabama), before heading to New York; and the City of New Orleans line, serving New Orleans, Jackson (Mississippi), and Memphis (Tennessee), before making its way up to Chicago.

To book your food-focused holiday in the Deep South, call your Travel Counsellor today.

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