The South is complicated – blog

“The South. Where hatred and hospitality run in parallel.”

I heard that line in a show last night about food in the South and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’ve never heard the South summarized in such a way and I can’t decide if it makes me uncomfortable or if it really is just an unfortunate truth to accept and deal with – kind of like loving your broken sibling.

I grew up as an Army brat, moving every few years but whenever I’ve lived in the US, I’ve lived in the South and both of my parents are children of farmers.

I set out on this journey for no roots cooking to find my roots through food and recipes to better understand where I came from, but I think it’s time to admit that if I do have any roots, they are in the South and the food of the South.

Admitting that I am “from the South” is creating a come to Jesus moment for me I hadn’t expected.

It’s hard admitting or even saying out loud that you’re from a place that as wonderful and hospitable as it is on the outside, it is also still a very broken place that still struggles with its poverty, with its education and its historical parallel lines of hate and hospitality.

The food that I grew up on, the food of the South, fascinates me to the point of obsession.

This food was borne out of necessity and availability. The poorest of the poor found ways to make otherwise unappetizing food delicious. I have opened my heart and my stomach to foods I never knew people even ate. I have asked questions. I have left my comfort zone. I am on a journey and I effing love it.

I didn’t realize as a kid that we were eating “poor people” food but I wouldn’t have cared anyway. I loved that food then and I still love it today.

Food brings us together not just for the nourishment of our bodies, it provides the nourishment for our souls as well. Food is a place where differences don’t matter. Food is a place where history and struggle is served on a round cafeteria plate. Food is an adventure you can take without ever leaving town and I’m here for it.

I can’t sit here and pretend to understand the complexities of the South, but I can say that through food, I am understanding it more and want to keep learning. I love the food of the South, the people of the South and will remain forever on the track of hospitality and hope the track of hate ends sooner rather than later.

‘Til next time,
~Mike, xo