Alabama Cuisine

Yep, Conecuh sausage is a uniquely south AL thing. Fish/Shrimp & Grits is a southern coastal dish too.
Others:
Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Collards/Turnip Greens cooked with a ham hock.
Fried Mullet is unique to the Florida Panhandle and Alabama.
Royal Red Shrimp, only caught in the Gulf in 400-1200' of water.
King Cakes, something you normally only find during Mardi Gras along the Gulf Coast.
Fried crab claws and West Indies Salad.
REAL banana pudding.
Stewed Okra with Tomatoes.
Gumbo: Gumbo in Mobile is different than Gumbo in New Orleans or in Cajun Country.

Score! Just found out I will be able to get Conecuh sausages while in Michigan this weekend. Looking forward to having them for dinner Saturday night.

I tell you what, you can get the best burger at fish river grill, there is one in fairhope(5 min down the road from my house) and there is one in foley, go there and order the swamp burger, half pound of meat with grilled onions, all of the fixings and BACON. Make sure to get some of their "swamp soup". Some of the best stuff in the world man im telling you. True story.

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

So what stereotypes do you guys have about Northerner food (since your hitting on a lot of southerner stereotypes that's up here).

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This is not a stereotype, but an observation. If you go into a lunch buffet up north there will be a wide selection of meats and starches, but few, if any vegetables, especially greens. In the south there will be a few meats, some starches and a wide selection of greens and vegetables.

If you want an example, on your way down I-65 stop at Niki's West in Birmingham and get a vegetable plate if you are passing through at lunch time. It's southern food with a little bit of Greek style on some of the meats, but as good as you will get.

A "meat and three" (three vegetables) is a southern tradition that is not approached up north.

You can Google Niki's West.

Funny enough we don't even have buffets really up here anymore in the Chicago burbs. If we do they are usually the bad Chineese ones. Also I've never seen a cafeteria style restaurant in IL those are a Southern thing (I wish we had them though!). Our lunches come from fast food (thank god we finally have Chikfila here!!!) or order off a menu type. But you're right due do our Germanic ancestry we are very meat and potatoes here. Niki's looks amazing and will have to go there for breakfast before we visit old Cahawba. Anyone been there or know about it?

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Originally Posted by frednic

This is not a stereotype, but an observation. If you go into a lunch buffet up north there will be a wide selection of meats and starches, but few, if any vegetables, especially greens. In the south there will be a few meats, some starches and a wide selection of greens and vegetables.

If you want an example, on your way down I-65 stop at Niki's West in Birmingham and get a vegetable plate if you are passing through at lunch time. It's southern food with a little bit of Greek style on some of the meats, but as good as you will get.

A "meat and three" (three vegetables) is a southern tradition that is not approached up north.

You can Google Niki's West.

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I've always thought that was normal, didn't know that it wasn't like that up north. I feel bad for them.

For the record, my wife did corect me we have two buffet chains in the region: Golden Corral (believe you guys have these) and Sweet Tomatoes (which is actually almost all veg except for soup and a little pasta and focaccia cheese pizza). In thinking about if there's ever a buffet style option its usually a pure salad bar with no meat or potatoes on it. I can't speak for the whole Midwest obviously though.

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Originally Posted by Nimakdm

Niki's looks amazing and will have to go there for breakfast before we visit old Cahawba. Anyone been there or know about it?

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Are you talking about old cahaba, the first capital of alabama? If so I live 15 minutes north of their.

Yep that's the place. We are going to tour it and I am going to be assisting them with some maps etc.. How much time do you think it will take to see it?

+1 on Niki's in Birmingham. Try the souvlaki and rice with a side of fried okra and blackeyed peas.