Trail Mix

(taken from the Mississippi Delta Tamale Trail website...Mmmmm!)

I'm learning that Mississippi is chock full of Trails. We have a Blues trail, Culinary Trail, Literary Trail - the list goes on. The one I'm currently working on is the Culinary Trail, which breaks down each region of the state: The Hills, The Delta, The Pines, The Capital Region and The Coast. Each area, each town has great stops and good eats. I've been joking that every afternoon my stomach begins craving hot tamales and fried catfish.

Actually, I'm not joking - I really do get a little hungry.

The Southern Foodways Alliance is incredible. In their own words:

The Southern Foodways Alliance documents, studies, and celebrates the diverse food cultures of the changing American South.

We stage symposia on food culture, produce documentary films, publish compendiums of great writing, and—perhaps most importantly—preserve, promote, and chronicle our region’s culinary standard bearers. We’re talking white tablecloth chefs and fried chicken cooks, barbecue pitmasters and peanut farmers.The SFA is a member-supported organization of more than 800 people.

Chefs and academics, writers and eaters: all are active participants. Though we are a lean and efficient organization, our work has great impact. In the Atlantic Monthly, Corby Kummer dubbed the SFA “this country’s most intellectually engaged food society.”

They publish cookbooks, put out documentary films and record oral histories.

Speaking of oral histories, did you know that the University of Southern Mississippi has an Oral History Program that records and documents stories about Mississippi from people of all walks of life? They just celebrated their 10 year anniversary in February.

Last week I was jealous because everyone in the Tourism office was gone to New York City to attend the Big Apple Barbeque Block Party, the Mississippi in the Park Picnic and all the other festivities happening. The only reason my other supervisor was still in the office is because she is 9 months pregnant! I'm glad she was there for company, though!

So, back to food: I can't wait to toodle around on the Hot Tamale Trail. (Yes, I used the word "toodle")

It's fascinating that there's more than one way to wrap a hot tamale. I've only ever seen them wrapped in corn husks; but there's also parchment paper and newspaper.

For recipes, information on the trail (and other food trails) and to watch videos click right here.