One of the foci of our trip across the country is to find some of the best food in the country; Three days in, we have not been disappointed. Between some incredible meals, we’ve also partaken in the Waffle House (great cheap waffles) and Cracker Barrel (with surprisingly tasty pancakes). And in every restaurant we’ve visited, we’ve been shocked to see the obesity south of the Mason-Dixon line. Shocked. I have seen someone clearly over 350 pounds in every restaurant we’ve been to, and most of the time there have been two or three. While I’m sure there’s a lack of exercise going on, the piles — yes, piles — of butter with which I’ve seen people smother their grits has to be hurting. You hear about the obesity of the South, but to see it, to see a 30-year-old girl who needs a walker to get around, is heartbreaking. Every time I’ve seen this obesity, I’ve been overwhelmed by the desire to help these people. I have to believe the education on diet is simply not there.
Beyond the chain restaurants is some amazing food. Some of it’s pricey and some of it’s just wonderful cheap food.
Last night in Durham, N.C., we visited Magnolia Grill, which is consistently ranked in the top 15 restaurants in America by gourmet magazine, and which has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. It didn’t disappoint. The sweet potato bisque with crab was spicy and aromatic; The quail on risotto was rich and fell off the bone; The rock shrimp was cooked perfectly; And the cinnamon ice cream on the sweet potato-pecan pie had a hint of orange that was heavenly. It’s tough for a food layman like myself to sit back and say one great restaurant is better than another, but this one is certainly in contention.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from “Venison Bresaola with Persimmons & Chestnuts” is one of the best hamburgers I’ve ever had. Litton’s Market and Restaurant is a not-so-little dive in Knoxville, Tenn., we found in the book Road Food. While they like to cook their burgers well-done, I got mine medium and it was cooked perfectly. The meat melted in my mouth, the bun was the perfect compliment. And after the great burger we sampled the key-lime pie and the Italian vanilla cake. The cake was (other than my mom’s) the best cake I have ever had; And it had cream cheese frosting (they only make cream cheese frosting for their cakes at Litton’s) that rivals my mom’s.
on Dec 20th, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Your ignorant and simplistic view of the South is deeply offensive.
on Dec 20th, 2008 at 5:18 PM
What was ignorant and simplistic?
It’s a fact: The South has the highest rate of obesity in the nation:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20476824/
The chief reason? Poverty. “Poverty and obesity often go hand in hand, doctors say, because poor families stretch their budgets by buying cheaper, processed foods that have higher fat content and lower nutritional value.”
on Dec 20th, 2008 at 7:52 PM
I wasn’t sharing a view of the South but of just what I observed. I have seen lots of obese people. That doesn’t mean I think Southerners are all fat. That doesn’t mean I think they’re all bad or dumb. I’ve found them incredibly nice and friendly!! I was writing about the food and I have simply seen much more obesity here than ever before. That’s all.
on Dec 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Javier…there is no point in being offended. Did you not realize we are the “red-headed step-child” of our country…my apologies to any red-headed step-children. If it weren’t for us…the USA would be a perfect country. Simply, the are “elitist”. It makes them feel better about themselves to find some group of people to put down. Read “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”…they like to think we are the “child”. Unlike they, we continue to be nice to them…NO it isn’t because we are so dumb we don’t know better. We just had better “raising” than y’all did.
on Dec 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Primary method of cooking food in the south is by frying. You cant make healthy, fried foods. Alot of the people who are overweight down south are so because they dont maintain a balance between activity and what they eat. Thats a knowledge issue, because no way is tofurkey is ever going to take hold there.
on Dec 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I grew up in NC and VA, food is good down south, but very fattening…because fat = tasty. Just clarifying.
on Dec 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Hey Cyd..I’m glad you found Litton’s. Actually I had meant to write and suggested it when you said you were looking for good places to eat.
I was just there this past Saturday night myself. And btw, it’s Italian Cream Cake. My favorite cake in the world, and there’s only one place I had it better. Also in Knoxville.
Tony
on Dec 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Tony, we saw a gay couple leaving when we got there – probably around 8:30. Was that you??
on Dec 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 AM
There are a lot of fat arse people in the south. I flew through Houston last week and it was crazy. My time in Alabama was disturbing because of all the unhealthy habits. My cousin has a deep fryer next to his bed and makes potato chips all the time. He is 30 and weighs over 300 pounds and has serious medical problems. It’s not because he’s poor, because other cousins without money push away from the plate. Whether emotional eating or laziness, it’s not cool. I did eat a lot of good coon and rabbit when I was there. And the deep friend snickers bars are amazing. But I do see fatter people down south. It’s just what I see.
And I think that if Southerners want respect getting rid of phrases like the “war of northern aggression” and stopping the passionate embrace of all things Confederate might make a difference. The war is over and people are still like “the South will rise again…”, maybe it’s all that wishful thinking that has people thinking of you as an unwilling participant in our country/stepchildren. Some of my best friends are from the South, so I’m not prejudiced.
on Dec 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Asking southerners to give up what they view as cultural heritage is a bit short sighted and more than a little arrogant. Why should they become northerners or westerners? They add flavor to what would otherwise be a bland homogenous society.
on Dec 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 PM
WOW, I was going to make some suggestions or possibly ask to join you in Santa Fe for dinner, but I am fat and would hate to be judged based on that or have you reflect on Santa Fe as another horrible fat place in America.
on Dec 25th, 2008 at 1:22 AM
There’s a show on the Food Channel that explains some more about what’s being discussed here. It’s called “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The host drives around the country looking for the best cheap restaurants anywhere in the U.S. The size of the helpings, the emphasis on carbs and fats, and the fact that the host is a bit chunky, not to mention a certain percentage of the customers, reveals a lot about our national diet. It’s not just the South, y’awl.
on Dec 25th, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Jeff, I’m sorry you took it that way. I was commenting on something I noticed in my travels, that’s all. I didn’t say anything or anyone was “horrible” or bad because of their weight. I don’t feel that way at all! In fact, I really enjoyed traveling through the South! And of course, I have friends who are overweight and some who are obese. I love them no less than any other friends because of it!!
I understand there are many factors that contribute to the weight of people. All I said was that I noticed obesity in the South and had a desire to help people who are obese. I’d hope you’d agree that a 30-year-old needing a walker because of her weight is something you’d like to at least educate her on. I’m sorry you took that as a judgment. It wasn’t. We’ll be in Santa Fe tonight. If you’d like to get dinner or a cup of coffee, drop me an email at cyd@outsports.com. I’d love to see you!
on Dec 25th, 2008 at 8:39 PM
How do you know her lack of education caused her weight? Might it have been some medical or psychological condition? WE…who ask others not to judge us…often judge others the harshest.
on Dec 25th, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Cyd, I know you were making an observation. I responded here a little emotionally, but often times we “Bearish” gays find ourselves being discriminated within the gay culture as a whole. I just ask that we all see that everyone has their struggles, my Dad’s was with liquor, my aunt smokes, and mine is food. Enough said, and I’ll have to miss coffee tonight since I didn’t see this until 8pm and I live in Española (about 30 miles north). But I am very thankful for the offer.
on Jan 5th, 2009 at 9:27 AM
I wholly agree with the observations of the article. As a Kentucky native who travels home for holidays and other family events from Metro Washington DC, I am continually amazed at the size of the people I see. I am also amazed when I see all the handicapped parking spaces at the local malls filled and the huge people in their 40s and 50s hoisting themselves out of the cars and trucks parked in them. Right there you are seeing one driver of the health care funding issue — these people have multiple conditions (diabetes, cardiac issues, joint/mobility issues, etc.) brought about directly by their obesity.
on Feb 10th, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Well, my experience of the South is this:
I went to visit someone I really had a crush on, and we ended up making out. We were 17 at the time, and her parents caught us, and were VERY close to getting their gun and killing me for what I did.
I later found out that almost everyone in that town owned a gun, and, most disgustingly, wanted to essentially kill every Arab, every Muslim, and every non-Judeo-Christian on the face of the planet – including the girl I was once attracted to! Is this town typical of the South? I hope not, though, to put it gently, I’m not optimistic.