Country Mouse

In the year that I’ve been here, I’ve come to understand that food, more than prayer, politics, or politeness, is the language of getting along. It is the great equalizer, the common ground in a region still working to repair the scars left from slavery and the Jim Crow era.

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Granted, there’s something to be said for a recipe that has been perfected over generations. (The beauty of a good Southern dish depends on equal measures of country tradition, economy, and authenticity.) But there’s something else going on: The Southern table also offers solace and spirit. Food here has always served as a kind of balm, proving that mistrust and social clashes fall away when people gather to eat. And, as I’ve learned here, the best stories in the South are still told from the plate.