“Winning”

Dictionary.com defines it as an “Act of a person or thing that wins.” People in in Tuscaloosa, Alabama would probably tell you it should just say “Crimson Tide Football.”
Yep, long before Chuck Sheen gave us his famous catch phrase, the University of Alabama was producing winning football teams. Established in 1892 the "Crimson Tide" has racked up an impressive 31 bowl wins, 22 SEC titles and 13 national championships (as of 2010) from their home in "T-Town", Bryant-Denny Stadium. Opened in 1929 as Denny Stadium it honoured the former university president George Hutchenson Denny. A name amendment to Bryant-Denny occurred in 1976 to honour coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant. A legend, legends revere.
For many years most of the major “Tide” battles have occurred at the larger Legion Field in Birmingham. However an expansion of the stadium in 1997 meant a larger seating capacity and a permanent home in Tuscaloosa was established in 2004.
I had an opportunity to visit UA and got to see B-D up close and let me tell you it’s huge. The most current addition (2010) has made it the 2nd largest stadium in the SEC, the 5th largest in the US and the 8th largest non racing sports venue in the world at a capacity of well over 101,000.
While the front of B-D stadium faces University Avenue it’s address is actually 920 Paul W Bryant Drive. Right next door to Rama Jama’s.
Literally in the shadow of B-D stadium Rama Jama’s is a veritable shrine to the mighty Crimson Tide football squad. Ya, there are references to other sports but barely enough to let you know UA has other teams. Every inch of wall space is now occupied with a souvinier or picture so they’ve started working on the ceiling. It’s also crammed almost as tight as it will go with tables. On game days you don’t even think about getting in. They have 1 menu. It’s written on the chalk board above the cash registers. It’s a mecca for a Crimson Tide football fan. Heck even the owner bears a striking resemblance to head football coach Nick Saban.
Walking in my nose was to promise me a great meal. The smell of flat top hamburgers hung in the air like cherry blossoms on a spring day. My mouth started to water. My body to tremble with excitement. Mmmm fried beef fat aaaaauuuugggghhhhh!!!!
Okay, I’ve snapped out of it. 

I first heard of this place when Todd Blackledge of ESPN visited for a segment of his “Taste of the Town.” The analyst on ESPN’s Saturday night NCAA football games picks a local eatery every week during the regular season, pays a visit and features them during the game. Eat food, watch college football and get paid for it. Nice work if you can find it.
So with all that build up, how was the food you may ask??

The Championship burger was fantastic. I’m usually not into “Monster burgers” so at 10 oz it was at the top end of my range. I’d rather see 2, 1/4 lb patties rather than 1, 1/2 lb. The fact that it was just a large diner style burger worked fine for me. A bacon cheeseburger with my standard, pickle, onion, ketchup, mustard and mayo that delivered on the promise it held. Probably a top 5 burger for me.
The onion rings were right in my wheel house too. Large cut onion slices battered and deep fried. Passing the pinch and pull tests they’re as good as it gets. Maybe even the best.
Mrs. Sippi got an order of fried green tomatoes which she really liked. I thought they were okay. Far from the best I’ve had but still quite servicable.
Sil went with the RJ special dog. A hot dog wrapped in bacon. How can you go wrong?? Well, you can’t. Especially with mustard and grilled onions. She did admit that cheese would’ve elevated even further.
For desert we opted for an apple and a peach fried pie. Both were fantastic. I think I preferred the peach but the apple with it’s less sweet filling was very nice.
Sil, Madam Butterfly and the King all ordered milkshakes of different flavours and all loved them. 

They serve breakfast as well and having seen another diner with one, trust me, order the All American omelet.

You can find Rama Jama’s at 1000 Paul W. Bryant Drive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.


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Well that’s all from the food court for today. ‘Til next time.

Davwud

"Real Food, Real People and Real Atmosphere"

These are the main ingredients at Puckett's Grocery, or so says their website. They don't however give you an idea of what an eclectic mix Puckett's really offers. While it may seem like a crisis of identity, it's one part general store, one part country kitchen, one part bar and grill. It has miss matched tables and chairs and a miss matched clientele. While all this diversity seems a bit much there is one unifying theme that ties it all together. Great food.

Located on 4th Avenue in historic Franklin, Tennessee, Puckett's is a place where farmers and business leaders, struggling musicians and country music legends, road weary travelers and locals can share music, fried chicken, BBQ, prime rib and nachos.

Having left Dayton, Ohio in a snow storm 7 hours earlier a good home cooked meal was in order. Unfortunately it was past dinner time and what we would call home for the next week was still 2 hours away. Puckett's would be the perfect substitute. This choice was made even better upon arrival when I noticed the specials board advertising Mac & Cheese as the "Vegetable of the day." My doctor did say I need to eat more veggies.

I ordered the fried chicken and Mrs. Sippi ordered the fried catfish. Both mains came with your choice of two sides and a corn cake or dinner roll. We both opted for the corn cake. I chose the a fore mentioned mac and cheese and the squash casserole with my dinner. Mrs Sippi also chose the squash casserole but went for the collard greens instead.

The mac and cheese was fine. It wasn't the best I'd had but it was a solid side to the fantastic chicken. Lightly seasoned and breaded, the chicken was dribble down your chin juicy. Tender and crispy it is served up golden brown and delicious.

Mrs. Sippi's catfish was also outstanding. The fish its self was milder than the catfish I'm used to in Toronto. This perhaps because it would seem to be a younger fish (it was a smaller fillet) than we get in TO. It too was lightly breaded and crispy, golden brown and delicious. Her greens were also very good with the requite few shots of pepper sauce.

The corn cake or "Johnny cake" as it is sometimes known is a cornbread batter ladled onto a skillet and cooked like a pancake. The first bite revealed a nice surprise. It was studded with chile peppers and tasted great. Especially with a healthy slathering of butter.

Now, I'm not a big squash fan. I've had it in many incarnations with only a good butternut squash soup as something I'd seek out. However the squash casserole is worth the drive from Dayton. I don't know what magic they work in the kitchen on this dish but it is purely, simply, unbelievably delicious.


As if all that wasn't enough, the desert of the day was buttermilk chess pie. "What is chess pie" you may ask much like I did. Well, it's a custard like pie. It's uncertain where the name comes from but some people feel that it came from the pie chest that people had "Back in the day." Others will say that the evolved from the cheese pie in England. The best answer it seems is it's a result of what can only be described as a game of broken telephone. What started out as "Just pie" as in, "What's for desert?" "Just pie" has morphed over the years to "Jus' pie", "Jess pie" and on to become "Chess pie." One thing for certain, it has nothing to do with the game of chess.

This became one of those "Oh my god, how have I never had this before moments." It was caramel-ly, vanilla-y and very sweet. Much like a custard but somehow just slightly cakey. The crust reminded me very much of short bread.

On a more recent trip I decided the shrimp and grits were just too good to pass up. Grits for those who don't know are basically the southern version of polenta. It's just cornmeal. "No self respecting southerner makes instant grits" was the line in My Cousin Vinny and rest assured these weren't instant. They had a great corn taste that would suggest they were probably stone ground. The sauce and shrimp was a perfect counter. Rich, spicy (but not hot) and full of shimp flavour.

 This time I went with chocolate chess pie which was every bit as good as it's regular sibling.

I've had a few of their cobblers in the past and Mrs. Sippi's peach version is just about as good as any of them. It's one of those "You can't go wrong ordering it" deserts.

For you Civil War buffs, the Battle of Franklin was fought in and around the town. The near by Carter house still has shot and cannon fire marks on the exterior and not far away is the beautiful Carnton Plantation and the largest private Confederate cemetery.

You can visit Puckett's at 120 Fourth Avenue South, Franklin, TN.
 

Well that's all from the food court for today. Y'all come back now ya hear!!

Davwud