My head's in Mississippi

I am spending the next week, plus a few days driving around Mississippi, with quick detours into Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana.

Friday November 28, 2008 

By the time I landed in Memphis a little after noon, I was starved, since the only thing I had eaten so far was a smoothie at the Charlotte airport. My initial destination was going to be a place that Memphis Roadfooder susanll brought to my attention, The Pie Folks in Olive Branch, MS. But I called and got the voicemail saying they were closed until next Tuesday.

Plan B was to stop at Abe's BBQ in Clarksdale. But when I saw the sign for The Blue & White

in Tunica, my hunger got the best of me and I pulled in for a quick lunch.

I had breakfast here in 1999 and had a bad experience. But some other Roadfooders I respect really like the place, so I had to give them another chance. Since I had dinner reservations in Greenville, MS at 5:30, I was in a bit of hurry. They did have a lunch buffet set up, which included, fried chicken and catfish, but I noticed none of the locals were partaking, so I skipped it.

My waitress told me it would take a half hour for a new order of the fried chicken, so that was out. She recommended the Catfish Creole, which sounded good. Two sides come with the meal and she again made excellent recommendations in turnip greens and fried green tomatoes.

While waiting for my food, it occurred to me that there was no reason to wait until after my meal to eat dessert, so I called my waitress back and got a piece of the chocolate cream pie.

This was a very thick pie and was fine, but I have the feeling that it wasn't homemade. Since I didn't ask, I don't know this for sure.

My meal came out quickly.

You can also get your catfish grilled or blackened, but I ordered it fried. The Creole sauce included bacon, shrimp and sausage and Cajun seasonings and was delicious.

I expect to eat quite a bit of catfish on this trip, but this version will be tough to top!

The very good fried green tomatoes

were crunchy and came with ranch dressing for dipping. The clear star of the meal though, were the fantastic turnip greens. They had a very earthy, raw taste, with a strong porky flavor. I loved them!
Two hushpuppies came with the meal, but they were mushy and I only took one bite.

On the way out, I bought a t-shirt. Since the place is named The Blue & White, I naturally bought a red shirt! Kudos to my waitress who took great care of me. She even gave me a to go cup for the excellent sweet tea.


After this meal, The Blue & White is back on my good side. I will probably return later in the trip for breakfast.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1250&RefID=1250

Much more to come.....

Just in case people are wondering about the title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip_yql5vx8w

1 Stop 1 Pie.... Hmmmm I wonder how this trip is going to turn out!

What is this "calling ahead" that you speak of?

Great looking food...love fried green tomatoes!!!

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster

Just in case people are wondering about the title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip_yql5vx8w

I recognized it immediately as a reason to read your report.
Why doesn't anyone have a song about Connecticut?

mark

A great-looking lunch, BuffetBuster.

doggydaddy: You could always sing the state song, Yankee Doodle!

BB, I think you were correct to order off the menu instead of doing the buffet. I have stopped there several times and the buffet can be a hit or miss. The last time I was there, I left without eating. The reason was very slow service and the buffet looked terrible.

Your dinner appeared terrific.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

That Catfish and sauce looks Great, BB!! Keep the reports coming.

If you hit the Blue and White's buffet between 11 and 12 before the lunch rush, it can be sublime. Sunday's finds fried chicken on the buffet and your meal includes beverage and dessert along with fresh hot rolls and cornbread brought to your table by your waitress as they are done. They are so busy on Sunday's that the items are constantly being replenished so quality doesn't seem like much of a problem. If you do want those onion rings and fried chicken for breakfast, I'd call ahead as it takes some time. (662) 363-1371 On the other hand, other than the buffet, its always made to order which takes time but gives you quite the payoff for that wait. They have an excellent breakfast with red-eye gravy for the country ham but I still think Bryants in Memphis is the bomb. 3965 Summer Ave Memphis, TN 38122 (901) 324-7494 www.bryantsbreakfast.com

We need to attach a GPS device to you already.

Looks like the beginning of another good one. Now , you were in the same area last month. Did you leave and come back, or are you staying in the area?

The catfish Creole is nothing what I expected. I love the sauce over the top of the fried filet.

You guys are just living my dream!

Thanks for letting me dream with you.

BB - Great looking suace and tomatoes...how did the Charlotte stop get between Pittsburg and Memphis?

Gregg,
When you fly US Air Everything heading South or Southwest goes thru Charlotte,NC !

Marlene,
That Catfish and Sauce took me by surprise as well. The only other time I have seen that dish it was done in a cassarole dish with the 'naked' fish filet baked on a bed of rice 'in the sauce' during the baking process.(not having the sauce poured over after cooking.

Cliff honey, I would think you would know as well as anyone that there is no reason to wait until after your meal to have dessert. :) So you must be headed to the other Does' Eat Place at 5:30?

Cliff had reservations for lunch at the Doe's in Little Rock and dinner rezzies at the one in Greenville, MS!

Buffetbuster

Great start to the trip so far...

I went to Clarksdale back in 1999. I don't think Blue and White was around yet. I ended up doing a self guided blues tour, and had the most incredible experience hanging out at an authentic juke joint "on the other side of the tracks" . I was the only white guy there, but I heard some live authentic blues.

quote:

Originally posted by The Travelin Man

What is this "calling ahead" that you speak of?

After what happened to me at breakfast this morning, I'm in no position to make fun of you!

ChiTownDiner-
Al is correct that I was flying USAir. I liked it better when Pittsburgh was the hub and everyone had to fly there to get anywhere.

Nancy-
Yeah, I almost made that rookie mistake, thinking dessert is for the end of a meal. At least I remembered it in time! The original Doe's Eat Place in Greenville was dinner last night.

Al & mar52-
That Creole sauce was wonderful. I do wonder if it would have worked as well if I had ordered it grilled or blackened. What do you think?

joerogo-
I actually spent three weekends in a row at home between my Arkansas and Mississippi trips. No doubt, I was getting antsy!

MilwaukeeFoodlovers-
Thanks for the advice on calling ahead with my fried chicken order at The Blue & White. I am planning on having breakfast there the day I fly home, so that will come in handy.

Al & Cliff - Thanks for the explanation...we're pretty spoiled in Chicago with non-stops to pretty much everywhere. This looks like it will be an epic trip!

I just returned from my dinner at Lusco's. What a truly unique and wonderful Roadfood place!

Friday November 28, 2008 

Dinner was at Doe's Eat Place.

Doe's seem to be springing up just about everywhere, but this is their original location.

Located in a rough neighborhood, they are supposed to have security around to make sure everything is ok. I didn't see anyone outside, but since I was able to park right next to the building, it was no big deal. Once I walked in, I saw the security man.

As soon as you walk in, you are in the kitchen, which throws you off a bit. You go into the next room and a hostess greeted me. Luckily I made reservations, or I would have had a wait. They were packed already.


I sat there for ten minutes and a waitress came over and asked if I had ordered yet. She then told me which steaks were available. I never did see a menu, so I don't know if they have one or not. All the steaks were at least two lbs, except for the 10 oz. filet, so I went with that.

The salad costs extra, but I enjoyed the one I had in the Little Rock Doe's a few weeks back, so I ordered one.

Very simple and very good!

My appetizer, broiled shrimp,

came in a delicious sauce, made with lemon, butter, garlic and Cajun spices. Wonderful! Good garlic bread came with it.

My filet arrived with my appetizer.

I usually get my steaks done medium and it was cooked how I like it.

This was a fine steak. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. The problem was, since I had a t-bone on my visit to the Little Rock Doe's, the filet here just didn't have as much flavor. How could it? If I had it to do over, I would have gotten a porterhouse, even if it was way too big for one appetite. Oh, and the fries were excellent, especially after dipping them in the juice that oozed out of the steak.

One other complaint. I was sitting in a corner, pinned in by large parties at big tables. My waitress couldn't even get to me. She had to ask me from 15 feet away if everything was okay. And it would have been tough to get up and look around the place.

The table to my left was a family of seven. Only one of them got a steak. Five of them got spaghetti and meatballs. Now I love spaghetti, but can you imagine coming to Doe's Eat Place and not getting a steak? They also got a couple of orders of the excellent looking tamales. Then the teenage girl closest to me started putting ketchup on her tamales! That is just plain wrong!!!

I hope I am not giving the impression that I didn't like the place. This just isn't a good restaurant to dine by yourself. Maybe I should join those planning on dining here on the Friday of the President's Day Weekend in February, so I could split a big steak and some tamales with others.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=206&RefID=206

I went back to my room and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Much more to come.....

All of the food looks fabulous!!

quote:

Originally posted by The Travelin Man

What is this "calling ahead" that you speak of?

Yes, you should! So far, Poverty Pete, IQDiva and Paul have committed to Friday night at Doe's. We're going to have large porterhouses, large slabs of Norwegian salmon, tamales and other assorted goodies. This is before I have commitments from Bushie and Rick F. If you fail to show up, I'll make you listen to stories of epic food adventures for the rest of the weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

If you fail to show up, I'll make you listen to stories of epic food adventures for the rest of the weekend.

Are you really that evil? Okay, I'll show up on one condition...... Nobody puts ketchup on their tamale!

Come on, PP....you can do better than that.

Promise to take him to the less-desirable parts of town in search of some obscure "regional specialties!"

Which reminds me....I think I have a Nashville report to post sometime.

Mr.PP ... My hubby wants some of those tamales at Does !

I am glad you called ahead to the Pie Shop. I heard after she wasn't picked for the pie contest she said the reason she lost was because she didn't give out the complete recipe. Sounds like sour grapes to me. That and the unusual web page makes me wonder.

BB - check your post about where to eat. I'm from Jackson and just posted - sorry to be so late.

That steak looks perfect...and I want that shrimp dish!!!

I've been hearing about Doe's Eat Place for years. I've always wanted to go there. Thanks for your report. I feel closer now.

As always, an excellent report. Look forward to future reports.