The author after too many boiled crawfish at Shady Acres Fruit Stand, Hattiesburg, Ms. Note Waffle House iced tea, always a good chaser.
5 p.m. April 21----
Lists.
Everyone likes them.
Hall and Oates even had a hit with "Kiss on My List."
I love the way Bob Dylan becomes a listamaniac on "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and Hank Snow sang the all time travel list in "I've Been Everywhere," later popularized by Johnny Cash. Long time reader/Chicago artist Margie Lawrence recently suggested I list the best regional restaurants I ate at during a road trip down Highway 61 to Natchez, Miss., over to New Orleans and back up Highway 49 through the Gulf Coast.
I made a note of it:
1. Ella Kizzie's peach cobbler pie at the Center for Southern Folklore, Memphis, Tn. (www.southernfolklore.com GOOD FOOD).
The rich recipe is a secret, but an ample slice of homemade pie topped with nutmeg and ice cream is $4..................
2. Fried Green Beans at Airport Grocery Eat Place, Highway 8 West, Cleveland, Ms., (662-843-4817, no website).
My road partner Adriana kept name checking celebrity chef Paula Deen as we wound our way through the Delta. Deen prepares Fried Green Beans with a cup of buttermilk and quarter-cups of black pepper and garlic powder.
The green beans are more mellow at the Airport Grocery, a rambling roadhouse which is nowhere near an airport. A basket of two dozen green beans deployed in corn meal batter is $4.95.
I also learned on this trip that Delta Airlines had its roots as a crop dusting corporation in nearby Jackson, Ms. The first Delta passenger flight took off in 1934 between Jackson and Dallas, Tx.
3. Baked kibbies at Rest Haven Restaurant, 419 State St. Clarksdale, Ms. (662-624-8601).
How can you go wrong with traditional Lebanese kibbies in the heart of the Delta?
I could list several things I like about this diner, which in fact I did on a 2008 blog you will find here under "Restaurants We Like."
4. Colt '45 beer, D & T supermarket, 12 N. State St., Clarksdale, Ms. (662-624-6581). Feisty and cheap.
A 24-oz. can of Colt '45 ($1.09!) was the right diversion for a couple of nights at the Shack Up-Inn in Clarksdale. I think Colt '45 should be the recession beer option at Wrigley Field. But our beer of choice became Lazy Magnolia, an English-style brown ale brewed with pecans. Lazy Magnolia is based out of Kilin, Ms. BEER HERE
5. Chargrilled oysters, Acme Oyster House, 724 Iberville St., New Orelans (504-522-5973. OY! ESTERS.
Last time I ate here was a Kentucky Derby day when the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was washed out. I never tried the chargrilled/broiled oysters until this trip, and they were magnificent: 1/2 dozen for $9.99. Nice finishing touch of butter and lightly crusted romano cheese. We sat at the bar and service was prompt, which meant the oysters were served hot. Gotta wash it down with Abita Amber beer ($3.50).
6. Hot whitefish po'boy ($6.95, with lettuce, tomato, mayo and fish from the local Desporte Market) with French Fries & homemade beef gravy ($1.95), Ole Biloxi Schooner, 871 Howard Ave. downtown Biloxi, Ms. (228-435-8071, no website).
Dave Hoekstra has been a 
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