Joe Johnston Boeken

This warm, sometimes humorous, fact-filled history of the Souths uniquely yummy food shines new light on Southern culture. Its also a thick-as-sawmill-gravy exploration of Southern relationships, because in the South, food is a social matter, and theres a story behind every dish. The text includes short historical sidebars called Porch Talk and is also sprinkled with bits of homespun Granny wisdom called Recipe for Living.

Students of the Civil War know Franklin, Tennessee, for the major battle that happened here, but there is a lot more to the story. In fact, Main Street in Franklin is a glimpse into 250 years of history. Within a few blocks surrounding the public square, some of the city's original buildings now house the newest and most popular shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in Middle Tennessee. Franklin has been a center for agriculture and manufacturing. It is a place where families can enjoy small-town life on the interstate. It is home to a college. It has always been the seat of Williamson County. Franklin's small businesses have a habit of sticking around for decades, often passing through generations of the same family. Franklin is as quaint and picturesque as it is exciting and progressive, because it continues to attract the kind of people who have always made it that way.