A conversation from Saturday, when C. and I were driving around to the Farmer’s Market and then to get Thai for lunch. The topic turned toward Southern food, which I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with. I miss it sometimes, but only eat it once a year when I’m at home. Because I never eat it, it makes me ill when I do. You have to be in training for this much grease.

C: So what comes with catfish?
K: Hushpuppies. And french fries. And usually coleslaw, but sometimes green tomato relish and an onion slice.
C: So it’s basically an entire plate full of fried food, plus a vegetable covered in mayonnaise?
K: Yep. And it comes with tartar sauce, so most people dip the fish in mayo too. But I prefer ketchup. And you can order the plate in various combos, so sometimes it comes with catfish and chicken fingers, or catfish and fried shrimp, or all three.
C: Wow. You fry a lot of other stuff down there, don't you? Like okra?
K: Oh, yeah. Fried okra. My grandma used to make this thing that used eggplant or zucchini, too. Dip the rounds in egg, then in crushed Saltine crumbs, then fry them. And then melt cheese on top of them.
C: But that’s about it, right? I mean, what else can you fry?
K: Lessee. Fried okra, fried eggplant, fried zucchini, fried yellow squash, french fries, fried potatoes, hashbrowns, fried sweet potatoes, fried tomatoes, fried green tomatoes, fried corn...
C: Fried corn? How do you fry corn?
K: You just do. Fried artichokes, fried cauliflower, fried mushrooms, fried onion rings, fried pickles, fried broccoli, fried chicken, chicken-fried steak, fried fish, fried shrimp, fried clams, fried oysters, fried bacon, fried apples, hushpuppies, fried biscuits, fried donuts, fried bread, fried dough, fried pie...
C: Fried pie?
K: Fried Pie.

*I might add nicely that C. would admit she has no room to talk, since she comes from a place where people fry cheese. She was also a participant in the famed all-cream dinner.