Soul Food or Not #CarolinaKitchen#soulfood

     I am a New Englander with Caribbean roots.  I say this to say that soul food - the southern staple is not a cuisine in my wheel house.  However, every now and then, I step out to explore some southern fare.  This keeps my plate ready when I travel.  I chose a nearby venue that is known to enhance the southern flavor on an affordable budget.

     I selected carefully a appetizer that I knew I would enjoy.  I always order it when I see it on the menu.   Of course, that is the delectable fried green tomatoes.  I just love them.  I am glad to say they did not disappoint me.

They were fried crispy but still tender inside.  And the sauce, it just coated your tongue that afforded you just the flavor to enhance those tomatoes.  I could of order another for my entrée.  But, I did not.  There was still another item I was savoring.

     I chose as my entrée barbecue beef short ribs with macaroni and cheese and potato salad.  Yes, I skipped a vegetable.  I find soul food vegetables over cooked.  I like my vegetables a la dente.  

I ordered my sauce on the side to enable my to dip my meat in the sauce and not allow the sauce to control the meat flavor.   The ribs were juicy and firm.  They gave me plenty to eat.  Unfortunately, I was tried of eating them before I was done.  The macaroni and cheese was delicious but not as good as when, on rare occasions, I make my own.  Still I enjoyed the richness of the cheese and the noodles were not mushy.   The potato salad had too much sugar in it for my liking.  It was sickly sweet.  I believe in a little sugar from sweet relish.  However, I know they added SUGAR.  I really want to know WHY.  

     I skipped the corn muffins covered in butter and cinnamon.  Others may rave about them.  But, for me, they are wasted calories.  My daughter, on the other hand, ate them all.

     As a lunchtime experience, it was great.  The food was decent - especially the fried green tomatoes.  The atmosphere was good.  I loved the music and the restaurant's energy.  As for soul food, I think I would skip this one next time I am in the mood for the southern fare.  I will try Oohh's and Aahh's on historical U Street in Washington, DC.