I want to put it out there that one of my favorite HSU events is about to happen: the Soul Food Dinner is Sunday evening at 6 p.m. in the Kate Buchanan room. We who pine for our Southern moms' cooking especially enjoy this awesome dinner. Last year it was fried chicken, green beans, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread. And the proceeds support HSU's Multicultural Center. The cost is $7.
My first semester at HSU, the school cafeteria served soul food for a week in February (Black History Month) and it was amazing! There was red velvet cake for dessert. I never get to the cafeteria anymore, so I don't know if this is still a February event.
If you like Soul Food, you might want to try the little cafe called Bless My Soul Cafe in Eureka on Fifth Street. They have catfish and black-eyed peas on their regular menu! I can't remember if there are hush puppies. Added to the list of serious yumminess there are also a few spicy Cajun dishes and some very decadent desserts.
The owner of the cafe consistently wins first prize for her sauces at the Humboldt County Fair. And oh-my-my, I just realized she has posted a bunch of her recipes here.
And no, I am not African American. Soul Food and Southern working-class food, also known as Comfort Food, seem to be the same thing, as far as I can tell. The distinction is discussed in a section of this Wikepedia article on Soul Food.
So tell me, what is your comfort food?
My plate last year at the HSU Soul Food dinner.
19 comments:
My mom's homemade chocolate chip cookie dough while she's standing there smiling at me!
That plate of food looks pretty good to me.
I'm from Alabama so I can talk serious soul food...and I can cook it too! Mashed potatoes and gravy are my favorites. Cornbread made from medium ground yellow cornmeal is the best. I prefer collard greens over turnip greens mainly because they are easier to prepare. (Big leaves are easier to clean than the small leaves on turnip greens) Meat loaf, chicken and dumplings, sliced tomatoes and peas...I'm making my mouth water. It all sounds good!
Delurking...
The "J" cafeteria at HSU still serves a "Soul Food Lunch" every Wednesday in February. Next week it's BBQ pork ribs, baked beans, corn on the cob, and cheesecake (the menu is online). I think it's around $6 or $7.
/L
I was just at BMS (sorry) this evening, and enjoyed the blackened catfish, Creole rice, sweet potatoes and cornbread muffins as sweet as cupcakes. My daughter tried her first fried pickle, a new version of her favorite food and one of mine at that age.
My grown-up comfort food's gotta be my man's home-made chicken soup with veggies from the garden, kept hot on the wood stove from lunch til supper...
Some of my favorite comfort foods are Neccos, Ovaltine, Hershey Bars, and Mom's spice cake... but not all at the same time!
Hi K! Hope you'll tell me (in private) about the technical problems you ran into? Anyway, my soulfood would be Mexican, cooked by Abuelita. She taught me Mexican cooking. She was a cook at the San Luis Obispo campus for more than 40 years, and turning 94 this March, she's still running around, cooking for the whole family. Well, I adapted some of her (secret) family recipes (my family btw) into my cooking, and I even wrote a cookbook about it! That's home, I could eat that 7 days a week. *yummy* Just thinking about it *craving*. Have a wonderful weekend now K, and enjoy your dinner at your campus. And don't be a stranger for too long. I'm missing your e-mails and comments already!!! R.
I LOVE soul food! I was actualy born in ALabama. When my parents divorcd we moved to California but I visited my Dad every summer! This food feels so homey!
My comfort food is soup, soup, and more soup! It warms the soul!
I wonder why nobody ever hangs full-length mirrors in their kitchens.
Anonymous, That made me laugh! A mirror would be the least comforting thing to find in the kitchen! All this talk of comfort food is making me hungry!
What? No cheese grits? When we were in Savannah with our Girl Scout troop, we visited 'Lady and Sons' and enjoyed their buffet which looked a LOT like that plate. We also encountered cheese grits at most meals which was new to me but yummy.
Comfort food for me is fresh baked bread, cut while still warm, slathered in butter. Good for the heart but probably not healthy for the heart.
Grandma and grandpa started their day with bacon and eggs with buttered toast and homemade berry jam and coffee. They lived long, healthy lives.
"Delurking" - adding that to my store of neologisms. Lurking is reading blogs without commenting. Delurking is adding one's "two cents" to the conversation, effectively coming out of lurking mode. How interesting!
Just so you all know, I am reading this with only coffee in a paper cup and a half a tangerine to comfort me while I am at work. Where is the SOUP when you need it?
This might be a good time to learn about the wonders of crock pots and Thermos brand containers, Indie. Whipping up a lovely soup is easy and then you can carry it everywhere you travel! Don't forget to bring a really good soup spoon along!
I am reading this with only coffee in a paper cup
Comfart depends on quality. Next time they ask yuo if you want reguler coffee or defecated? --tell em yuo want the good shit
Hey Indie, I have been down with flu for a week, so not been able to keep up to date, but now I'm back!
I love soul food, we have a great place in the Tenderloin called Farmer Browns, http://www.farmerbrownsf.com/menu.html, it was a while since I was there, but you just made me want to go, now!
My fave soul food is Cracklin’ Corn Bread and Mild Jalapeño Chili Beans. And, of course, followed by the great outdoors.
I like any food mild to moderately spicy
Mmmm....Cecelia....I love the watermelon margaritas at Farmer Brown!
Be well, Indie!
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