Stephanie Mahoney is the Sales Coordinator at the Hillton Garden Inn, on the beach, in Orange Beach Alabama.

 

“If it ain’t fried it ain’t cooked” is the tongue in cheek motto of many southern cooks.  Southerners are no strangers to battered fried vegetables.  I truly believe they would batter and fry salad if lettuce could withstand the heat.  For me, the most interesting side dish in the vast repertoire of fried vegetable options available on the Gulf Coast, is fried green tomatoes.

This popular southern staple is frequently found on both family tables and restaurant menus.  The tomatoes are generally sliced into circles about a quarter inch thick, breaded with Cajun spiced cornmeal and flour and then lightly fried in hot oil.

I used to wonder why southerners, who are laid back about most things, are too impatient to wait for their tomatoes to ripen.  While the rest of the Northern Hemisphere anticipates the summer’s first ruby red tomatoes fresh off the vine, folks in the southern states jump the gun and pick their tomatoes when they are hard and green.

As a mid-westerner, I’m intrigued by southern cuisines in general and fried green tomatoes specifically.  How could a half ripe tomato become a famous edible treat?  I worked as a caterer for ten years before embarking on a career in hotel management, and I’ve never selected tomatoes at a farmer’s market based on how perfectly green and under ripe they are.  However, I’m learning to trust my Southern family’s palate.  It hasn’t failed me so far.

This innocuous side dish became nationally famous when Birmingham’s Fannie Flag published her novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe which was subsequently adapted into an Academy Award winning movie .  The main characters, Idgie and Ruth, idealize a cherished southern belief that ‘food is love.’

 

 

I decided to leave my first foray into the world of fried under ripe vegetables (that are really fruits) to the professionals and set off to sample them in one of the most renowned eating establishments on the Gulf Coast – Lulu’s Homeport Marina.  Owner, Lucy Buffett, more popularly known as Crazy Sista, and famously renowned as Jimmy Buffet’s Sister, is a trendsetter in local cuisine.

Lucy grew up in Alabama but migrated to Los Angeles as an adult.  The biography on her restaurant website claims she moved back south and founded Lu Lu’s because,  “The memories of a childhood scented by magnolias in the spring, crab boils in the summer, tire swings, and the glories of Mobile Bay, called her back home.”

As I made my way to this legendary Gulf Coast cafe cum theme park, I eagerly anticipated the culinary adventures awaiting me.  When I walked in the door and my senses were bombarded by live music, a three story rope climbing apparatus known as The Mountain of Youth, sand games, outdoor art market and a ponderous collection of memorabilia.  It’s easy to loose your focus at Lu Lu’s and forget you came to eat. 

I managed to bypass these distractions and remain focused on my goal of sampling authentic green tomatoes.   They arrived at the table perfectly fried with a side of  ‘Fun Wow Sauce’- no I’m not making that up- and it was love at first bite. The tart  fresh flavor of the tomato was greatly enhanced by the spicy kick of the sauce.  It no longer surprises me that this innocuous southern side dish inspired a Hollywood block buster movie.

As for Fannie Flag, she and Jimmy Buffet both spent time living in the quaint town of Fairhope, Alabama.  Fairhope with it’s moss draped oaks, panoramic views of Mobile Bay, boutiques, cafes, and art galleries really deserves the credit for making fried green tomatoes famous because it is what truly inspired Miss Flag to write her iconic book.

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Innisfree Hotels owns three hotels located Gulf front on the white sand beach of Orange Beach, Alabama – Holiday Inn Express, Hilton Garden Inn and the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites.  A visit to Fairhope makes a great day trip from Orange Beach.

2 Responses to “If It Ain’t Fried, It Ain’t Cooked”

1. Tj Nathaniel says:

   July 30, 2011 at 8:01 pm

   Hey, I really enjoy reading your site, I’ve made it my home page ! Cheers, Jane

   Reply
   • Stephanie Mahoney says:

     July 30, 2011 at 10:20 pm

     I’m so glad that you have enjoyed our southern stories and experiences. Lot’s more to come, so check back often and tell all of your friends. Until then, Steph

     Reply