Category Archives: The Rural South

A Tale Of Bloody Bogalusa in Jim Crow Louisiana

Posted on November 29, 2020 by RL Reeves Jr

I explore a particularly violent chapter in the history of Louisiana’s civil rights movement here.

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The History of the Louisiana Hayride

Posted on April 8, 2020 by RL Reeves Jr

But something magical happened in northwest Louisiana starting on April 3rd 1948 when Floyd Acuff strode up to the microphone placed on the stage of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Sadly no known tapes of this performance exist as the FCC … Continue reading →

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The Alabama Donut Trail

Posted on May 4, 2017 by RL Reeves Jr

The Birmingham News has put a lot of hard-work into establishing an official Alabama Donut Trail . I’ll be heading through the state later this year and am looking forward to hitting old favorite Duchess Bakery in Cullman but the … Continue reading →

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2017 Hillbilly Days Festival In Pikeville Kentucky

Posted on March 20, 2017 by RL Reeves Jr

Howard “Dirty Ear” Stratton and “Shady” Grady Kinney founded the Hillbilly Days Festival in Pikeville, Kentucky back in 1977. Since then the party has slowly grown til now an estimated 100k people attend each year. There will be coon dogs … Continue reading →

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Meacham Country Hams Is Closing

Posted on February 15, 2017 by RL Reeves Jr

Meacham Country Hams of Sturgis, Kentucky is closing. The business was established in 1932. This is a wrenching loss for the state of Kentucky’s charcuterie scene. Article

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Legendary Kentucky Ham Producer Harper’s Total Loss In Fire

Posted on February 10, 2017 by RL Reeves Jr

It took more than 61k gallons of water to quell the flames that subsumed Harper’s Country Hams in Hickman County, Kentucky Wednesday morning.

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Confederate Enthusiasts Cowed As Berea Kentucky Plans 2017 Spoonbread Festival

Posted on February 8, 2017 by RL Reeves Jr

Interesting times in Berea, Kentucky. Last year you may recall that what would’ve been the 20th anniversary celebration of the city’s Spoonbread Festival was cancelled in a dust-up over the Confederate flag.

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Rest In Peace June Sullivan VanGorder

Posted on November 19, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

Hug your mother today y’all.

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2016 Boudin Cook Off Is Coming To Lafayette Louisiana

Posted on September 14, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

They just released the poster for the 2016 Boudin Cook Off held at Parc Sans Souci in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Entry is free. The event is Saturday October 22nd 2016 10am-4pm You can purchase eight sample tickets for $5 They … Continue reading →

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2016 Appalachian Food Summit In Berea Kentucky

Posted on August 16, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

The 3rd annual Appalachian Food Summit is coming to Berea, Kentucky the weekend of September 16th 2016. I spent a fair amount of time in Berea when I was a kid growing up in the Cumberland Highlands of southeastern Kentucky. … Continue reading →

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2016 International Biscuit Festival In Knoxville Tennessee

Posted on May 10, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

Five biscuits for $10. I’d give anything to be at the 2016 International Biscuit Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee this weekend . Strolling down Biscuit Boulevard with a salty, country ham biscuit in one hand while keeping a watchful eye for … Continue reading →

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2016 Seedtime On The Cumberlands Festival In Whitesburg Kentucky

Posted on April 4, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

Seedtime On The Cumberland is a combination hoe-down and folk art festival with elements of film, theatre, dance, and of course plenty foods or vittles as some of my relatives who live in the hollers of the Cumberland Mountains like … Continue reading →

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2016 Spoon Bread Festival In Berea Kentucky Cancelled Over Confederate Row

Posted on April 1, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

Last year 60k people attended Berea, Kentucky’s Spoon Bread Festival, an annual homage to that common rural Appalachia dish. This year the spoon bread pans will grow cold as the furor over the Confederate flag has caused the cancellation of … Continue reading →

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The University Of Kentucky Teaches Taco Literacy To Scholars And Gastronomists

Posted on January 29, 2016 by RL Reeves Jr

My heart is filled with pride that the University of Kentucky is now offering college classes on tacos. Professor Steven Alvarez is teaching “Taco Literacy: Public Advocacy and Mexican Food in the US South” this semester on UK’s Lexington campus.

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On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: Wildcat Mountain Cheese In East Bernstadt Kentucky

Posted on November 25, 2015 by RL Reeves Jr

I’m always hunting. I began doing research on Southeastern Kentucky as soon as I got word that I would be traveling there at the end of October. I know the foodways of Eastern Kentucky are among the most diverse in … Continue reading →

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On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: A Taste Of Knox County Kentucky

Posted on November 17, 2015 by RL Reeves Jr

Some of the finest cooks in USA hail from Knox County, Kentucky. With a few notable exceptions they are mainly old granny women living up hollers and putting out Eastern Kentucky classics like chili buns, soup beans, corn bread, greasy … Continue reading →

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On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: Scotties Diner In Knoxville Tennessee

Posted on November 12, 2015 by RL Reeves Jr

When I was a young eater growing up in the Cumberland Highlands region of Appalachia it was a big deal when a new restaurant would open up in our little hamlet of Corbin, Kentucky.

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On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: Chunky Shoals Fish Camp

Posted on November 3, 2015 by RL Reeves Jr

Chunky Shoals Fish Camp opened in 1951 on the banks of the Chunky River in Chunky Mississippi. Since this portion of Mississippi is near the buckle of the bible belt it’s hard to find restaurants that are open for service … Continue reading →

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On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: 2015 Andouille Festival In LaPlace Louisiana

Posted on October 19, 2015 by RL Reeves Jr

I’m a longtime charcutière so when I read that LaPlace was set to hold the latest installment of their long-running Andouille Festival, attendance was mandatory.

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On The Road With RL Reeves Jr: 2015 Festival Acadiens et Créoles In Lafayette

Posted on October 16, 2015 by RL Reeves Jr

Lafayette is the eating center of Acadiana and a sustained argument could be made that it’s the eating center of the entire state of Louisiana. Even battle-hardened New Orleanians would admit that our Westerly neighbor has us beat in a … Continue reading →

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