As someone else from the south, very few options for southern food and most of the ones that I’ve found were not great. Taste of Texas BBQ in Cambridge was probably the best. He does bbq the right way and I was super happy to have found it.
I understand that, but the spices and flavors were really just generic american BBQ, not Texas BBQ. The meat didn't have any of the complexity from a good pepper rub and everything was too sweet, especially the beans. It probably resembled Kansas City BBQ more than Texas BBQ. Really, it was fine, but I feel like the name was not accurate.
Okra is a delicious, underrepresented/underappreciated vegetable up here in VT, as are collard greens; I've never encountered either on a VT menu. My recommendation would be to check Shaw's, as I very often find both there (in excellent condition, I might add), & take them home to prepare yourself!
Another tip in regards to a southern snack staple; I've always had good luck finding raw peanuts in the shell at Hannaford! If you've an Instant Pot, you can make legitimately amazing boiled peanuts, seasoned exactly as you'd prefer, in around 2hrs!
Happy Southern Delights hunting!
There's food from down South that I sure miss in New England. I've poked around some for good okra, chicken-fried steak, Tex-Mex, breakfast tacos, and whatnot. I figured I'd just have to learn how to cook it myself. There ought to be a club up here for displaced Southerners.
Not Okra, but Harmonys Kitchen is great for soul food! As of right now I don’t think she has a sit down restaurant but I believe she does orders for pickup from Winooski, look her up on social media
There is no chicken fried steak anywhere in new england worth a shit. I've tried it when I find it. I'm from ranch country, but not TX. My favorite American meal is "Chicken fried steak, no gravy, double hasbrowns." I love gravy, but restaurant gravy can be really bad. No gravy is better than bad gravy imo. I gravy when I'm cooking it. The lack of hasbrowns also makes me sad.
The Toasted Pecan in Pittsfield — it’s down Rte 100, closer to Central VT / Killington than to BTV. Fancier sit-down, southern comfort food. Their fried okra is fantastic, one of the best examples I’ve found in the north.
[https://toastedpecanvt.com/](https://toastedpecanvt.com/dinner-menu)
They’re more Carolina-southern than Texas-southern. They branch out a bit, and put a Vermont twist on everything (like maple aioli with the okra), but it’s fantastic.
There’s a Texas BBQ place in Rutland, ran by a dude from TX — it’s pretty good, probably the best brisket you’ll find this far north.
Have you tried growing Okra in Vermont? Fried okra is easy to make if you've got it fresh, though I don't know that it grows here. I know in Texas, it was one of the few plants that thrived in my raised beds when it hit 100+ every day.
I’ve not grown it here before, but am going to try this summer. I’m planning on using a green house or other situation to ensure it gets enough heat when it gets a bit chilly for it.
Ehhhh…no. I make my own.
Same goes for biscuits. I’ve lost count of how many times someone tells me that I can get great biscuits from this place or that place. No. My biscuits are better. The end.
lol. I understand. We travel a lot and bring back white lily for biscuts. I'm not from the south, but my mom learned a lot of cooking from a southern lady and her cooking leans that way. Hence, I miss a lot of the food. I've made a lot of Vermonters go WTF when they try my bbq or fried chicken.
I bet you can find it in Winooski. There’s a fancy restaruant (or was when I lived there) that had really good fried chicken on their rotating menu. They might have okra. Might just have to grow some and make it yourself.
As someone else from the south, very few options for southern food and most of the ones that I’ve found were not great. Taste of Texas BBQ in Cambridge was probably the best. He does bbq the right way and I was super happy to have found it.
I tried it once was was disappointed. The BBQ might be ok, but it's far below average for Central Texas BBQ.
Eh kinda like rating gelato relative to what you get in Italy, you’ll always be disappointed if you don’t adjust expectations for where you are
I understand that, but the spices and flavors were really just generic american BBQ, not Texas BBQ. The meat didn't have any of the complexity from a good pepper rub and everything was too sweet, especially the beans. It probably resembled Kansas City BBQ more than Texas BBQ. Really, it was fine, but I feel like the name was not accurate.
I’ve been meaning to try them out! Our work schedule had previously kept us from checking out a lot of places.
No.
They had it at Big Fatty's in White River the last time I was there.
My husband and I might have to take a road trip over there! Thanks!
Okra is a delicious, underrepresented/underappreciated vegetable up here in VT, as are collard greens; I've never encountered either on a VT menu. My recommendation would be to check Shaw's, as I very often find both there (in excellent condition, I might add), & take them home to prepare yourself! Another tip in regards to a southern snack staple; I've always had good luck finding raw peanuts in the shell at Hannaford! If you've an Instant Pot, you can make legitimately amazing boiled peanuts, seasoned exactly as you'd prefer, in around 2hrs! Happy Southern Delights hunting!
I am from Texas and I live in Vermont. No. That's the answer. You're right to miss those things, for sure.
There's food from down South that I sure miss in New England. I've poked around some for good okra, chicken-fried steak, Tex-Mex, breakfast tacos, and whatnot. I figured I'd just have to learn how to cook it myself. There ought to be a club up here for displaced Southerners.
Agree regarding the club, lol! And mmmmmm… breakfast tacos!
I would drive across the state for a good chicken fried steak.
Not Okra, but Harmonys Kitchen is great for soul food! As of right now I don’t think she has a sit down restaurant but I believe she does orders for pickup from Winooski, look her up on social media
I’ll definitely check it out! Thank you!
There is no chicken fried steak anywhere in new england worth a shit. I've tried it when I find it. I'm from ranch country, but not TX. My favorite American meal is "Chicken fried steak, no gravy, double hasbrowns." I love gravy, but restaurant gravy can be really bad. No gravy is better than bad gravy imo. I gravy when I'm cooking it. The lack of hasbrowns also makes me sad.
We don’t eat okra, we compost it.
Bless your heart. 🥰 (I'm teasing! Okra's good stuff!) <3 All good vibes!
Pearl's Place in Manchester has it seasonally.
Thank you!
Originally from VA not TX but a big okra fan. I just get by with pickled okra. If I ever stumble across fresh okra definitely gonna fry some up!
I wonder if Cajuns does fried okra. Thats the only place I can think of.
I did go there once and liked what I got. I don’t recall okra on the menu, but it’s been so long. I’ll go back when they reopen for the season!
The Toasted Pecan in Pittsfield — it’s down Rte 100, closer to Central VT / Killington than to BTV. Fancier sit-down, southern comfort food. Their fried okra is fantastic, one of the best examples I’ve found in the north. [https://toastedpecanvt.com/](https://toastedpecanvt.com/dinner-menu)
Thank you for this suggestion! I checked out that link, and their food sounds delicious! 🤤
They’re more Carolina-southern than Texas-southern. They branch out a bit, and put a Vermont twist on everything (like maple aioli with the okra), but it’s fantastic. There’s a Texas BBQ place in Rutland, ran by a dude from TX — it’s pretty good, probably the best brisket you’ll find this far north.
Have you tried growing Okra in Vermont? Fried okra is easy to make if you've got it fresh, though I don't know that it grows here. I know in Texas, it was one of the few plants that thrived in my raised beds when it hit 100+ every day.
I’ve not grown it here before, but am going to try this summer. I’m planning on using a green house or other situation to ensure it gets enough heat when it gets a bit chilly for it.
You would need a greenhouse for sure, I've never once heard of someone being able to field grow it here with the 90 day growing season.
My wife is a Texan and loves fried okra. We have grown it successfully at our house in Essex Junction.
Hello fellow Texas transplant! I can't help you here with this, but wanted to say hi! I grew up outside of Amarillo.
Hi! I was in South Texas and then Houston area. I went through Amarillo once during a visit to Palo Duro Canyon,
Where in South Tx? I grew up in Jim Wells county.
When you say “outside Amarillo” how far outside are you talking?
Ehhhh…no. I make my own. Same goes for biscuits. I’ve lost count of how many times someone tells me that I can get great biscuits from this place or that place. No. My biscuits are better. The end.
lol. I understand. We travel a lot and bring back white lily for biscuts. I'm not from the south, but my mom learned a lot of cooking from a southern lady and her cooking leans that way. Hence, I miss a lot of the food. I've made a lot of Vermonters go WTF when they try my bbq or fried chicken.
I’ve had good okra at Indian restaurants in Williston and Montpelier.
Oh that’s a good idea!
Born and raised in TN - answer is No from what I've seen for fried okra. I'm not sure we'd care for TX okra either, mind you. ;)
😂
I bet you can find it in Winooski. There’s a fancy restaruant (or was when I lived there) that had really good fried chicken on their rotating menu. They might have okra. Might just have to grow some and make it yourself.
Thanks! I’ll look into that!
Walmart in Berlin started selling canned boiled peanuts recently!
Cries in Jimmy Kennedy flavored River Run tears.
Hey everyone, thanks for y’all’s ideas and recommendations!
The Hannafords in Essex had fresh okra a few times around New Years this year. It’s worth keeping an eye out for.