I'm starting to think about planning a holiday to the States, not having been there for a couple of years, and I want to head back to the South. I've travelled in the Carolinas and Georgia (does N Carolina count as 'south', I've never worked it out!) and I simply adore the food (alas neither my waistline nor my wardrobe thinks likewise).

For this trip I'm thinking of going further towards Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana however. I will have a car and will have about two weeks so am pretty flexible.

I know that this is a fairly vague question but does anyone know of any areas that have particularly good local specialities that I should include in my plans? There isn't anything that I don't eat - and I love spicy food - but I like to seek out good local food rather than 'good restaurants' (you know the type that you could find anywhere).

I'd love and appreciate some guidance.

Thank you.

New Orleans, New Orleans, New Orleans! We have a rule that we don't have enough time to visit the city twice, with one exception - New Orleans, Louisiana. You can spend a good 5 days there enjoying fabulous Cajun and Creole food. I am sure others will pitch in with recommendations but any restaurant owned by the Brennan family would be a good start.

Oops - didn't edit this time - should be "don't have time to visit the SAME city twice"

New Orleans is an EXCELLENT suggestion, and I would add Charleston, SC.

(Yes, North Carolina is in the South.)

Thank you! I must admit that I was certainly thinking New Orleans! It's the last place on my list of places that I MUST go to in the US. So I'm guessing that's cert, particularly since it's also the place that will be easiest to fly to from London (where I live, incidentally).

Who are the Brennan family, Craig?

The Brennan family is an extended family of restaurateurs that operate some of New Orleans best known dining establishments including Brennan's, Commander's Palace and Mr. B's Bistro.

Craig, thanks. I shall get 'googling'!

I know that you said that you have already done GA. But if you did not visit Savannah, I would have to say "The Lady & Sons" Sunday buffet. I have lived in the south all my life and this was the epitome of southern cookin at its best. Everything was done to perfection. Now I know why people were waiting 2 hours in the rain for a table.

There is a book out I saw recently on the Best Local Places to Eat in the South. For the most part it seemed to be little hole in the wall restaurants. Some of them I had never heard of so it may be a crapshoot.

Your best bet Tallulah would be to wait until you get to your destination and ask the locals. People love to share good food info.

I don't have any food recommendations beyond barbecue, but North Carolina is the south. As a native of NC, I have the accent to prove it.

By the way, South Dakota isn't in the south.

My vote is definitely for New Orleans as well. Not only do they have fabulous unique food but it is WONDERFUL city!! Lots of history and culture. I used to live there and it is still my favorite city to visit!!

Try Mulate's for Cajun, Commander's Palace for Creole, Mother's for Po' Boys (shrimp sandwiches) and Central Grocery for Muffalettas (cure meat sandwiches) all of them in New Orleans.

I am not a Southerner, but the barbecue in Memphis really knocked my socks off. Also really enjoyed both the National Civil Rights Museum AND Graceland while I was there.

GenXer - Fabulous recommendations - I second them all, though I've never been to Mulates. You seem to have good taste so I'll have to check it out next time I'm in town!!

Definitely New Orleans! And if you have time for a short side trip, drive to Lafayette, LA...great cajun food there, too!

What's the name of that restaurant in Lafayette that has the big boat in it's front yard? We ate there and it was FANTASTIC Cajun/Creole food, but I can't remember the name.

Tallulah, where are you thinking of flying into? The south is a big place. Just to give you an idea: from Atlanta, which is a pretty big hub, six hours to the Florida panhandle (Pensacola), eight hours to New Orleans, three/four hours depending on traffic to Savannah, roughly the same to Charleston.

But I'd drive it in a heartbeat! The south is very beautiful. My favorites for food, hands down, are New Orleans and Charleston, both very different flavors but excellent!

But I must warn you: my formerly English husband's very first visit, ever, to the US was to New Orleans. Once he stepped foot in NO, the Queen lost a loyal subject...

I think the restaurant in Lafayette is Prejean's...can anyone confirm this?

Prejean's is great but I think the restuarant with the boat is Randalls?

Thanks everyone!

dln: I'm probably going to fly to New Orleans with whatever connecting flights are necessary (hopefully not Atlanta as I had a nightmare there last time!)

I'm not concerned about driving distances or times, one of the things I love about visiting is the fact that you can just drive and drive (given the English population/land-mass ratio, driving is NOT a joy over here!) - and you also stumble upon great small towns that, to my mind, are SO much more interesting than large cities.

I have actually been to Charleston and Savannah, and I think that's why I've developed my love of the South.

So, this time I think that I'll plan a round trip around Orleans, Lafayette and Memphis (I find that it helps to have some points of reference...!), so if anyone knows interesting places to stop along the way from one to the other, that would be great!