I like Mrs. Wilkes' in Savannah (buy a cookbook and she'll autograph it for you!), Threadgill's in Austin, and Cleburne's Cafeteria in Houston. Nothing, though, beats my grandma's kitchen in Haines City, FL. She's been dead for two years but I still dream of her fried chicken, mashed potatoes with mayonnaise in them, and conch peas. To the spoilsport who chortled about "haute cuisine", I must say that I recently ate at the #1 restaurant in America according to Gourmet magazine (Chez Panisse), and I must say I'd rather have home cooked food with family and friend any day!!

Funny story, though, that illustrates regional differences - Mrs. Wilkes serves meals family style, so there are people you've never met at your table. We're southern and so are very used to that kind of food. The couple at the table with us were from Manhattan. The husband couldn't get over the food, and kept glowing about the cucumbers in particular. We knew it was just fresh cucumbers with vinegar and oil, but for someone who'd never had that he just thought it was the best thing ever!! I'm sure he eats at terrific restaurants in Manhattan all the time, but what to us was home-cooked food that we take for granted was so exotic to him. It really made me see the food I grew up with in a whole new light. One person's comfort food is another person's haute cuisine!!

Susan,

I lived in Fort Worth from 89-92 and my favorite place was Celebration! I loved their Chicken Caroline (I think was the name).

Great place, glad to hear it is still in business.

Wright's Chicken Farm
Harrisville, R.I.

How funny! When I go out to eat, "homestyle" is the last thing I want to pay for! So much of "homestyle" is fried or stuff I don't like. If I'm going to eat "homestyle" I'd rather cook it myself! When I pay for a meal, I prefer to eat something I'm not going to serve on a regular basis at home.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I will have to agree with Paige about Slogars in Crested Butte. There's just something about skiing all day and then sitting down to a wonderful fried chicken and mashed potatoes dinner mmmmmmm. The tomato chutney and cottage cheese are great too!

Po Folks. I have heard that some of them aren't so great, but the one on Hwy 98 in Panama City, FL gets a thumbs up vote from me (and my family). I make it a point to visit whenever I'm in the area.

The Cotton Gin in Crandall, Texas, which is just southeast of Dallas.

I'll agree that Celebration is very good, too.