The political season naturally turns my thoughts to food. Now those of you in other parts of the country probably think there’s nothing worth discussing when it comes to politics and food: this sport is notorious for the rubber-chicken dinner, right? And I’ve been to those–but not around here.
In Tennessee, politics is instead bad for the heart and easy on the taste buds. Barbecue is of course the menu of choice at political events for both parties from one end of the state to the other. You’ll also find lots of bean suppers and fried chicken dinners. All of which is preferable, in my mind, to the baked chicken dinner. The worst deal, I’m sure, is to be a candidate for a major office — or to be a politician of any stripe, really — I have friends who are political types in both parties, and I can’t imagine what their diet is like during the political season. Ugh.
Perhaps the most famous political meal in Tennessee is [Speaker of the House in the Tennessee General Assembly] Jimmy Naifeh’s Coon Supper. I’ve never been but I understand that it’s not just named a coon supper if you know what I mean.
{ 0 comments… add one now }