Southern Tastes

There are various restaurants that I associate with being Southern.  There are the restaurants that were established in the South, like Waffle House, Crackle Barrel, Chick-fil-A, and Wife Saver just to name a few.  Each of these restaurants has their own way of establishing a Southern identity.  In Williams-Forson’s article “More than Just the “Big Piece of Chicken”. The Power of Race, Class, and Food in American Consciousness”, Williams-Forson argues that “food can be used to contest hegemonic representations of blackness and the ways in which performances of blackness reveal complicated aspects of identity” (Williams-Forson 21).  Although, I would argue that food can be used as a representation of anyone’s identity, not just how black someone is as Williams-Forson argues.  There are many ways in which food can be used to give a small glimpse of an individual’s identity.  In Allison’s article “Japanese Mothers and Obentos”, the dedication and care put into the obentos is a direct representation “of a women’s commitment as a mother” (Allison 90).  This dedication of the preparation is a direct representation of the mother and her identity as a “good” mother.

In the examples of the restaurants, I used my experiences within the restaurants and along with other elements in order to determine what factors established the restaurant as Southern.  Chick-fil-A was founded in Georgia and therefore contains a Southern identity.  The chicken is fried which of course is a trademark of being Southern.  Sweet tea is something rarely found outside of the South and thus strengthens the Southern atmosphere.  The fact that the employees say “it’s my pleasure” helps maintain a Southern hospitality aura.  Another example of a Southern restaurant is Crackle Barrel.  The vibe throughout the Crackle Barrel restaurant can be easily described as Southern and homey.  The area is, to a large extent, cluttered which provides a feeling of being home.  The food comes out in an almost cluttered appearance which also leads to a feeling of being home.  Grits is a food item widely known for being Southern and at Crackle Barrel it is assumed that you’ll want to enjoy grits with your meal. 

            Although what kind of food that is provided at a restaurant is important in establishing an identity, the atmosphere that encompasses the restaurant is just as important.  The atmosphere helps further establish the desired identity by creating a feeling of authenticity.  Being authentic is highly important in establishing creditability and maintaining customer relationships.