Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Fried Green Field Trip

Last Friday, Miss Whimsy and I ventured about 20 minutes from our hotel for a little lunchtime adventure.

Here


It's the fictional town of Whistle Stop, located in the tiny little town of Juliette, Georgia. You might recognize it as the set for this movie.


Even though Fried Green Tomatoes is not one of my favorite movies,  Adventure tripping is one of my favorite things. So when I discovered that we could have lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe,  I jumped at the chance and dragged that adventurous daughter along with me.

We loved it.


It really is a quaint place, and they do a wonderful job
 of keeping it authentic without being cheesey.


Trains continually pass, and they whistle even though they don't stop. 
I love stuff like that.


They serve at southern speed.


Which gives you enough time to enjoy the atmosphere
and figure out how many different ways you can use the word towanda in a sentence.


The menu is full of southern favorites.
We got Bennett's BBQ..


...the secret's in the sauce.
The portion was enormous, but  I managed to eat it all
plus the side of
fried green tomatoes to go along with it.

Now, even though I live in Georgia, I had never eaten fried green tomatoes.  I'm pleased to report that they were delicious and served so hot that I burned the roof of my mouth and the tip of my tongue.

I wanted to (attempt to) make a batch myself this week. The glitch is that  we're just not a fried food family.  A little googling found a healthier version of Paula Dean's recipe by the Dean brothers.  Miss Whimsy and I made it, and I'm here to report that we gave ourselves the thumb's up.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 egg white
10 drops hot sauce (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon canola oil
       (divided... because you can't do them all at once)
3 large green tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 

Preheat Oven 450 and spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
      
Easy Peasy. Just mix the buttermilk, egg white, and hot sauce.  Dip the tomato slices and dredge them the cornmeal and salt.  Brown tomatoes on one side only in the oil for a few minutes. Place them browned side up   on cookie sheet and spray the top with cooking spray. Bake until both sides are brown (about 8 minutes) 

These are ours.
 Yes, I know they're not nearly as attractive as the original, 
but that's probably not the fault of the recipe because, 
well,  you know...


And that's all I have for now. The day is too pretty to stay inside, and there's an overgrown holly bush by the corner of the porch that has been ticking me off.

Towanda...

35 comments:

Barbara F. said...

I don't think I saw that movie, unless I just forgot about it, but I love stopping at places like this. The tomatoes look good....so do yours! I have never eaten a green tomato. They don't usually sell them up here like that, I guess I will have to pick my homegrown ones! xo,

Chatty Crone said...

I love Fried Green Tomatoes - yummy. Think I will copy thise recipe.

Hey where is that located - I remember my mom going once - can't be that far.

Hope your daughter had fun too.

Good times together this summer.

Sue said...

Loved this post Debbie, southern fried green tomatoes, and southern pork barbecue are two of the best dishes served here in the south, thanks for sharing this recipe.
This looked like fun place to visit, just love old places and train whistles. I love to sit on the porch at night and hear the train whistle nearby.

A BIG Congratulations to the Practical One and Professional One , on this momentous and wonderful milestone. May all of their dreams come true!!,... I am trying to catchup on my blogging... just been so busy.
As always a joy to visit with you.
Hugs,
Sue

Red Couch Recipes said...

What a fun road trip -- never had fried green tomatoes, but they sound good. Love the line in the movie "I have more insurance..." Happy Day! Joni

Amy Kinser said...

Girl, I love fried green tomatoes. So yummy! Looks like that restaurant was full of nostalgia and great southern food...two of my favorite things.

At The Picket Fence said...

Doesn't that overgrown holly bush know better than to tick you off? :-) Sounds like you gals had a very fun adventure!
Vanessa

Lynn said...

Looks like a great place to stop Debbie! It's been ages since I had fried green tomatoes, they look good! And how fun is that B-B-Q pit:@)

Sharon said...

Oh, how fun - I wanna come, I wanna come, too!!

I love places like that - homey, lots of atmosphere, and great food. And what better company than one of the offspring!

Sounds like the restaurant was a little bit like you - authentic without being cheesy...just sayin'

I'm not known for my culinary skills (that's a little like saying that Van Halen isn't known for their lullabies) - but this is a recipe that I just might have to try.

Poor Holly Bush - she wasn't trying to make you mad.

XO!!

Denise said...

I've never tried fried green tomatoes either but I'd love to try your recipe. I'm supposing that southern farmer of mine would rather the deep fried version, but the baked version looks a lot less messy. The restaurant is right up my alley as well. Wish I could have come along but alas we have cows to feed....

Thanks for sharing. Looks just charming!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh how fun!!! You girls!! I will have to try the Fried Green Tomatoes...I have some tomatoes at that stage...I do love fried pickles.

Now this was so enjoyable and it didn't cost me a dime or any gas...thanks for sharing. What a nice adventure.

Oh HATED the movie.

Susan said...

Yummy! Fried green tomatoes are one of my very favorite foods! I love 'em! I live in South Alabama and they're a staple on our table in the summer. I can't wait to plan a trip to Juliette!
Thanks for sharing,
Susan

P.S. Fried Green Tomatoes is a good movie and I loved the book.

Ms.Daisy said...

Debbie,
I've never tried fried green tomatoes but I think I would like the baked kind as I'm not eating fried anything so much anymore! I'm sure you and Miss Whimsey had a great time on your road trip. Your pictures are great - I liked the ones showing the trains especially.


~Jean

Rettabug said...

What a darling little place to visit, Debbie! Your plate made my tummy rumble...yummo choices!

I've made fried green tomatoes a few times but not since DH's ♥ attack. I may just try your version because its a cinch we're going to have TONS of green ones left at the end of the season.

Thanks for sharing the recipe & please do extend my congratulations to the college graduates! Such beautiful young women!!

Hugs,
Rett

Unknown said...

I have always wanted to try fried green tomatoes, but I know I would love your recipe!
Glad you had so much fun with your sweet girl.
xo
lynn
p.s. am i the only ignoramus that doesn't know what towanda means? is it southern for "to wander"? i'm working on my accent!!

Christine said...

Your pictures captured the movie perfectly.
I enjoyed the sign, telling everyone to slow down - how true!

Enjoy!

Kelli said...

Adventure seems to be around every corner for you Debbie!! I love fried green tomatoes. I've never made them but thanks to you, they'll soon be on the menu.

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

What a fun adventure! I love fried green tomatoes but haven't had them in years because, well, they're FRIED. :-) I'll have to try your recipe. It sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing.

Jennie said...

Too funny that was the first time you'd tried them! I love them...but we *are* a fried food family. ;)

Love the Whistle Stop. We've taken my parents there...they *do* love the movie. We even took Mrs. Lisa one year. It's definitely an adventure.

We trimmed our hollies today too. Can't pass up this weather!

This concludes the most random blog comment. Ever.

no spring chicken said...

What a fabulous place! I just want to move right on in. I want to live close enough to be able to stroll over every evening for a glass of cold lemonade (they did have lemonade didn't they, they really look like they must have lemonade), and rock in one of the rockers while watching my husband play a game of checkers with one of the other locals.

Oh yes, and I want to leave the house open to the evening breeze blowing through the screened doors...

And I won't have to try to make fried green tomatoes because the diner sells them for 1950s prices even though it's 2011!

What a fun, fun day you spent. Thank you for transporting me.

Blessings, Debbie

Renée said...

I planted 6 tomato plants just today! I can hardly wait for some green ones so I can try your recipe with corn meal. I bet they are really crisp and yummy. Glad you are out and about and having lots of good times with your adventurer...love!

Miss Char said...

I've been there too Debbie and I LOVED it. It sure is in the middle of no where especially for a Yankee traveling through the south. I was about a 1000 miles from home but was beside myself with anticipation when I ordered my fried green tomato sandwich. My daddy was from the south and I grew up on FGT, it was a wonderful day and a great sandwich. Thanks for jogging my old memory or a day spent traveling the back roads.

Joan Hall said...

How delightful and I'm sure it was yummy. After all, the secret is in the sauce.

Tanna said...

Oh, Debbie! I would have loved to tag along on that little adventure!! I do love me some fried green tomatoes and it would be so fun to see the Whistle Stop Cafe for myself! Thank you for sharing this version of them (I'm not a frier!). blessings ~ tanna

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

You're off to a good start for the summer! What fun. I love to try new places, especially the ones with the charm of this one.

I will have to try the tomatoes too, thanks for sharing the recipe. Looks like our minds are on food these days! :)

Crickit said...

How fun to see the Whistle Stop Cafe! I really liked the movie! I have tried fried green tomatoes several years back... they were delicious! They were lovingly prepared by my grandmothers nephew from Arkansas. I just love that southern cooking!

Designs on 47th Street said...

Oh how I love the south and all that comes with it. Love the picture on the porch. What fun you and your daughter must have had. :)

Donna

Angel said...

Love this Debbie! That's my kind of adventure! There's a place I used to go to and enjoy a wonderful fried green tomato sandwich. Sounds weird but it was yummy. But we moved and I heard the restaurant closed (hope my moving away didn't have something to do with that!) :)

FrouFrouBritches said...

NO WAY! I had no idea you could actually go and eat there! That is the coolest thing ever! That is one of my Hubby's favorite movies. So cool!

I'm embarassed to say I've never eaten fried green tomatores. I need to give it a try, or should I say, a fry. HA! I know! I'm a dork!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I've never had them either!

Manuela

Kathleen said...

What a great place to go, I'd love to visit and sit on one of those rocking chairs on the porch. Sounds like you had a great day.

I love blogland, I get to see all kinds of places I would never see otherwise. I really enjoyed sharing your adventure, thanks! Great photos too!

Sue said...

What a fun adventure with your daughter Debbie. Northern girl that I am, I have never eaten fried green tomatoes .... never even been somewhere where they serve them! Gotta get out more I guess.
Anxious to read about more of your adventures this summer! Enjoy.
Sue

The Polka Dot Closet said...

What a fun relaxing day, it is so beautiful! I have never had fried green tomatoes either.....I just don't know? Maybe I would try the fried ones LOL

Carol

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Hi Again,
Loved your trip to the whistle stop cafe, how cool is that! I did see the movie and liked most of it
but wasn't there some sad parts??? Can't even remember now. I do however love fried green tomatoes, and your recipe is perfect cause we don't eat fried stuff either. So will have to give it a try soon.

I actually have a lil pear pitcher that some friends brought me from the whistle stop cafe.
It is really cute!

There food looked mighty good I must say!
and so glad you and Miss whimsey had such a great time.

and yes........the wedding was the best, we have been talking about it all week. Just heard from our newlyweds, they were landing in Orlando, back from Jamaica. He said they had a wonderful time!! So happy for them.

Blessings for a great weekend,
Nellie

CAL said...

I really enjoyed reading about your Whistle Stop adventure. Wondered if they had the bee hives? The movie ending always made me cry, the town was in shambles. It lifts my heart to see it alive in these pics. Thanks for giving me a glimpse, I'm going to put it on my 'must see' list.

Tami said...

This made me want to go on a road trip to find some great little restaurant and eat. What a lovely time this must have been. I have seen the movie, but never have I eaten fried tomatoes. Maybe I will try the recipe one day-or I should say the Other Nut since I don't really like cooking:)

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