GEORGIA PLAYS CUISINE ON MY MINDStory and Photos by Getting a taste of hospitality in Georgia can be really delicious, especially if you happen to be in Columbus, the state's second largest city, where Southern cooking is a taste temptation to even the most seasoned palate.
It takes six to seven hours of slow cooking over hickory and oak at 160F to bring the barbecued pork, beef or chicken to perfection. The roasts are kept moist with generous bastings of COUNTRY'S Back Fire Hot Sauce. There are milder varieties available on request - the lighter the sauce, the hotter; the darker, the milder, according to Curtis who was busy tending the roasts. The choice is unlimited, which makes selection a trifle mind-boggling. The barbecue platters are huge servings of pork, ribs, beef, chicken, smoked ham or turkey, accompanied by corn bread and two side orders. My tablemates decided we would share our orders of chicken, ribs, beef and pork, and I complimented my meal with black-eyed peas and corn on the cob. Our appetizer was the delicious Vidalia Onion Dip, so true to the menu description, "really cheesey, gooey, good stuff served with Frito Scoops." (see recipe attached). If you can find room for dessert there are six kinds of pies, sundaes, floats and ice cream on the menu. I enjoyed COUNTRY'S iced tea so much I brought a box home, along with a bottle of Back Fire Hot Sauce. For some food aficionados where they eat completes the dining experience, and in Columbus I found there were some mansions that offered endless opportunities to enjoy the ambience, even if it was just for dessert and coffee or breakfast. Exploring The Woodruff House, the birthplace of Robert W. Woodruff, the man who made Coca-Cola a household name worldwide, visitors can enjoy the beauty of this historical home with its towering ceilings and cozy fireplaces. The Mansion, featuring stunning Queen Anne style architecture, offers accommodation as a luxury inn. The delectable array of desserts, coffee, tea and liqueurs I tasted would be just one reason to return. The other? A full dining experience, followed by a relaxing stroll around the grounds on a perfect moonlit night, or just sitting and enjoying the still beauty of the evening on the front porch. Over at The Gates House (Tel: 706-324-6464/1-800-891-3187), Carolyn and Tom Gates have redecorated this 1880 Victorian style mansion, while preserving original features. The French and Victorian period pieces are complemented by some of Carolyn's family heirlooms in the house, among them the bed in which her father was born, lace from her great grandmother and a vanity that's been in the family for a century.
Fancy having lunch surrounded by art and talent? Then
Miriam's Cafe (Tel: 706-327-0707) is the place to go. Chef Mark Festa served up tasty stuffed chicken breasts with herbs, garlic, cheese and Spanish olives, zucchini casserole and Spanish rice. It wasn't easy finding room for dessert, a smooth chocolate mousse, but the temptation was too great to resist, and I almost finished it all! Don't leave Miriam's without checking out the Men's washroom, even if you're female - it's perfectly acceptable and safe. Why? The minute you open the door the sounds of thunder and lightning stop you dead in your tracks, but then you realize it's just a gimmick, one that gets its unsuspecting victim every time! A visit to the South demands a ride on a paddle wheel boat, and with dinner and a Dixieland jazz band it's a relaxing way to end the day. On the Chattahoochee Princess Riverboat you cruise up and down the river for about two hours, watch the glow of the sunset and enjoy a casual dinner below deck. "Country Captain" (see recipe attached) is served up as rice and vegetables cooked up Southern style with chicken curry and corn bread . And to cool off, refreshing peach ice cream is served up with seconds if you just can't get enough of the smooth, rich flavor of those delightfully delicious Georgia peaches. It may have been a Victorian mansion in the 1870's, but when Mamie and Garry Pound pooled their talents in 1994 they transformed the Rothschild-Pound House into a place that says "welcome home" (at least that's how I felt when I visited). Doesn't everybody enjoy good food and accommodating hosts? Breakfast from Mamie's kitchen was a delectable array of pancakes, homemade bread, quiches, preserves and gourmet grits. A specialty of the house is the nightly cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before setting out for a nearby restaurant for dinner or a show (attractions are within walking distance).
Guest suites retain their old world charm (period baths and antique furnishings), while offering creature comforts (mini-refrigerator, coffee maker, cable TV and plush robes), and some even feature steam showers for two or wet bars (a wonderful consideration by Southern hosts). For a complete shift away from enjoying true Southern meals, an introduction to Hollywood Connection merits a mention simply because it's great family entertainment and it's one of the Columbus attractions that offers a local favorite for lunch, "scrambled hot dog" - a fully loaded hot dog (see recipe attached). The 1950's-themed restaurant, Lieutenant's Diner, serves great sandwiches, fries, shakes or sundaes, great fare to put you in the mood for all those energizing activities. Amusements include an 18-hold miniature golf course, laser tag arena, skate center, krazy kars (bumper cars) and 10 cinemas, all in Georgia's largest family entertainment center - 125,000 square-foot of fun and frolic. An innovative idea is the Lock-In session which allows kids to enjoy the activities overnight for a flat $20 fee (a parent must accompany kids under 16). Who says eating isn't fun? It's tasty, it's good and it's unlimited in Columbus, Ga. Enjoy! VIDALIA ONION DIP (Always rave reviews) 1 cup coarsely chopped Vidalia onions 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese Paprika Corn chips, tortilla chips or crackers ~ Combine onions, mayonnaise and cheese; pour into a 1-quart baking dish ~ Sprinkle with paprika and bake uncovered in a preheated oven at 350F for 25 minutes ~ Serve with corn chips, tortilla chips or crackers Editor's note from travel-travel-travel.com - This dip was so enticing to my taste buds I kept on eating it after the meal was served. COUNTRY CAPTAIN (When General George Patton was en route through Columbus, Ga., he wired ahead, "If you can't give me a party and have Country Captain, put some in a bucket and bring it to the train." 1 2-3 pound fryer or frying pieces 2 onions, finely chopped 2 green bell peppers, chopped 1 or 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 good teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon white pepper 2 teaspoons curry powder 2-16-ounce cans tomatoes 1 teaspoon chopped parsley ½ teaspoon powdered thyme Black pepper to taste 2 cups cooked rice 3 or more tablespoons currants ¼ pound slivered almonds, toasted ~ Season chicken well and fry as usual. Remove from pan but keep chicken hot; (this is a secret of the dish's success) ~ Pour off most of the grease; add onions, green peppers and garlic. Cook very slowly, stirring constantly. ~ Season with salt, white pepper and curry powder. ~ Add tomatoes, chopped parsley, thyme and black pepper to taste. ~ Place chicken in roaster and pour sauce over it. Bake covered in a preheated oven at 359F for 45 minutes. ~ Place chicken in middle of platter and pile rice around chicken. ~ Mix currants with sauce and pour over rice. Scatter almonds over top. Yield: 4 servings Editor's note from travel-travel-travel.com - I'm glad General Patton enjoyed it as much as I did! SCRAMBLED HOT DOG (A definite favorite around town - it was originated in Columbus) Start with a banana split type bowl, place an opened hot dog bun in the bowl, add one or two wieners - depending on how hungry you are, smother with homemade chili, add mustard, ketchup, oyster crackers, cheese, onions and pickles. If you've made it correctly, it should be spilling over the sides of the bowl at this point! Open a bottle of Coca-Cola (another Columbus original) and you have a filling and delicious meal that folks around Columbus can't get enough of). LUMPY COKE Open a bottle of Coke, drink a couple of sips, tear open a bag of "Tom's Roasted Peanuts" and pour into the bottle. Drink and enjoy! From the editor - Please let us know what you think of these tasty treats?
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On any hot day in Columbus plan for dinner at
COUNTRY'S on Broad (706-327-7702), a bustling restaurant where they pride themselves on
"making everything from scratch" and the neon signs tempt guests with choices of
"Chocolate Cheese Pie"" and "Brunswick Stew" and
"Ribs." 
The elegant furnishings aside, Carolyn and Tom swing in and out of
the stained glass door of the kitchen (don't miss the egret design on the door) with
offerings that included fresh fruit, mushroom casserole, French toast, grits and their
specialty - freshly baked sugar bread. Mmm, I can still taste the brown sugar, pecans and
cinnamon. Breakfast was never this delightful especially in these surroundings - a
beautifully landscaped back garden. 
The current
artist renditions by Faye included some extremely colorful nude and semi-nude paintings
(very tastefully illustrated). I was really taken in by the ritzy atmosphere - shelved
teapots in all shapes and sizes, stained glass hangings and wooden columns, enhanced by
Robert Carr's live jazz music. 
Garry, an accomplished artist, has gifted Mamie for different
occasions with his work in oil and pastel, colored pencil and charcoal - what a delight to
be allowed to share some of the family's personal moments with their two-year-old son,
Murphy. I could have looked at the framed art forever, especially after I saw a
sleepy-eyed Murphy nestling in his father's arms as we waved goodbye.