Paris, Tennessee
There is a famous American query that goes “how are you going to keep them down on the farm once they’ve seen Paris?” I was thinking about that yesterday because I often make references to Paris, Tennesee when talking about being specific about the location of a photograph. Yesterday, we had several friends over for a very tradtional Southern dinner built around a country ham from a place called Clifty Farms, in none other than Paris, Tennessee.
Now, I was born in North Carolina, and both my wife (who is from Perugia, Italy) and I loooooove Southern cooking. We even brought a Southern ham to Italy with us over the holidays, and I’m happy to report that her family, while skeptical at first, could not get enough of it. I should point out that North Carolina is rivaled by few other places on Earth for its devotion to the pig, South Carolina being one of them.
As it turns out, while answering a tech support question from a customer in South Carolina, I couldn’t help but put in a little jab about North Carolina barbecue versus South Carolina barbecue. Since he helped uncover a bug, I have since had to be a bit more diplomatic.
So, let the following be put on record:
* Biscuits and country ham give you the fuel you need to fix bugs
* The best country ham comes from Tennesse
* Since you can’t keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen Paris, make sure you locate the farm in Paris
February 21st, 2006 at 11:19 pm
As a proofreader, as someone who has taught English, as someone who writes, I always have to be careful of what I say or write as there is always that chance that what I’ve said or written had mispellings or was otherwise uncool English. Then everybody comes down on me with both feet! This is true when trying to pinpoint locations in a narrative. I was thus quite surprised to discover that there’s someplace called “South Carlona” in your paragraph above comparing barbecue from your home state to this place that sound likes it’s in Italy – Carlona! Do they make tart red wine there? Isn’t that near where Strega Nona lives?
-Tod (who’s also far from perfect)
February 25th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
“What a ham biscuit?” wonders Dave.. who found another spelling mistake, ‘Bisuits’ 😉
February 25th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
“What’s a ham biscuit?” wonders Dave.. who found another spelling mistake, ‘Bisuits’ 😉
February 28th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
What’s a ham biscuit? What’s a ham biscuit?!! Foul Yankee! A ham biscuit is simply a slice of country ham inside a bicuit, one hopefully made by hand, with love, from flour, buttermilk, lard, salt, and baking powder. It’s a very traditional Southern breakfast staple.
March 10th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Hello Johnnie
As you may recall, Jerry, my beau-père, was born in Paris, Tennessee. He loves ham biscuits. Probably likes “bisuits too.” Though he draws the line at tart red wine. Red-haired tarts are another thing. (my mother used to be a redhead…..;-)
xooxo
lauren
January 11th, 2007 at 3:26 am
After reading your post on country ham and biscuits (or bisuits), I had to run out and obtain one of those great smelling Clifty Farms country hams. I haven’t cooked any yet but it smelled so good when I brought it into my kitchen that I went straight back and bought another to keep hanging around… another as a gift for a true southern best friend… another for my daughter… another for my brother… and another spare! So much for weight loss!! At least Wal Mart loves me. Anybody want a ham biscuit?
P.S. – They were on sale.