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Eating in the Delta and Other Stuff

Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:37 pm
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:37 pm
Took a couple of days off to journey to the Mississippi Delta and thought I'd post a few food and beverage photos.

Otis will know where we had lunch yesterday. It is across the road from Baxter Laboratories - the first place I worked about 40 years ago. Here is a hint he will recognize.



and the answer



Airport Grocery in Cleveland. We had Tamales. They look ok, but we thought they were not more than so-so. I would not recommend them.



When was the last time you had a Nehi Soda or a Royal Crown Cola? This bottler is still operating in Cleveland.



The Ground Zero Blues Club is the reason we went to the Delta. It is located in Clarksdale, MS, not far from where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil for Blues Immortality.



Listened to Charlie Bergan and the Southbound Train.



A Columbus, MS native and Old Blues Man, Charlie has been around for years. Southbound Train is a skilled "white boy" blues band that transports Charlie around and backs him up as he covers many of my favorite blues and soul songs from the 60's-70s.



A girl from England (Cherry Lee Lewis) sang a few songs with Charlie. Interesting to hear her take on old blues standards.



We had Fried Catfish BLTs. Tasty Beer Joint food, washed down with many beers over the evening.



Nice evening.



I am certain this is the world's worst photo of Morgan Freeman, who is a co owner of Ground Zero and may be there if he is in town, as he was last night. He was three tables away from us and I did not bother him. He was already there when we made it to the club about 7:00 pm and left at maybe 9:30 pm.



We tried unsuccessfully to close the place down, but we admitted defeat and left about 1:30 to drive (30 minutes) back to our hotel in Cleveland.



They say Ground Zero closes at 2:00 am, but they were still rocking away when we left the lot.

Closing down a juke joint is fun, but not if the Po-Po is down the street.

IMO the sandwich, beer and blues was absolutely worth the 4 hour drive and Delta Hotel stay.

Posted by Draven
Moon, PA
Member since Jul 2014
808 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:38 pm to
Looks like a great trip. Sorry to hear about your disappointment at Airport Grocery -- wasn't someone on here last week hyping them up as being the best?
This post was edited on 8/2/14 at 10:39 pm
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:44 pm to
quote:

hyping them up as being the best


Yes they were. I know tamales vary greatly from place to place, and I like delta style Tamales. I have had better from several other stands.

Here are mine.

Posted by Coater
Madison, MS
Member since Jun 2005
33060 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:48 pm to
Good stuff m-dawg!!
Posted by Draven
Moon, PA
Member since Jul 2014
808 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:48 pm to
Those look amazing


Ever been to any of these places?

Hicks' World Famous - Clarksdale
White Front Café - Rosedale
Delta Fast Food - Cleveland
Solly’s - Vicksburg
Mama Alma's - Hattiesburg
Doris's - D'Iberville
Steven's BBQ - Greenwood
Ervin's - Sledge
Scott's - Greenville
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:56 pm to
Thanks Coater

Were in your neighborhood this afternoon. Took a side trek on our way home to look at some property for a friend.

Hard to believe how much north end of Highland Colony Parkway has grown.
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 10:58 pm to
quote:

any of these places?


Probably. We have tried to cover the Mississippi Tamale Trail and have done a pretty good job.

Have had good, better and bad.

Posted by Draven
Moon, PA
Member since Jul 2014
808 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 11:03 pm to
What's your favorite place for tamales?
Posted by LSURoss
SWLAish
Member since Dec 2007
15298 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 11:14 pm to
quote:

The Ground Zero Blues Club is the reason we went to the Delta. It is located in Clarksdale, MS, not far from where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil for Blues Immortality.


Ground Zero is a bad arse joint. I met Gatemouth Brown there years ago. The only thing I had to get an autograph was a single $20 bill. That 20 is framed at my parents house. Gatemouth told me I was bein silly for wasting a 20 on him. He was the last person to walk out of that place ~3:15am.
You should have gone and spoke to Morgan Freeman I hear he actually likes people to be people around him; sit down and drink a beer with him.

I love that part of the country and the rich, rich history of where our modern music started. Thanks for the pics and
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 11:24 pm to
quote:

favorite place


I like Fat Mama's in Natchez

I like the original Doe's in Greenville

There is a lady here in Meridian we call and she delivers.

Fondest childhood memory is Jack's Tamales on Old Brandon Road (Gold Coast) just across Pearl River and long gone. Was also a Jack's on North West Street also long gone.

Lots of good tamales around.

Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 11:31 pm to
quote:

should have gone and spoke to Morgan Freeman


He had a table full of people with him and he was propped in the corner (far right side of stage) at the back of his table. That shot is down the wall from my end of table seat to the back corner where he was seated. I don't believe in harassing people and would hate to have folks stopping me from enjoying my friends.

Oh, there was also a 325 pound security guard back there at the end of his table. And it has gotten to the point where I bruise easily when tossed out a door on my head.



Posted by REG861
Ocelot, Iowa
Member since Oct 2011
36417 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 11:38 pm to
my gf and i jsut did a Delta trip ourselves. Unfortunately we were travelling through on Monday and Tuesday so we didnt see much music. We were amazed by the friendliness of everyone we met, though. Clarksdale was kind of cool. Greenville was alright. had an insane steak at Doe's.
Posted by Walt OReilly
Poplarville, MS
Member since Oct 2005
124393 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 1:50 am to
Awesome stuff MD
Posted by LSURoss
SWLAish
Member since Dec 2007
15298 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 3:19 am to
I understand that comepletly.


To continue your thread, delta country is a great place to visit. I grew up with my dad taking me to the king biscuit blues festival in Helena. Great memories from that part of the world
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50111 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 6:35 am to
Great looking trip but I hate that plate didn't measure up. Been a year and a half since I was there. What you have pictured is 't what I was served. I had a dozen large corn shuck wrapped tamales, unadulterated by chili or cheese. They had the seasoning and texture of Maria's Famous, but were larger. I'll order again if I get a chance, and if I can confirm I won't be served what you were.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50111 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 6:36 am to
Double post
This post was edited on 8/3/14 at 6:49 am
Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
37743 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 8:22 am to
Looks like a fine trip.
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 8:27 am to
quote:

OTIS2


I always consider tamales a special treat and was just disappointed in their offering.

Maybe I should have ordered a half dozen with no topping, but the topping wasn't the problem. The tamales they served had very little flavor. I can't imagine we got anything different from what they would have served had we ordered straight tamales.

Maybe it is what I deserve for going to a nice place to order tamales. It seems the best I ever had have come from plywood shacks on the side of the highway.

Ground Zero had them on the menu and I forgot to order any. There are a couple of places in Clarksdale that sell them and GZ's probably come from one of those people.

Oh well, had GZ's been the best I ever had, the place would still be 4 hours from Meridian and a little far to drive on a Friday night.

I still maintain the delta style tamales are the best, regardless. I am a sucker for them and will certainly have more the next time an opportunity comes up, understanding that due to ingredients and recipe, no two places ever taste the same.

Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14182 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 8:39 am to
quote:

LSUballs


You weren't in Tallulah yesterday afternoon, were you? We crossed the river at Greenville and drove back down 65 to I-20 in the rain yesterday. Hit Tallulah and the interstate about 1:00. Started to take your photo from a distance if that was you, but the wife MHNBPF would have gone freaky on me if I tried, so I didn't.

Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
37743 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 8:42 am to
Weren't me m-dawg, but I just drive thru there 15 minute ago. Headed home from lake bruin
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