Posing in front of the Atlanta, Georgia, skyline

History Meets Hospitality in the American South Transcript

Zebbie Carney: Southern comfort to me is definitely an experience. It should be more than just how you say hello or say goodbye. It should be the way that your eyes open and the way you look at things. It should be in the way you walk. People in the south, they’re just so…their hospitality here is, they so friendly. Everybody is welcoming, inviting, smiling. People always say hello. It’s just an awesome place.
I was inspired to become a chef, by you know, just going to Big Mama’s house as a kid and everybody like brought potlucks, so everybody was like bringing a different dish. Fried chicken on Sundays. Collard greens, white beans, just cornbread – you start wanting to try different dishes and just try food. The one piece that I wanted to bring to our restaurant was that family-ness and togetherness. You get travelers coming in and just people from all walks of life. Birmingham’s the perfect place, you know? For one, just the history of the parks — it’s an amazing city to visit.
Syretha Sheats: The Plate Sale started just as an idea. Our inspiration from traditional plate sales were about bringing communities together. It was the thing that you pop in, you pop out. It can be formal; it can be casual. You’re wanna feed the people, so you’re gonna to welcome tourists and strangers to stop by.
Mike Sheats: Hopefully, strangers will become friends at the end of the night over food and drinks and have a good time.
Syretha Sheats: Traveling around Georgia is definitely a way of researching for us. From a historical standpoint, a culinary standpoint, just scenic. A lot of the inspiration is from Sunday supper, you know, family gatherings, plate sales.
Mike Sheats: It’s very important that we source locally, get the best product that we can get.
Nick Wallace: I am completely connected to my roots. The roots are definitely connected to my food. Jackson is kind of like the center because we are definitely becoming a food state. Southern cooking goes back to, just from history, as far back as slavery. It’s just going back to Southern roots; people were using less to work with. Southern food is about comfort. It takes me back to my childhood. I guess it’s like hearing a song that you grew up on; it always takes me back.
You know Southern comfort stems to a good life, tos an easy life, less stress. You know, southern comfort is what it is, you know comfort, you know no matter if you’re sleeping, no matter if you’re sitting in a plane ride, you know in a plane ride or just driving your car — comfort is comfort, it makes you feel good.
Southern comfort is a story, you know, and a story that has to be told.

History Meets Hospitality in the American South

Widely known for their warm demeanor and welcoming attitude, residents of the South are just as sweet as their tea. Experience “Southern Hospitality” for yourself, along with the deep history and rich culture of the region.

The American South provides the backdrop for some of the most significant events in United States history. As the organizing ground for much of the Civil Rights Movement, the region is rich in historical landmarks and cultural artifacts. Add to that the region’s mild weather, abundant nature and world-famous cuisine, and you’ll find no shortage of stuff to schedule on your adventure through the Southern States.

Atlanta, Georgia

As a cultural and economic center of the South, Atlanta’s history runs deep.

Today, its cultural cache spans hip-hop and high-end comfort cuisine, but in 1864 the city was nearly burned to the ground in the American Civil War. Re-emerging as the center of the ‘New South,” Atlanta eventually became an organizing ground for the Civil Rights Movement, led, in part, by one of Atlanta’s most prominent natives, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Within an hour from the city are plenty of opportunities to spend time in nature, such as Springer Mountain, where you can hike from the Appalachian trail’s official southern start.

Where to Stay:

What to Eat:

Visit the world’s largest drive-in restaurant and downtown Atlanta institution, The Varsity. The famously friendly staff will greet you with “What’ll ya have,” to which we recommend replying, “two chilli cheese dogs, a side of onion rings, and a frosted orange.”
For more premium local fare, visit The Plate Sale, a pop-up dinner series in Atlanta and Athens serving up gourmet goods like cucumber and kohlrabi in shrimp sauce and a pork sausage dish, though the menu changes by the season.

What to See:

The King Center is home to the world's largest repository of source materials on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, including Dr. King’s birth home.
Learn more about the Civil Rights Movement at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Hike from the official southern start of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain.

Birmingham, Alabama

About three hours west of Atlanta lies another urban center that played prominently in the historic Civil Rights movement.

One of the original industrial cities in the American South, Birmingham was born from the iron and steel industry and has since established a name for itself in banking, medical research and Southern culinary prowess. A trip to “The Magic City” should include stops at some of the many historical sites in the area such as the Civil Rights District. Also, make sure to sample some authentic soul food, and then take a drive further south to one of Alabama’s Gulf Coast beach towns.

Where to Stay:

What to Eat:

For a soul food staple, try the fried chicken from Eugene’s Hot Chicken.
Like BBQ? Sample the Southern mainstay from SAW’s Soul Kitchen.

What to Do:

Learn about Birmingham’s role in the Civil Rights Movement at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Charter a fishing boat on the Gulf of Mexico with Captain Darrel’s in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Visit Birmingham’s first black church, 16th Street Baptist Church, which still holds service on Sundays.

The Mississippi State Capitol Building in Jackson

Jackson, Mississippi

Known for its true southern hospitality, abundant outdoor activities and parts of the statewide Freedom Trail that run through the city, Jackson, Mississippi is another southern destination that’s brimming with history.

While in Jackson, drive along the Mississippi River, check out some of the city’s museums, and consider adding the town of Tupelo to your itinerary for a chance to see where Elvis was born.

Where to Stay:

What to Eat:

Visit Brent’s Drugs, a classic American diner that’s been serving Jackson since the 40’s.
Want something sweet? How about Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, where they serve up pies based on the recipes of the founders’ maternal grandmothers.

What to Do:

Follow the Mississippi Freedom Trail, a series of markers created in 2011 to recognize the people and places that played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Check out some museums like the Eudora Welty House, where the Pulitzer-prize winning writer lived, as well as the Old Capitol Museum, and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

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History Meets Hospitality in the American South

Atlanta, Georgia

Birmingham, Alabama

Jackson, Mississippi

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