Southern Cookouts

Hey, it has only been a couple of days since Spring Break ended, but I know that we all had fun because we either did many activities or participated in many events. So for the next topic, we will talk about the different significant activities or events that the South participates in.

Whenever I think of a Southern event, I think of the basic outdoor cookouts. In these cookouts, the people get together, eats some barbecue, drink, listen to music, and basically have a good time. Usually, these types of events are held in summer afternoons so that everyone can enjoy the bright sunny weather. I think that barbecues are really important to the South because they unite the entire Southern community. They are not just social events, but events that remind the community of its culture. The food at these events pretty much contain some sort of grilled or barbecued meat, usually pork, because these foods remind the South of its history. Also it is a custom in these cookouts to listen to some type of country music since this is the music most closely related to Southern identity. So cookouts mean more to the South than just an ordinary event but an event that reminds the community of its identity.

In this music video, there is a perfect example of a Southern barbecue:

An Experience with Southern Hospitality

Every time I go back to Nashville, I always go get fried chicken fingers from McDougal's. Not only do they have the best chicken fingers you will ever eat, but they also are extremely nice and hospitable. When I was in high school I would go with my friends a couple of time and it soon became our favorite spot. When we ordered our food, the cashier was really nice and chatted with us a little bit. After just a couple times the employees knew us by name making us feel like regulars. Pretty soon Ricky, our usual cashier, was giving us our drinks for free. Up until that time I hadn't experienced southern hospitality like that so I would always end up leaving what I would spend on the drink as an additional tip. Also, they had free ice cream with each order.

What I thought was great about their southern hospitality, was how short of a time it was before they started giving us a discount and just how nice they were when I went there for the first time. They are right by Vanderbilt University and are a college hang out spot, which in my experience don't tend to have that much southern hospitality, but this place and their employees were really nice from the beginning. Whenever I go back to Nashville I will always eat at and support McDougal's Chicken.