Food Stories: Writing That Stirs the Pot

by The Bitter Southerner

For 10 years, working with the best writers anywhere and always through the lens of a better South, we’ve published stories about the foods of our region. Some of these stories have earned our writers nominations and wins from the prestigious James Beard Awards. Last summer, The Bitter Southerner brought home the big prize for Food Coverage at the awards ceremony in Chicago. Rest assured, we celebrated big that night with both food and drink.

Inside this anthology are 21 of our favorite stories from the magazine’s first decade. You’ll read about oyster tongers, fried burgers, white trash cooking, a legendary food critic, rosin potatoes, Natty Light, farmers facing climate change, making sorghum the right way, steamed sandwiches, Houston hip-hop and Chinese chicken, beans and rice, historic lunch counters, Tennessee tamales, lemon meringue pie, country music cookbooks, our complicated love affair with tomatoes, and the demise of a chicken.
Writing that stirs the pot. Dig in.

316 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Jacob Wechsler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in annapolis maryland, currently living in ocean city maryland. I also lived in Arkansas for 5 years before arriving to Ocean city.

This book jumped out to me because when I flipped through it, I saw there was a story devoted to Maryland. As a true marylander, I had to buy the book and learn more.

I was fascinated throughout the book. Each story holds some magic and mystery. The research done is fantastic and personal. You can really tell that each author truly cared about the experiences they were writing about.

If you live in the south east, this is a wonderful book ingrained with culture, history, food, and people.

[Joe Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an arresting collection of essays. History. Oysters. Sociology. Chicken. Cultural commentary. Oranges. Ethnic heritage. Climate change. Segregation. Heritage. Migrant workers. Culinary histories. AIDS. Cookbooks. Hip-hop. Beer, Maryland, & nostalgia. Steamed sandwiches. Racism. Stories of regional food that morph into life and work in the south. These entertaining and thoughtful essays, some more personal than expected, come from a collection of excellent writers cooking up a stew of ideas, facts, commentary, and ruminations on a variety of topics.

[Suzanne Winterberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of short essays on southern food: the history, the traditions, their current status. Learn the secrets behind Rosin Potatoes, the evolution of the southern version(s) of the Tamale, and appreciate the various fusions of Confederate, African, Asian, and Country-Western cooking. These essays take the reader to such obscure corners of the region, most not on a typical traveler’s route, and I know I will be altering my routes in the future, just to track down and sample some of the goodies featured here.

[Sara K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Articles about a wide range of topics, but all connected to food around the past and present South. I learned about dishes, ingredients, history, and relationships I’d never known before since I haven’t spent much time in this region. A fun and eye-opening read!

[Marchada. Keener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book and wonderful writers. Such an enormous variety of topics but all related to food with food related to everything from environmental changes to racism.
My son bought me this book and I have thoroughly enjoyed every single story.

[David Joyner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like any anthology, it’s a box of chocolates. Some are memorable and well done. Some just OK.

[Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun collection of writing from the past fivish years.

[Sara Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this eclectic mix of food-related stories. All have punchy writing and brisk pacing. A great gift for someone who loves quirky stories and food!