In this month’s Culinary Chronicles, Chef Ron Spaziani indulges in the fine cuisine of Southern fusion. These barbeque focused dishes exemplify a convergence of Southern barbecue and international flare.
These 5 real world examples align with our Southern Revival Initiative, a celebration of the elevated ingredients and global inspirations that are revolutionizing Southern food and drink as we know it.
RELATED: Traditional Southern Cuisine Meets a Global Flare
1. In Austin, the restaurant the Odd Duck works with ingredients and flavors from more than seven different cultures seamlessly paired with traditional Southern fare. Odd Duck is founded on the belief of supporting local farms and producers so the menu elevates hyperlocal ingredients. The resulting menu features entrees like pork chop, creamed corn, crispy onion, peach-mezcal vinaigrette, shishito, and the savory and tangy smoked pork belly with crispy fig leaf rice, tamarind glaze, mango slaw, fried leeks.
2. In the Kinston area of North Carolina a restaurant called The Chef & The Farmer that specializes in creative and traditional Southern cuisine. Author, TV personality and Chef, Vivian Howard created The Chef & The Farmer with the goal of transitioning tobacco farmers within the Eastern Carolina region into food farmers. The endeavor resulted with a menu that’s deeply rooted in the ingredients the region has to offer, featuring items like the fabulous Lane Angus Ribeye. The steak is paired with tallow confit potatoes, poached egg, served with a green garlic chimichurri.
3. In Oxford, Mississippi, Executive Chef Vishwesh Bhatt is winning acclaim as one of the region’s best fare of Indian and Southern fusion. At Snackbar, Chef Bhatt designed a menu that reflects a changing South featuring entrees like Fried Catfish rubbed with East Indian Spices served with green chutney mayo and tomato, onion, shredded cabbage.
4. Way down in Louisville, Kentucky at Milkwood Restaurant Chef Edward Lee embraces his Korean heritage all the while elevating local ingredients. A fusion dish of focus is Chef Lee’s gochujang fried chicken served with a pandan waffle and buttermilk dill dressing.
5. Back in Chattanooga, Tennessee at Two Ten Jacks, Chefs Jess Benefield and Trey Burnette are creating some Japanese-inspired dishes like artisanal ramen, yakitori (skewered & grilled items), sushi selections and other Japanese-inspired comfort food that incorporates local, Southern ingredients. My favorite dishes are the Tuna poke mixed with sesame chicharron, apples and radish, and you can't pass up the Spicy Crab Garlic Noodle Mazemen with crab butter, black pepper and kokuto. They also serve up meat-centric yakitori skewers like the pork belly with mustard ponzu or skirt steak with sorghum soy – yum!
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