Writer's Block: Mega Bite

[Error: unknown template qotd] I have a persistant fantasy about opening a "meat and three"-a traditional blue collar type of Southern home cooking place. They are nicknamed that because you get plates that are meat-and-three vegetables, or meat-and-two, or a four-vegetable plate. For those of you who think this is so nice and healthy, keep in mind that a lot of these places count mac and cheese and banana pudding as vegetables. That's not even getting into the fatback or bacon used to "season" the beans and greens.

So, I would deeply love to open one, but the catch is: I want to open one somewhere that isn't the South. I would *love* to see how such a Southern concept would play in Minneapolis. I have it all planned in my mind: I won't have a steam table like most places (which means I won't have as big of a variety to choose from either-seriously, some meat and threes can have two dozen vegetables and five meats), but a sit-down-and-be-served affair. I want it to be homey, but for the food to be fresh and well fixed. I want a few veggie options. I want good southern music playing that is not country (blues, southern rock, R.E.M). I want to convince Minnesotans to eat okra. I don't know what to call it-"Okra and Grits" will just send them screaming. Maybe "Alabama Getaway" if I was a Dead fan. "Sweet Home Alabama" is too overused.

There is no way in hell this would work, but I still enjoy the idea.