Batter up! Cornbread Festival

Some of the nine cornbreads* we sampled today in Cornbread Alley.

It poured on and off all day--we had to wear yellow ponchos at the annual Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. My hair is a mess of spring curls. We were out from 7:15 A.M. till almost 9 P.M.--also visiting Ruby Falls, Rock City, Tour Point Park [site of pivotal Civil War encounter], Chattanooga Market, Lodge cast-iron pan factory, and for dinner, a wonderful restaurant called Easy Bistro & Bar, where I had a Smoke on the Water cocktail, tender filet mignon with whipped potatoes and café au lait pot de crème in a petite lidded white dish. Memorable meal.

So I think a photo essay will do--but hope to fill in more details about today another time. Needless to say, we all felt stuffed to the gills by the end of the night.

Ferris wheel with corn-yellow seats near the entrance.

 

Festival cosponsored by Lodge, age-old crafters of cast-iron skillets, and Martha White, Memphis maker of cornmeal, flour, hush puppy mix and cornbread mix.

Old-time charm.

On Cornbread Alley, the contestants bake their recipes outside [see the stoves?] and guests walk along and get samples of each to put on a plate. At the end, you put money in mason jars to raise money for the charities/churches who made the ones you like best. For instance, I favored the Boy Scouts' Cranberry Cornbread Bars, so I put a couple of dollars in that jar.

Under a tent, ingredients for whipping up the recipes.

I've seen fried Oreos at the Jersey Shore, but today--battered and deep-fried corn on the cob [plus fried pickles; layered barbecue sundaes in small mason jars; and corn salad].

 

We got some sample pouches--can't find Martha White brand in New York area, so eager to try it.  I like the packaging.

Couldn't believe this one!

The badge.

Coke truck.

God and cornbread. Even birdhouse churches for sale.

Time to get some rest. Feeling bad b/c Figgy was sick today and I was many states away--but of course her good Dad was there, with Saltine crackers and soda, and I checked in via cell phone calls and texts. Good night.

*My personal favorites were the Cranberry Cornbread Bars [cookies] made by Boy Scout Troop #63 and the Toasty Hushpuppies whipped up by bakers from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. And the best quote came from the young Boy Scout at the table. "These are so good," I said. "Did you make them?" I asked about the bars, made with melted butter. "No," he said with a big grin. "If I'da made them, I'da ate them." Other recipes included Apple Cinnamon Cornbread; Hush! It's Dressed Chicken [calls for hush puppy mix]; Pepper Jack Cornbread; Cranberry Cornbread Coffee Cake; Broccoli Cornbread; Tuscan Style Cornbread; and Popeye Hushpuppies, with chopped spinach in the batter.