"Eat Catfish and be Somebody!" My road trip to Middle Georgia

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Now that the fall season is here and mostly weekend visitors and as long as my blackberry, cell phone and lap top are working, I can hit the road to visit friends and family. With the wonder of technology, I’m able to help our guests from anywhere and that place last week was Columbus, Georgia! I used to come here regularly with my Marriott career, the insurance company AFLAC was one of my National Accounts and I would visit my customers . Great company, great people and still a stock I’d recommend to anyone!
I’m here this time visiting my very dear friend Donna. Donna is a retired school principal and one of the best people I know. That’s Donna in her garage with her little dog Fripp and her wall of sayings. The first one she found said “Martha Stewart doesn’t live here” and then the collection grew. She’s also a true GRITS- “girls raised in the south”. As Donna has told people during my visit, “even though Diane has been in the south for 20 years, she’s still not from around these parts.” True! So here’s a recap of my adventures.
It’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Savannah to Columbus. You’re on Interstate 16, for about 90 minutes , then get off and are on local roads. Beautiful! Here’s what I saw along the way.

  • Lane Southern Orchards, Ft Valley , Georgia. The mecca for peach lovers ( of which I am proudly!) They’ve been open for 100 years growing and selling peaches and pecans and just to see all the ways they’ve found to serve peaches is so much fun! I enjoyed freshly made peach ice cream today! Visit http://www.lanessouthernorchards.com/ to see all their ymmy goodies!
  • Ezell’s Catfish House. OMG. This is where we had dinner the first night. Fried Catfish in cormeal whole or filets – but as Donna said, of course you order it whole that’s half the fun, fried dill pickles, Georgia Ice Cream ( the other name for cheese grits- who knew!) , made from scratch coleslaw and HUSHPUPPIES!!! They’ve been around since 1937 and the food couldn’t be better. And nice people! No Website, but when you’re in Columbus, Georgia next, call them 706 568 1149 for hours and directions. The owner gave me a bumper sticker for the island car which says ” Eat Catfish and be somebody.” He also brought over a takehome menu for me to share some of his catfish info. For example, did you know that catfish is the number one requested food for death row inmates?
  • Lunch the next day was at Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant. This is a place very much like what Paula Deen had when she opened her first Lady and Sons Restaurant. True honest down home southern buffet cooking. Here’s what I had, real , true southern fried chicken, blackeyed peas, Mac-n- cheese, Okra and tomatoes, sweet tea….. and the desserts to choose from…… Pecan Pie, chocolate Peanut butter Pie, double lemon meringue, banana pudding ( home made from scratch like all the desserts!) All this for $8.95 and Minnie was there serving us up, calling everyone honey and thanking us for eating with her! She’s only open Monday – Friday from 10:45AM- 2:30PM and get there early because of the crowds.

I’m off tommorrow to LA to visit my favorite Marriott friend, Cindy, then meet up with my sister and mom to celebrate my sister’s 50th birthday! Stay tuned for more adventures from the West!