Orono to Tuscaloosa

The University of Alabama, home of the Crimson Tide, has a spectacular campus!

I am a New England girl, through and through.  I always suspected as much, but my suspicions were confirmed during my recent research trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  I am certain I was the only person who traveled Orono-Bangor-Washington-Charlotte-Birmingham-Tuscaloosa that day, and I felt like a bear just out of hibernation.  I was also in heat shock, since it was 50 degrees when I left Maine and 100 when I arrived in Birmingham...the "warmish" temperatures would also explain why I was the only person out on foot.

I visited the farmers market during the heat of the afternoon - and got a little sunburn along the way.

My local eating radar is always on, so I was determined to try as many southern treats as I could. As luck would have it, the University hosts a farmers market!  Expecting to find a little slice of Alabama life, I braved the heat to walk to the campus farmers market - and I was not disappointed.  While it featured local produce that New England won't see until August, it had the same, familiar feel of every farmers market I've been to:  friendly people, bountiful veggies, local honey, meat, and baked goods, and live music.   

My University of Alabama hosts made me feel right at home and - luckily - they were really interested in local products and cuisine, so treated me to some fantastic southern fare.  The barbeque was amazing, but my favorite thing?  Real grits!  I had never had real, creamy, southern grits before and they were incredible - nothing like we northerners make from the box, I'll tell you that right now.  They balanced out the savory crunch of the real fried chicken, too.  During our sublime dinner that night, my hosts asked me what I would include in a traditional New England dinner, and I was a bit overwhelmed by the answer.  So, I pose that question to you here:  what would you serve to this New England girl that epitomizes our cuisine?