Comments on: Food for Faulkner

Question: Food for Faulkner

ifjuly — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 02:27:32 -0800

Food for Faulkner: My boyfriend just suggested we go on a road trip this Sunday to Rowan Oak, Faulkner's old digs, to celebrate his finishing The Sound and the Fury recently. I would like to pack a picnic lunch, or some kind of car-friendly food, and it just occurred to me it'd make me a super duper brilliant girlfriend if I could think of something Faulkner related. Best would be food mentioned in his books, but even something related to Faulkner's life would be cool. No jokes about bringing lots of alcohol--too obvious! It's late, and I have to work Friday and Saturday, so I'm hoping to come up with a plan by the end of tomorrow. S'why I'm asking for help--any ideas? Thanks in advance.

By: enrevanche

enrevanche — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 04:31:16 -0800

When asked about the tools of the writer's trade, Faulkner famously said "My own experience has been that the tools I need for my trade are paper, tobacco, food, and a little whiskey. "

Tobacco isn't healthy and whiskey's a bad idea if you're driving, but:

A picnic lunch appropriate to a denizen of the Deep South such as Mr. Faulkner would include cold fried chicken, country ham biscuits (if you can't find country ham where you are, you can cheat and use prosciutto, but it's not quite the same thing at all), potato salad, tart cole slaw, pecan or sweet potato pie for dessert, etc.

Ideally you would wash it all down with fifths of bourbon straight from the bottle but that's not a smart play if you're driving, as noted above, so make some sweet iced tea instead. And buy a pack of filterless Luckies to smoke afterwards if you *really* have to have the authentic experience.

By: Brittanie

Brittanie — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 04:42:34 -0800

I second the cold fried chicken. In the movie "Barton Fink," Bill Mayhew (the character based on Faulkner), Fink and Mayhew's mistress Audrey have a picnic during which Mayhew gets totally soused. In the scene, Fink is eating fried chicken.

Bonus points if you can sing the song Mayhew sings while pissing against a tree.

By: miniape

miniape — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 04:54:51 -0800

Ever read Sanctuary? How about corn on the cob?

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 05:21:21 -0800

Well, in S&F Benjy talks a lot about sassparilla soda, which you probably won't be able to find. A good root beer might substitute.

Whiskey is the quintessential Faulknerian food.

By: availablelight

availablelight — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 05:32:02 -0800

Hot toddies.

By: noloveforned

noloveforned — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 05:53:12 -0800

archer farms makes a sarsaparilla soda that you can buy at your local target.

By: croutonsupafreak

croutonsupafreak — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 06:41:43 -0800

A fish.

By: Clyde Mnestra

Clyde Mnestra — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 07:28:23 -0800

This is completely unhelpful, but you are a wonderful person for attempting this.

By: Yeomans

Yeomans — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:53:34 -0800

I second Clyde. And Target (here in MN) does have sarsaparilla soda. It isn't refrigerated, though, if that matters.

By: jfuller

jfuller — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:06:58 -0800

> A fish.

My mother is a fish.

Mmmmmm...momma!

By: Mr. Gunn

Mr. Gunn — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:33:57 -0800

Seconding the whiskey.

By: A189Nut

A189Nut — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:59:36 -0800

A corncob

By: clockwork

clockwork — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:48:31 -0800

There's a picnic chicken recipe in the July/August 2006 issue of Cook's Illustrated. I can't personally vouch for it, but it sounds tasty and their recipes are, if nothing else, exhaustively tested.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:26:51 -0800

You can definitely find sasparilla soda on the road in Mississippi (if not in Memphis). Another thing you can find is damn good food.

Be sure you also visit Graceland Too in Holly Springs. It gives a nice contrast that only Mississippi can offer.

By: brujita

brujita — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:33:01 -0800

If you want to visit the house, call ahead first.

By: ifjuly

ifjuly — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:58:38 -0800

pollomacho, graceland too is an institution all its own to all of my friends here. they've got lifetime membership cards in their wallets. the guy who runs it sounds incredibly crazy.

do you know of any specific places to stop for food or the soda? i'd really rather not have to use target soda, y'know? (but i will if i have to...) kinda kills the mood.

brujita, why? the site says it's open from 1 to 4 on sunday...is there something i should know about? thanks in advance.

you guys are great. the fish comment made me crack a real smile.

i'm beginning to think trying to find The Real Deal in southern food in ms itself is going to be the best bet...but maybe i can bring a sweet potato pie? hm.

thanks again!

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:54:23 -0800

Three years ago, it was closed the day I wanted to visit-- on a day of the week that my guidebook said it would be open...they MIGHT have been renovating, but I don't remember the details of why I couldn't come in.