Obesity, A Southern tradition.

[N80]

Myself, I plan to enjoy life and fried food.

I've always felt that this was a valid choice, as long as folks don't whine when that stroke takes out their whole left side, speech and bowel control.

There are worse things than dying young. Lots of them. I've seen 'em first hand. I firmly believe in the sanctity of life and I don't plan on going one minute before my Creator intends me to. But at age 45 I can already tell that my primary goal in life is not to simply hang around as long as possible. No thanks.

 

[scott_vt]

Myself, I plan to enjoy life and fried food.

Mornin Jim,
Can I jump on your bandwagon ???

I dont do it everyday but I still enjoy my bacon eggs and homefries, and yep I love fried catfish whenever I get down south where they know how to do it right !

Like I said, not everyday but often enough that after this trip goes buy Ill have some memories of what good food tastes like !

 

[Bird]

Of course, I've always like fried catfish. My wife only wants boneless fish fillets, no matter what kind of fish, so that's what I eat most of the time. However, fish that can be fried whole (minus head, guts, and scales if they have scales) just have a better flavor, whether you're talking about catfish, crappie (white perch to some of you), blue gill, etc. The trouble is that not many restaurants serve whole catfish and the few that do tend to overcook them.

HOWEVER, I don't know whether they all do it or not, but about 3 years ago, we ate one evening at a Shoney's buffet in Tennessee and they had the whole catfish and prepared properly; delicious. Now I assumed (you know how that goes) that it was just that one particular Shoney's, but last month we had occasion to eat at the Shoney's buffet in Princeton, WV, and they, too, had the whole catfish properly prepared.

 

[N80]

I have happened on good restaurant fried catfish from time to time. I'm not picky and personally I don't think making good fried catfish is all that hard. To me its kind of like beer and barbecue....there are differences and some are better than other....but I like almost all of them. So I'd guess that Shoneys just kept it simple and got it right. That's good to know.

 

[RobJ]

I have happened on good restaurant fried catfish from time to time.

I stopped eating resturant catfish when I started cooking my own. The main reason is I clean up the fish a lot better than the resturants and it's my own catch. No gray blood line going down the middle of mine, no bones and no shiney stuff if I use the belly meat. I waste some meat but when you take a bite, nothing but snow white meat. After that it's pretty easy, I like the pieces in nuggets mostly, but as long as they are all the same thickness (1/2-5/8") it's ok. Uneven cooking or overcooking is what kills most catfish IMO. I quick dunk in 50/50 Tabasco/water solution (change the mixture if you want a little more bite or let it soak longer), then a dip in Zatirans fish mix, then a bath in 350 temp peanut oil. I found keeping the temp at 350-375 is key to. Then about 2 minutes more after they float. Very simple but a few key things I learned from some guys on the lease. Yall might remember I have the best cooker in the world!! There is plenty of tractor in that cooker!!

Rob

 

[N80]

I guess I'm not very picky. I don't mind veins in my shrimp, a little hair in the rabbit stew, shot in my doves, or a feather or two in my fried turkey.

Now my wife doesn't like any of that stuff. Fortunately she is quite willing to go over it all with a fine toothed comb. If she is the last one that touches the fish and game before it goes in the pot or on the grill then it is spotless!

But I agree with you, most of the fried catfish I eat is 'homemade'.

 

[J_J]

Have any of you ever seen fat POW's, why. Little food, less weight, plus they crap more often than most people. How many of you have watched someone go through the salad bar about 6 times. Types of food don't seem to matter. a pound of salad is the same as a pound of french fries. I would agree that most people eat way to much, and most of that is not that healthy.

 

[RobJ]

I guess I'm not very picky. I don't mind veins in my shrimp, a little hair in the rabbit stew, shot in my doves, or a feather or two in my fried turkey.

Now my wife doesn't like any of that stuff. Fortunately she is quite willing to go over it all with a fine toothed comb. If she is the last one that touches the fish and game before it goes in the pot or on the grill then it is spotless!

But I agree with you, most of the fried catfish I eat is 'homemade'.

I'm close to the same way, veins in shrimp not a problem. But the gray blood line in catfish you can taste. Sort of like a nice steak and getting a piece of fat or grisel in a bite. Technically I paid for it, but its not what I'm looking for.

 

[RobJ]

Types of food don't seem to matter. a pound of salad is the same as a pound of french fries.

A pound of iceberg lettuce probably has less food value than a pound of fries since iceberg lettuce has almost zero food value. Green leaf lettuce for example is much better.

But lettuce isn't bad for you, its the cup of dressing and other stuff that is!

GUILTY!

 

[scott_vt]

A pound of iceberg lettuce probably has less food value than a pound of fries since iceberg lettuce has almost zero food value. Green leaf lettuce for example is much better.
t is!

GUILTY!

Good Mornin Rob,
Hey lettuce has its place, you need some in the digestive system to get rid of the fries !

BTW your catfish sounds good, to bad your so far away !