| Okay so you do not have the skill, time | | | | cooking you have become accustomed too. |
| or patience to cook up that perfect soul | | | | At this point you should feel very good |
| food dinner? Chances are a soul food | | | | about the idea of eating foods any day |
| restaurant in your area is serving up | | | | of the week that are traditional served |
| home cooking just like mom or grandma | | | | only during Sunday dinner and on special |
| use to make. Give yourself a break from | | | | occasion like family reunions, family |
| kitchen duties and here is the reason | | | | barbecues, birthdays, etc. |
| why. | | | | So what type of dishes can you expect to |
| Soul food restaurants have never been | | | | find on a soul food menu? That depends |
| more popular. In fact, today you have | | | | on the type of restaurant you visit. For |
| more options than ever before. Black | | | | example at a barbecue restaurant you can |
| celebrities, seasoned chefs and great | | | | experience the taste of barbecued ribs, |
| cooks around the country have teamed up | | | | chicken, brisket; baked beans, macaroni |
| to offer you a unique dining experience | | | | & cheese, coleslaw, potato salad; banana |
| and familiar soul food menu. | | | | pudding, sweet potato pie; and more. |
| If you live in or near major cities with | | | | At an upscale restaurant, you would more |
| a significant African American | | | | than like see many remakes of |
| population, expect the competition for | | | | traditional soul food and southern |
| your business to be fierce. This is | | | | favorites. These modern meals will be |
| great news for you because in essence | | | | more appealing to todays taste. In |
| you will have an opportunity to enjoy a | | | | additional you will see soul food |
| full range of dinning experiences at | | | | fusion, the combination of African |
| several different types of restaurants | | | | American, Caribbean and Jamaican |
| including: soul food diners, upscale | | | | cuisine. Lastly, on the menu you will |
| dining, buffets, catered events, mom & | | | | probably see NEO Soul Food aka New Soul |
| pop dining, cafeteria style dinners and | | | | Food prepared to fit the healthy |
| much more. | | | | lifestyle. These dishes contain less |
| Cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, | | | | salt, fat, cholesterol and calories. |
| Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Memphis, | | | | You will be pleasantly surprised when |
| New York, Philadelphia, St Louis, | | | | eating at Cafeteria style restaurants, |
| Oakland and Washington DC all offer | | | | along with restaurants featuring |
| unique dining experience including: live | | | | buffets. Here you can taste and sample a |
| jazz performances, comedy shows, | | | | variety of comfort foods including meats |
| celebrity appearances, modernized soul | | | | like smothered chicken, barbecue, |
| food cuisine, artwork exhibits, gifts & | | | | meatloaf, fish; vegetables such as |
| memorabilia and cooking products. | | | | collard greens, cabbage, yams, okra; |
| Once you get out and start enjoying | | | | delectable desserts like peach cobbler, |
| establishments in your area, it will be | | | | red velvet cake, pecan pie; and much |
| easy to see that the soul food | | | | more. |
| restaurant industry caters to a diverse | | | | The Mom & Pop type restaurants will be |
| group. | | | | limited to daily specials and lack |
| Now that you are sold on the idea of | | | | variety when compared to large |
| giving yourself a break from kitchen | | | | establishments. This can work out to |
| duties, the obvious question is...What | | | | your advantage because you will always |
| are celebrity soul food restaurants and | | | | be served fresh vegetables and desserts |
| famous chefs cooking up? This question | | | | with fruits that are in season. |
| is not at all easy to answer. The simple | | | | Okay now is the time to take a break do |
| fact is, it all depends on location and | | | | some research and rush out to enjoy some |
| the type of clients the restaurants in | | | | soul food at a soul food restaurant near |
| your area are trying to attract. | | | | you. Just remember there are plenty of |
| The bottom line up front is that in most | | | | restaurants to choose from offering a |
| cases you can find a soul food | | | | variety of soul food menus. One word of |
| restaurant in your area that provides | | | | caution all soul food restaurants are |
| the type of comfort foods and home | | | | not created equal. |