How to Eat Your Way Through the South on a Budget

When I first landed in Nashville, I was convinced I needed to eat at the famous hot chicken spots with the hour-long lines. Then a local told me to look for the places with the gravel parking lots and handwritten signs. That was the best advice. The South isn't about fine dining; it’s about soul food. You can get a plate of fried catfish, collard greens, and mac and cheese for under ten bucks if you know where to go. Don't be afraid of gas stations either. Some of the best barbecue brisket I’ve ever had came from a smoker sitting outside a Texaco in Alabama. For beginners, just follow your nose and look for where the pickup trucks are parked.