Donald S.
Yelp
I hate you southerners, I really do. Not like "I'll kill you" hate, but more like "I just let the guy in front me skip at the grocery store because he had less items and he got randomly selected as the free groceries for a year winner" hate! It really isn't fair. You guys roll out of bed and have your pick of insanely delicious food at price points that don't even reflect the value of the American dollar :-/
Spotted Salamander sits on what looks like a normal residential neighborhood. To be honest, it even looks like the neighboring houses. Not entirely sure if there is a nearby lot, but street parking is available. The menu is mostly rotating and the chalk board is filled with daily specials, creative takes on southern classics.
Deviled eggs - as everyone will have you know, you must get the deviled eggs. Each day brings a new variation. On this day I hit the jackpot: bacon and pickled watermelon. If you told me anything featuring bacon would be completely outshined by another ingredient, I'd call you nuts. The pickling brings out flavors I didn't even know a watermelon could achieve. It's an absolute perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Pulled turkey - this sandwich is something else. Pulled turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, all covered in gooey cheese and served on quite possibly the softest baguette I've ever had. The entire sandwich melts in your mouth. None of this makes sense, in the best of ways. And is pulled turkey a thing? If thanksgiving turkey was this good, I think this would be a weekly occurrence. (It ok to admit thanksgiving turkey isn't that good. The truth will set you free!)
Brown butter pecan bread pudding with bourbon glaze - drop the mike, drop the fork, maybe even I drop to the floor. Lord take me now...
Good southern food is the best thing America has to offer to the culinary world. If you don't believe that, you haven't lived, or maybe just haven't ventured into the real south. I completely understand why cholesterol and diabetes rates are higher in southern states. I don't blame you, I don't blame you at all. It's a trap. A wonderful, delicious, glorious trap...