Recently, I was running from our shop to the government center in Eatonton and I was hungry. Well, it being past 12:30 and not having had breakfast that morning, I was getting toward the hangry stage of dangerous. Trust me. Big boys like me ain’t fun to be around when we enter that phase. So, I let the traffic make my lunch decision for me. One of my favorite places was ruled out because they had Old Phoenix slammed shut and backed up like a biker convention in Daytona, so I turned right on Highway 44 and then into the BP Gas station next to El Agave.

Now, if you are not from down here that decision might raise some concern for you. You might wonder what in the world one might eat at a gas station? I mean, if all you know is prepackaged sandwiches and roll around in funky rotisserie hot dogs, bad pizza, and stale subs, I can see your confusion. However, down here in the southland (which, let’s admit is the heart and soul of good food) a gas station can be the doorway to nirvana, the pearly gates of heaven, and epicurean delights the likes of which your taste buds have never seen! However, you better know how to judge the food at a glance, and that’s where I come in folks.

The very first thing to do is look around, and it’s filled with muddy jean-wearing, bearded men, road workers, painters, carpenters, etc. — this is the place you want! The menu probably has gizzards, livers, fried chicken, fried fish, pot roast, and any vegetable is cooked with more pork products than all the hot dogs in Chicago. If you look around and there’s a bunch of skinny jeans wearing hipsters, leave. There’s nothing but fancy BBQ, too much seasoning, fancy coffee, and probably nasty IPAs there, and let’s face it — that ain’t me.

Next, what to eat? Breakfast is easy. Anything on a biscuit. I mean, come on! Fluffy biscuits made by women in hairnets and a bad attitude are the best. My favorite is usually a red link and cheese or a bologna and cheese biscuit. Lunch is a different ballgame. Lunch, I’m probably going with a meat-and-three combo. Maybe two meats if I am overly hungry and it looks like it’s going to be a long afternoon. So, here’s my go-to. Fried chicken or fried pork chops, meat loaf, fried fish, maybe a piece of ham. Vegetables will be green beans, baked beans, corn, fried okra, maybe this time of year fried green tomatoes. Next, look for a good piece of bread. Now this might be homemade rolls, biscuits, cornbread, or even a frozen roll, and we all know which of those that sister makes… Oh boy! Finally, dessert! This is going to be a treat, and we all know it! Banana puddin’ is going to almost always lead the list unless you are across the river in South Carolina, and that might mean you are lucky enough to get a chocolate cobbler or peach cobbler. Here in the Peach State, I’m going to go with slices of homemade cake they probably have in the counter next to the register, brownies, cookies, or maybe pies that might have been made by someone’s niece, grandbaby, or kid to raise money for their youth group trip or who knows what else.

Now, if all this don’t make you want to go on a tour of the back roads and side streets of the south, I don’t know what will. Remember to look for places like our own BP station on Highway 44 just south of the Pyramid and you will never go hungry.

Tight lines and following seas y’all!