Up in Richmond for a conference with other folks at the company on the future of news, newspapers and digital media. We’ll talk more about that at a later date ...
But driving up here and eating lunch here yesterday got me to thinking again about a question that I’ve pondered for a long time.
What is the dividing line between sweet tea and unsweetened tea. Richmond—a clearly Southern town—is an unsweet kind of place. Henderson, N.C. is sweet. Your thoughts on where the boundary is? This might not be as burning a question as the line between Lexington and Eastern N.C. BBQ, or the brown egg-white egg belt in New England, but it’s still one of those random thoughts that bugs me in the middle of the night or on a long drive....
Your host is Ken Otterbourg, the managing editor at the Winston-Salem Journal. It's a forum to discuss the media, from
As a 35 year resident of Richmond, I can definitively tell you that the line has shifted further and further south over the years (It’s the damn Yankees’ fault).
Sure, there’s still plenty of places in Richmond you can order “tea” and not have to specify (or beg for) a cold glass of diabetes inducing sweet tea but the number of those places are dwindling.
Even Petersburg, 25 miles south of Richmond, is under siege. I recently dined at an old family favourite there called Kings BBQ (the one on Crater Road, not Washington Street) and nearly fell on the floor when my waitress told me they didn’t have sweet tea.
These days, I’d say you have to get into the Blackstone/Emporia area before you hit Sweet Tea Country.
Be careful driving home. If you plan your trip back right, you can make it to Kings before the lunch crowd hits. I highly recommend the outside minced plate.
It’s a little off-subject, but while you’re there make sure you get a sandwich (and a limeade) at Bill’s BBQ....
Oh yeah. Good call Bill!
In fact Ken ... if you’re going to Bill’s, will you pick up a grape limeade for me?
I’m in the 111 building (across from where you’re having your meetings) on the second floor. Head to the left when you get off the elevator. You can’t miss me.
Thanks.
Missouri is totally unsweet. So maybe the Mississippi on the west? Maybe further east, not sure.
Some nice eating suggestions. Almost makes me want to turn the car around and head back to Richmond. Next time: a field trip to the Crater in Petersburg and then to King’s.
Heading north to visit the inlaws in Michigan, there is no sweet tea once one leaves Kentucky in the rearview mirror and heads into Ohio. In Michigan, forget about it.
As an aside, my mother worked as a waitress at Bill’s BBQ in Richmond about 36 years ago. Wonder if it’s the same one?
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