Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Detour ahead issue #16, Happy Father's Day, What I'm Reading This Summer, Fried Green Tomatoes and Whiskey Sours

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Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, stepdads, and father figures out there!

The kids are coming over this afternoon, and Ken has the smoker going for wings and shotgun shells. I’ll share the recipes next week (that is, if they turn out good 😂).

I’m making Blueberry Pie Cookies using a recipe from my friend

Rebecca Blackwell

, and I’m turning some leftover Picadillo into empanadas.

Simple, make-ahead-friendly food that is perfect for a Sunday spent hanging out with family.

I hope everyone has an amazing day, whether you’re celebrating with your favorite people or just enjoying a little quiet time. I know this day can be hard for some, especially if you’re missing your dad or thinking about someone you’ve lost.

However you’re spending it, I hope it brings comfort, good memories, and maybe some good food to share.

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Now, on to this week’s newsletter

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I pulled one of my all-time favorite books off the shelf this summer—Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. I first read it years ago, and it’s still just as warm, funny, and quietly powerful the second time around.

For those of you who don’t know, this story flips back and forth between two timelines: one set in the 1920s in the small town of Whistle Stop, Alabama, and the other in the 1980s with Evelyn Couch, a woman stuck in a rut who finds inspiration and courage through stories shared by a feisty nursing home resident named Ninny. It has humor, heartbreak, friendship, food—and plenty of fried green tomatoes.

Reading it again made me want to head straight into the kitchen. I found a few firm, unripe tomatoes and recreated the kind of crispy, golden slices that made the cafe famous. This version is simple and true to what you'd find served up hot in a Southern kitchen or roadside diner—and it works just fine in an RV kitchen, too.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Green (unripe) tomatoes, sliced

• All-purpose flour seasoned with salt and black pepper

• Eggs beaten with a splash of water or hot sauce

• A mix of cornmeal and panko crumbs, plus optional spices (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, lemon pepper, cayenne)

• Hot oil for pan-frying

The full recipe is linked below, with instructions for both a family-sized batch and a smaller version for two (perfect for RV life or empty-nesters). I’ve also added some fun backstory from the movie version, which was filmed not in Alabama—but in the tiny town of Juliette, Georgia. The Whistle Stop Cafe still stands there today, and yes, you can still order a basket of fried green tomatoes.

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Whistle Stop Café in Juliette, Georgia

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History of the Real Whistle Stop Cafe

The building that became the Whistle Stop Cafe has a long history. It was originally built in 1927 by Edward L. Williams, Sr., who ran a general store there for 45 years. When he finally closed the doors in 1972, he simply said, “I have had enough.”

Back in its heyday, the store sold just about everything—groceries, gasoline, cattle feed, hardware, clothing, and even medicine. Mr. Williams used to say he carried “everything from the cradle to the grave.” He called everyone “Cuz” and was known for rolling the dice to decide who’d pay for the Coca-Cola™.

His wife, Miss Lillian, helped run the place while raising their six kids, who all pitched in at the store until they headed off to school or the military. It was one of those old-school shops where folks could run a tab and have groceries delivered—things you just don’t see anymore. A lot of those original pieces—the cash register, meat scale, wood heater, and even the old file system filled with handwritten tabs—are still inside the cafe today.

Over the years, the building had a few different tenants before Hollywood came calling. It served as a timber consultant’s office and later an antique shop before being transformed into the Whistle Stop Cafe for the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.

After filming wrapped, Edward’s son Robert decided to turn the fictional cafe into a real one. He teamed up with his friend Jerie Lynn Williams, and together they opened what’s now known as the Original Whistle Stop Cafe.

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Whistle Stop Cafe Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes

Thick slices of unripe tomatoes, seasoned and coated in a crunchy cornmeal and panko mixture, then pan-fried until crisp and golden brown. A classic Southern side dish that’s easy to make and perfect with a dipping sauce or tucked into a tomato sandwich.

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You’ll find this recipe—plus plenty more—on the blog, complete with step-by-step photos and easy-to-follow instructions.

Entertaining the RV Life

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If you’ve never read the book, I highly recommend adding it to your summer list. It’s the kind of story that sneaks up on you and stays with you long after the last page. And if you have read it, this might be your sign to revisit it with fresh eyes and a plate of hot and crispy Fried Green Tomatoes. Oooh! And a whiskey sour!

"There's nothing worse than a woman drunk, and never allowed herself more than one whiskey sour".—Evelyn Couch

That line from Evelyn says a lot in just a few words. It shows how deeply she’s internalized the idea that women should always be controlled, quiet, and proper. There’s this unspoken rule she’s lived by—that indulging, especially in something like a drink, is somehow unladylike or shameful.

But it’s also about more than just the whiskey sour. It’s a glimpse into how she’s spent most of her life following the rules and putting everyone else’s needs ahead of her own. That one little drink becomes a symbol of how much she’s denied herself—joy, pleasure, and permission to break the mold.

This one is for you, Evelyn!

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Whiskey Sour

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon

• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)

• 1 egg white

• Ice

• Maraschino cherry

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Instructions:

1. Dry shake first:
   Add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake hard for about 15 seconds. This helps build that beautiful froth.

2. Add ice and shake again:
   Toss in a handful of ice and shake for another 15 seconds to chill everything down.

3. Strain and serve:
   Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube, or serve it up (no ice) in a coupe glass if you’re feeling fancy.

4. Optional garnish:
   Garnish with a speared maraschino cherry

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Tips:

• Use fresh lemon juice—it really makes a difference.

• If you’re new to egg whites in cocktails, don’t worry. They don’t add flavor—just texture.

• No cocktail shaker? A mason jar with a tight lid works just fine in a pinch.

Cheers!

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Reader Spotlight & Community Corner

Have you ever read a book that made you want to cook something right then and there? Or visited a restaurant from a movie and actually sat down to try the dish that made it famous?

Whether you’ve been to the real Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, Georgia, or you’ve got your own spin on fried green tomatoes, I’d love to hear about it. And if you're planning a Father’s Day cookout this weekend—maybe smoking wings, grilling up something good, or shaking up a round of whiskey sours—send me a photo or drop a note below!

I’d love to feature your Southern-inspired recipes, road trip stops, or favorite summer reads in an upcoming post.

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Well, guys, that’s all I’ve got for now! Wishing you a fantastic week ahead. If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, I’d love it if you shared it with a friend!

Spread the word – Invite a fellow food lover or travel enthusiast to join us on this journey.

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And if you try a recipe, have a question, or just want to say hello, drop a comment below—I’d truly love to hear from you! ❤️

~Holly

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(N.D.). Https://Thewhistlestopcafe.Com/History.