Meat and three plate lunch specials are foundational to comfort food in the South. Although common everywhere that y’all is the collective pronoun of choice, the tradition is so deeply ingrained in the food culture of Lafayette, Louisiana, that there’s an actual plate lunch trail. Advertisement
This roadway-meets-foodway beckons hungry pilgrims to travel in search of the likes of smothered chicken, hamburger with gravy, fried catfish and chicken fried steak. Once the meat is chosen, it’s all about the sides, with options like creamed corn, collard greens, green beans and mashed potatoes lacquered with deep mahogany gravy.