A meat and three restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee
A plate of meat and three at Walnut Hills restaurant, Vicksburg, Mississippi

A meat and three meal is one where the customer picks one meat and three side dishes as a fixed-price offering. Meats commonly include fried chicken, country ham, beef, country-fried steak, meatloaf, or pork chop;[1][2] and sides span from vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and green beans,[3] to macaroni and cheese, hush puppies, and spaghetti. A dessert, such as gelatin, is often offered.[2][4] Typical accompaniments include cornbread and sweet tea.[3][4]

“Meat-and-three” is a regional term popular in the cuisine of the Southern United States for both the meal and restaurants offering such a menu. Variants of meat and three can be found throughout the United States, but its roots can be traced to Tennessee and its capital of Nashville.[2][3][4][5] The term has been described as implying "glorious vittles served with utmost informality."[4] It is also associated with soul food.[3]

Similar concepts include the Hawaiian plate lunch, which features a variety of entrée choices with fixed side items of white rice and macaroni salad,[6][7] and the southern Louisiana plate lunch, which features menu options that change daily.[8] It is somewhat similar to a blue-plate special but with a more fixed menu.[9] Boston Market and Cracker Barrel chains of restaurants offer a similar style of food selection.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Finch 2009, p. 89.
  2. 1 2 3 Davies 2011, p. 21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Finch 2009, p. 85.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Stern & Stern 2009, pp. 180–81.
  5. ↑ Schatz 2006, p. 4.
  6. ↑ Childress, Tricia (October 19, 2010). "Hawaiian Plate Lunch spot opens". Creative Loafing Charlotte. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ Galdiera, Lyle (November 27, 2002). "Origins of Plate Lunch". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ Staff. "Culinary Trail Signature Dish: Plate Lunch". LouisianaTravel.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ Ferrell 2010, p. 153.
  10. ↑ West, Kay (December 7, 1995). "Marketing Concept". Nashville Scene. Retrieved November 5, 2014.

Sources

  • Davies, Sally Walker (2011). Explorer's Guide Tennessee. Countryman. ISBN 978-0-88150-898-7.
  • Ferrell, John (2010). Mary Mac's Tea Room. Andrews McMeel. ISBN 978-0-7407-9338-7.
  • Finch, Jackie Sheckler (2009). Insiders' Guide to Nashville (7th ed.). Globe Pequot. ISBN 978-0-7627-4867-9.
  • Schatz, Bob (2006). Nashville Impressions. Farcountry. ISBN 1-56037-375-X.
  • Stern, Jane; Stern, Michael (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-547-05907-5.
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