The Shrimp Boat: Best food to cure homesickness
Sarah Giarratana
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Columns
We nodded and not five minutes later, we were presented with baskets of gold. In my basket, a chicken sandwich worthy of being eaten with two hands and in Stephanie's plump shrimp, hush puppies and cole slaw on a bed of golden fries.
The chicken was succulent, steaming and moist, all white meat with a light breading on a white bun with mayonnaise and lettuce. It tasted like home.
Stephanie's shrimp tasted fresh, lacking the bitterness that normally accompanies seafood served away from the coast. The breading around the shrimp complemented it, adding a texture that effectively contrasted the porous seafood texture.
The fries were golden, crisp and hot, their crispiness a sign that the oil in the fryers was fresh and changed regularly. The hush puppies were delicious and cole slaw a perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Our meals, served in heaping portions, totaled up to only $9. And looking at the menu, for a college student on a budget, with large sandwiches for three dollars and sides for under 2, the price smells as sweet as the food.
"Why wouldn't ya come to the Shrimp Boat?" Morgan Holling, a Baldwin County High School senior and waitress, said. "Ya got Southern Hospitality and lotsa' grease, it's perfect."
Somewhere in the middle of dinner, Stephanie and I were invited to eat with the seventeen or so people at the table next to us. They explained that they were a Christian biker club and rode motorcycles to raise money to give back to the community.
I laughed and listened to the conversation and swapping of stories and plans for the future. In the middle of dinner, I smiled as my homesickness was swept away by good food and kind people.
On the back of the Shrimp Boat's menu, it reads, "If you enjoyed your food, tell your friends about it." I enjoyed my food and my new friends. My experience at the Shrimp Boat taught me that sometimes I need to open my eyes, heart and mouth to food that's a little less processed and a little more local.
When asking Mildred if she would like to see more college students come to eat, she said, "Y'all come on, we're waitin' for ya."
So for a true taste of Milledgeville, at an affordable price, visit the Shrimp Boat. For one evening, loosen your belt buckle, forget about your diet and settle in for a home-cooked meal right down South Elbert Street.
The chicken was succulent, steaming and moist, all white meat with a light breading on a white bun with mayonnaise and lettuce. It tasted like home.
Stephanie's shrimp tasted fresh, lacking the bitterness that normally accompanies seafood served away from the coast. The breading around the shrimp complemented it, adding a texture that effectively contrasted the porous seafood texture.
The fries were golden, crisp and hot, their crispiness a sign that the oil in the fryers was fresh and changed regularly. The hush puppies were delicious and cole slaw a perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Our meals, served in heaping portions, totaled up to only $9. And looking at the menu, for a college student on a budget, with large sandwiches for three dollars and sides for under 2, the price smells as sweet as the food.
"Why wouldn't ya come to the Shrimp Boat?" Morgan Holling, a Baldwin County High School senior and waitress, said. "Ya got Southern Hospitality and lotsa' grease, it's perfect."
Somewhere in the middle of dinner, Stephanie and I were invited to eat with the seventeen or so people at the table next to us. They explained that they were a Christian biker club and rode motorcycles to raise money to give back to the community.
I laughed and listened to the conversation and swapping of stories and plans for the future. In the middle of dinner, I smiled as my homesickness was swept away by good food and kind people.
On the back of the Shrimp Boat's menu, it reads, "If you enjoyed your food, tell your friends about it." I enjoyed my food and my new friends. My experience at the Shrimp Boat taught me that sometimes I need to open my eyes, heart and mouth to food that's a little less processed and a little more local.
When asking Mildred if she would like to see more college students come to eat, she said, "Y'all come on, we're waitin' for ya."
So for a true taste of Milledgeville, at an affordable price, visit the Shrimp Boat. For one evening, loosen your belt buckle, forget about your diet and settle in for a home-cooked meal right down South Elbert Street.
Be the first to comment on this story