I didn't have the privilage of being born and raised in Rhode Island; I discovered and fell in love with the Ocean State later, when I had the maturity to appreciate the good things in life. For me, the exciting and wonderful foods of Rhode Island have been a special joy. I adore seafood and pasta, I crave clam cakes and chowder, and I look forward to May Breakfasts all year long.

But sometimes, the foods I grew up with call to me -- food that momma and grandma made, served to the whole family after church on Sundays. Pot roast and pork chops and green beans and turnip greens and sweet baby carrots all hold special memories for me. Comforting memories.

Some native Rhode Islanders may find foods like catfish and fried okra a bit unusual -- the names alone may prevent a few from sampling these Southern favorites -- but to me, and to countless transplants to the shores of the Narragansett Bay, they say "comfort".

Here in the Ocean State, Cracker Barrel is the place to find this kind of food.

Just off I-95 at Exit 7, Rhode Island's Cracker Barrel is part of a chain of almost 500 restaurants across the US. The restaurant is modeled after a 1900-era country store, with a long front porch and rocking chairs. Inside, you step past tables of old-style gifts and crafts before you get to the dining room.

It is decorated top to bottom with antiques, sturdy wooden tables with oil lights, a huge stone fireplace, and even a checkerboard for a game before supper.

They serve breakfast all day if you have a hankerin' for grits or biskets and cream gravy, but I usually seek them out when I'm hungry for dinners like I remember "back home".

Fresh brewed iced tea year around, biskets and corn bread with the meal, and a choice of foods from my youth. Country fried steak (we called it "chicken fried steak" in the Texas Hill Country) a breaded and fried steak served with white cream "sawmill" gravy and mashed potatoes is one of my favorites. And meatloaf. And chicken and dumplings. And fried chicken!

The Cracker Barrel chain is familar to travelers who want familiar and filling food, but it's also a great way to sample good Southern home-style cooking without having to travel below the Mason-Dixon line.

Expect a lengthy wait Sunday afternoons and during the early evening, but don't worry, rocking on the front porch is a great way to work up an appetite!

Cracker Barrel's website is at www.crackerbarrel.com

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