When my aunt and her family lived in a small town about thirty minutes southeast of the big city, I was fortunate to experience traditional Southern food. Let’s just say that it was not difficult for me to adjust to Atlanta, Georgia’s famous fried chicken, as it is one of my favorite not-so-healthy meals.

In fact, according to Discover Atlanta, “A Southern staple, there’s no shortage of tasty options for fried chicken in the ATL. The place to meet over a plate during the Civil Rights movement, Paschal’s is still serving up their Famous 1947 Fried Chicken. Mary Mac’s Tea Room is favored for their double-battered goodness, and The Colonnade, another longtime ATL dining establishment, serves up “old-school chicken done right.” Busy Bee Cafe is known for their “moist, juicy and bee-licious” fried chicken and The General Muir’s version of the dish was featured in Garden & Gun,”.

(Photo Credit: The Country Cook)

Top comfort foods

Not only is fried chicken a famous food in Atlanta, but it is also a common comfort food. Comfort food is an ever-evolving concept that defies all trends. Whether we’re craving meatloaf, mom’s spaghetti and meatballs, Grammy’s carne muddica, or a big bowl of matzo ball soup, we want our homespun favorites just the way mom or grandma used to make them.

Here are some favorites in the United States:

• Spaghetti and meatballs
• Chicken Soup
• Meatloaf
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Beef Stroganoff
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
• Chili
• Mac n Cheese
• Ice cream
• Mashed potatoes and gravy

My favorite comfort food has to be my great-grandmother’s (Grammy’s) recipe for carne muddica (breaded steak). Despite my mom’s forebodings, I will share my secret family recipe for “Carne Muddica” ~ Prego!

• 2 lbs. of round steak (cubed three times)
• Season the meat with garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper
• Make one bowl with three eggs, a three-count pour of olive oil, and a splash of milk
• Make another bowl with 2 cups of Italian breadcrumbs, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese, and more garlic powder to taste
• Cut meat into portion-sized pieces
• Get a large frying pan, coat the bottom with olive oil, and put it on medium heat
• Dip meat pieces into the egg wash
• Then dip into the breadcrumb mix
• Lay carefully in the frying pan
• Flip (with a strong flat-bottomed spatula) when juices start to appear on top of the meat pieces
• Cook another couple of minutes until it reaches a safe temp for meat (or to your liking)
• Serve over pasta with red meat or marinara sauce
• Manga!

*We are not responsible for undercooked food. This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult an expert when cooking any type of meat or fish.

*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional medical or psychological advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a healthcare professional should you or a trusted loved one deem it necessary.

Why does comfort food make us feel good?

With the potential to offer many psychological benefits, comfort food is a mother’s favorite tool that has been healing children across the world for centuries by cooking specific family recipes with love.

Comfort foods can release dopamine in the body and bestow rewards such as pleasure, stress relief, and warm feelings, often accompanied by deep memories of love and caring.

It is not only used by moms, dads, nanas, and papas, but also by our favorite coaches and teachers alike. “I’m sorry your team lost the championship. “ Let’s go get some ice cream,” or reverse it to “Yay, we won the championship!” Let’s go get some ice cream, on me!” Either way, somehow that ice cream made the rough time a little better and the good times even better. At least it seemed to.

Does any of this sound familiar? The words were intended to be genuine, very innocent actions on the part of our loved ones, meant to express concern and love to us when we were hurting or happy. We knew that it was through food, not just any food, though, mind you.

Usually, the food was loaded with fat and carbs. Because of this, food has been used as a special type of medicine, or as an antidepressant, to cure any feeling that ails us. However, such patterns may become a life-threatening, serious problem, especially if it is a habitual pattern causing excessive weight gain.

Defined by Wikipedia, “Comfort food consumption is seen as a response to emotional stress and, consequently, as a key contributor to an epidemic of obesity in the US. The provocation of specific hormonal responses leading selectively to increases in abdominal fat is seen as a form of self-medication.

Further studies suggest that consumption of comfort food is triggered in men by positive emotions, and by negative ones in women. The stress effect is particularly pronounced among college-aged women, with only 33% reporting healthy eating choices during times of emotional stress. For women specifically, these psychological patterns may be maladaptive,”.

All cultures around the world have specific food customs. In my childhood, money was scarce, and when there was some kind of special occasion, it meant that we would use limited resources to buy special foods. It meant that we were being treated in a special way. Birthdays meant choosing a special meal and a type of cake and ice cream (within a budget).

Later in life, patterns of panic buying and stockpiling could be a response to any heightened forms of anxiety, fear, and/or uncertainty about the future when brought up in low-income households.

Funerals also involve bringing food to the bereaved. The funeral ritual is one of special interest in this topic. The message is quite obvious: “I hope this food makes you feel better.” Again, the gift is given with love and care, but unfortunately, it’s another reinforcement of using food to make us feel better.

We are given messages early in our lives, and then reinforced throughout our lives, about how food can make us feel different or better. Thus, when we equate food with happiness, we continue to turn to food for comfort to feel happy or better, albeit temporarily.

What food is Atlanta famous for?

In conclusion, Atlanta is famous for its iconic fried chicken and comforting Southern cuisine. These foods connect people, evoke memories, and offer warmth—showing how culinary traditions shape both local culture and personal well-being.