[jettester]

When I first arrived in Austin, TX to attend U.T., a group of friends took me out for a real "Texas" meal. We went to a greasy spoon sort of place well known for its' chicken fried steak dinners.

The first thing I learned about southern-speak was when I ordered a drink. I asked (foolishly) what they had and the waitress (who looked like Flo from the "Alice" series) said "Tea and cokes." Not wanting anything hot (the tea, or so I thought) I asked what kind of coke did they have. She said "7-Up, Orange Crush, Dr. Pepper and Pepsi" I kid you not.

Next, I ordered my meal which was the medium sized chicken fried steak (darn near filled the plate by itself). She asked me if I wanted a "super salad" with that and I said "what?" She asked again if I wanted a "super salad" and I asked back "how big is it?"

By this time, all of my redneck friends were busting up at their new Yankee roommate's ignorance of the local dialect. I was duly informed that the waitress was asking me if I wanted soup or salad. After this careful translation, I sheepishly said salad and she spun on her heals with a look that wondered if I had any brains at all. Needless to say, that was the best chicken fried steak I ever had, along with some "humble pie."

[Boiler Plate]

Wait till you get "Chicken Fried Steak Chicken". Yeah that's right. A chicken fillet that is cooked like a steak that is cooked like fried chicken. Got it? All soda in the Citified south is coke, while in the rural south all coke is Pepsi. If you want water, you have to ask for it else you are getting sweetened ice tea, which in the south is what water looks like.

[Boiler Plate]

Oh and WHATEVER you do don't EVER get Red Eye Gravy, unless you want to bloat up like a drowned horse and die.

[AgentEcho]

They must have taken you a little out of Austin to Marble Falls, home of the Bluebonnet Cafe.