THURSDAY THE LONG WAY: BOILED PEANUTS

Thursday the long way highlights food from out of the way places including important food memories that have had something to do with forming the way I look at food today, both cooking it and eating it. They may be inspired by recent meals, by the food-media, or by anything at all.

Boiled peanuts may be a treat that all you Southerners out there are well-aware of but I hadn't experience them until an out-of-the-way stop in the little alpine village of Helen, Georgia, on the way to white-water rafting down the Chattahoochee River at the beginning of a road-trip from Atlanta to Key West a few years ago. That's right, I said the alpine village of Helen, Georgia (image, right, c/o ngeorgia.com).

According to the Alpine Helen - White County Convention & Visitors Bureau and About North Georgia by Golden Ink, Helen, once a small mining and lumber town became a pretty desolate place until after the creation of Unicoi State park in 1968 when "local businessmen met to discuss what could be done to improve their town. They approached a nearby artist friend, who had been stationed in Germany. He sketched the buildings, added gingerbread trim, details and colors to the buildings, giving an Alpine look to the entire town. In January 1969, business owners and local carpenters began turning ideas into reality. Now all downtown stores have been renovated and many buildings and cobblestone alleyways added. Faces of buildings were painted with scenes of Bavaria and North Georgia, mirroring the migration of early settlers.

Helen has accomplished much; it has created a new town and industry, providing jobs for more people and boosting the economy of the entire area. Helen also commemorates its historic past when the early settlers came to this remote area. A village with mountain heritage and a touch of Bavaria, Helen has created a unique experience for its visitor."

Okay, so enough with the histroy lesson. It's a strange place Helen, like little Bavarian Disneyland where it's always Oktoberfest or at least it seems like it should be. There are little shops downtown that do taffies and fudges in their windows, lots of places that sell knick-nacks like dream-catchers, wood chimes, cuckoo clocks and rocking chairs along with a few restaurants on the river that sell wursts and beers.

Out of town a little ways was a roadside stand which I believe was named, Fred's Famous Peanuts (17 Clayton Road, 706-878-3124). It's here that I had my one and only experience with boiled peanuts. Warm, soft and fully-dressed in their shells, the soggy peanuts came in a plastic bag and I was very wary of them. But after that first cautious bite I couldn't stop popping them in my mouth. You eat the shell and peanut all in one. They're salty and vinegary and soft and mushy and it might sound disgusting but honestly, they're downright delicious and addictive. I'm pretty sure there were two kinds, one with a little bit of spice which added a nice extra kick. While we didn't finish both bags it was only because I didn't think that much vinegar on an empty stomach could be a good thing. It was hard to stop eating them.

I can imagine the peanuts being served with beer at a bar or even as a funky appetizer at a restaurant depending on what else you're planning on serving. It's certainly something I'd think of doing...

According to Wikipedia, Helen, Georgia, suffered some damage on August 30, 2005 when Hurricane Katrina spawned a tornado in the are," and in fact on "May 1, 2006, Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill making boiled peanuts the official snack food of South Carolina.'

I'd love to return for the peanuts, Oktoberfest and the hot-air balloon festival (riding in one is something I'd like to do!) that the town seems to be involved in. In the meanwhile, here are a few recipes I found online about how to make boiled peanuts for yourself. I'll let you know which one I prefer.