Mood:
hungryNow Playing: Pizza Shrimp Blues
Topic: Swrimp Pizza?
Growing up in Frayser was about as country as country could get. It was years before being annexed to Memphis. We even lived on a pig and goat farm (presently Chandler Street). So our food was typical country. Mostly beans, cornbread and other Southern fixings. We never ventured out to Memphis restaurants other than hamburgers or cafes with southern home cooked plate lunches.
When I got drafted, the world of food opened up. I was 20 years old before I had my 1st pizza. It was in Denver, CO. where I was stationed at Lowry ARB for Technical school. I remember seeing a truck coming around to the barracks delivering something in a flat box. I remember thinking, "What in the world is that thing?" on further investigation, it was not only flat but round! Of course, I had to try one and have been eating Pizza every since.
I didn't eat Chinese food until I ate it in Thailand. Of course, I didn't know what I was eating but liked it. Now, I try to eat at a Chinese buffet about onced a week.
My experience with shrimp was much like the pizza. My first time eating it was in Ft Walton Beach, FL when I was stationed at Eglin AFB. I use to hang out at the NCO Club and heard about shrimp there. I asked, "Where do you get it?" With such a question, they knew I was a newby. So, they directed be to an Oyster Bar down by the beach. I did have a few drinks before I went there alone which proved to be disastrous. I remember ordering peal-um and eat-um shrimp. But, no one told me to pill them and I ate the whole plate with the shells still on them. I did get sick and it was a long time before I ate them again. But today, Peal-um and eat-um shrimp is my favorite sea food. And Yes, I do peel them!
Yes, children are the products of their environment and become locked in their food selection until they grow up and experience what the world has to offer in foods, I certainly did and what wonderful taste?
