LISA DENTON: Barry, it’s pinto bean time in South Pittsburg, Tenn. OK, technically, it’s the National Cornbread Festival, but you can’t have cornbread without pinto beans. (Well, you can, but you shouldn’t.)
Most everything takes place Saturday and Sunday. The big cook-off, which I’ve even judged a couple of times, is Saturday, and there are music performances, arts and crafts vendors and a carnival. Remind me to tell you sometime about my carnival experiences.
BARRY COURTER: Your last sentence will likely become someone’s best new pickup line in a bar. Based on my own reaction to reading it, I know I’m interested in hearing more.
Anyway, the cornbread festival in South Pittsburg is a good time for sure. They are having a buttermilk chugging contest as well. You entering? There aren’t many things that I won’t eat or drink, but buttermilk is one of them. Not even with cornbread and holding my nose.
LISA: Nope. That’s some South I won’t put in my mouth either. It almost feels un-Southern to admit it, but it’s true.