Fox News engages in what I believe is unwarranted “piling on” with regard to Cracker Barrel restaurants. See this column on the failure to offer black eyed peas on New Years. I write as a frequent, happy customer of the restaurants.
First, I understand black eyed peas at New Years is truly a southern tradition, one the DrsC have on occasion observed at home. And I do enjoy the bean-like “peas” which the other DrC cooks superbly, though in unskilled hands they can taste like cardboard and were, for me, an acquired taste.
If offered, the “peas” would be a “side” at CB, and are not listed on their year-round menus. Thus they’d have to be a “seasonal special” the availability of which would be touted off-menu in some fashion - not impossible but also not easy and perhaps not worth the effort in terms of amount sold.
Traditional Southern dishes like biscuits with gravy, fried okra, cooked-till-limp green beans, and cornbread continue to be offered at CB all year long. Making black eyed peas available for a couple of weeks around the New Year may not be worth the effort.
I’ll forgive Cracker Barrel for no black eyed peas. My local ‘store’ does a great job of filling me with my grandma’s down home cooking at an attractive price point.
