Posted by Dana G.
A Taste of the Deep South at Sam’s Dogwood Diner
Palestine- Many years ago, families who were feeling the sting of the Great Depression enjoyed simple meals such as biscuits and gravy which became a main staple among East Texas families. Southern food has a history as rich as the taste of Deep South cooking and the culinary heritages which are the key ingredients. If you are craving a big country breakfast of eggs, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, sausage, grits and waffles get a taste of the last of the Deep South in Palestine at Sam’s Dogwood Diner.
Hearty meals that began with a big breakfast followed by dinners consisting of chicken fried steak, corn bread and collard greens once provided farmers with the fuel they needed to work from sun up to sun down in the scorching East Texas heat and soaking humidity. Often, thoughts of the pre-civil war era in East Texas evokes images of large plantations but in reality, most southern farmers were just trying to produce harvests to feed their families. Many of the dishes East Texans have grown to love were created out of necessity, but one thing is for sure; you can’t beat the taste of the Deep South.
Biscuits smothered in cream gravy may have been a staple in the diet of many pioneers who settled East Texas, but fortunately eateries such as Sam’s Dogwood Diner still allow us to enjoy the wonderful aroma and tastes of the Pineywoods we remember from our childhood. Dogwood Diner will transport you back to a simpler time in East Texas and remind you of days gone by.
Almost every community has a place it’s devoted to for their breakfast fix. Some area locals make a regular Sunday appearance, while others are at the diner almost daily. Sam’s Dogwood Diner has been voted “Best Breakfast and coffee in Palestine.” The diner’s friendly wait staff are second to none. They get to know the customers and already know their order by heart.
Dogwood Diner offers a variety of Deep South breakfast dishes from buttermilk biscuits and gravy to fruit and whipped cream topped waffles. Locals suggest the “Country Fried Steak Breakfast” and “Sam’s Special.” Others say you would be hard pressed to find another veggie omelet that could best the likes of the one served at Dogwood Diner, but for the meat lovers, the bacon seems to be top-notch.
“I’ve never had bacon that good. It is thick and cooked to perfection,” said Crockett native Michael Ellis.
What makes Sam’s Dogwood Diner so special? MYETX asked Sam himself, and he says the secret to their mouth-watering Deep South breakfast is in the freshness.
“We use the freshest ingredients possible and avoid products filled with chemicals,” said owner Sam Aryanpur.
Lunch time at the diner is just as nostalgic and mouthwatering as breakfast! Whether you order the chicken fried steak smothered in cream gravy or classic cheeseburger, you won’t leave hungry or disappointed. Sam’s Dogwood Diner knows the way to East Texans’ hearts and it isn’t just through their stomachs but through their memories.
Visit Sam’s Dogwood Diner in Palestine, located at 402 E. Palestine Ave. The diner is open seven days a week, from 6:30AM to 2PM. Bring your laptop or tablet and take advantage of the free wi-fi while you wait. For more information about Sam’s Dogwood Diner log on to dogwooddiner.com.
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