Summary

In Chapter 1, Grant makes the acquaintance of cookbook author Regina Charboneau. This initial meeting is important because Regina invites Grant to Natchez, Mississippi, and an entirely different world--the deepest south of all--opens up for him. During his visit, Grant stays at the antebellum home of the Charboneaus, Twin Oaks. The kitchen of this great home is the buzzing center of activity and gossip in Natchez.

Charboneau also invites Grant to sign copies of his newest book at King's Tavern, one of her restaurants. The road to King's Tavern takes him by the Forks of the Road memorial. He is chilled by reading the memorial marker here: at this site was the second-largest slave market in the Deep South. Here coffles (similar to caravans) of slaves arrived to be sold. Many of these slaves would be separated from their families. Grant continues to drive...