Soul Mama Smackdown

"Holiday Inn," I said, passing her back her plate with a few bites of waffle and a couple of wings missing. I guess Mama bought her Belgian waffle iron at a Holiday Inn going-out-of-business sale.

The wings were so good, I had high hopes for the other fried foods. On a subsequent visit, I tried the catfish. But it was disappointingly soggy. I also figured that a restaurant with such outstanding New Orleans-style gumbo would do an exceptional job with red beans and rice. Wrong again.

The red beans were served on one side of the plate and the unseasoned white rice was served on the other. A couple of pieces of sausage were placed on top. Sorry y'all, that's not red beans and rice with sausage any more than a pile of sliced cabbage with a cup of salad dressing on the side is coleslaw. I sent the beans back. If you want to know what red beans and rice are supposed to taste like, go get some at Frenchy's Fried Chicken on Scott.
_____________________

I had to declare the Mama smackdown a draw. Mama Assumption's has better meats and fried foods. They also make better mac and cheese, which is served in a casserole that's run under the broiler to give it a cheesy crust.

But Big Mama's Homecookin' runs away with the vegetable honors. There is nothing at Mama Assumption's that even comes close to the greens, the okra, the field peas and the butter beans down at the Pearland steam table joint.

I guess you have to decide what you like to eat first, then pick your Mama.