The Birthplace of “Fried Green Tomatoes”
By Michael Nolan
It seems like a travesty that I live a mere 3-4 miles from the restaurant that inspired Fanny Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes and I have yet to even mention it here.
Go on, I know you all want to throw something . . . just make sure it isn’t tomatoes.
As a Southerner who adores just about any type of Southern cooking, and a man who has seen the film quite a few times over the years, it wasn’t until I moved back to Alabama in 2002 that I even realized I was so close to the famed Irondale Café, and made it a point to plan a visit.
It is important to note here that it is indeed the Irondale Café in Irondale, Alabama that inspired the film, and not the Whistle Stop Café in Juliette, Georgia (where the film was actually made). Any true Southerner will know the difference, and so should you.
The Beginning
The Irondale Café actually started as a hot dog stand in 1928, but it wasn’t until it was purchased by a woman named Bess Fortenberry in 1932 that it took on its famous name. Trivia Tidbit: Fannie Flagg is Bess Fortenberry’s niece.
The Movie
The film premiered in 1992 right here in Birmingham and soon thereafter, the tourists began to flock to the restaurant, which now serves 600-800 slices of fried green tomatoes every day! Local newspapers ran ads that boasted “Seen the movie? Now taste the title.”
The Food
The food at the Irondale Café is 100% Southern, served “meat and three” cafeteria style. Don’t even think about sliding your tray down the row without a helping of its trademark dish in front of you or you will indeed be laughed at.
The walls are adorned with news clippings, posters, magazine articles and of course, photographs of the book’s author who made the place a household name. The current owner, Jim Dolan has been at the helm since 2000 and is proud to say that more than one of the restaurant’s cooks have been there for decades, so I guess it is safe to safe that they know what they’re doing!
One final note, while the Irondale Café’s barbeque is absolutely delicious, the owners feel that it is important for everyone to know that they do not follow the recipe from the movie. And if you don’t get that reference, you really need to visit the video store.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Glad to know that they don’t use the recipe in the movie
May 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Good one, Michael! Doing your part to preserve the few authentic Southern restaurants that seem to be left. (Actually, I’m sure there are plenty; they just don’t get the press they deserve.) Thanks for this! Next time I’m down that way I’ll make sure to check it out!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Oh thank goodness. The original would be horrific. Great post.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
“The secret’s in the sauce!”