So\u2026. you may be wondering what led us to start SAMPLING THE SOUTH<\/b>.
\n\nWhy would I write stories about restaurants in the South? Well\u2026. I\u2019ve actually been doing a form of this for over 25 years. It\u2019s called \u201cmystery shopping\u201d. \u201cSo, what is that?,\u201d you ask. Mystery shopping is one way that companies obtain feedback from real customers. A mystery shopper contracts with a company to go to the location incognito and evaluate their customer service and whatever the business would like evaluated.
The first mystery shop I ever did was at a fast-food restaurant in Elba, Alabama. I\u2019m guessing it was sometime around 1993 or 94. Since that time, I\u2019ve completed literally thousands of mystery shops. I\u2019ve evaluated banking institutions, retail stores, assisted living communities, amusement parks\u2026 you name it \u2026 but restaurants have always been my favorite!\n
\nWhen we moved to a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia in 2002, I took my mystery shopping to a new level. I began evaluating high-end restaurants. Cavin and I went \u201cundercover\u201d and visited many awesome restaurants with some very expensive menu items that I could barely pronounce. Things like… Sliced Filet Mignon with Cipollini Onion; Porcini Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye with 15-Year Aged Balsamic; Oysters Bordelaise or Escargot. These were date nights for us back then. We had three young children under the age of 10. Our budget was tight, but this was a way for us to have a \u201cfree meal\u201d by writing a critique of our experiences focusing on the customer service, timing, cleanliness\u2026 and of course the food.
\n\nAs the years went on, I continued to mystery shop as a hobby and a way to make a little extra money. It was my \u201cside gig\u201d to being a homemaker, pastor\u2019s wife, mother, and all the things I genuinely love doing. I found that I really enjoyed my \u201cside gig\u201d. My major in college was Family and Consumer Economics. Through this degree and my days of working in banking, I\u2019ve always been very customer service-oriented. \u201cThe customer\u2019s always right\u201d, or so they say, and I just so happen to believe it! After all, customers do deserve to be treated right. I mean\u2026 isn\u2019t that why the business exists? To meet the customers\u2019 needs and provide a service that they want or need and that they are paying for!\n
\nI feel like I\u2019m rambling\u2026 but I thought I should give you a little background. So\u2026. How do I have the authority to write about restaurants in the South? Well\u2026 let me try to shed some light on it. I was born and raised in Brewton, Alabama, and Cavin was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama\u2026. technically he was born at Fort Rucker, Alabama (the Army base right outside of Enterprise). He did move around a little, but he wound back up in Enterprise at the end\u2026. so let\u2019s count it as born and raised in Enterprise!
\n\nWe\u2019ve been around Southern food all of our lives. I was brought up on coca-cola, Granny\u2019s fried chicken and biscuits, Grandma\u2019s chicken and dumplings, my mama\u2019s casseroles, and my daddy\u2019s fried shrimp and homemade barbecue sauce\u2026 just to name a few. Cavin grew up in \u201cpeanut country\u201d and ate at restaurants like Cutt\u2019s in Enterprise; McLin\u2019s in Daleville, and he loved a good steak from Conestoga in Dothan. We both love boiled peanuts, pound cakes, cheese grits, burgers on the grill\u2026. and we love restaurants that know how to do it right!\n
\nAll of this is great, but it can\u2019t go without saying\u2026. our first love is Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Savior. Many years ago, before we even knew each other, we each realized we were in need of a Savior and individually gave our lives to Christ. Even as kids, we felt that the Lord was calling each of us to ministry. We have surrendered our lives to Him and have served in ministry for nearly 30 years.
We truly believe that the Lord works in all situations. He has gifted us uniquely. I love writing because He gave me the ability to do it. We were born in the South because this is what the Lord knew was best for us. He brought us together because we help each other where the other one is weak. We love serving and ministering in the name of Christ. We also love hospitality. I believe this is an area in which the Lord has gifted both of us. We love having people in our home and we love fellowshipping with others in restaurants. It\u2019s sometimes over a meal when you can really connect with another person.
\n\nSo are you starting to see how all of this came together? We are Southern\u2026. I like to write\u2026 I believe in good customer service\u2026. I believe in Southern hospitality and food done right. Cavin and I love people and want to highlight to others some of our long-time favorite restaurants along with new favorites as we discover them.
\n\nSo what do we hope to achieve in doing this? First of all, we love sharing our experiences with others. In a word, it\u2019s just plain out FUN! We also want to hear about your favorite restaurants, so we can visit them and highlight them in future posts. Let\u2019s don\u2019t keep them a secret. Let\u2019s spread the word so others can enjoy these hidden gems! We would also love to connect with restaurant owners who would like us to visit their businesses and evaluate them.
\n\nLet\u2019s keep SAMPLING THE SOUTH<\/b> together\u2026. one restaurant at a time<\/b>!