"Balled" Peanuts

Southern-ese is not the only language where the word “balled” conjures up some fairly R-rated imagery and connotations. I’m gonna plead innocent here though and blame your own lewd imagination. Me? I’m talking about a southern delicacy that is found mostly along a 200 mile stretch of the Low Country, from Brunswick, Georgia to Charleston, South Carolina: BOILED Peanuts. How else do you pronounce BOILED?

It’s one of my favorite foods of all time (my kids love them as well, though that has to be owing in part to the linkage between this and memories of hanging out in Savannah.). And so I keep looking for ways to slide it into the culinary spectrum here in Tel Aviv, part of our soul food kitchen mission.

Initially, boiled peanuts was on our menu as a “snack” or “starter.” But that really isn’t the appropriate category, is it? Ya wanna eat boiled peanuts on a hot, humid summer’s day, letting all of that salty goodness soak in. It’s not a course, part of an overall meal. It’s kinda a meal in and of itself. That didn’t work.

Then, I thought I would put my mission where my mouth and wallet were and provide it as a complimentary “thank you” gift with vegan orders. I’m always looking for an added something for my vegan guests, since the sponge cake we do for our non-vegans won’t work and I get a bit tired of doing a vegan version of majul dates stuffed with pecans and cilantro. The feedback from my vegan recipients?: “Interesting.” “Not what I expected.” “What is that?” Strike Two.

Haven’t yet figured out what my next pitch is going to be. Haven’t given up on the proselytizing. Just not sure what the next approach should be. Meanwhile, like top-shelf hooch, I’m saving the good stuff for me and my family. Eventually, Tel Avivans will beat a path to my door. Eventually.