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Meat and three

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A meat and three restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee
A plate of meat and three at Walnut Hills restaurant, Vicksburg, Mississippi

A meat and three meal is one where the customer picks one meat and three side dishes as a fixed-price offering. Meats commonly include fried chicken, country ham, beef, country-fried steak, meatloaf, or pork chop;[1][2] and sides span from vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and green beans,[3] to macaroni and cheese, hush puppies, and spaghetti. A dessert, such as gelatin, is often offered.[2][4] Typical accompaniments include cornbread and sweet tea.[3][4]

“Meat-and-three” is a regional term popular in the cuisine of the Southern United States for both the meal and restaurants offering such a menu. Variants of meat and three can be found throughout the United States, but its roots can be traced to Tennessee and its capital of Nashville.[5][2][3][6] The term has been described as implying "glorious vittles served with utmost informality."[4] It is also associated with soul food.[3]

Similar concepts include the Hawaiian plate lunch, which features a variety of entrée choices with fixed side items of white rice and macaroni salad,[7] and the southern Louisiana plate lunch, which features menu options that change daily.[8] It is somewhat similar to a blue-plate special but with a more fixed menu.[9] Boston Market and Cracker Barrel chains of restaurants offer a similar style of food selection.[10][11] Another similar dish is the Japanese bento box.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Finch, Jackie Sheckler (2009). Insiders' Guide to Nashfix refville (7th ed.). Globe Pequot. p. 95. ISBN 978-0762748679.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ a b c Davies, Sally Walker (2011). Explorer's Guide Tennessee. Countryman. ISBN 978-0881508987.
  3. ^ a b c d Finch 2009, p. 85.
  4. ^ a b c Stern, Jane; Stern, Michael (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0547059075.
  5. ^ Davies 2011, p. 21.
  6. ^ Schatz, Bob (2006). Nashville Impressions. Farcountry. p. 4. ISBN 156037375X.
  7. ^ Galdiera, Lyle (November 27, 2002). "Origins of Plate Lunch". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Staff. "Culinary Trail Signature Dish: Plate Lunch". LouisianaTravel.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  9. ^ Ferrell, John (2010). Mary Mac's Tea Room. Andrews McMeel. p. 135. ISBN 978-0740793387.
  10. ^ West, Kay (December 7, 1995). "Marketing Concept". Nashville Scene. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  11. ^ Childress, Tricia (October 19, 2010). "Hawaiian Plate Lunch spot opens". Creative Loafing Charlotte. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  12. ^ "What Is Bento? Breaking Down the Bento Box". Allrecipes. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
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