Jalapeno hushpuppies. That’s what I want right now.
I could eat a whole basket of hot, fried jalapeno hushpuppies right at this moment, dipped in a ketchup and hot sauce mixture then plopped into my eagerly-waiting mouth hole. Then, of course, I’d ask for more.
When we moved to Chunky, Boyette’s Fish Camp was the favorite area destination for fried catfish, coleslaw and those precious balls of cornbread, onions and peppers. I don’t know how many times I ate there while the Boyette family owned it, but however many times it was, it wasn’t enough.
Then the Lewis brothers, Rick and Jim, became owners and continued a great tradition of wonderful food and a family-friendly atmosphere with the new name of Chunky Shoals Fish Camp. I also have no idea how many times I ate there during the Lewis years, but — again — it was nowhere near enough.
The days of the waterside eatery on the shoals of the Chunky River may be over, but the memories remain.
A new friend and I were talking this past week about the foods of our childhoods and younger years and how strong and pervasive those memories were. How fond, too. Maybe it was the food itself, maybe it was the people we were with when those memories were made, or maybe it is a longing for “simpler” times.
Then at church Sunday, as we discussed menu options for several upcoming meal fellowships, the one food I heard mentioned over and over again was fried catfish. With those two conversations, I couldn’t help but think of the hot, fresh goodness of deep-fried bottom eaters — fileted or whole on the bone, either is wonderful — alongside a pile of fries and those globular corn fritters.
I am grateful to the people who kept this eating destination tradition going for more than half a century. Maybe the good memories of conversations, laughter and the love of family and friends shared within those walls can serve for those of us who miss gathering at Boyette’s/Chunky Shoals.
Still … say it with me … jalapeno hushpuppies.
Contact Brett at chunkybrett@mail.com.
