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Mary Mac's Tea Room: 65 Years of Recipes from Atlanta's Favorite Dining Room

by John Ferrell

Description
In Mary Mac's Tea Room, author and owner John Ferrell brings together over 100 classic recipes from this venerable institution of Southern comfort food.
When Mary Mac's opened in 1945, it was one of 16 tea rooms around Atlanta, Georgia. More than 60 years later, it stands alone in carrying on the tradition of bringing great Southern cooking to everyone from blue collar workers to celebrities.
Now you can bring home many of the restaurant's famed recipes, along with richly illustrated photography, old menus, postcards, and artwork from its magnificent history.

Review
Just a glance at the cover of MARY MAC'S TEA ROOM makes mouths water, while the 125 recipes culled from the records of this Atlanta landmark restaurant will have you racing to the grocery store then heading for the kitchen. Forget haute cuisine and think down home comfort food, whether it be macaroni and cheese or fried chicken (yes, the secret to this succulent fried chicken is buttermilk).

Many of the recipes are almost identical to those served 65 years ago when Mary Mac's opened in 1945. Today it is the last of 16 tea rooms that served Atlanta in the 1940s - long may she offer new guests "a complimentary cup of pot likker and a piece of cornbread"!

After a warm, affectionate Foreword by Marie Lupo Nugren, daughter of Mary Mac's owner for 30 years, Margaret Lupo, the seven chapters offer Appetizers; Beef, Pork & Poultry; Bread & Beverages; Seafood; Pickles & Canning; Sides; and Desserts (including an irresistible Peach Cobbler topped with a flaky pastry crust and served with vanilla ice cream).

To choose a favorite recipe from among all of these would be an impossibility. The Mr. at our house would be happy if I just began at the beginning of the book, cooked my way through, and then started all over again! However, if pressed he'd have to admit to leaning toward the Country Fried Steak and Gravy with Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Crust for dessert.

Today Mary Mac's is owned and operated by John Ferrell who promises to keep the tea room's traditions of friendliness, hospitality, and home cooking alive. He's aided by a faithful staff, many of whom have been with Mary Mac's for some 35 years (Shirley Mitchell baked their yeast rolls, corn bread, peach cobbler and cinnamon rolls for over three decades and is still busy in the kitchen). A loyal, happy staff and legions of delighted customers say more than words ever could about Mary Mac's Tea Room.
Gail Cooke (Amazon.com)


About the Author
John Ferrell purchased Mary Mac's Tea Room in 1994 from the original owner. Margaret Lupo handpicked Ferrell to share her historic business and recipes, and her vast knowledge of down-home Southern food. Ferrell has expanded the business while still maintaining the beloved traditions of "Atlanta's Dining Room."
Mary Mac's Tea Room has been serving up classic Southern comfort food to the people of Atlanta, Georgia, since opening in 1945. The last of the city's old Southern tea rooms, Mary Mac's thrives today, serving more than 1,000 customers every day.