Dishing up Georgia

Cafes, restaurants, marketplaces and orchards take pride in serving the best

Enjoy locally sourced, heartfelt feasts

{ ABOVE: GEORGIA PEACHES}

Food culture in Georgia is high on everyone’s list. For example, residents labor with love to elevate barbecues to an art form.

Hospitality is expressed through food, especially when locally sourced and Georgiagrown.

Family traditions

Owned by Paula Deen and her two sons, Jamie and Bobby, the Lady & Sons in Savannah has been open for more than 25 years. The Lady’s Southern Buffet is the draw, but there is also a menu marking Ms. Deen’s recipes — like fried green tomatoes served with sweet onion relish and topped with roasted red pepper sauce. The buffet is served seven days a week; and the ingredients are Georgia-grown.

The lunches served on weekdays at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, owned and managed by her great-grandson Ryon Thompson, include Sema Wilkes’ fried chicken served with seasonal vegetables, like shelled whippoorwill peas in the summer or sweet potatoes in the fall. Mrs. Wilkes took over the Savannah boarding house in 1943.

Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, Savannah

Mountainous meals

The porches at the Dillard House in Dillard provide vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains in north Georgia. The menu provides taste experiences served family style a la platters of Southern specialties like Dillard House Country Ham. Among its guests, Dillard House has hosted Henry Ford, President Jimmy Carter and ambassador Andrew Young. Established in 1917, it is operated by descendants of Capt. John Dillard who relocated to the region after serving in the American Revolution.

Harvest Moon Cafe is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northwest Georgia. With dishes like fried green tomatoes with chipotle pimento cheese and bacon jam on grilled focaccia, diners soon realize that the Rome restaurant lives up to its promise of serving “food that makes your tongue smile.” Harvest Moon serves lunch daily, dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch.

Farm fresh

From Atlanta to Valdosta, Georgia Grown Farmers Market Showcases are scheduled throughout the summer. The events connect farmers and producers directly with consumers. When researching travel, check the Georgia Grown website for a listing of showcases for 2015.

Located about 30 miles south of Macon, Lane Southern orchards in Fort Valley puts fun into a farm visit. The Lane family opened the farm and marketplace in 1908. Visitors can hop on a tram for a tour of the orchards or watch peaches being packed. The marketplace offers Lane products and other Georgia-grown produce.