Where to eat in Mobile

MOBILE, Al -- Next time you go to a tennis tournament here eat at the Backyard Cafe. It is on Springhill near the hotel district. Due to the sprawling growth of America where entire neighborhoods spring up whole cloth, this type of restaurant and cuisine is a piece of Americana that is fading away. I had the baked chicken with green beans and greens.

(Tennis types don't feel intimidated about going to a 'soul food' restaurant. During my visit there was a good mix of people. Contrary to perceptions, southern cities tend to be more racially integrated than the so-called liberal cities.)

I took a picture of the building as I was leaving and then the ladies came out to ask me why was I taking a photo. I told them that a lot of people come to Mobile every year and they want to know where the local people eat. The owner Felecia Gunn is on the right and, I swear, I wrote down the other lady's name, but for the life of me, traveling and all, I can't find the napkin I wrote it on.