So what is 'soul food,' and where can you get it in the Evansville area?

EVANSVILLE – The words "Soul Food" conjure up images of cast iron skillets of frying chicken, big pots of juicy greens with ham hocks waiting to be ladled over a slice of corn bread, and casseroles of sweet baked yams.

Today's Black chefs have much more on the menu, but many feel it's important to keep serving and enjoying those nostalgic dishes.

What is 'Soul Food?'

The meaning of “Soul Food” seems to be changing with the times.

Food history sources describe it as a frugal cuisine that took shape among Black families in the Southern United States over the last 350 years, blended from ingredients brought from Africa (such as okra, watermelon and black eyed peas); staples such as cornmeal and rice; less expensive cuts of meat and organ meats; game and freshwater fish; and foods that could be produced on a small farm such as chicken, sweet potatoes and greens.

But that’s no longer a strict definition. On today’s local Soul Food menus, you’ll find barbecued brisket, pot roast and other hearty beef dishes. The occasional offering of pigs’ feet is far out-sold by pork chops and pulled pork barbecue.

Smoked pork is often replaced with healthier smoked turkey; and modern dishes such as macaroni and cheese and spaghetti with marinara sauce have been embraced.

More: Evansville-area food news: 15 bites of food news for you this week

“Soul food is just cooking from the soul,” said Tommy Washington, owner and chef at LoneStar Bar-B-Que and Soul Food in Evansville. “It’s Southern dishes that we cook from the heart, and we put a lot of love into it. The spice, the technique − I’m from the South, so we do a lot of seasoning.”

Justin Davidson, owner of Shiloh’s Lounge and Grill in Owensboro, Ky., described it as “a serving style of food. It’s a home-cooked country meal with the right seasoning and taste you can’t get anywhere else. Meals like this you look forward to on Sunday.”

What's on local Soul Food menus?

Here are three restaurants where you can find great local Soul Food.

LoneStar Bar-B-Que & Soul Food

2403 Washington Ave.; 812-303-3351

LoneStar Bar-B-Que is on Washington Avenue in Evansville. Tommy and his wife Tabitha Washington are from Dallas, Tx., and their Southern Soul Food has a bit of a Texas flair. The menu is based around barbecue brisket, ribs, chopped pork, and smoked chicken cooked Texas style, served with a sweet barbecue sauce to the side.

Side dishes include cooked greens seasoned with a bit of sugar and spice; sweet potatoes; potato salad, macaroni and cheese and others. For dessert choose between banana pudding and sweet potato pie.

Shilohs Lounge and Grill

1846 Triplett St., Owensboro, Kentucky; 270-240-1352

Shiloh’s is in Owensboro, but it's worth the short drive. It’s a big place with pool tables, indoor cornhole tournaments, a golf simulator and other games.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served every day. On the regular menu are bar staples such as chicken tenders, taco salad, burgers and a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich, but Wednesday and Friday are Soul Food days, with specials cooked up by chef Montago Johnson.

The Soul Food menu, which changes each week, offers four or five entrees and a range of sides. The food goes fast.

Entrees may include meatloaf, fried catfish in a specially seasoned cornmeal breading or grilled with lemon pepper, fried or grilled pork chops, fried chicken, pot roast, Salisbury steak and others. Side items may be devilled eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, greens and so on. Boudin Balls are a new menu addition that should be sticking around. Meals include an entrée, three sides and deviled eggs for $15-$16.

Note that Shilohs closes between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. every day and between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Fridays.

Ms. Pee Wee’s Soul Food Truck

Watch Ms. Pee Wee's Facebook page for location or call 414-678-8883. 

Barbara Franklin operates Ms. Pee Wee’s Soul Food Truck in Evansville. She grew up in Mississippi and offers many of the most traditional Soul Food meals.

She has a regular menu of corn dogs and hot dogs, a catfish sandwich, Southern Magnolia sausage, burgers and more − but keep an eye on her Facebook page for Soul Food specials including gumbo, pork neck bones (smoked or not) simmered and served over rice, smothered pork chops, pigs feet, rib tips, Salisbury steak and gravy over rice with sides of greens, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and others.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Where can I get soul food in Evansville, Indiana?