Saturday, Karen asked, “Wanna got to the International Cowpea Festival & Cook-off in Charleston, TN?” My reply, “What’s a cowpea? She said, “I don’t know.” “Then, let’s go and find out.”
The term “Cowpea” is an umbrella title for a myriad of pea-posing beans. Black-eyed peas, southern peas, crowder peas, sow peas, silver-and purple-hull peas and cream peas are just a few examples of “Cowpeas” One of the oldest crops to be farmed, the cowpea originated in Africa. The lowly legumes were considered unfit for humans when they first came to the USA and used as livestock fodder, thus the name “Cowpeas.” Black-eyed cowpeas in southern dishes turned that idea around.
Charleston, TN was once known as the “Cowpea Capital of the USA.” The event was cancelled last year and this year’s celebration got off to a slow start, making social distancing a cinch.
The live-band lineup was long and kicked off with Quick Release at noon. They were good-ole-boys that sang ’70s rock slightly off-key with slightly out of tune instruments.
There was no escaping the hot sun in the lawn in front of the band. Karen and I issued ourselves back-stage passes and sat in the cool shadows of tall pines. The sound was surprisingly good.
Visiting vendors at small-town festivals are always interesting. The popcorn guy made blueberry-, strawberry-, grape-, green apple-, cherry- and caramel-flavored kettle corn. All but one were new to me.
L&M Little Engine Ice Cream used a “Hit and Miss” John Deere motor to churn his excellent product. We had peach cobbler baked in a dutch oven with awesome peach ice cream.
Karen’s happy face tells just how good the peach ice cream concoction tasted.
The Cowpea princess and “Clarence the Cowpea” were hugely popular photo partners.
Discussing cooking techniques and strategy with the Cowpea-contest competitors was our favorite thing at the festival. We fell in love with Nana and Sabrina’s invitation to come see ’em at Big Tom’s Backyard Grill and Bar made us want to go back to Charleston soon. Nana promised us, “The best meatloaf ever…” if we came on a Thursday. As a multi-time, past winner of the Cowpea Cooking Challenge, I bet her beans ain’t bad either.