Charlene, raised in the north, didn't want the southern Chinese food all around us.

This is the place to go for old-fashioned southern Italian food prepared with care.

It is a complex cuisine, much prized in China and quite different from the more familiar southern food.

The menu stars southern Italian food that is nutritionally sound.

The southern Italian food is served in huge family-style portions.

After Italian unification, the new kings were also attracted by this southern food.

It is a plump volume with about 550 recipes and photographs that illustrate Southern food back to the turn of the century.

Dig in and read on to learn about the difference between soul food and Southern food.

It also has a raw bar and Southern food with a Cajun bent.

Not coincidentally, these modern elements make for Southern food that is far lighter and less fatty than the original versions.