The southern tradition that gives me goosebumps’

HOUSTON – The responses to the “crayfish hate” article, as I called it in my head, were a highlight of my week.

I was waiting for an answer. After all, I just dispelled an iconic Southern culinary tradition. While some of you obviously didn’t have your mouths washed out with soap enough times by your Southern moms, others were downright hilarious. (Note: I’ve been here long enough to know what “Bless your heart” can really mean.) I never imagined so many funny and generally supportive responses from non-crayfish eaters lurking among the people of Houston.

Here are some of the responses I received. (Surnames have been removed at the request of my manager.)

1. Ian: “Growing Up”

I’m really trying, Ian. All. Shit. Day. Limited success.

A d

2. Guz: “You know where the door to Yankee land is. Your claim to eat them at all hours is nonsense. I call it BS.

I don’t want to leave just yet, Guz. I think you all thought I might come from New York. I only went to school there and lived there for a few years. My roots are in the Pittsburgh area. Although I’ve never said “yinz,” rural Pennsylvania—four-wheelers, farm shows, and hoagies—is in my blood. (I lived in the “Pittsburgh Hicks” section on this map and my beloved, huge family still lives there.) So I’m probably not the stereotypical northerner you probably imagine – or maybe I am.

Oh, and about the “every hour” claim. It’s true. I had seafood options all day in Mississippi. It was often catfish or shrimp mixed together in some way. In case you didn’t know, in Texas you can get blood sausage and crawfish kolaches and eat them for breakfast – gasp! Just ask my girlfriend and crawfish fanatic, KPRC 2 producer Erica Young, who wrote the story about them. Eat more crawfish as I advised. It’ll take away that hatred of the Yankees. Or not…

A d

3. Kenneth: “You’d be happy too if you liked crawfish.”

(Kenneth also included this photo, which we edited.)

May be. I wish I could enjoy all the foods. But I don’t. All I know is I’m happiest when I’m not around crawfish. And just looking at the picture you sent me makes me grateful that I didn’t feel what was going on there.

4. Jody: Wow! Ramble a lot? You don’t like seafood at all, so don’t write about any particular type. They are extremely similar to lobster, but if you don’t even eat them, then. . . .

I walk. It’s what I do best. Crawfish are so central to the culinary scene in Houston and I had to speak up, as I mentioned in the article. Not everyone must have liked them. And I was right – so many more people than I ever imagined are NOT crawfish fans. It’s good to know. Thanks for the reading.

5. Rauchelle: Thank you for the article; someone had to say it and you said it so well!

Thank you. Truly. After the expected hate, it feels good to hear the support. There are humans on the other side of these articles, folks. Remember that.

6. Kathryn: “I’m originally from Ohio, but I moved over 40 years ago. All I have to say, Amanda, is “Bless your little heart!” I even married a man who grew up in Louisiana. Try them with butter and garlic – the best!!!”

Bless your little heart, Kathryn! I can not. My seafood counter will chime a mile away.

7. Jarvis: “It’s okay. Burger King is waiting for you”

No – have you tried Jones Fried Chicken Or Pho Binh? Excellent alternatives to crawfish and Burger King.

A d

8.Gabrielle: “I can lose 10 pounds on my own and crave it every day! Crawfish season is literally my favorite time of year! While my mudbug friends don’t deserve this disrespect, I love the way you wrote the article. I will now see myself, on an alligator, with a crayfish and a beer in my hand!

No real disrespect and thank you for the praise, Gabrielle. Happy cruising on this alligator! My aversion to crawfish should never detract from your joy. Eat well. To eat 20 pounds – unless it makes you explode. I don’t know what many crayfish could do to a person. Perhaps you would become a crayfish. That’s what my grandmother always said when I ate too much of anything. If that’s what happens, I imagine I’ll be one of the few humans left in Houston, dodging the claws and looking for my fellow non-crayfish. If you hear me calling when the crawfish apocalypse happens, don’t be a stranger.

9. Matt: Writer: “I can’t possibly eat anything associated with mud…” Writer: Eats kale or something green and yucky that she just washed the mud off…

I don’t mind kale. But I definitely wash the greens twice. Not you ?

10. Texas5284: Thanks for the warning. I won’t invite you to our next crawfish boil. More for the rest of us… I think KPRC should have exercised better judgment in publishing this article. Whether you like crawfish or not, it’s immaturely written. Does the writer use “rude” in a crime drama? I hope not.

This is an opinion piece. It was my attempt at humor. I hope you had fun turning away from crime. I did. Sometimes we write articles that are not topical to create a dynamic experience for Click2Houston visitors. The standards are different and, as a professional journalist, I am always aware of this. We appreciate readers seeking a wide variety of reading experiences and hope you return soon.