'Neath the Mississippi Moon: Handy Andy

For our first installment of Oxford, Mississippi, restaurant tours my handsome fiancé will be guest blogging!  He has many, many connections to this particular restaurant and I think that more than just the food, the people we sit and eat with make experiences even more magical and meaningful.  So here he is!

Everyone has that one burger you compare every other burger to. For me, it’s a burger from my favorite restaurant, ever. A convenience store turned BBQ and burger joint, Handy Andy in Oxford, Mississippi, will make even the most liberal, uptight vegetarian’s mouth water.  And that’s right, it’s Handy Andy, not possessive, just Handy Andy. Family owned and operated since the ‘80s, it has been the main source of clogged arteries in Oxford. For those of you who haven’t been, don’t be late. It is small (seats about 30-40), and you will have to wait, since everything is made to order. Be there at 11:30AM or good luck eating in an hour. Also, for newbies (it is pretty obvious) the menu sits above where you pick up your food, not where you order, so please get out of my way when I am getting my burger. Handy Andy is known for their BBQ, smoked meats, and burgers (they do have salads for some reason). But I am here to talk about the burger, I won’t bore you with the details of their other specialties, which are great, but that’s for another time. The burger from Handy Andy is a type of burger you know if you eat too many of them, you will have health problems, but it would totally be worth it. You can dress your burger anyway you want. For me it’s a double cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and jalapenos. I have seen just about anything asked and put on one of their burgers, and the best part about Handy Andy is they will make your burger anyway you want it; however, you might get some sass. The burger along with classic crinkle fries (however the last time I went they only had steak fries) makes for the best lunch I can imagine. You can get in and out of Handy Andy under $9 bucks, which was great in high school and college. The burger patties are seasoned perfectly, not too strong, just right. They are cooked on a grill that has seen its share of flavor from burgers and bacon. Let me repeat, the BACON. I know everyone loves bacon and there is a whole bacon craze out there, but Handy Andy bacon is something to stab someone over. Thick. Crispy. Smokey. Fried. Need I say more?

Being from Oxford, Handy Andy means a lot to me. It isn’t just a damn good burger, which it is. It was a place growing up my family would go every Saturday and see everyone from town come in and out. You would also know who had been to Handy Andy because the lovely Handy Andy aroma that would seep deep into the stitching of your clothes. Some say, it never comes out. Since growing up and having big kid jobs, this is the place my friends and I meet when everyone is in town. Once we sit down and look at our torn ticket numbers, time seems to rewind and our conversations commence as though we have never left those ad-filled tables. 

ALL THAT said, nothing will/would ever replace Handy Andy. There are too many memories and conversations for any restaurant to compete. The atmosphere cannot be compared. As previously stated, a Handy Andy burger is what I compare all other burgers to. For those of you who need an idea of my burger scale, it goes from ‘Your high school cafeteria’ (1) to Handy Andy (10). 

The B.T.C. Old Fashioned Grocery

The B. T. C. Old Fashioned Grocery is a diamond in the rough of Water Valley.  Although, Water Valley, MS is starting to get polished and cleaned up itself.  Along a quaint and quiet main street, where there are zero parking meters to be found, you can pull right up to The B. T. C. Old Fashioned Grocery for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Make sure on Fridays to get there early for lunch because Dixie's catfish lunch special brings all ages near and far!

My order has never changed - Say Dixie and Come to Me.  Yep.  That is the name of the sandwich.  It is wonderful.  Sriracha coleslaw, homemade pimento cheese, shredded chicken, ciabatta bun, yum.  

I have had the fleeting desire to change it up and try something new but the Say Dixie sandwich is just too good!  The fresh crunch of the coleslaw, along with just a touch of heat from the sriracha, the warm pimento cheese, and the chicken stacked on a hearty ciabatta bun is everything I need in life.  #dramatic?  I don't care.  Its true!

My fiancé has changed his order.  He has had a variation of deli sandwiches that are anything but bread, deli meat, and cheese.  He has had a sandwich called The Wild Turkey Bandito filled with smoked turkey, pepper jack cheese, avocado, tomato, with roasted banana, bacon, and cilantro mayo all piled on top of wheat berry bread.  This past weekend he ordered The Big Paulie, pepperoni, smoked ham, lettuce, tomato, pineapple-jalapeno mustard, and a special "skinny vinny sauce."  

A basket of fries is always called for.  The chili fries are just as good but make sure you save room for your meal.  The fries usually come out first.  These are fresh handcut fries.  Fried to order.  Along with their ranch.  Their ranch is ahhh-mazing.  It's done up.  It's fancy.  It has a freshness about it and a very distinct dill taste.  

The menu changes every season or so.  All of their food is local so the menu varies depending on whats available.  The Say Dixie and Come to Me seems to be a staple as well as the Lola Burger, Turkey Wrap, BTC Spinach Salad, and the All-American but don't take my word on that.  

The restaurant portion is run by a lady named Dixie Belle (Dixie Grimes).  In fact her name is on the sign above the menu, Dixie Belle Cafe.  The cafe happens to be in the same building as the Old Fashioned Grocery.  Alexe was the woman who started everything. She saved the beautiful building and made it what it is today.  In the grocery, you can find quite the variety of goods (esp for Water Valley, MS).  Fresh local produce, spices, prepared meals to take home and heat up, local beer, coffee, international goods, as well as antiques located in the back of the grocery.  

Off to the side of the grocery, you can pick up your order to-go!  

The B.T.C. Old Fashioned Grocery has become a staple for my fiancé and me.  It is so nice to pull into Water Valley for a great meal every time.  It is always good and worth the trip.