Some plates are built for elegance. Others are built to see how much fried chicken, macaroni, and cornbread can fit without causing a structural emergency.
Along a highway in Alachua, the smell of Southern cooking welcomes hungry travelers before they reach the buffet. Chicken crackles beneath golden breading.
Biscuits arrive warm. Vegetables simmer slowly, and sweet tea appears ready to turn a quick lunch into a comfortable afternoon…