"On weekends I had the most amazing experience in a small hole in the wall in Richland, MS. Navy Veteran, Tom of Tom's Fried Pies greeted my sister and I personally with a smile when we went to the door. We said we had never been to Tom's Fried Pies, nor would we ever have had a fried paste. You could see how the excitement spread over Mr. Tom's face when he realized that he served us our first fried cake. After some personal suggestions from Mr. Tom, we made our order. Not a minute passed before Mr. Tom asked if we like to play Schecker, as he directed our attention to an oversized Scheckerboard sitting on a wooden barrel. He played a game with my sister and me, and after his second victory I wondered how long it was since he lost a game. The decor was the old timeland. Old agricultural tools / equipment, car tags, and a beautiful article in the local newspaper about the famous cake shop are a few of the items that cover the walls. While I was waiting, I read about Mr. Tom's story. His mother used the cakes for his father to work for his lunch in the coal mines. Everyone loved his mom's cake and always took her, so Mr. Tom's mom had to go on until people decided to just give orders and buy them. Apart from the healthier alternative of roasting in peanut oil against the lard used by his mother, Mr. Tom cries his cakes just as his mum has freed for him and his family, and boy are these delicious cakes! We ordered a chicken and vegetables. Imagine chicken soup in a calzone, but more a biscuit crust instead of pizza crust. It was very hearty and filled. The dessert cakes have also not disappointed: a coconut and an apple. They were all very cheap at $3-4 for a regular size cake. Mr. Tom really had a chance to feel us at home with the rest of his grandchildren scattered around the place. I will definitely return when I am in town, and I highly recommend if you are ever in Richland, stop by and say hello to Mr. Tom, enjoy a delicious southern clamp, and have a game or two of cheques with the Ol Man. You don't want to go!"
