In the mid-90s, I was a hungover English major with a headful of journalism dreams and a notepad of bad metaphors.

Through the college fog, I remember the striking clarity that one magazine provided.

The Oxford American.

It was sharp, daring, gorgeous ... and Southern. Not a glossy, bless-your-heart South, but an attempt - for me, the first I'd ever seen - to capture and honor the South in all its suffering, culture and dazzling, haunted breadth and depth.

Marc Smirnoff's Oxford, Mississippi-magazine was groundbreaking. Unpublished work from James Agee, Faulkner, Eudora Welty. John Grisham as publisher. National awards. And they published a music issue with a CD that came in the mail? Nothing could be finer.

Sure, it found hard times. What magazine hasn't? To me, OA always epitomized the high-water mark of Southern journalism.

Not long ago, one editor there - Ben, you are a man among men - reached out. A fan of our work, he wondered: would we be willing to re-craft a few Food as a Verb stories for Oxford American?

Hells yes. It was a dream come true.

Last week, our first story was published online. The next one comes out in Oxford American's first-ever Food print issue this spring.

This morning, we want to (re)introduce you to Oxford American and a Food as a Verb story we've told before, but, now, in a new way.

Most of all, we're grateful that the good work of dear friends is known even more across the South, via Oxford American's audience. Niedlov's Bakery & Cafe, the everkind Ron and Cynthia Shaffer, our new friend Murray Brent and oldest friend Robin Fazio - the South's future and goodness is found with you.

This morning, enjoy our Local Loaf story retold in Oxford American's spring Food issue preview.

Click here to read.

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in partnering with us? Email: david@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.