Atlas Obscura to Bring Southern Tastes to New York City

Atlas Obscura teams up with Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee to Launch a New Southern Obscura Vending Machine.

Atlas Obscura, the popular travel and entertainment company that catalogs the world’s hidden wonders, has partnered with The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, The Louisiana Office of Tourism, Visit North Carolina, and Visit Mississippi to launch the Southern Obscura Vending Machine. This isn’t an average vending machine stocked with chips, chocolate, and Coke. It’s actually designed to bring a taste of the culinary ingenuity of the South to New York City. With the help of the culinary explorers and storytellers at Gastro Obscura, the four Southern states have curated a selection of food and drink items to highlight the bakers, makers, farmers, and chefs working their magic across the south. 

From pioneer-era bread and soul food truffles to okra marshmallows and grape preserves made from the oldest vine in the country, the treats that these four states are bringing to the Big Apple are rare, unexpected, and delicious. These Southern delicacies will be available for purchase in the Gastro Obscura vending machine from Friday, October 7 – Monday, October 10 from 12 pm-6 pm EST at McCarren Parkhouse in Brooklyn, New York. Visitors will be able to indulge in Cajun bites, Delta delights, Appalachian magic, and much more during these exciting events. 

“We are thrilled to bring back the Gastro Obscura Vending Machine for this one-of-a-kind culinary exploration throughout Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi,” said Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura. “The Southern Obscura Vending Machine will transport visitors to these four states through unique flavors for a glimpse of what the American South has to offer.”

To celebrate the partnership, Atlas Obscura and the four state tourism offices will host an event on October 6th from 4 pm to 8 pm at McCarren Parkhouse (855 Lorimer St., Brooklyn, NY). Guests will be able to savor Southern snacks including Wolf River Popcorn in Memphis, Cream Cheese and Praline King Cake from Gambino’s in Louisiana, North Carolina’s boiled peanuts, and Cheese Crispies from Billie’s Pecans in Mississippi. 

Southern specialties like fried alligator, fried green tomatoes topped with Marshallberg Farm Caviar, turkey tamales and BBQ spaghetti will be offered for guests to enjoy. Signature cocktails inspired by each of these four states—like the Chicory Sazerac featuring El Guapo Bitters or the Tennessee Whiskey with RC Cola accompanied by a Moon Pie—will be served. Visitors will also be welcomed by musical performances from DJ Jonathan Toubin—a music historian and archivist—who will be spinning blues, rock and roll, and soul 45s from Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee artists.

Again, if you don’t make it to the special launch event on Thursday, you can stop by the McCarren Parkhouse in Brooklyn from 12 pm-6 pm EST on October 7-10 to purchase and enjoy a few Southern treats! 

For further event details, please visit the Atlas Obscura event listing. To learn more about the Southern Obscura Vending Machine and other Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura ventures, follow Atlas Obscura on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit https://www.atlasobscura.com/.