{{Short description|Meal format in the southern United States}} [[File:Katie's Meat and Three.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A meat and three restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee]] [[File:Meat and three at Walnut Hills restaurant.jpg|thumb|right|A plate of meat and three at Walnut Hills restaurant, Vicksburg, Mississippi]]
A '''meat and three''' meal is one where the customer picks one meat and three side dishes as a fixed-price offering. Meats commonly include fried chicken, country ham, beef, country-fried steak, meatloaf, or pork chop;<ref>{{Cite book |last=Finch |first=Jackie Sheckler |title=Insiders' Guide to Nashfix refville |publisher=Globe Pequot |year=2009 |isbn=978-0762748679 |edition=7th |pages=95}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Sally Walker |title=Explorer's Guide Tennessee |publisher=Countryman |year=2011 |isbn=978-0881508987 |publication-date=2011}}</ref> and sides span from vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and green beans,{{sfn|Finch|2009|p=85}} to macaroni and cheese, hush puppies, and spaghetti. A dessert, such as gelatin, is often offered.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Typical accompaniments include cornbread and sweet tea.{{sfn|Finch|2009|p=85}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Stern |first=Jane |title=500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late |last2=Stern |first2=Michael |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2009 |isbn=978-0547059075}}</ref>
“Meat-and-three” is a regional term popular in the cuisine of the Southern United States for both the meal and restaurants offering such a menu. Variants of meat and three can be found throughout the United States, but its roots can be traced to Tennessee and its capital of Nashville.{{sfn|Davies|2011|p=21}}<ref name=":0" />{{sfn|Finch|2009|p=85}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schatz |first=Bob |title=Nashville Impressions |publisher=Farcountry |year=2006 |isbn=156037375X |pages=4}}</ref> It is also associated with soul food.{{sfn|Finch|2009|p=85}}
Similar concepts include the Hawaiian plate lunch, which features a variety of entrée choices with fixed side items of white rice and macaroni salad,<ref name="hnn2002" /> and the southern Louisiana plate lunch, which features menu options that change daily.<ref name="latravel" /> It is somewhat similar to a blue-plate special but with a more fixed menu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ferrell |first=John |title=Mary Mac's Tea Room |publisher=Andrews McMeel |year=2010 |isbn=978-0740793387 |pages=135}}</ref> Boston Market and Cracker Barrel chains of restaurants offer a similar style of food selection.<ref name="nashscene19951207"/><ref name="clclt2010"/> Another similar dish is the Japanese bento box.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Bento? Breaking Down the Bento Box |url=https://www.allrecipes.com/article/what-is-bento/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Allrecipes |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == {{portal|Food|United States}} * List of restaurant terminology
== References == <references> <ref name="clclt2010">{{cite news |url=http://clclt.com/charlotte/hawaiian-plate-lunch-spot-opens/Content?oid=2175442 |title=Hawaiian Plate Lunch spot opens |work=Creative Loafing Charlotte |first=Tricia |last=Childress |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=December 9, 2012 |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730023926/http://clclt.com/charlotte/hawaiian-plate-lunch-spot-opens/Content?oid=2175442 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="hnn2002">{{cite news |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=1030393 |title=Origins of Plate Lunch |work=Hawaii News Now |first=Lyle |last=Galdiera |date=November 27, 2002 |access-date=December 9, 2012 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722020900/http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=1030393 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="latravel">{{cite web |url=http://www.louisianatravel.com/culinary-trail-signature-dish-plate-lunch |title=Culinary Trail Signature Dish: Plate Lunch |work=LouisianaTravel.com |author=Staff |access-date=December 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114193014/http://louisianatravel.com/culinary-trail-signature-dish-plate-lunch |archive-date=November 14, 2012 }}</ref>
<ref name="nashscene19951207">{{cite news |url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/marketing-concept/Content?oid=1180130 |title=Marketing Concept |work=Nashville Scene |first=Kay |last=West |date=December 7, 1995 |access-date=November 5, 2014 |archive-date=November 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105083109/http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/marketing-concept/Content?oid=1180130 |url-status=live }}</ref> </references>
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Category:Cuisine of the Southern United States Category:Restaurants by type Category:Restaurant terminology Category:Culture of Nashville, Tennessee Category:Food combinations