Dressing vs Stuffing: The Southern Answer, and PCB Wednesdays

Dressing and stuffing are one idea with two names: stuffing cooks inside the bird, dressing in its own pan, and the South leans toward saying dressing. Big Mama's PCB, 10071 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, serves baked chicken n' dressin' as its Wednesday special and Dressing as a $4 side. Call (850) 588-5085 to confirm hours.

What is the difference between dressing and stuffing?

The usual answer is where it cooks. Food sources such as Tasting Table and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension describe stuffing as the bread mixture cooked inside the bird, and dressing as the same kind of mixture baked on its own. Both are a seasoned bread mixture served next to poultry.

Past that, the lines blur. Some writers treat the name as regional habit, and plenty of people in the South say dressing even when the mixture did go inside the bird. If a family says dressing, nobody at the table needs a correction.

Does the name matter when you order?

Not much. On a menu, the word tells you it is a side to eat with the main plate. It does not tell you the bread or the seasoning, and recipes differ from one kitchen to the next.

That is the honest limit of what we can say about ours. Big Mama's PCB lists it as Dressing, and we have not published the recipe, so we will not describe it beyond the name. If you want to know what is in it, ask when you call.

How does Big Mama's PCB serve it?

There are two ways to get dressing at 10071 Hutchison Blvd in Panama City Beach:

• Wednesday special: Baked Chicken N' Dressin', served with two sides. A third side is $2 more. No price is printed for specials, so ask or call.
• Side order: Dressing is $4, the same price as mac and cheese, collards, black eyed peas, mock shoe and the other sides on the all-day menu.

Cornbread is a separate $2 side. The rest of the week runs on the same specials board: meatloaf Monday, beef tips over rice Tuesday, chicken n' dumplins' Thursday, and chicken n' rice Friday. Specials sell out, and when we are out, we are out.

Which plate fits a Thanksgiving craving?

If the craving is dressing with something to put it next to, the Wednesday plate is the closest match on our menu. Baked chicken stands in for the bird, and the plate comes with two sides. Dressing is one of the sides on the menu, so ask when you order which two you want. Black eyed peas, collards and green beans are $4 on their own.

If you want dressing any other day, order it as a $4 side next to fried chicken, which starts at $15, or country fried steak at $16.

We have not published Thanksgiving hours or a holiday menu, and we are not saying Big Mama's PCB is open that day. Call (850) 588-5085 to ask.

How to pick and order

Want the dressing plate: come on a Wednesday and call first to make sure it is on. Want dressing with fried chicken: add the $4 side to any day's order. Feeding a table, look at the lunch and dinner page for the full list, the all-day menu for every price, or the catering page to ask about trays.

Order ahead on Toast for pickup, or call (850) 588-5085. Big Mama's PCB is at 10071 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, with a free lot out front. Hours are still being confirmed, so call before you drive.