Whether or not you are a country music fan, a TikTok watcher or a Facebook troller, you can’t help but bump into some press surrounding the fun, lighthearted song by Dustin Lynch called “Fancy Like.” If you haven’t heard this song, it is making a splash because it not only has a catchy tune but also may have Wendy’s and Natural Light saying, "thank you” while moving Applebee’s to bring back an old menu favorite — all of which result from comical brand references in the lyrics. In fact, food and beverage references, especially to tequila, are popping up everywhere in the country music scene. 

This Dustin Lynch song was further popularized when a post on TikTok showcasing the country singer and his daughter doing a dance to the chorus sent the song soaring on the music charts. Even many of Dustin Lynch’s followers are posting their own versions of the TikTok dance. The song is a tongue and cheek nod to simple “date nights” versus elaborate events hence – “fancy like.”  

While “Fancy Like” happens to be my summer listening guilty pleasure, further fueled at high volumes with the windows down on the back country road while inhaling the pollen scent rolling out of the corn fields, it definitely makes me smile at our own “Fancy Like” adventures.  

In our house, Friday night at the local watering hole for fried catfish and a few beers is about as “Fancy Like” as it gets for us these days. With back-to-school creeping just around the corner, staying close to home to enjoy the tranquility of the outdoors in the summer sunshine is as good as it gets, and hopefully ya’ll are enjoying your own “Fancy Like” wherever your weekend “payday upgrade” takes you!  

Fried Catfish

• 6, 5-7oz catfish filets or 3 pounds of catfish nuggets
• 1 gallon vegetable oil for frying

*At home, when frying inside, I use a large cast iron roasting pan with high sides that stretches across 2 burners and add roughly 3 inches of oil, however, I really prefer to fry my fish outside when the weather is hot. It always tastes better! If you do need to fry inside, be sure to keep your hood vent on high and have plenty of precautionary safety measures nearby.  The oil should be set to medium-high temperature, and the catfish should be soaked in ice water prior to frying.  Shake off the excess water before dredging in the batter mix and fry for approximately 5-7 minutes.  Let fish drain and cool slightly on wire rack with newspapers or paper towels underneath.  

Catfish Batter

• 1 lb Namaste Gluten Free Flour or Fry Crips (not GF)
• 2 T kosher salt
• 1 T garlic powder
• 1 T onion powder
• 1 T paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne (more if you like it spicy)
• 6oz cornmeal (I like ½ yellow and ½ white)

House Pickles (best when made 2 days in advance)

• 2 cucumbers, sliced thin
• ½ large Vidalia onion, sliced in ½ moons
• 1 c red wine vinegar
• 1 c sugar
• 1 T celery salt
• 1 T celery seed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Dissolve sugar in vinegar and add seasonings. Add 2/3 cup water, and pour mixture over sliced cucumbers and onions. Refrigerate at least 24 hours before serving.