Despite our propensity to deep-fry foods (and preferably eat them off sticks), the hush puppy is an underappreciated delicacy to us Midwesterners. In essence, the hush puppy is nothing more than deep-fried cornmeal batter, but try convincing yourself of that when you break through the crunchy outer shell of the ones at Shorty and Wags and find yourself in sweet, fluffy ecstasy. True, the word "delicacy" is a bit of a misnomer when describing Shorty and Wags, a hole-in-the-wall on Nicollet Avenue. If you're looking for ambiance, you won't find it here, but you will find tender greens cooked with smoked turkey, authentic fried okra, and catfish fillets to rival the Bayou's. The place is known for its chicken wings, which come with a choice of sauces, from the standard honey mustard and sweet-and-sour to the eye-watering hot vinegar and jalapeño-ranch. Your choice of sides includes coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and red beans and rice, but we recommend you spring for a side of fried macaroni and cheese. It may make your heart stop—if not from the sudden caloric intake then from its gooey deliciousness. In either case it's worth it, y'all.