Ellington

Elixir at LeFleur's Gallery, I-55, 981-7896, has opened its very sophisticated doors, offering delightfully potent potables, as well as a small menu of tapas. The JFP editor and publisher stopped in opening night—she sipped a mojito, he a dirty James Bond—and report that the tempura snowpeas, and both the cheese and chocolate fondue are divine. They do hope a couple more veggie tapas are added to the menu. A highly recommended spot. Dress cute and nibble until late.

Fenian's Irish Pub, 901 E. Fortification St., 948-0055. The kitchen at this popular corner spot now stays open until midnight. Enjoy good food, friends and live music. Anywhere you can get fried okra instead of French, er, freedom fries gets points.

Hal & Mal's, 200 S. Commerce St., 957-3326. In October the National Restaurant Association named family-owned Hal & Mal's one of its 2003 Restaurant Neighbor Award winners. Since it began in 1982, the restaurant's annual Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade and Festival has raised more than $250,000 to benefit UMC's Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children. Not only that, but the 50,000 who attend the event bring tourist dollars to the Jackson metropolitan area. Mike Cashion, executive director of the Mississippi Restaurant Association, said in the published report, "The dedication and commitment to their community is a model for all restaurateurs to be proud of." This Thursday, Dec. 11, Hal & Mal's is the site of Operation Shoestring's Benefit Concert featuring Bobby Rush and 11 other musical acts on three stages. Come on out for a good time and in support of a good cause—the Hal & Mal's community involvement tradition continues.

Mikhail's Northgate, 4330 North State St., 982-3354. Hey! Don't want to spend your time over a hot stove or with your head in the oven. Mikhail's Holiday Menu is for you—remember, though, all orders require a 48 hour notice. Available are gourmet turkeys: fried, smoked and roasted; a family dinner (turkey, dressing and giblet gravy) for 8-10; a big family dinner (more of the same) for 12-14; ten traditional sides; extras include dressing, giblet gravy, cornbread, rolls, cranberry sauce, and sweet tea; from the bakery: four kinds of three-layer cakes, pound cakes, and 13 kinds of cookies plus cheese straws by the pound. Or, if you're having people over for a holiday party, don't forget their hot and cold hors d'oeurves. Having Mikhail's do all the work will let you shake your groove thang, yeah,yeah, show 'em how to do it now, shake it. Go on, dance the night away.
—Lynette Hanson