Ellington

C is for COLANDER

In the ABC's of kitchenware, C stands for the multi-purpose colander. Whether you're displaying summer's bounty or draining fresh pasta, you'll have no trouble finding just the right colander, or maybe several, for your kitchen. Today's aluminum and enamel ones look great on the kitchen countertop or breakfast table—filled with fresh peaches that please both the eye and the nose, or the colorful squash, peppers and new potatoes you'll soon prepare for dinner. Those same colanders' main duty is to quickly and safely separate the cooked from the scalding liquid that it was cooked in, whether it be pasta or boiled shrimp. And let's not forget the red-headed-step-child of colanders—the plastic one—it doesn't get much respect, but serves well in draining your washed salad greens. One last purpose for a colander is admittedly not a kitchen-related one—up ended on your head, an aluminum colander lends you an extraterrestrial air. Paired with a cape made from a shiny emergency blanket, you've got the makings of an award-winning costume.

MINI-BITES

The Aladdin Mediterranean Grill (601-366-6033), at the corner of Lakeland and Old Canton, sports a huge hand-painted sign complete with palm trees framing bright red letters that announce: Open 24 Hours. People stopping at the Conoco next door have been drawn inside to order from the dine-in or take-out menu that includes one change—a yogurt and tahini sauce on the chicken gyro. Plans are in place to put a sign on the opposite end of the building, too, maybe a neon one this time. … Broad Street Baking Company and Café (601-362-2900) recently introduced a new menu. First, you've got your sandwiches: Grilled Flank Steak Sandwich with Roasted Corn Salsa and Chipotle Mayonnaise, Smoked Turkey Breast and Avocado Sandwich, Fried Shrimp Po-Boy with spicey homemade tartar sauce. There's a Blackened Chicken Salad with Remoulade Dressing and a Southwestern Shrimp Pasta with Black Bean Salsa and a Chili-Cream Sauce. Other new menu items include Penne with Mushrooms, Spinach and Tomato-Cream Sauce; Smoked Chicken, and Basil Pesto and Caramelized Onion Pizza. Finally, there's a Breakfast Burrito—eggs, choice of meat and cheese, in a wrap. … Across the highway at Highland Village, Bravo! (601-982-8111) now opens for lunch half an hour earlier, at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday. … Char (601-956-9562), on the northern end of Highland Village, has recently undergone an extensive menu renovation. Go online at charrestaurant.com, click on Menus and then decide if you want to check out Lunch, Brunch or Dinner. It's just like holding the menu in your hand, but you can take all the time you need to make your decision about what new dishes to try. Show up ready to order.