Ellington

Who Needs Kentucky?Q. I was reading your column in the July 10-23, 2003, edition and saw the question about the best fried chicken in Jackson. I was entertained, but a little disappointed in your response. You never answered the question. Now, maybe I can be of some assistance.

The best fried chicken in Jackson can be found at Two Sisters Kitchen at 707 N. Congress St. They have a lunch buffet that also includes macaroni & cheese, red beans & rice, cabbage, greens, yams and homemade rolls. The bread pudding is good, too. Or, you can try 930 Blues Cafe also located on N. Congress, and even catch some live blues music. Now for a quick pickup, go to Church's on Medgar Evers Blvd. If you're in the Madison area, Hammill's is the place to go for good fried chicken. It's located on U.S. 51. Their buffet is $7 and includes tea and dessert. And last but not least, the best chicken fingers (so that Addison is happy), can be found at believe it or not Wendy's! The chicken nuggets are all white meat and only cost 99 cents. Abner's in Ridgeland on Pear Orchard Road has good chicken fingers, too; just make sure they give you hot ones. I hope I have helped.— Always eating out

A. Oh, indeed, you have helped. May I put you on my research team? And how right you are: I forgot to answer the question. Many thanks for the expert advice. Your response exemplifies what I like most about JFP readers. You're intelligent, logical, knowledgeable, discerning, thoughtful and kind. I can always count on JFP readers to keep me honest and informed. JFP readers are just downright trustworthy—a trusty bunch! And you know what the ineffable Ross Barnett said, "If you can't trust a trusty, who can you trust?"

Lady In Red

Q. Your columns are a hoot. But what is that thing perched on your head in the photo? A bowl? A box? Is it leaning dangerously far to the left?— Flabbergasted in Fondren

A. I am so glad you asked. That "thing" is neither a bowl nor a box. Nor is it a bird or a plane. It's my Church Hat. And it's just fantastic, if I do say so myself. I'm so sorry you cannot see it fully. The art director—bless his heart and save his hard-working soul—chose to crop out the fabulous flurry of feathers that are my hat's crowning glory. It was a design issue, you know: Those feathers just didn't fit the shape he wanted the picture to have.

This struggle between artists and writers is as old as publishing itself, going back to the early scribes who created those magnificent illuminated manuscripts. They were designers, artists—not the poor fools who thought up the ideas in the first place. Do you think they cared whether every letter was absolutely correct? If a P looked better than an F, what the hell? It was just one little bitty old letter out of many. And so it has gone through the ages, right down to these high-tech days. It's the designers who are in charge of the words and pictures. But hey, writers wouldn't have it any other way, because then we would have to figure out how to work the damned computers. So there you have it, and I'm not complaining.

I do wish maybe sometime JFP's graphic design guru, the talented Jimmy Mumford, would find it in his heart to show my Church Hat all by itself in full living color. Because it is RED—bright red sequins and bright red feathers. And might I add, it was created by the amazing Christabelle of our fair city.

Do you know that we have in Jackson one of the finest, most creative milliners anywhere around? Her original designs are awe-inspiring and her craftsmanship impeccable. If you love hats, you should pay a visit to Christabelle's shop at 614 N Farish St., or call her at 944-0605.

And about the lean of my hat? Yes, my hat definitely leans to the left—-quite splendidly so, I like to think.

And that's the truth!

Send any question to PO Box 2047, Jackson, Miss., 39225, or fax to (866) 728-4798 (toll-free). Include name and daytime phone number, although it can be withheld. If the answer to your question is published in an upcoming issue of the JFP, we will give you four tickets for the Jackson Senators while they last.