Ellington

Elixir Restaurant and Bar, 4800 I-55 North, 981-7896, gives female Jacksonians their very own present for its first birthday—Working Women's Wednesdays—throughout the month of November—from 5-7 p.m., the special is $5 cosmopolitans. Don't worry: those of you who are non-working women won't be turned away at the door.

Elixir also has a new menu. Among the Hot Dishes: Moroccan Lamb Chops, The Elixir Roll which is #1 Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna wrapped in Norl and fried tempura-style, Flash Fried Calmari, and Duck Breast St. Tropez while the Cold Dishes include items like Salmon Tartre, Thai Beef Salad and Fine Cheeses and Fruits. Finally, this sounds like something anyone curious diner at Elixir should try—Fondues ... Sweet or Savory? You get to pick from the chef's choices of cheese or chocolate, served with fruits, breads or cakes. According to the menu, if "anybody does drop their portion in the fondue, tradition dictates that they have to perform a forfeit. Ladies have to kiss the men next to them, and a man is obliged to buy the next round of drinks!" Sounds fine as wine, speaking of which, you may opt for Fondue Shooters, meaning you can add your favorite liqueur to the chocolate or pesto to the cheese.

By the time this paper hit the stands today, Penn's new location at 1183 Old Fannin Road should be well into serving their first lunch to the catfish lovers among us, and we are many. This new location is toward the Spillway Road end of Old Fannin, so don't go thinking just because it's new that it's at the Dogwood end where all of that national chain stuff is. They will open at 10:45 a.m. seven days a week and serve as late as 9 or 10 p.m., according to the season, Mr. Penn told me. Call 992-3553 if a craving hits you late.

Go in your comfy after-work attire and order at the drive-thru window. Plus, there's dine-in and carry-out. Penn's, you rock.

High Noon Café, now under the culinary eye of chef Jay Schimmel, is now open for lunch on both Fridays and Sunday. Look for delicious vegetarian, vegan and the occasional organic meat option. 2807 Old Canton Road in the Rainbow Plaza. Call 366-1602.

Loco Chicken, "The Best Rotisserie Chicken in Town," down Highway 49 in Richland, has a sign posted in the window with their new hours. Lunch is Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. while dinner is 5-8:30 p.m. on those same days. It's across the highway from that great big red cowboy boot on the Boots Inc. sign.

In Byram, The Skillet Grill opened recently in the old Double-S Diner location—next to the BP station, just north of where Siwell Road crosses I-55. By all accounts, the cook really knows what he's doing, whether it's breakfast, available all day until closing time at 4 p.m., or the excellent hamburger.

Zaxby's Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings is opening another restaurant in the metropolitan area. Located in front of the new Dogwood Promenade shopping center on Lakeland Drive, at the new restaurant you'll still get that neat-o blinking coaster when you place your order at the counter, you know, the one that lets you know your food is ready so you can dine in at the booths and tables. Of course, drive-thru and phone-in service will also be available, so be on the lookout for the opening at the end of November.

A top-shelf food event is the Mississippi Museum of Art's "Art on Tap," Nov. 6, 7:30-10 p.m., for $25 each. This event is held outdoors, unless it's bad weather, and offers international and domestic beers for tasting, appetizers from Rooster's and Basil's and the music of Sherman Lee Dillon. Sounds like just the event to pull your tap, now doesn't it? Call 960-1515 for reservations.

It's back—New Stage Theatre's popular holiday fund raiser, Foods Fantastic, takes place Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. That's when you can head for the building at 1100 Carlisle St. and select from the array of frozen foods and sweet treats prepared by Jackson's cooks and chefs. Stuff like Thanksgiving favorites as well as red beans and rice, fresh corn and shrimp chowder, white bean chili soup, ratatouille with penne, and vegetable sides or soups for the vegetarians out there. You know you're going to be busy during the holidays, so why not go buy an already prepared home-cooked meal and support Jackson's live theatre scene. If you're really serious about this, pay $5 and you can get in to shop at 8 a.m. For additional information or to find out how you can be involved, call 948-3533, 352-9377 or 362-6357.

Bites is a food news column. No free food changes hands no matter how good it smells. E-mail [e-mail missing].