Food & Drink

[Outlaw] Cooking Like Mother

I'd help tend to mother's beans, squash, tomatoes, peas.

The Friday before PM Soul, a pop-up food event last fall at Peaches Café on Farish Street, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize. I was in the middle of dinner service at Underground 119 and didn't have the time for a chat, so I ignored the call and kept at it on the hot line.

Hippity-Hop to Brunch

Easter Sunday is no time to be worrying about pots, pans and cleanup. This Easter, head to one of the Jackson area's many fine restaurants for an excellent brunch and terrific service. Here's a sampling of what you'll find.

Easter Feasts ‘Round the World

Most Easter suppers have three things in common: bringing forth thanksgiving, remembering the meaning of Easter and providing fellowship for family and friends.

Redefining Comfort Food

Taking the first bite of fried chicken or sticky-sweet barbecued ribs can transport us to a dimension where times past still exist in a kind of suspended animation. We remember family cookouts and snicker at visions of the token crass uncle wandering around in his sauce-stained button-up, exhorting children to "pull my finger." A sip of freshly squeezed lemonade puts us under the backyard sprinkler again, where we chased our best childhood friend, squealing and giggling under the wet spray.

Get Flamed

When I walked into Stix restaurant, I saw flames shoot up from a table out of the corner of my eye. The aroma of spices and fresh vegetables filled the air. It was my first time in a hibachi restaurant, but looking at the menu, I had plenty to choose from: vegetables, seafood, rice and meats.

Gluten-Free and Delicious

I spent my teenage years in India and was able to travel to European countries twice a year. This experience exposed me to meals such as gluten-based breads, pastries and pastas. When I returned to America for college, I found myself having trouble adjusting to the food. I experienced nausea, weakness and fatigue. Much later, I learned that the wheat I ate in Europe and Asia is very different from the wheat we have available here.

Meatless Mondays

"Meatless Monday" is more than just a cute catchphrase. It's an international campaign that encourages people to eat less meat for their personal health and the health of the planet. Growing vegetables has less of an impact on the earth than raising animals for food, and vegetables have fewer calories than meat.

Eat Like You're Irish

Ireland is known for its hearty meals of meat and potatoes, and for its most famous dish: the Irish stew. It is the national dish for the country, and is thick, hearty and filling.

Real Food at Home

Gastronomes across the country, especially those with a penchant for Creole cuisine, know the name John Besh. The man has cemented himself as a pillar of the New Orleans restaurant world, and as an advocate for young chefs and Gulf Coast seafood conservation. His restaurant empire spans from Restaurant August in the Central Business District to La Provence on Lake Pontchartrain's North Shore and now to San Antonio with an outpost of his Brasserie Lüke.

Fit for a King

My mother was one of the best cooks in the world. On any given day, she could make a meal fit for a king. Mother had her own natural rhythm, her own unique swag. She would sing the hymns and praise God while simultaneously cooking for 15 people, me included.

Eating History

If you're looking for a way to improve your mind while you satisfy your mid-day hunger, look into History is Lunch, a lecture series from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. All sessions are free to the public with water and coffee provided. All you need to bring is yourself and your lunch.

So 2012: Value, Mini-Bites Trending

The growing popularity of voluntary simplicity—in which practicing individuals aim to reduce commercial consumption and become more self-reliant—also seems unmistakably tied to our collective concerns about the environment and sustainability.

Healthy and Kid-Approved

In 2010, first lady Michelle Obama initiated the "Let's Move!" Program to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors for children. The initiative focuses on eating healthy and being active. The goal is to encourage the whole family to make small changes to achieve an overall healthy lifestyle.

Spring Casserole

Au gratin potatoes are a family-revered dish of decadence. A common au gratin preparation uses potatoes, but, really, you can use any combination of vegetables. Traditionally, layers of potato and onion come smothered in a buttery cream sauce and melted cheese.

Ellington