Hey everyone–it’s Jennifer Biggs. I’m going to take over here, for awhile at least, so we can keep talking about food. Let’s get right to it.
After work today we’re headed to Boscos to meet friends for a drink and we’ll probably grab a bite there. Tomorrow night is Valentine’s Day in my house, and tradition is I cook special meals for my husband for our anniversary and Valentine’s (but always on the Saturday nearest the holiday so that I’ll have the day to prepare). What I do is duplicate a meal that we’ve eaten out of town and really enjoyed. Tomorrow night is a simple one, but I can’t post it yet since it’s a secret.
Our last anniversary dinner was something else, though. We were missing New Orleans, where we used to visit every couple of months before Katrina. I made huitres a la Foch (fried oysters in a Colbert sauce), pompano Ponchartrain (pompano with a crabmeat topping), filet mignon in a marchand de vin sauce, and chocolate mousse, all from a dinner we ate at Antoine’s. Plus salad, fruit and cheese and so on. Good Champagne, good wine, great music–it was a nice night.
What are you cooking or where are you dining this weekend?
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Responses to “OK, let’s talk”
February 17th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Had a marvelous dinner last nite @ Spindini, the newest Grisanti place on South Main. I had the mussells (marvelous!). It was really a fluke that I ended up there, but a wonderful fluke.
Can’t wait to go back!!
i’m glad the blog is continuing, although Linda will be missed. Welcome, Jennifer!!
February 17th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Welcome aboard, Jennifer - I’m so glad you agreed to keep the blog going. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as the loyal bloggers have. I had a great dinner at Yazoo on Stage Road in Bartlett Tuesday evening, which has MS Delta food. Started off w/a world-class margarita, shrimp & what appeared to be stone-ground grits with a side of steamed fresh broccoli cauliflower, zucchini & red onion, & shared a cinnamon apple bread pudding with rum sauce for dessert. Service was great, food was great, & the place wasn’t very crowded.
February 18th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
We do the same thing. We avoid Feb 14 and opt to do something the weekend before or after. we got the Lobster Pizza at Red Lobster. We also did the BBQ thing at a local Jackson TN BBQ place, Reggi’s.
February 19th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Bride of No Sluggo and I went to Encore for the first time (other than the Meet the Chef thing). Both of our meals were good… I want to say ‘uncomplicated’ and have it be a positive thing, but I’m not sure that captures the essence properly. I think I was anticipating something different - the menu notes holding up that thought - and was mentally unprepared for an essentially basic meal - I had the herb crusted pork tenderloin (mascarpone-parmesan polenta cakes w/ port wine reduction) and side of asparagus, Bride had the chicken vol au vent, she started with the warm goat cheese salad and I had the croquette au fromage. While it all sounds great in words, nothing was particularly noteworthy, with the exception of the croquettes.
I was really surprised with the largely pedestrian wine list at Encore. It would be nice to see some ‘great discoveries’ - something uncommon that Jose may have found and liked, instead bottles commonly found in the center aisle boxes at Busters.
I had this same issue in Chicago last week at a neighborhood french restaurant - although the specialty ale and lager selections made this place stand out.
On the other hand, we ate earlier in the week at a new italian joint downtown (not Spindini - any help?), the name of which completely escapes me. Terrific. Spicy red sauces, friendly service, casual atmosphere, good prices. Uncomplicated in the right way. The owner’s name was Pam - so there you go.
Anybody want to take a better stab at what I’m not getting right in words? Maybe it’s an issue of value.
February 19th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Was it Conte’s, No Sluggo Dave? I remember when I read about it, they mentioned the owner was named Pam.
I picked up a copy of a 2004 cookbook entitled Cat Cora’s Kitchen - at Tuesday Morning, no less. I’m blown away by all the Greek recipes in it, & the explanation of how she grew up in a Greek family in Jackson, MS. Great reading as well as some exceptionally user-friendly recipes & nice photography.
February 19th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Jennifer - welcome. Thanks for keeping this thing running.
Dawn - who the heck is Linda??? Did you mean Leslie? Can’t be missing her that much then huh? 
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