Here, Piggy, PiggyChristmas dinners have changed over the years. My family used to sit down to turkey, ham and all the fixins'. Now, my aunt drives three hours to Chicago to buy deep-dish Uno pizzas. It doesn't matter to her that she …
The Greenhouse EffectIf your mama was anything like mine, you probably heard "Eat your vegetables!" more than once at the supper table when you were a kid. As grownups, though, we've all read numerous times that eating a diet rich in fresh …
Thanksgiving FareIf there are two things I love, they're my momma and her famous nobody-can-do-it-better cornbread dressing. My family can't imagine eating out for Thanksgiving dinner. Whoever is around gets together at one of the family's houses and brings their respective …
[Drink] ‘Tis The SeasonThe holidays are the season of martinis, when even feeble, febrile suburbanites accustomed to buttery chardonnays might indulge in a cosmopolitan. As we enter martini season, however, I feel obligated to offer a vital piece of advice: Don't screw around …
Party With PaulaSouthern cooking maven Paula Deen was at Lemuria Oct. 31 signing her new book, "Paula Deen Celebrates!: Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life." Deen is best known for her Food Network show, "Paula's Home …
[Drink] Little SipsHow does a can of wine sound? Or how about a little bottle of something-something? The big thing right now in the wine business is to lure folks in with catchy packaging, labels and names. Though not approved by this …
Tacos and Fish SticksThe surfboard on the wall reads, "Go with the 'FLOW'ood," and Taco Del Mar is the most recent restaurant to come rushing in with the influx of eateries opening in Flowood. So how did "Tacos of the Sea" end up …
[Drink] Dead Guy AleThe word rogue brings many images to mind. When considering myself, for instance, I am roguishly handsome and roguishly charming. For beer drinkers, the word rogue brings to mind Rogue brewers, based in Oregon. Rogue exclusively produces ale, which is …
Autumn's BountyIn my life, just about every Saturday begins with a trip to the Belhaven Market on Fortification Street. Located in McDade's parking lot, the market is open every Saturday, from April through December, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I …
The Quest for Cheap PinotBelieve it or not, two years later, Pinot Noir is still riding high on the popularity horse after being thrust into the limelight by the movie "Sideways." Plus, studies have shown that thin-skinned grapes, e.g. Pinot Noir, are even better …
The Pasty StuffI was not born a southerner, so I do not have the grits gene. I had to acquire a taste for the southern delicacy, and it didn't come easily.
[Drink] Hold The WormFew spirits are more mysterious than mezcal. An outlaw's drink of ill repute, mezcal, like tequila, is made from pure maguey—or agave—liquor. Unfortunately, limited distribution and lax regulation that allowed nasty chemical cocktails to pass themselves off as mescal have …
Want Soup?We can tell fall is in the air from three things: falling gas prices, double-digit temperatures and the internal urges to consume hot soup. OK, maybe the last one is my personal indication of the changing seasons, but I know …
[Drink] Check Out ChileI'm sure we've all ventured down the import isle at our favorite retailer and perused the South American selections. The first thing you'll notice about these wines is that most of them are really, really cheap, which may lead one …
Baby, I Love You, Suzy QEver had a Suzy Q? The moist, chocolate cream-filled, cellophane-wrapped confection? Seen one lately? I haven't. And I've looked.