Category Archives: Restaurants

Roux 61

16 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Food, Natchez, Restaurants

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Traveling north on Route 61, towards Natchez, we were suddenly ravenous. It was after work on a Friday and we needed to eat something and quick! Right when we get to Natchez, we see a restaurant called Roux 61. How fitting! We decide to try it and just not expect much of it, because let’s face it, we were starving.

Portabella Mushroom

When you walk in, you immediately feel like this is a chain, like outback steakhouse, or some family friendly place. Not in the mood to eat healthy, (I mean it was Friday) we order the stuffed portabella mushrooms and Roux Rita cocktail. It’s stuffed with crabmeat and topped with a crawfish sauce. Very rich and tasty. I guess the bed of spinach it came on made it healthy, ha-ha. The Roux Rita was also very good, not made with sour mix and not too sweet. I ordered the Barbeque Burger. It was huge! Topped with cheddar cheese, bbq sauce, pecan smoked bacon and their own homemade coleslaw on a sourdough bun. And it was cooked medium, just like I asked! Amazing! My fiancé ordered the shrimp platter. It was good ol’ southern cooking. Needless to say, we left in a food coma.

BBQ Burger

Pleasantly surprised, Roux 61, pleasantly surprised!

Roux Rita

French Wine Dinner

05 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by in Food, Restaurants, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

A couple of weeks ago a group of us went to the French Wine Dinner at Beausoleil. As soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted with a glass of Domaine del Sol (so refreshing after working all day) and hors’ oeuvres, which were, smoked oysters. We proceeded to our seats, which featured the dinner menu and many many wine glasses! The “premier plat” was a grilled seafood sausage with pickled fennel and a buerre blanc. It was amazing! You could clearly see the lobster in the sausage. Normally, I don’t like fennel but pickled it was delicious.  Who doesn’t like anything pickled? The seafood sausage was served with a crisp 2007 Mommessin.

Grilled Seafood Sausage

Unfortunately, the next dish I forgot to photograph. It was so delightful that I became so immersed in it and before I knew it was gone! Chef Nathan served a Lapin Au Vin (rabbit stew) with a house made fettuccine. C’est Marveilleux! Served with a Chateau Artix. I tried to ask for another serving so I could take picture (of course!) but the chef was already on to his next dish. The main entrée was pan roasted lamp chop satin potatoes and rosemary veal reduction served with a smooth Chateau Hoyt Bordeaux. The meat was tender and the potatoes were so rich and creamy. I wanted to lick the plate!

Pan Roasted Lamb Chops

The grand finale was a black cherry and walnut strudel with a white chocolate whipped cream and a vanilla brandy sauce. I don’t know how I managed to eat it all, but I did, including the Clos Sainte Anne Bordeaux I washed it down with. Everything was magnifique. Now, I am not a wine connoisseur, I just enjoy it. But everything at Beausoleil that evening was fabulous. We really enjoyed it and appreciated the fact that the chef came out to talk with us at our table and explain the menu. Can’t wait for the Beer Dinner this October!

Black Cherry and Walnut Strudel

eating through the weekend

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by in Food, Restaurants, Yankees

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

So my best friend comes in for the weekend (a fellow Yankee) and as usual we eat our way through Sunday. Three meals we shared really stuck out for me. We both love good food and a good time (you can’t really have one without the other, let’s face it). She arrives Friday night and I take her to Beausoleil on Jefferson Highway. I love it there because until now, I had to travel to New Orleans to find contemporary Louisiana cuisine. Plus it has a warm, casual atmosphere that is inviting and enjoyable. She had the scallops on chorizo risotto with chili butter. I had the veal cheek over Louisiana purple rice pilaf with pepper jelly. Both were superb! The seared scallops were not overcooked and my veal cheek was braised to perfection.

Braised Veal Cheek

Seared Sea Scallops

The next morning we headed over to a new favorite of mine, Magpie Café at the Perkins Overpass. I love this delectable little café with their Weck Jars and local products. Every morning is a surprise and particularly on this morning we were pleasantly surprised! Magpie’s was making fresh homemade strawberry-filled pop tarts! They were scrumdidalyumptious (to quote Roald Dahl)! The pastry was melt in your mouth delicious. Warm and buttery on the outside and oozing with strawberry on the inside! They don’t always have them so check them out on Twitter or Facebook before you go (not that they don’t have other tasty treats!).

Pop Tarts

Because we had not stuffed ourselves enough, we proceeded to Zeeland Street Market for lunch (after an estate sale). I had never been before but it came highly recommended from many people. When you walk in, you immediately feel welcomed at this family owned and operated establishment (even when you arrive 20 minutes before closing). We each ordered a sandwich but could have easily shared one. The portions are huge! I had the Belmont Po’boy. It’s a pot roast sandwich with turkey, ham and mozzarella cheese. Of course I had it fully dressed! The sandwich just exuded scrumptiousness. Sadly, I wimped out and couldn’t finish the other half. Next time, I will have to share. Beware they close at 2 p.m. and are only opened for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy!

The Belmont

A New Italian Bistro – Zolia

21 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Food, Restaurants

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

This little bistro is a hit with the downtown crowd during lunch. But my boyfriend and I went one evening after work to check it out. It’s inside of City Plaza II so if you are unfamiliar with the area you might have difficulty finding it. But that shouldn’t deter you!

I truly enjoyed the food at Zolia’s and was pleasantly surprised. We tried various tapas, Tuna Tartare, Abita Shrimp, Salmon Basilica and the Warm Truffled Crimini Crostini, to name a few. They were all delicious. My boyfriend normally doesn’t like sashimi but he loved this tapa. It was fresh and packed with flavor. The texture and consistency were just right.

Tuna Tartare

I really loved the Abita Shrimp served over a chive grit cake. I like to call it the “Cajun Tapa”. It’s really delicious and something different to try. I also enjoyed the Salmon with the tomato caper relish. It was cooked to the right temperature and not dry at all, like some salmon can be. And the Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese on the mushroom crostini really complemented it well. The flavors were spot on.

Abita Shrimp

If you haven’t gone yet, then please go. I can’t wait to go back and try more of their delicious tapas and antipasto boards.

A few more pictures of their tapas:

Salmon Basilica

Warm Truffled Crimini Crostini

Exploring the Natchez Trace

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Food, Natchez, Restaurants, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

So I know it’s still hot and only July but all this heat has me thinking of the fall. Autumn is my absolute favorite season and if you love it like I do, you will appreciate this post. I didn’t think the fall existed in the deep south, but last November proved me wrong. My boyfriend and I traveled to Natchez, Mississippi to see Angels on the Bluff (really great experience) and the following day we began the Natchez Trace.

Natchez Trace

It’s a pristine road that takes you from Natchez to Nashville. We only had time to go to Jackson and that took the entire day.

First Stop on the Trace

There are a great many stops and detours along the way, and if you love history like I do, you will want to see them all. It was a beautiful day, the air was crisp and the foliage was lovely. Some of the stops along the way included Mount Locust. One of the oldest structures in Mississippi.

And the Windsor Ruins which I think is a must see! It’s like you are visiting an ancient Greek Ruin. At one time, it was the largest Greek Revival antebellum mansion in the state.

There is also a ghost town known as Rocky Springs (after the spring dried up, it was just rocky). Many of the structures have disappeared but the old church is still there and functioning.

Along the way you can also see areas of the Sunken Trace.


And if you aren’t interested in history at all, you can still take the drive. It’s beautiful in the Spring and Fall and great for motorcycle riding.

Lastly, because I can’t go anywhere without talking about food, we happened to stop at this restaurant for lunch voted best fried chicken by Food and Wine magazine. Two Sisters Kitchen located in Jackson, MS is really delicious!