I have always loved the idea of a progressive dinner. To go to the best restaurants for their best dish and spend an entire evening of deliciousness sounds pretty fun to me. But I'm a food girl. And I know a fair amount about Jackson, MS restaurants and what they do best. And I'm pretty up on the happy hours and early bird dinner entrees. I decided to make a suggestion for a night of absolute culinary bliss. And I'm watching the pocket book in the process. I'd also like to admit that I can't possibly include all my favorite places in this scenario. So there are many stellar restaurants, like Babalu and Bravo, that I have left out. My apologies to them. Babalu's burger creeps into my most wonderful dreams. But it deserves a night of its own. I digress...
First, let me tell you, you'll need to start early on a weekday. You can get the most for your money. And also, you'll need a driver. If money is no object, get a cab or even limo to escort you and your friends all over town for hours. Money is an object for me, so I'd just take a teetotaler with me. I have lots of great ones in my life.
First stop: Anjou. http://anjourestaurant.net/
You'll need to get there at 4:00. Sit outside or in the bar. Happy hour starts then. You and your friends can share a cheese plate. It's not discounted, but you can share it. Loaded with cheeses like brie, white cheddar, drunken goat, etc. It varies. And if there's one you don't like, they'll double up on another. (Anjou, if this blog gets to you, please take that nasty bleu cheese off that plate forever.) It has some grapes and jelly stuff and bread to go with it. It's fantastic and just enough to taste. DON'T fill up on your first stop. Even if you're hungry. You'll ruin the experience if you do this. If you're not a cheese plate kind of person, order a little cup of their French onion soup from the early bird menu. Best I've ever tasted. And it's just a few dollars. And for your drink, order the Sacre Coeur cocktail. It's half off during happy hour. Fresh squeezed oj, amaretto, and vodka served straight up in a martini glass. Just get one. It's kinda strong. You'll leave having spent about $10 and an hour or so in one of the most beautiful spacious bars or outdoor patio areas in town. Excellent.
Second stop: Table 100. http://tableonehundred.com/
You'll probably arrive around 5:30. This is perfect. Early bird dinner is until 6:00. Sit in the bar. This is important. Table 100 has live piano music (not keyboard music!) in the bar. So relaxing and lovely. As far as ordering a drink... I'm not a big fan of their cocktails. The ones I've tried are too sweet, and I'm not a sweet drink girl. I know... Everybody thinks that all girls like "girly" sweet drinks just because we're girls, but that's a lie. If you ARE a sweet drink fan, then you'll like the cocktails. The pear martini is good, I hear. And I obviously haven't tried them all. Their "Old School New Orleans" cocktails may not be so sweet. I need to give one of those a try. Or a glass of wine. So... ok... that's what I'd do. But the food!! Order off the early bird menu. It's all good. But what I've had and what I would do is order the Shrimp and Grits. It's $9. And amazing. And I'd share it because, like I said, you do NOT want to fill up. Sit and enjoy the piano and atmosphere and your food and drink and when you're ready to leave, off to stop number three.
Parlor Market. http://parlormarket.com/
Now Parlor Market is expensive. They are proud of their food and drinks. But, y'all, they SHOULD be. And since you're not all that hungry by this point, you can manage the bill here. It should be around 7:00 by now. This restaurant is beautiful. Sit down and take in all the swankiness that surrounds you and feel important for a while. You're paying for that experience. Enjoy it. Your waiter will ask you what you want to drink. These people here are as serious about their cocktails as they are about their food. They are unique. Like nothing else in the Jackson area. So take a minute to look over the mindblowing list, but after you've done so, order the Green Thai-Saac Special. Trust me here. You will not be disappointed. I loved it so much, I went to great length to find the recipe and the odd ingredients myself and make it at home.
They will bring you some little muffins with butter. Normally I would recommend on this journey that you forego the bread. It will fill you up, and it's not usually that great anyway. But EAT THIS. They are mouth watering. And then when it's time to order, order the Pigs & Corn. (I THINK that's what it's called. It's not currently listed on their menu. Their menu changes often. But I had it recently, so I'm sure it's still on there. It may be called Hogs & Corn, but you get the drift.) It's a small plate. So you could probably eat all of it. I'd probably still be sharing though. It is a little tiny iron skillet of cornbread with the most delicious pork and juicy stuff on top. Don't you love that description? It's really hard to describe, but it's divine. If you order that and the drink, it still won't break the bank. Probably around $35, including tip.
Last stop for dessert: Bon Ami. http://bonamijackson.com/
Beautiful little restaurant in Jackson. And one of the best desserts in the world. Now, you can bring your own alcohol to Bon Ami, so if you want, stop by McDade's wine store in the same shopping strip and you'll get 10% off your purchase there if you are taking it to Bon Ami. I'd probably stick with coffee at this point. But you could get a tawny port to have with what you're going to order at Bon Ami. Or even champagne. Or brandy or whatever. Doesn't matter. What matters is the decadence you are going to experience when you eat their caramel brownie. It's been described as rich and sinful. Meh.... Yeah, I'd agree. Share it and split the sin. The brownie is warm and the scoop of coffee ice cream on top is not, and the when the two converge in your mouth, you will close your eyes and wonder WHY IN THE WORLD you are 35 years old (or whatever) and have never experienced this. You will be back to make up for the years you've been without it.
At this point in the evening, it's late. You're full, but if you have heeded my advice, you are not too full. Or drunk. You are perfect. Your senses love you. I realize you haven't had much "healthy" stuff, but that Shrimp & Grits at Table 100 comes with a salad, and there are fruits and veggies in those drinks you've had. That counts. And you will have had a marvelous time with people you like. And if you didn't like them at the start of the afternoon, you might like them at the end of the evening. A meal experience like this would have a way of bringing people together. Bon appetit and cheers!
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