Be A VIP!

This year, Taste of Mississippi is offering individual sponsorship packages starting at $150. This is the perfect way to give a little more and get a little more in return, and don't forget your contributions are helping Stewpot!

The levels of sponsorship are as follows:

• FRIEND - Receive one ticket to Taste of Mississippi on March 30, one ticket to the Preview Party on February 27, a commemorative gift, recognition on the event website and in the Stewpot newsletter. Donation level $150.


• HOST- Receive two tickets to Taste of Mississippi on March 30, two tickets to the Preview Party on February 27, a commemorative gift, recognition on the event website and in the Stewpot newsletter. Donation level $300.


• PATRON - Same items as the Host but also receive access to a VIP Lounge area at Highland Village during Taste of Mississippi on March 30. Donation level $500.


• BENEFACTOR - Receive four tickets to Taste of Mississippi on March 30, four tickets to the Preview Party on February 27 and a listing as a Host of the Preview Party, a commemorative gift, recognition on the event website and in the Stewpot newsletter. You also receive access to a VIP Lounge area at Highland Village during Taste of Mississippi on March 30. Donation level $1,000 and above.

For more information, contact Susan Frazier at sfrazier@stewpot.org or 601-353-2759.

Best of Jackson Awards

Stewpot Community Services was named Best Non-Profit Organization in the 2009 Best of Jackson Awards by the Jackson Free Press!

The organization was founded in 1981 by several Jackson congregations to provide assistance to residents of central Jackson who were in need of food, shelter, clothing, love, and encouragement. Over the past 25 years, Stewpot has grown from its original ministry, the Community Kitchen, to a faith-based organization encompassing more than 17 ministries. Today, more than 70 congregations support Stewpot.

For more information on the many services offered by Stewpot, visit www.stewpot.org.

We've got you covered this Valentine's Day!

This Valentine's Day, why not buy your sweetie a ticket to Taste of Mississippi? It's not just dinner out at one nice restaurant, it's one night of fine food from more than 35 area restaurants! Now that's a bargain!

Tickets are $65 in advance and $80 at the door. You can purchase tickets online at http://www.tasteofms.org/ or by calling Stewpot at 601-353-2759. As we get closer to the event, tickets will be available for purchase at other ticket outlets. This year, ticket buyers will be eligible for raffle drawings throughout the evening, so be sure to fill out the information on the back of the ticket.

Restaurants that participated in last year's event included Adams Produce, AJ's, Amerigo, Basil's, Beagle Bagel, Biaggi's, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Bon Ami, BRAVO!, Broad Street Baking Company & Café, The Bulldog, A Catered Affair, The Catfish Institute, Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant, Cerami's, Char, Community Coffee, Crazy Cat Bakers, Del Sol, Elixer, Giardina's, Hal & Mal's, Huntington Grille, Julep, Morton A’s Catering, Nick's, Old Venice Pizza Company, Olga's Fine Dining, Obbies Cakes and Chocolates, Pan-Asia, Parker House, Paul Anthony's Butcher Market, Paula's Seafood & Meat Market, PF Chang's China Bistro, Que Sera, Rapport, Ro' Chez, Ruchi India, Sal and Mookies, Schimmel's, Seattle Drip, Shapley's, Sophia's Restaurant at Fairview Inn, Sportsman's Lodge, Steam Room Grille, Super Suppers, Taste of Gourmet, Three Sisters & A Mixer, Two Sisters Kitchen and Walnut Circle Grill.

There are so many choices for an enjoyable night out, and with Taste of Mississippi, you won't have to choose! Your sweetheart will love you for it, trust us!

Eleven weeks to go and counting!

The Taste of Mississippi committee met Monday night for the first time and is already working hard to make this year's event even bigger and better than last year. There will be much more information available in the coming weeks, but for now, here are a few announcements...

• This year, there will be an opportunity for individual sponsorship. By donating a little extra money you will be entitled to certain benefits the night of the event. The details are still being determined, and we'll post more information very soon.



• Tickets have been printed and will go on sale as soon as PayPal is up and active on our website. Tickets for this year's event are $65 in advance and $80 at the door. Also, ticket buyers will be eligible for raffle drawings throughout the night this year, so hold on tight to your ticket stub!



• We always need volunteers for the night of the event. Volunteers bartend and pour wine, register attendees for the live auction, collect tickets and help replenish restaurant supplies as needed. In return for working a two-hour shift, volunteers purchase their tickets at half price. It's a great deal and a lot of fun!



• We’re still looking to fill some committee positions. If you'd like to help, please let us know! More information to come once we know more about what positions are available.

Keep checking back here and on our Facebook group and website for more details. We hope to see you there!

Welcome and Bon Appetit!

Welcome to our blog! We thought this would be a great way for you to get acquainted with the Taste of Mississippi event and keep up with all the latest news and updates.

Taste of Mississippi has been a much anticipated event in the Jackson area for more than 20 years, and we're proud to announce that it has been named a Top 20 Event for March 2009 by the Southeast Tourism Society. The best events across the Southeast compete to receive this prestigious designation. The Top 20 Events publication is sent to more than 1,600 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations and AAA publications - reaching millions of people.

Taste of Mississippi is the largest fundraiser for Stewpot Community Services in Jackson. All proceeds benefit Stewpot, whose mission is to serve the needs of the poor, elderly and disabled in the Jackson area. Last year's event raised more than $112,000, all of which went directly to Stewpot's 17 ministries. This year, we hope to raise even more money!

So mark your calendars for Monday, March 30, 2009, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Highland Village!

The event includes culinary tastings from more than 40 fine restaurants, a live auction featuring Mississippi artwork and vacation packages, a silent auction and live music.

Be sure to check out our website http://www.tasteofms.org/ and our Facebook group, Stewpot's Taste of Mississippi, for more information.