Today's the Day!

We hope you're all getting geared up for Taste of Mississippi tonight! There will be an exciting addition to this year's event: a raffle for a pair of earrings donated by Albriton's Jewelers. All you have to do is fill out the information on the back of your Taste of Mississippi ticket and turn it in to a volunteer at the ticket entrance. The drawing will take place during the event, and the winner will be announced. You do not have to be present to win. (Please note, comp tickets do not have a raffle ticket on the back.)

Additional raffle tickets may be purchased at the event for $10 each, 6 tickets for $50 or 15 tickets for $100.These earrings would make a great Mother's Day gift! Here's the description: Ladies 18 kt white gold Bellarri multi-colored stones and diamond earrings. The waterfall of color accents peridot, citrine, garnet, rubelite, amethyst and blue topaz. Retail value is $2,075. You can view a picture of the earrings by going to our website.

Another announcement... We received a new live auction item on Friday. It's an Argentina Unlimited Dove Hunt Package by ARGOS Hunts. It includes lodging for 5 days/4 nights, all meals and beverages, translator, personal aide, world-renowned guide and spa option. The winner will be responsible for air transportation and ammunition. There is no time restriction on when this trip may be scheduled.

We're counting down the hours until tonight's event! You can purchase tickets in advance on our website until noon today or stop by one of our ticket locations, also listed on the website. Tickets are $80 at the door. We can't wait to see you there!

Don't Miss Out!

Only three days to go until Taste of Mississippi Monday night at Highland Village! The live auction, featuring auctioneer Jim Wilkirson, will begin at 8 p.m. in the Atrium.

The following is a preview of the live auction items:

• Works of art by Mississippi artistsArtists include Tony DiFatta, Bill Dunlap, Ginny Futvoye, William Goodman, Pryor Graeber, Mathew Puckett and Lynn Green Root.
• Dinner at Walker's for 8 to 10 People - Wine pairings with sommeliers Leslie or Nathan McHardy. Six-course tasting menu to be planned out with Chef Derek Emmerson.
• South American Dinner for 8 to 10 People Featuring Chef Luis Bruno - Chef Luis Bruno will prepare a fabulous South American dinner, paired with Chilean and Argentinean wines by sommelier Scott Jackson.
• An Evening of Southern Cuisine and Culture for 8 to 10 People - Chef, author and restaurateur Robert St. John will prepare an extraordinary meal, while artist William Dunlap and Southern writer Julia Reed entertain your guests.
• 2009 SYM USA Scooter from Got Gear Motorsports - Model HD200 scooter with 15.3 horsepower, 4-stroke engine; retail value with taxes, title and insurance is $4,700.
• Hand-Woven Chinese Soumack Rug from The Rug Place of Jackson - 8x10 wool Chinese soumack, flatweave, reversible, red background, blue border with cantaloupe and gold accents (retail value $1,299).

We'll also be auctioning two autographed sports items from the Manning brothers:

• A Full-Size New York Giants Helmet Signed by Eli Manning - The helmet is autographed by Eli Manning, inscribed with his Super Bowl MVP award, and is in a beautiful display case.
• An Official NFL Football Signed by Eli and Peyton Manning - The football, which is in a display case, is signed by both Eli and Peyton Manning, with inscriptions for their consecutive Super Bowl MVP awards.

Click here to view artwork, rug and autographed helmet and football.

Hurry! The cutoff for purchasing tickets online is Monday, March 30, at noon.

Tune In and Stop By!

Clear Channel Radio will be doing a live remote from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Highland Village to promote Taste of Mississippi. Come buy your Taste of Mississippi ticket in advance and take advantage of some special promotions!

During the remote, each ticket sold will be put into a drawing for $50 in Highland Village Jingle Coins to be given away at the end of the broadcast. Also, Taste of Mississippi raffle tickets can be purchased at two-for-one prices during the remote.

Taste of Mississippi merchandise will also be available for purchase during the broadcast. We hope to see you there! Only four days to go until Taste of Mississippi!

We hope you're hungry...

We have a total of 48 restaurants signed up to participate in Taste of Mississippi next Monday! That's less than a week away, but there's still plenty of time to get your ticket in advance for $65. Visit our website to purchase tickets. Our t-shirts are now available for purchase online, too. We hope to see you on the 30th at Highland Village... and be sure to bring your appetite!

Adams Produce
AJ's on the Lake
The Alumni House
Amerigo
Atlantica Grill
Bass Pecan Company
Beagle Bagel
Biaggi's
Blue Bell Ice Cream
BRAVO!
Broad Street Baking Company & Café
The Bulldog
Candela's Seafood Grille
Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant
Cerami's
Char
Community Coffee
Crazy Cat Bakers
The Crown Restaurant/Taste of Gourmet
Elixir
Ely's Restaurant & Bar
Giardina's
Hal & Mal's
Julep
Kathryn's Steakhouse
Mint
Olga's Fine Dining
Pan-Asia
The Parker House
Paul Anthony's Market
Pavoni's
PF Chang's China Bistro
The Pizza Shack
Que Sera
Ro' Chez
Ruchi India
Sal & Mookie's
Savor Jackson
Seattle Drip
Sophia's
Soulshine Pizza
Sportsman's Lodge/Barista Coffeehouse & Café
Strawberry Café
Steam Room Grille
That Special Touch
Two Sisters Kitchen
VIP Grand Events
Walker's

Going Once, Going Twice, SOLD!!

Taste of Mississippi will include both a live and silent auction with plenty of opportunities for you to bid on some incredible items.

The live auction, featuring auctioneer Jim Wilkirson, will include works of art by Mississippi artists, as well as vacation packages. Items being auctioned this year include:

Works of art by Tony DiFatta, Bill Dunlap, Ginny Futvoye, William Goodman, Pryor Graeber, Mathew Puckett and Lynn Green Root

Hand-Woven Chinese Soumack Rug from The Rug Place of Jackson - an 8x10 wool Chinese soumack, flatweave, reversible, red background, blue border with cantaloupe and gold accents (retail value $1,299).

Dinner at Walker's for 8 to 10 people with wine pairings with sommeliers Leslie or Nathan McHardle - Six-course tasting menu to be planned out with Chef Derek Emmerson.


The silent auction will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature local art, dinners, merchandise and vacations including the following items:

• Strand of chocolate pearls and matching bracelet, donated by Carter Jewelers, retail value $300
• Viking 5 qt. stand mixer, retail value $400
• Viking professional blender, retail value $150
• Viking food processor, retail value $300
• Viking 2-slot toaster, retail value $250
• Viking 6-piece cookware set, retail value $710
• Overnight stay at the Old Capitol Inn
• Gift certificate from Atlantica Grill
• Gift certificate from Ro' Chez
• Overnight stay at Diamond Jack Casino
• "A Day in the Delta" lunch for two at The Crown Restaurant and tickets to B.B. King Museum
• Framed, matted 20x24 "Iris" by Jodie Ruck
• Gift certificate from Seattle Drip
• Gift certificate from the Sportsman's Lodge
• Framed, matted "Angels with Gazing Ball" by Diane Vick
• Gift certificate from Two Sisters Kitchen
• Overnight stay and dinner buffet for two at Rainbow Casino
• Framed, matted watercolor still life by Susan Wellington
• Gift certificate from Bravo/Broadsteet and Sal & Mookie's
• Gift certificate from Cedar Grove Mansion, Inn & Restaurant
• Three framed, matted 16x24 floral botanicals by Jodie Ruck
• Overnight stay at Fairview Inn, including dinner for two at Sophia's
• Hand-crocheted afghan
• Gift certificate from A.J.'s on the Lake
• Framed, matted watercolor landscape by Linda Blackwell
• Gift certificate from Ely's
• Dinosaur painting for child's room by Wanda Vialet
• Gift certificate from Steam Room Grille
• Gift certificate from Nick's
• "Pansies in a Red Vase" by Regis Gordon
• Gift certificate from Kathryn's
• Gift certificate from Ruchi India
• One-of-a-kind mono print "Frolic" by Laurel Schoolar
• "Thomas Jefferson on Wine" from University Press
• "You Are Where You Eat" from University Press
• "Pleasant Journeys and Good Eats Along the Way" from University Press
• "Growing Up in Mississippi" from University Press
• Lamp and lampshade from Chandelier
• Floral tapestry from The Rug Place of Jackson

T-shirts for sale!

This year, we've designed some Taste of Mississippi t-shirts that will be for sale the night of the event for $20. It's an easy way to add a t-shirt to your collection and support Stewpot at the same time!

We'll also have t-shirts available for purchase during our Clear Channel live radio remote at Highland Village from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Friday the 27th. Mark your calendars and come join in the fun!

Grassroots Giving

Last week, members of the Taste of Mississippi planning committee served lunch at Stewpot. They helped prepare the meal packages for Meals on Wheels and then helped serve plates buffet-style in the Community Kitchen.

More than 120 people a day are fed in the Community Kitchen and 50 meals are delivered to shut-ins in the area. Volunteers are always needed to lend a hand in the Stewpot Community Kitchen. Anyone is welcome to eat the Stewpot noon mean - no questions asked.

More than 7,000 volunteers serve in the Community Kitchen each year, and at least 10 volunteers are needed each day of the week to help keep this rewarding ministry going. If you're interested in volunteering, contact Tara Lindsey at tlindsey@stewpot.org or 601-353-2759.

Exciting Events!

Tonight, Taste of Mississippi will have a ticket booth set up at Que Sera during the Fondren After 5 event until 8 p.m. Feel free to stop by and say hello!

Tickets are $65 in advance and $80 at the door and are now available at Be-Bop Record Shop, Fresh Ink, The Everyday Gourmet, Diva Dog Boutique and the Highland Village office. You may also purchase them online at www.tasteofms.org or by calling Stewpot at 601-353-2759.

Also, be sure to watch WLBT's "Midday Mississippi" show tomorrow, March 6, at 12:30 p.m. to catch our friend Jeff Good, owner of BRAVO!, Broad Street Baking Company, and Sal & Mookie's cooking up something tasty and talking about Taste of Mississippi. We'll have a special guest on the show every Friday this month to promote the event, so tune in!

Calling All Restaurants!

As of yesterday, we have 36 restaurants signed up for this year’s event on March 30. We’re adding even more restaurants almost every day, which just means more delicious food for you to try if you come to Taste of Mississippi!

Here is a list of some of the restaurants participating this year. Check our website periodically for updates.

Adams Produce
Amerigo
Atlantica Grill
Beagle Bagel
Biaggi’s
Blue Bell Ice Cream
BRAVO!
Broad Street Baking Company & Café
Candela’s Seafood Grille
Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant
Char
Community Coffee
Crazy Cat Bakers
The Crown Restaurant
Hal & Mal’s
Julep
Mint
Paul Anthony’s Market
PF Chang’s China Bistro
Que Sera
Ro Chez
Sal and Mookie’s
Seattle Drip
Sportsman’s Lodge
Two Sister’s Kitchen
VIP Grand Events
Walker’s