THANK YOU!!!

A HUGE thank-you to all the restaurants who participated in this year's event as well as to all of you who came out to support Stewpot. I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all!

Congrats to our winners!
BEST APPETIZER: Babalu Tapas and Tacos/Table 100
BEST ENTREE: Julep
BEST DESSERT: Crazy Cat Bakers
BEST DRESSED TABLE: Ameristar Casino

More Judges!

A few more judges to mention... we're excited to have you judge this year's event!

• Alan Burrow, certified retirement counselor and former event planner for March of Dimes
• Markita Cackett, Jackson Convention and Visitors' Bureau
• Marshall Ramsey, editorial cartoonist

See you all Monday!

Introducing Our Judges

We're pleased to announce more celebrity judges for Taste of Mississippi on Monday!

• Lindsey Slater from the Fox STORMTRACK Weather Team. A Milwaukee native, Lindsey joined Fox 40 in February 2009.
• Judge James Graves Jr., United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. A Clinton native, Judge Graves previously served as Presiding Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court and is the third African American ever appointed to the 5th Circuit and the first from Mississippi.
• Kingfish from Jackson Jambalaya, one of the city's most popular and provocative blogs about politics, culture and life in Jackson.
• Madalan Lennep, PMP, President and Owner of Pharos Consulting Services, a technology consulting company. She is a lifetime member of the Junior Auxiliary of Madison-Ridgeland and has served on the Madison-Ridgeland Academy Board of Trustees for five years.
• Megan West of 16 WAPT News. She comes to Jackson from Washington, D.C., where she worked as an associate producer at the Hearst-Argyle Television News Bureau.
• Howard Ballou of WLBT. A 2007 inductee into the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, Howard has been with WLBT since 1984 and is a very active volunteer with Stewpot Community Services.
• An anonymous representative from the EatJackson blog. Writers of the blog say they are not professional food critics, they just like good food, good service and a good dining experience. They give very honest reviews and welcome customer comments for every review.
• Coleen O'Brien of The Rug Place. Coleen is an experienced Taste of Mississippi judge and always donates a great rug for the auction. She's a great Stewpot supporter.
• Jill Barnes-Buckley, Associate Pastor for Community Ministry at Northminster Baptist Church. She has served at various capacities for Stewpot, including special projects coordinator and executive director.
• Julie Spencer, community volunteer and paralegal at Wright Law Firm in Ridgeland. A Madison native, Julie is a member of the Board of Directors for Raise Your Pints and a Logistics Committee Member for Wild Pursuit for the Cure (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Mississippi), as well as an avid Stewpot supporter.

Preveiw Party Tonight!

Tonight is the Preview Party at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame from 6-8! Come check out the art and silent auction items and enjoy some delicious food and drinks on us! Admission is free, but a $25 donation is suggested.

A special thanks to Taste of the Islands, VIP Grand Events, WalMart in Clinton, Gallo Winery, Southern Beverage, Greenbrook Flowers, Cake Diva and That Special Touch!

TWO FREE TICKETS!!!

Once we reach 300 fans on our new Facebook page we'll be giving away TWO FREE TICKETS to Taste of Mississippi! Everyone who likes our page is eligible for the drawing, so please suggest to all your friends!

Preview Party Next Week!

The Preview Party for the 23rd annual Taste of Mississippi will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 3, 2011, at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, 1152 Lakeland Drive in Jackson.

The event will be a special preview of Taste of Mississippi, which is scheduled for Monday, March 28th at Highland Village. Hosted in a new venue this year, the Preview Party provides guests with the opportunity to sample food and drinks from some of Jackson’s best restaurants, as well as preview and purchase items before they are auctioned at Taste of Mississippi.

Items featured at a special “buy it now” price that night such as artwork by Jackson-area artists, restaurant gift certificates and handmade jewelry. Items not sold during the Preview Party will be featured in a silent auction during Taste of Mississippi.

Food and drinks will be provided by local vendors, including several downtown restaurants. Admission is free, although a $25 donation is recommended.

We hope to see you there!

Celebrity Judge Announced!

Matthew Sheeter
Viking Cooking School
Cooking School Manager

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Such is the philosophy embraced by Matthew Sheeter, graduate of the prestigious Johnson & Wales University and newly appointed Cooking School Manager for Viking Cooking School. Since 2002, Chef Matthew has worked with Viking Cooking Schools both in Atlanta and St. Louis as Cooking School Coordinator and General Manager respectively.

Prior to joining Viking, Sheeter worked as an assistant banquet manager, hotel chef, recipe developer, and Manager for the Kroger School of Cooking. Growing up in the Midwest surrounded by gardens and apple orchards, Matthew fondly recalls eating almost exclusively from the family garden. There he developed his passion for cooking with real ingredients. Recently, Chef Matthew was honored to assist culinary luminary Giuliano Bugialli with his recreational culinary program in Tuscany where cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients is a way of life.

We are thrilled to have Matthew Sheeter sign on as a celebrity judge for this year's Taste of Mississippi!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours! Here's a list of more restaurants we have signed up for Taste of Mississippi on Monday, March 28th! YUM! Enjoy your date night and we hope to see you next month!

Adams Produce
Amerigo
Auditorium
Beagle Bagel
Biaggi's Restorante Italiano
Blue Bell Ice Cream
Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Restaurant
Cerami's Italian Restaurant
Char
Classic Catering by Chris
Cosmopolitan Catering by Macy
Crazy Cat Bakers
Crown Restaurant
Ely's Restaurant & Bar
Julep
Kathryn's Steak & Seafood
Mint
Olga's Fine DIning
Parker House
Paul Anthony's Butcher Market
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Que Sera
Restaurant Tyler
Ro Chez
Ruchia India
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Sophia's Restaurant at Fairview Inn
Soulshine Pizza
Sportsman's Lodge
Steam Room Grille
King Edwards Grill
VIP Grand Events
Walker's

Find our group on Facebook and "like" us or check our website for upcoming news!

Silent Auction Items

We've had a great number of silent auction items donated so far. Take a look!

• Pewter Platter from The Everyday Gardner
• 4 Vinovino Champagne Glasses & Duval Leroy Champagne from Kat's Wine
• Black Serving Bowl and Tray from Persnickety's
• 2 Museum Tickets, lunch for two at Gin Mill Gallery and t-shirts from B.B. King Museum
• $100 Gift Card to Bravo/Broad Street/Sal and Mookie's
• Purse from Funky Monkey
• Hand Mixer from Viking
• Family/Dual Membership to the Mississippi Museum of Art
• $75 Gift Certificate to Watercolor Salon
• 2 IPL Laser Treatments from Body Anew Medical Spa
• Two-night stay and dinner for two at Beau Rivage
• Pink Python Embossed Handbag by Sandra Roberts from Cook & Love Shoes
• Two 18-hold green fees with cart from Refuge Golf Course
• One-night stay for 2 at Bally's Casino
• 2 Buffet Tickets at Diamond Jack's Casino
• Bike tune-up from The Bike Rack
• Spa Pedicure at Aqua the Day Spa
• $25 Gift Certificate at B. fine art gallery
• Gail Pittman Tango Collection serving bowl and tray
• Family Night Fun Pack (five board games)
• Photography Session from Denise Edmondson Photography

MUCH, MUCH MORE to come! Stay tuned!

A New Year!

Welcome back to our Taste of Mississippi blog! We have lots of exciting updates planned for this year's event, so go ahead and mark your calendar for Monday, March 28, 2011!

Restaurants signed up for this year's event as of today: AJ's, Babalu, Bravo, Broad Street, Sal and Mookie's, Giardina's, Julep, Lumpkins BBQ, My Cup Runneth Over Bakery, Strawberry Cafe, and Two Sisters Kitchen.

Check back for updates and find us on Facebook!