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!

Just for the Guys!

We've got a few silent auction items and Taste of Mississippi items designed with the guys in mind!

How about a full-sized replica helmet signed by Herschel Walker? It can be yours today for the Buy It Now price of $325!

Or how about our cool T-shirts for this year's event? These are actually perfect for girls or guys! They're made of 100% pre-shrunk cotton and are only $20 plus $4 shipping and handling.

We also have gift certificates to restaurants and stores all over Jackson, gym memberships, and great weekend get-aways available in our silent auction! Don't miss out!

A sneak preview is available this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highland Village. If you buy your Taste of Mississippi tickets in advance you'll be entered in a drawing for $50 in Highland Village Jingle Coins. For every ticket you buy OR silent auction item you buy, you get an entry in the drawing. It's a win-win situation!

Thanks to our friends at Beagle Bagel!

We want to give a special thank you today to our friends at Beagle Bagel's newest location at Highland Village for catering last night's volunteer meeting for Taste of Mississippi. The food was delish!!

Visit Beagle Bagel's website for more information!

Celebrity Spotting!

Taste of Mississippi is exactly a week from tonight, and it's the perfect time to buy tickets! Tickets for this year’s event are $65 in advance and $80 at the door. Tickets are available online at http://www.tasteofms.org/ and at Everyday Gourmet, Bebop, McDade’s, Fresh Ink, the Highland Village Office and the St. Andrew’s Cathedral bookstore.

We have a great group of celebrity judges signed on to judge this year's event including:

Author and Restaurateur Robert St. John is native of Hattiesburg. For the last 20 years has served as executive chef, president, and CEO of the Purple Parrot Café, the Crescent City Grill, and the Mahogany Bar in Hattiesburg and Meridian. St. John has been featured on The Food Network, The Travel Channel, and the Turner South network. He has two television projects in development and is a creative force in the gourmet food business. St. John has written seven books in the last six years.

WLBT News Anchor Howard Ballou has been in the broadcast journalism profession for more than 20 years. He has won several awards of excellence in his field, including United Press International's "Best Documentary" category for a report he did on Tennessee Drunk Driving Legislation. In 2007, Ballou was inducted into the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame having anchored and reported for the top rated 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts since 1984. In addition to his anchoring at WLBT, he is currently a general assignment reporter and has served as producer and executive producer for the station.

Viking Cooking School Chef Matthew Sheeter is a 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.

Come out to Highland Village Monday and spot your own celebrities at Taste of Mississippi!