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!

Sneak Peak!!

All silent auction items will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highland Village tomorrow for a SNEAK PEAK! All pieces can be purchased at a "Buy It Now" price before the silent auction during Taste of Mississippi.

Come by Highland Village between 10 and 2 tomorrow (Friday, March 19th) to buy your Taste of Mississippi tickets and 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!

Here are just a few highlights...

Bottletree Bakery, Oxford, MS by Vickie Overstreet (26" x 32"), Buy It Now Price $800

Flat Out 1 & 2 by William Dunlap (22" x 17"), Buy It Now Price $1,800

Golfer by Eric Jones (28" x 40"), Buy It Now Price: $500

Visit our website for photos of all the silent auction items. See you at Highland Village!

Get Your Tickets Today!!!

Don't miss Jackson's favorite feast! Tickets for Taste of Mississippi are $65 in advance and $80 at the door.

Get your tickets now at http://www.tasteofms.org/. Tickets are also available at Everyday Gourmet, Bebop, McDade's, Fresh Ink, and Highland Village offices.

See you March 29th!!

Giving Back

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. For information on volunteer opportunities, please contact stewpot@stewpot.org.