Big Apple Inn

I ate a pig ear sandwich this week. I know, I know. You're thinking I'm crazy. Maybe I am, but all I have to say is, Anthony Bourdain's got nothing on me. [Don't tell him I told you that, because then he might go crazy on me like he did Paula Deen]

I've eaten the pig ear sandwich once before, when I first started working at my job and people told me I just had to try it once. So, now it was my turn to tell somebody they just had to try it. 

So, watch and enjoy...

PM Taco

Pop-up restaurants are a niche market. Mostly, and maybe it goes without saying, because they are a quick one day jaunt away from the usual menu where restaurants get to be different, if not a little whimsical. Jackson restaurants have just started to scratch the surface of the limitless possibilities of pop-up restaurants and PM Taco, a pop-up restaurant for Parlor Market did not disappoint yesterday.

By noon, tacos were calling my name. Being a block away, a few of us from the office gladly skipped over. Tables were full, so we found three seats at the bar. We were quickly served drinks, salsa, and guacamole.

What did we get? A lot of food. Parlor Market can be on the expensive side, but each taco order only ran $7-$8. While I cannot tell you everything in the tacos, we did order the Big Mac, Pulled Chicken, and Blue Mountain Oyster tacos. Each was great all it's own. We also sampled the black eyed peas, which weren't my favorite, but as I've said before, I'm not a big fan of black eyed peas.

Pulled Chicken Tacos

Because I saw more on the menu we wanted to try and I happened to see them mixing up the sangria behind the bar at lunch, I just had to go back for dinner. Thank goodness my gym is also across the street, so I was able to work out before I went back, right? Right.

The wait was MUCH longer for dinner. The crowd, especially around the bar, was a little crazy. Our group grabbed drinks and headed outside to hear the band while we waited.

When we finally got seated, I knew what I wanted to try: The Gyro Taco. Lamb, pearled cous cous, and feta wrapped in pita. I'm still thinking about it. I was nervous ordering it, but it was hands down my favorite. If Parlor Market ever puts this on their regular menu or decides to venture into taco trucks, this would be my regular order.

Here's a hat tip to Parlor Market for making pop-up restaurants work in Jackson. Sure, there are bumps along the way and big crowds to feed, but that's exactly why Jackson needs restaurants to push us into uncharted culinary boundaries. I can't say it enough: People are ready for good food. It's also why I'm waiting patiently for that Gyro Taco to go on their regular menu.

Happy Birthday!

You know my family loves to get together for no other reason than to get together and birthdays are just one of those times you've got to have dinner as a family. This weekend we had a birthday celebration for my sister cousin, Cary!

This cake was amazing in a I-should-ever-ever-eat-this kind-of way. Ignore that fingerprint in the icing...

Happy birthday, Cary!

Of course, the McNeil's had to draw on our stars. One of these days, we'll all have these on permanently...

I hope you had a great weekend!

Cosmopolitan Cafe

There's a new kid in town and I like it. I like it a lot. So much so, I've even lunch there two days in a row. It's name is Cosmopolitan Cafe (Part of Cosmopolitan Catering by Macy) and it's right in the heart of Fondren.

I have to admit, my first time in yesterday was out of necessity because our organization was writing about them for our advertorial of the week, so needless to say, we've got to try the product. Boy, was it good.

The menu is fairly simple: a few plate lunches where you pick a meat and two sides. The hard part: choosing which one because they all sound so good.

I settled on the poppy seed chicken, broccoli salad and sweet and sour green beans. Everything was so flavorful. While I was worried about it all being too heavy, I didn't feel bogged down at the end like I sometimes do with Southern-style meals.

 We had to try the dessert. All of them in fact. Banana pudding, chocolate chess pie and strawberry shortcake. I was skeptical that the chess pie could match the recipe my family holds dear, but I was impressed. Macy said herself she uses her family's recipe and I think it's a winner.

After telling the office, more people wanted to go today. This time, I tried the meatloaf, corn salad and sweet and sour green beans (because I may or may not have dreamed about them).

If you need a good, quick lunch, this is the place to go. If you need a casserole to pop in the oven after work or a dip for a party, Macy's got that too. Tell her I sent you.

Beach Week

I've been a terrible blogger and I've got no excuse except to say I've been busy and had a lot on my mind. But, I couldn't NOT share beach pictures, it's one of my favorite weeks of the year!

Food, like every year, was amazing. This year, Ashley was even able to bring down four of her homemade jams in her bag on the plane...

My favorite was, hands down, the Strawberry-Marsala Jam with Rosemary.

Shrimp. Oh, the shrimp.

Some of the girls

The fam

Homemade biscuits from scratch. Perfect with all of the jams.

Lots of porch time watching all of the kids and their performances. We're definitely now paying for all of the performances we made our parents watch when we were kids.

These. Cream cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped jalepenos. This was just one of the appetizers one night and it was great.

Tres Leches cake

Handmade margaritas, down to the squeezed limes

Some of us got creative in the arts and crafts department with pipe cleaners...

Liam, who loved eating artichokes.

Can't wait 'til next year!