Jackson Jambalaya

I remember my parents going to the Silver Platter. I vaguely recalling their comments to be about the same. Place didn't last long.

Thank you, Kingfish, for looking these out. I do remember reading her column, and enjoyed revisiting some of the places through her words. No, you won't find such discerning, informed critiques today in the publications you mentioned, but if you go to Yelp.com and TripAdvisor, you can often find very well-written kudos (or rotten tomatoes) penned there, about our local restaurants.

I see some questionable quality microfiche copies but nothing about the Silver Platter. Anyway, wanted to relate this story on an Epicurious related topic.

We were a large gathering of soccer parents and children seated at Red Lobster in Jackson at least 22 years ago. The service had been horrible and we had waited for our order for over an hour with no contact, no water brought, no apology, nothing.

Following this inordinate wait, several of us complained and I asked for a manager who was dispatched to our group. He sort of blew it off and seemed unconcerned. This is when I asked him rather loudly, "Have you ever heard of Epicurious?" You'da thought I shafted him with an icycle. He snapped too, thinking I was that writer, headed to the kitchen and we were soon surrounded by wait staff bearing complimentary biscuits, drinks, shrimp, etc, followed pretty quickly by our large group order.

PS: I always pictured Epi as a rather refined man, wearing a bowtie and wingtips. Really miss those columns.

Very first one.

You can also expand the review to full screen.

Ha, EatJxn.

Eat Jackson/EatJxn is simply a marketing/advertising mafioso business model. They provide absolutely zero independent critique, or quality writing for that matter.

Good for them for finding a niche business, but they certainly are no food critic.

Loved these articles. The best, however, was a review of Leathas BBQ when they were in the shack in Foxworth.

Look it up if you get the chance

Thanks for the memories. I always enjoyed reading Epicurious.

Reading about that escargot made me hawngry. The starched napkin was a nice touch.

I remember reading her as a kid. I was a fat bastard and this was my introduction to food porn. I admit I am a little saddened by realizing all that has been lost in local reporting.

" . . . recapture some of the flavors that were on the lam." She could have a certain hauteur, but tossing in the slang gave assurance that she was no snob. It would be great to have another food critic, but we are not likely to find one blessed with Bettye Jolly's ability to entertain without condescension.

Mrs. Jolly was, assuredly, in the Pantheon of food writers, right up there with Mimi Sheraton, Laurie Colwin, and M.F.K. Fisher. The only difference is, she kept it local, wrote no books, sought no fame, and (I feel certain) received scant compensation (except for the comped meals) for her thoughtful efforts. I surely wish I had known her.

And what, I beg to know, is wrong with "a certain hauteur"? Or *snobisme*, for that matter? What the world needs now is not Love, Sweet Love, but a little more of Mrs. J's/Epicurious' sassy, classy style!

Rest in peace and *bon appetit*. Again...wish that she and I could have double-dated with our trenchermen menfolk, while she was busily observing, tasting, and making mental notes. We do indeed need another like her.

Ah, Madame B-S. A little snobbery is easy to excuse until one has had it inflicted upon one.

I know quite a few people who would apply for such a position. They all work for the state and cruise buffets from Tupelo to Biloxi and Meridian to Vicksburg. I think that's their only job and their travel report reflects it.