Soul Food

Southerners sure do like there food, and they sure do know how to prepare it, too.  One of the many perks of working for Ben Guest (MTC Program Director) is accompanying him on the ongoing grand gastronomic tour of some of Mississippi's best dining spots.  Ben has treated us to many a good meal, and the food just keeps getting better and better.  In fact, as much as this internship is devoted to education, food has been a critical component of experiencing Mississippi through its rich culture.  

Last week we had the opportunity to meet with Amy Evans Streeter, the oral historian for the Southern Food Alliance.  The meeting was set up in order to help Larissa and I get going on our own oral history project about the Mississippi Teacher Corps.  Mrs. Streeter has traveled all over the map tasting generations old family recipes and innovative creations from some of the hottest kitchens in the country.  I encourage anyone to check out the Southern Food Ways website - SFA - and start exploring. 

In just a few short weeks, we have dined at Yocona In Exile (the finest steak I have ever tasted), Taylor Grocery (catfish that blew us all out of the water), Boure (refreshing Southern sweet tea), Jerusalem Cafe (delicious rich and creamy hummus, dolmas, and salty feta cheese) to name but a few.  I think YaYa's Gourmet Yogurt Bar has been my all time favorite.  The other interns and I frequent YaYa's regularly in the hot afternoon.

Friday night, Larissa, Hallie and I received a call from Ben around 9:00 PM inviting us to Nagoya, his favorite Japanese Sushi Bar.  Asia Sierra Millette (Amherst Intern with the Mississippi Law School), Lauryn Smith (former MTC Intern and current Kentucky Law School student), Basil Beaty and Amani Floyd would all be joining us.  It was an offer we could not past up even though we had just settled down to watch a movie together.  Here we are before another great meal...

(Photo from Nagoya Restaurant - Larissa, Asia, Hallie, Ben, Lauryn, Me)

I awoke Saturday morning and set out to find food a little closer to the Earth, and what better place to look than the local farmer's market?  I wandered over to the Mid-town Farmer's Market first thing so as to avoid the most intense heat of the day.  Less than one mile from my apartment, I found vendors aplenty selling a variety of locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, honey, baked goods, and even farm-fresh milk and fish!  Friendly people were milling about, recyclable bags in hand, some old, some young, all searching for local delights.  The colors were vibrant and there was even live music and freshly brewed sweet tea to cool me off after my walk.  

   

Peaches 

Zinias

Sunflower

Tomatoes...

Needless to say, I had a great time selecting the ripest fruits and veggies of the bunch.  I left with a handful of mild salad onions, a small bunch of rosemary, two fish fillets, and some baby red potatoes.  Yes, I ate well that night.  I so much enjoy eating out at local joints or fancy-pants restaurants, but sometimes nothing compares to the simple creations I prepare myself.  That night I roasted my fish in parchment (an adaptation of sole en papillote that Jacques Pepin does so well).  I added lemon juice, butter, thyme, salt and pepper and it was tremendous.  I roasted the potatoes as well with the rosemary, salt and pepper.  The onions I saved for a later date but threw together a nice spinach salad with sliced strawberries, blanched almonds, and manchego cheese.  I washed it all down with a nice glass of fresh, local milk.  Yum-0!

So after a weekend of good food, good company, and some much needed rest, I have a busy week ahead.  It is my first full week in the MTC office by myself, working vigorously to keep on task and up to speed with assignments.  In addition, Larissa and I are in the early stages of an oral history project on the MTC program, which will officially be underway Tuesday morning as we complete our first interview.  The week will finish with a dinner with a visit from my mother and a trip to Memphis to visit old friends.