Hellooooo there, folo-folk. This morning I’m busy researching instead of writing, and I think NMC is too, so why don’t y’all just yak about whatever interests you here. We’ll have some fresh posts later on today . . .
Monday morning open thread
April 7th, 2008 @ 9:47 am - by lotus · 47 Comments
Filed Under: Monday Morning
Going out to eat in Oxford for Double Decker – Prime or L&M? (I haven’t eaten at either one)
L&M without any doubt.
They cure meats (from pork they raise in Panola County) and make pasta on premises.
Some restaurants have special menus for that day– in some ways its a bigger overflow than a football weekend.
L&M and most places will also have good food booths on the square. L&M does their Italian sausage, grilled with sauted onions and peppers.
I believe you can obtain some of the pork used at L&M at Stans Country Store on Hwy 6 in Panola County about 10 miles from the Lafayette County line.
That’s a fact, supergreg. L&M owns Stans and processes a lot of their meat there.
Speaking of Double Decker, where’s the big name act?
The Mississippi Innocence Project, the ACLU of Mississippi, the Mississippi Association for Justice, the Millsaps Minister for Missions and the Jackson Free Press sponsor a community forum to discuss the wrongfully imprisoned today at 7 p.m. at Millsaps College Leggett Center. Call 985-788-1306 for more information.
Thanks for the L&M suggestion! I’m excited about it.
Regarding the acts for DoubleDecker….Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Hill Country Blues Revue (formed by members of the North MS Allstars Chris Chew and Cody Dickinson…and Gary Burnside – RL’s yougest son and Junior Kimbrough’s protege….Kirk Smithhart will be with them, and he could make a tadpole slap a whale with his guitar skills) and I’m pretty excited about The Avett Brothers
L&M or Prime?
Neither! Go to Waltz…it’s a couple of doors down from Old Venice (walking west). From the bar, to the ambiance, to the pork chops the size of a Volkswagon, it’s the tops.
Want to try something new…too many tempting places, but gotta go ‘new’ this trip!
I’ll dissent heavily on Waltz versus L&M. Waltz has a beautiful room, but it is not chef-driven and it’s menu is scattered all over the place– it tries to be bits of all the competition (e.g. there’s shrimp and grits as a nod to John Currence at City Grocery, and the giant pork chops were at L&M, only L&M has pork that Dan Latham was having raised in his own operation, when the Waltz place was a bad Mexican restaurant. There’s also a bit from 208– she crab soup and some other low country thing, but I forget what, and they even try a nod toward covering the steak place bit). I’ve been there twice, and as I said, loved the room. The food was medium (some good, some not-so-good– it’s hard to cover so many bases well) and the service was appalling. I’d be hard pressed to go back.
Anyone who is coming to doubledecker and wants to meet up should email me.
I agree, NMC, that Waltz is like a “greatest hits” of Oxford—without the cheesy Time-Life infomercial. However, I’ve never been disappointed with the food or the service.
p.s. On the “greatest hits” theme, some of the Waltz’s lunch specials are a nod to Ajax.
As a cook in multiple restaurants on the square and a avid eater on the square I figure my two cents may be of value, however mostly I agree with NMC…Go to L and M. Its closing soon and opportunities to eat there are limited. Prime and Waltz’s tries to cover everything the entire square does and it really takes away from the foods quality.
If you feel like leaving the square during Double decker Yocona is very good, but planning a trip around a show may be difficult.
Also coming soon is Blue Pan Grill where Petra used to be which will be a nice place to go. And Jefferson Hill Steakhouse, an off shoot of Does Eat Place will be next to Larry’s Barber Shop soon, not sure if by DD though.
I have worked at Prime, Does, Old Venice, University Club and subway. I have been hired by Jefferson Hill and Blue Pan but reporting has taken over my life, but need that summer job.
If you need any help lemme know.
L&M, btw, may not go away forever when the lease runs out. Everyone hold your breath.
We are going to see Steve Earl on the 23rd and plan to eat out first. I’m trying to decide between Downton Grill, 208 or City Grocery? I am so-so on Waltz and as much as I hate to admit it – I’m not a big fan of L & M. I believe if you like that type of food that it is probably the best there is in the area. We have young kids and it’s rare that we get to eat a relaxing meal – I’m very excited! I will tell you that Yocona is my all time favorite but we want to stay close to the University.
SJ – do you know if the Steve Earle show is sold out?
I’m with NMC on Waltz. The bar is very nice, but I’ve had four meals there and three were not very good at all. My mother’s dinner tasted like a little like cellophane.
The wine list is nice, and Walt is nice, but I have become less and less impressed with the food.
I got tickets to the Steve Earle show last Thursday. I doubt it it’s a sellout
in that trio, I’d rank City Grocery first, 208 2nd, and Downtown Grill a very distant third.
I’ll take the chicken salad from the old James Food Store anytime. Haven’t had it at the “new” location so I don’t know if it is the same.
Also, I miss Ruth & Jimmy’s.
I want to get up there for a meal before L&M closes; does anybody know they plan to shut down?
Since this is an open thread, I’ll share a disappointing piece of information passed along to me from a contact who would know regarding the Scruggs bribery investigation.
As we heard, many agents were brought in from out of this area to handle the investigation (supposedly to prevent leaks). The locals say the investigation has been all but closed, WAY sooner than they would have ever terminated it. They were especially wanting to wait until after the planned Clinton political fund raiser but they got shut down. Personally, I had hoped for more but suspected as much.
yes- the James Food Center chicken salad is still good- but so is the “three-way” (gas station) chicken salad on old north 7-
Anyone remember Mae Helen’s gravy fries at Kiamie’s (sp.)?
It’sAllGood// I heard an interveiw with Sid Salter last week, in it he stated it was his opinion this would last a very long time and we had just seen the beginning……..If you won’t to see who has Ethical Lapses just google, its’ the Name Brands thats treated like Rock Stars from every profession including our own Goverment Officials, Who woulda’ Thunk It???
A1A – and the grilled Cheese- I think I grew up on this-
Sid is dreaming. It’s not going any farther than they want it to which is were we are. Why do you think Lott has that little smirk on his face?
duck, Like NMC said it may not close. But a friend who works there says pretty soon, like late May but I am not sure.
thanks dmwriter! It’s good to have some motivation. After all the good stuff I’ve read about L&M, I’d hate to have missed a chance to try it.
The L&M lease runs till August. The construction that may force them to move (like all construction projects?) is behind schedule and they may be able to stay a while after that, on a month to month basis.
I will be fairly angry if it’s done, ItsAllGood.
The civil litigation in Hinds County is going to force a lot of what went down there in the open. The more that becomes public the less controllable this will be. Surely.
Thanks NMC – I was thinking the same thing. I’m not that picky of an eater -but when I’m spending a small fortune, I expect good eatin’. My understanding is that Steve Earle tickets are still available.
Also, I vow to try L & M at least once more before it closes. I get overwhelmed with the menu – what should I order?
IAG 22, you said:
” The locals say the investigation has been all but closed.”
If an investigation has been shut down, does it necessarily mean that there will be no more prosecutions, or just that there will be no more gathering of evidence?
Been workin’ all day and also visitin’ with Sailor, so had not had a chance to take a look at the random open post of today. Laughed out loud that the primary topic of conversation was, of course, FOOD.
Thanks for making my day, and of course I have to add a comment – MADGE, I second your opinion on the chicken salad. There is no better. Several years ago, when leaving Oxford after the Double Decker Festival, we picked up several tubs along with the mandatory Ritz boxes for the long ride home to the Coast. I remember we ran out before we hit Jackson and had a group panic attack over the loss and not buying up the total chicken salad inventory available that day. All agreed we would never make the mistake again.
Well good lord, what’s IN that chicken salad?
There is a large story behind the chicken salad, and a good one, and I will bet that I’m the only reader of this blog that knows it.
Well ain’t you something on a stick, NMC! Ya gonna spill it or just sit there an’ gloat?
Ate some of that chicken salad on Wheat Thins last (no, Satruday) night for supper.
Goooood eatin’ !
Okay, if all you bums gonna do is brag and not tell a pusson about it, a pusson just has to close her petals for the night and sleep, perchance DREAM the dang chicken salad …
I’ll get around to the story. It’s now high on my list.
DWP 33, I didn’t take it that there would not be more prosecutions…just that the local agents wanted to go further but were stopped/prevented/shut down. I sensed frustration.
I don’ know about the backstory but I have what I and my taste buds remember the recipe to be. All it is is a little salt, black and white pepper finely ground, pinch of cayenne and cumin, mayo and some finely, finely chopped spring onions and chicken.
Now, the memory may be a little unclear as a result of several brown water floods since I last enjoyed the chicken salad.
its all good: speak English.
Scandaljunkie @ 15,
208 was closed recently for foundation issues. You may want to check the re-opening schedule if they win your dining contest.
Progress Made at Jane’s — both her place and her parents’ got electricity back last night, but no Comcast yet, so she’s still S.O.L. online.
208 has reopened, Phantom, late last week.
Got power back at my house at 5:00 P. M. yesterday. Deer meat survived in frozen state. Neighbors grateful.