Exploring Mississippi’s cuisine scene, which is as diverse as it is tasty, is a great way for groups to learn about the state’s culture.
Cooking classes incorporating seafood from the Gulf, foodie tours in interesting neighborhoods, brewery tours and tastings, hopping on the Hot Tamale Trail, dining at group-friendly restaurants featuring Southern specialties, and sampling pecan vodka are among the culinary-centric activities awaiting groups who would like to add a little flavor to their Mississippi meeting.
Gulf Coast Region
Cooking classes with popular local chefs are being served up along the Gulf Coast.
Chef Danie Rodriguez from LUNCH in Biloxi teaches sushi-making and how to prepare a fresh catch from the Gulf, and Chef Owner Cheri Hiers from the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center of Arts & Education in Ocean Springs demonstrates how to make dishes using ingredients found while foraging at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.
“Not only will participants learn valuable cooking techniques and escape the mundane of sightseeing or touring multiple museums, but they also have the opportunity to explore our culture through their taste buds,” said Kristen Livingston, leisure group sales manager at Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Group-friendly restaurants are aplenty on the Gulf Coast, including The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint in Ocean Springs and Sal & Mookie’s New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint in Biloxi, where “indoor and outdoor seating and a separate Pie Lounge bar area is available for groups,” Livingston said.
A favorite restaurant in Hancock County is the Bay St. Louis-based Cuz’s, which has a semi-private dining area for groups.
“This restaurant has that Gulf Coast feel with local favorites and New Orleans traditions,” said Myrna Green, manager of the Hancock County Tourism Bureau, who noted that specialty menu items include seafood baskets and po’boys.
To wash it down, groups can head over to Kiln-based Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, Mississippi’s oldest brewery, for a tour and tasting. Beers here include Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale and Timber Beast Rye Pale Ale.
Hattiesburg is home to stops on both the Mississippi Brew Trail and the Mississippi Barbecue Trail.
Southern Prohibition Brewing has scheduled tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays that small groups can jump into, and several of Hattiesburg’s popular barbecue purveyors can cater group events, including Rose’s Bar-B-Q, Stonewall’s BBQ and Strick’s Bar-B-Q.
Capital/River Region
A fun foodie tour in Jackson highlights is its arts district, called Fondren, an “eclectic funky neighborhood,” according to Sherri Ratliff, convention sales manager, religious/government/education markets, for the Jackson CVB.
Within a four- to six-block radius, groups will visit Saltine Oyster Bar, which has a great selection of local craft beer, Babalu Tapas & Tacos, Campbell’s Bakery and Brent’s Drugs, a 1940s-style diner filmed in The Help, among other stops.
“This neighborhood also offers a great variety of shopping opportunities, with antiques, art galleries and consignment shops,” Ratliff said.
Groups might also enjoy a private tour at Cathead Distillery, Mississippi’s first and oldest distillery, which makes gin and vodka, including the caramel-colored Cathead Pecan Vodka.
The distillery also has space to accommodate group gatherings.
Vicksburg
In Vicksburg, at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, there are hands-on cooking demonstrations and classes led by local experts who teach everything from making gumbo and Korean barbecue to homemade bread and sushi.
“The group will experience a food demonstration and also be able to cook the meal and then partake in a meal with other conference attendees,” said Ashley Gatian, sales manager at the Vicksburg CVB.
Vicksburg also has a new restaurant, 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, that is perfect for groups, Gatian added. Specialties here include chicken and waffles, sweet potato hummus and mile-high peanut butter pie.
“It’s located in our historic downtown district with views of the river, bridges and our beautiful downtown area,” she said. “This restaurant is an open-air experience that is not to be missed.”
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In September, Natchez enjoyed its first annual Natchez Biscuit Festival, which according to Lynsey Smith, director of sales at Visit Natchez, is spearheaded by local Chef Regina Charboneau, who runs Twin Oaks B&B and King’s Tavern, a restaurant that accommodates private parties and offers mixology classes.
“She is always open to a biscuit demonstration, and has done so for groups of mine in the past,” said Smith, who added groups might also like a Natchez “pour tour,” including stops at Old South Winery, Natchez Brewing Company and Charboneau Distillery, a purveyor of rum.
Delta
Tunica is home to several great restaurants, including Cafe Marie, which is located in the historic 1890s Hotel Marie. Here, groups will find upscale dining in a cozy atmosphere, and a menu featuring steaks, seafood and various Southern dishes.
The Mississippi Delta is so big on hot tamales that the region created a Hot Tamale Trail, including several stops in Greenville.
Among them are Doe’s Tamales, Maria’s Famous Hot Tamales and Hot Tamale Heaven.
The Hills
For meetings with at least 100 attendees, the Tupelo CVB and the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association can customize a progressive wine- and food-tasting outing downtown.
“Participants can explore downtown Tupelo’s specialty shops, art galleries and boutiques while sipping wine and tasting bites from local restaurants,” said Jan Pannell, sales manager, meetings, at the Tupelo CVB. “Continue the party at one of downtown Tupelo’s many great restaurants.”
Romie’s Grocery, a neighborhood grocery store turned restaurant, is a popular Tupelo eatery where groups will find a menu featuring steaks, catfish and more.
“Romie’s welcomes groups to dine in its dining room or on its large patio, complete with live music,” Pannell said.
In Oxford, the historic downtown square is filled with unique shops and one-of-a-kind restaurants.
“The square is comfortable for groups to wander around for shopping, eating and exploring, and there are benches on the sidewalks for elderly groups,” said Katie Kaiser, visitor services coordinator at Visit Oxford MS.
Woodson Ridge Farms, located just outside Oxford, is owned by Elizabeth Heiskell, aka “The Debutante Farmer,” who has been featured multiple times on NBC’s Today Show and has her own cookbook, Somebody Stole the Cornbread from My Dressing.
“Woodson Ridge Farms offers farm-to-table events, the option to purchase [Heiskell’s] local produce and food demonstrations for groups,” Kaiser said. “This attraction also includes Debutante Farmer Bloody Mary Mix, made with the tomatoes grown at Woodson Ridge Farms.”
And at Yalobusha Brewing in Water Valley, located about 20 minutes from Oxford, groups can tour the facility and taste beers, including Blues Trail Ale and Testify, an imperial milk stout.
The Pines
Groups convening in Meridian can enjoy a slice of history at the longstanding Weidmann’s, a restaurant that’s been in operation since 1870.
Menu items here include blackened catfish Caesar salad, crab cakes and chocolate bourbon pecan pie. Two banquet rooms are available for group meals.
And in Columbus, interested meeting attendees might like to check out the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market, which is open for a few hours on Saturdays from April through October, and also on Mondays and Thursdays from May to September.
Columbus is also home to more than 125 restaurants, many of which are group-friendly and serve a mean mint julep.
