DeSoto Magazine November 2016

DeSoto 1

2 DeSoto

DeSoto 3

4 DeSoto

DeSoto 5

6 DeSoto

NOVEMBER CONTENTS 2016 • VOLUME 13 • NO. 11

features 54 Raising Hope Palmer Home’s enduring giving

70 A Woman’s Way Cup of Tea, Thistle Farms change lives

62 Celebrating the Pig! Piggly Wiggly turns 100

departments 14 Living Well Smile, it’s a gift

42 A Day Away Old Towne Olive Branch

18 Notables Jeremy Park

46 Holiday Gift Guide 78 Homegrown New Albany’s High Point Roasters

22 Exploring Art Satterfield Pottery

80 Southern Harmony Big & Rich

26 Exploring Books Julie Cantrell’s own flood story

82 Table Talk A view from Dauphin’s

30 Into the Wild Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

84 In Good Spirits Whiskey Cranberry Splash

34 Exploring Cuisine Turkey Day innovation

86 Exploring Events

38 Exploring Destinations Peter Anderson Festival

34

88 Reflections Food

54

80

DeSoto 7

8 DeSoto

editor’s note } november

Settling In

Two things happen this time of year that lull me into a sense of well being: the hum of the local cotton gin and nature’s slow down. Both give a sense of security that all is steady and moving at the right pace.

Giving. It’s where our thoughts dwell this month as we talk about all those around us giving even more. While I’ve known about the Palmer Home for years, I learned a few things when reading Andrea’s story. Their strong generational legacy continues as children grow up and move on, yet never forget their Palmer Home origins.

What would our world be without the generous, the relentless thinkers, and the hopeful? We are honored to capture a short conversation with Jeremy Park, whose vision and strength transformed one breakfast club into a city-wide hope machine. He connects people, ideas and resources to push our Mid-South region forward.

In Memphis and Nashville, Cup of Tea and Thistle Farms give women more than a promise--they give them practical job skills. Robin gives us the whole picture in her piece.

Debra caught up with the famed Big & Rich, the musical duo who has become a household name. What’s probably lesser known, however, is their commitment to philanthropic giving, especially with Memphis’ own St. Jude.

And yes, food. How can I avoid that small detail this month? If you’re suffering from the turkey doldrums,

NOVEMBER 2016 • Vol. 13 No.11

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Karen Ott Mayer

ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross

CONTRIBUTORS Charlene has new ideas for the family chef struggling to give the family turkey tradition new life. If dining out is your preference, James takes us to Dauphin’s in Mobile where the food is only rivaled by the view.

As you make your way down the grocery aisles in the coming weeks, remember that shopping has changed over time as our story about Piggly Wiggly’s 100th anniversary reminds us.

What settles your soul this time of year? With falling leaves, smells from the kitchen and family time, I think there’s plenty of inspiration.

Enjoy!

Karen

Judy Smith Robin Gallaher Branch Dr. Amy Wadsworth Jim Beaugez Kathryn Winter Clint Kimberling Julie Cantrell Chere Coen Debra Pamplin James Richardson Charlene Oldham

PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media

2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 Fax 662.449.5813

ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com

DeSotoMagazine.com Get social with us!

on the cover Ah... the Thanksgiving bird! The turkey is the sacred dish at the holiday table, and there are so many more options for preparing it than there used to be. We roast, smoke, grill and deep fry to create a unique and delicious main course. Read how a few southern chefs prepare their turkey on page 34.

Photo courtesy of charbroil.com

©2016 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner.

Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly

by DeSoto Media Co. Parties i n t e re s t e d i n a d v e r t i s i n g s h o u l d email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.

DeSoto 9

10 DeSoto

DeSoto 11

12 DeSoto

DeSoto 13

14 DeSoto

DeSoto 15

living well }

teeth whitening

Mother Teresa said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.�

Give a Smile

By Dr. Amy Wadsworth, Hernando Dental Group. Photography courtesy of Hernando Dental Group

When the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry asked people what they would like most to improve about their smile, the most common response was people wanted whiter teeth. This same organization also found that nearly 90 percent of patients requested tooth-whitening services.

16 DeSoto

Teeth change color for lots of reasons. Some foods and drinks have intense color pigments that attach to the enamel of your teeth. If a substance or food stains your hands or clothes, most likely it will stain your teeth as well. Tobacco has tar which is naturally dark and nicotine that turns yellow when exposed to oxygen. Both create stains. As we get older, the white enamel gets thinner and the more yellow dentin shows through our teeth. Antihistamines and high blood pressure medicines, as well as chemotherapy and head/neck radiation can cause teeth to get darker as well.

You can help minimize, and possibly prevent stains, by following a few practices:

• Brush using a whitening toothpaste marked with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal. These toothpastes use mild abrasives to scrub the stains off the teeth. They don’t change the color of a tooth, but they can remove surface stains which prevent your teeth from appearing bright. Colgate Total, Crest Pro-Health and Toms Simply White all have the ADA seal and work well.

Most importantly, see your dentist and hygienist for regular cleanings and check-ups. During these visits, discuss your concerns with them. Working together, you will find your smile will be something you’ll want to share with everyone you see--leaving a beautiful gift.

• Drinking through a straw can help minimize the amount of time a drink like coffee, red wine or tea is on the teeth. Drink water afterwards to wash away any stain-causing residue.

• Chew sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating. This stimulates saliva production and can help prevent tooth decay.

The ADA has placed it’s seal on many commercial brands like Trident, Orbit, 5 Sugarfree Dentyne Ice, Eclipse, Extra, Ice Breakers, Stride and even Bazooka sugar-free gum.

Tooth whitening products contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamine peroxide. It’s helpful to note that the over-the-counter brands aren’t as strong as those products your dentist can provide. In these products, bleaches break down the stains into smaller pieces, making the dark color less concentrated and your teeth brighter. Yellow stains bleach better than gray ones, and none of these work on crowns, veneers, or white fillings. Tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect, but it is usually temporary. Follow the directions and avoid overuse that can cause damage to the enamel or gums.

Dr. Amy Wadsworth, DDS

DeSoto 17

18 DeSoto

DeSoto 19

notables } jeremy park

20 DeSoto

Creating Positive Change

By Jim Beaugez. Photography courtesy of Jeremy Park

When Jeremy Park moved to Memphis eight years ago, he didn’t know anyone— but he quickly saw the same community needs he had observed in cities like Los Angeles and Dallas.

Every city has major gaps, and they need third-party catalysts to step in to be able to make a difference,” said Park.

As president of cityCURRENT, a motivator for community impact funded by private business, Park is now helping bring together business leaders to create meaningful change in the Mid-South.

“Government obviously can’t solve all the problems and non-profits can’t solve all the problems,” he said. “Businesses are equipped with the resources to be heavily involved, but the problem is they’re so busy focusing on their business that they don’t know how to make it easy.”

Taking the breakfast meeting series started by

Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, Park developed cityCURRENT into a program of workshops, seminars, executive lunches, cultural connections and more, all geared to enrich lives and get people engaged in their communities.

Park identified five areas to bring cityCURRENT’s mission to a wider audience, focusing on corporate philanthropy, collaboration among businesses and leaders, free events for the community, turnkey volunteerism and positive media.

A team of partner businesses underwrites the programs, including more than 75 businesses and some of the world’s largest employers, such as FedEx, AutoZone, DeSoto 21

ServiceMaster and Smith & Nephew. Through their help, by 2015, the program had expanded from eight signature breakfasts to 181 events.

“Instead of a group coming together for networking, we’re about true philanthropy,” said Park. “How can you take business processes and make it about the higher purpose, the higher good, to actually be physically engaged in the community, and make a real difference?”

A media professional by trade with a background in television and radio, Park has expanded the footprint of cityCURRENT with shows on WREC-AM news radio and WKNO-TV, as well as a weekly column, “Giving Back,” in The Commercial Appeal, a podcast, and two books that expand upon the mission of being active in the community.

The platform has also grown into the annual Spark Awards, a televised award show that honors individuals and organizations that make a difference in the Greater Memphis community.

Adding to the support from like-minded businesspeople in the Memphis area, Park stresses that cityCURRENT is an opportunity for all.

“Anyone can get involved in the community and it’s not going to cost them a dime. I think that’s important especially in a city like Memphis, where money can sometimes be a barrier to engagement. We take that off the table.”

For example, when he brought members of the community together to participate in a Samaritan’s Feet event—where people from all walks of life gather to wash the feet of and provide new footwear to those in need—he saw cityCURRENT’s mission in action, as people collaborated on ways to solve other community problems.

“You’ve got ministers, CEOs, principals and college students, and they’re coming out to serve, and the next thing you know they’re working together to help kids who want to be police officers get into the Explorers program with Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.

“You start seeing these relationships form. And things like Faith in Action, the first year 15,000 volunteers come out to pick up trash over three days across the Mid-South. We were a huge part of that activation piece. You see all these sides coming together for the common good.”

“If you just come home and turn on the 10 o’clock news, I don’t care where you are, you’re never going to see the good in your city.”

Key to Park’s success with cityCURRENT is not only the vision to see how to bring people together for good, but also a commitment to seeking the positive sides of a situation—the opportunity to take a problem and turn it on its head.

22 DeSoto

DeSoto 23

exploring art } satterfield pottery

24 DeSoto

Molded from the Land

By Kathryn Winter. Photography courtesy of Storage Street Media

Satterfield Pottery all began with a father making cookie cutter ornaments for his daughter, working out of his garage. Growing up on his family’s farm in the Mississippi Delta and drawing inspiration from his residency in the Colorado Rockies, Michael Satterfield’s passion for creating is evident upon stepping foot into his old converted barn turned studio gallery in Taylor, Miss.

His sister, Tara Satterfield is also a part of the potterymaking process. Known for custom handmade dinnerware and home décor, his collections include Pistachio, Indigo, Creamstout, Gumbo, Riverbottom, and Hotty Toddy.

Tara and Michael teamed up about a year and a half ago. Tara creates their specialty line for children- known as Tara’s tea sets. The sets can be made in any of the different collection colors, and what makes it unique is that mothers can purchase a matching set. “We’re not just spitting out pottery. I like to be as creative as possible. We hand create one piece at a time,” Satterfield said.

Recently, he has started incorporating glass into some of his pieces, assorted colors of glass- turquoise and even some yellow- making a onep-of-a-kind piece coming out of the shop every time. “I originally started making the ornaments because my daughter Presley wanted to help and it was something she could hold and not break. This year for Christmas we are making a Victorian Santa and adding a Nativity scene,” Satterfield said.

Satterfield Pottery officially started business in May 2012, but Satterfield has been making pottery since attending college at Delta State University. Always an avid creator, he DeSoto 25

loved drawing, art competitions, and would stay later in art class.

“Pottery classes weren’t offered in high school, but when I was about 15 or 16, I started collecting it. My mother would give me a piece of McCarty for birthday, Christmas, special occasions. I applied for a job with McCarty pottery and loved it. I love the shapes, forms, colors, and the really distressed characteristics of some pieces. They remind me of the Delta, where I grew up- they’re very symbolic in the glazes and things like that.”

All of Satterfield’s pieces are dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. “Stone ware lasts 20,000 years. Two of the oldest things are farming and making pottery. My family and I are both making a living off the land. While they farm, I’m using clay and dirt to create something I hope that people can enjoy for years to come.”

Satterfield completed his B.F.A. in Sculpture from Delta State with a minor in photography. He also received his Masters of Fine Art in Sculpture from the University of Mississippi.

Working as a sales rep for McCarty, he was able to acquire gallery experience, as well as an inside sales rep in Ouray, Colorado (which he refers to as the Switzerland of 26 DeSoto

America.) While pottery is his main focus, Satterfield still enjoys sculpting, woodwork, and photographs his work for his website.

He received his MFA in hopes to return to academia one day and be on the other side of the classroom as an instructor.

“When I started my business I wanted to do dinnerware. I did a complete dinnerware line and each year I add new pieces to that. There’s so many pieces you can dosalad plates, pitchers, salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes... the list goes on for days. Shops want to carry dinnerware lines, but they also want gift items as well. With different seasons the demand for different pieces will change. Right now with football season in full swing, we can’t make enough Colonel Rebs and bulldogs. During Christmas our ornaments are very popular, and of course around Easter time, everyone wants a rabbit.”

Satterfield’s work can be found at The Wooden Door in Olive Branch and Hernando, as well as Katherine Beck on the square in Oxford. His pieces are also featured at the Ogden Museum of Art in New Orleans. Lanksy’s gift shop at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis recently commissioned him to make an exclusive duck for them to sell in their shop.

Some of his favorite pieces to make are freeforms, which incorporate his sculpture background and have really

taken off and been some of his best sellers. Satterfield owns five kilns, and really prides himself on the different textures and characteristics of his work. In the future he wants to plant a vegetable garden and wildflower fields that can be utilized by the public as added attractions to his gallery.

Another future goal is to host a twice yearly arts and music festival, and also host a children’s pottery workshop around Christmas.

“I want us to be a household name- not just in Mississippi but across the South. We work really hard because we want to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Pottery is a great gift item- it’s really a treasure. In Mississippi, pottery is like gold.”

DeSoto 27

exploring books } julie cantrell

28 DeSoto

The Flood Without a Name

By Julie Cantrell. Photography courtesy of Julie Cantrell

Imagine, you reside in a part of Louisiana that has never flooded. It is storming, but you aren’t worried. It rains every day in these parts. No big deal. You grab an umbrella and take your little dog for a walk, navigating your usual path around the lake where your grandchildren sometimes fish. But this time, the waters break their boundaries.

DeSoto 29

You have seen Flash Flood Warnings tick across the screen, but you are far beyond any flood plain and feel certain your home will stay dry. Yet when you make your way back from the lake, the waters follow you home and seep across the threshold. Before you can grab some towels, the currents rush higher. One foot.

Two feet. Three. Outside, the flow is swift and strong, filling vehicles and swallowing roads.

You are trapped. The waters come not only from the sky (31 inches of rain in 15 hours), but also from the overflowing creeks, lakes, rivers, and bayous. Even the sewers begin to bubble, and the smells have become nauseating.

You spend a long, lonely night watching waters rise until a good Samaritan arrives to help. Like thousands of Louisiana natives who have stepped up to assist, she’s merely a volunteer with a boat. She shouts for you to hurry, so you grab your dog and a small overnight bag before wading through thigh-high waters to reach your rescue. Then you climb into the canoe, having no idea where you will go or how long you will be gone.

Waterlines

August 23, 2016, my loved ones lost their homes, vehicles, and most belongings in the record-setting flood of Louisiana. The story above is my mother’s tale, and yet it only describes the early hours of what has proven to be a long and trying journey. My father, too, has lost nearly everything, and recovery for the entire region will be a long-time-coming. The stories of my people are traumatic and numerous; and while the losses are immeasurable, the redemptive tales of kindness and community spirit are even more abundant.

Thanks to good fortune, I have resided happily in Oxford, Mississippi since 2004, but I spent my first 24 years in Louisiana, a state that has shaped my soul in ways no other landscape or culture could have done. With the release of my third novel, “The Feathered Bone”, I was excited to welcome readers to the unique natural beauty of The Bayou State. Published in January, the story hit shelves months before the devastating flood occurred and the landscapes have since shifted.

While 30 parishes were declared a federal disaster zone, Walker, Denham Springs, and East Baton Rouge suffered the most damage. Now, the locals here greet one another by asking, “Did you flood?”. This is answered by the number of feet the water rose inside each home. Sometimes a grateful resident will say “Just four feet.

I’m lucky.” Others will simply hold up seven fingers, while some sigh and respond “All gone.”

30 DeSoto

After the Storm

Water rises much in the same way a bomb drops, leaving little more than rubble in its wake. Yet, despite the tremendous trauma these people have endured, countless stories of strength continue to inspire us all.

This sense of resiliency, hope, and faith is what I have tried to capture in “The Feathered Bone”, which ironically examines a pre-vs. post-Katrina Louisiana.

The fictional tale opens in the mystical realm of New Orleans, the city that care forgot, before exploring the rural communities around Baton Rouge and drawing readers to the beautiful bayous and swamps of my homeland. When I penned this tale about the places most dear to me, little did I know I was capturing areas that would soon be underwater. Now, I feel even more grateful to have set the story here, and I hope readers will enjoy it too.

In the end, my characters in “The Feathered Bone” learn to survive the storms of life with their souls intact. This year, my loved ones have had to do just that. As an author, I hope my novel speaks to readers in a way that allows them to find healing from the storms they endure too. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, some kind of trauma will strike each of us. It is in these darkest hours, when the waters rise and the world comes to a stop, that we must make a choice to sink or swim. And in the end, we learn to see the worth in what remains.

Julie Cantrell is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who has penned three awardwinning novels, “Into the Free”, “When Mountains Move”, and “The Feathered Bone”. Her titles can be found nearly everywhere books are sold, but she encourages readers to order from Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs to help restore her devastated Louisiana community.

To learn more about the areas impacted by the August floods, including ways to help Louisiana communities recover, please visit Julie’s website: www.juliecantrell.com where she has shared flood-related updates under her News page DeSoto 31

into the wild } noxubee national wildlife refuge

32 DeSoto

Taking Refuge in Nature

By Clint Kimberling. Photography courtesy of Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

The Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, located just 17 miles south of Starkville, is one of the best outdoor getaways in Mississippi. Known for its stunning natural beauty, peaceful landscapes, and abundance of wildlife, the refuge is an ideal location for an outing with family and friends.

Dr. Steve Reagan has been the project leader at the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge going on five years now.

Even after five years Reagan says he still enjoys getting out and exploring the land. “The size and openness of the refuge is unique and a great opportunity for Mississippians,” he says, noting that many National Wildlife Refuges are closed to visitors.

While NNWR is a daylight only facility (meaning there are no overnight stays and the refuge closes at sunset), there are more than enough attractions to keep visitors busy and coming back year round. Some of the more popular activities include walking on one of the seven nature trails, having a

picnic, birdwatching from the boardwalks and overlooks, or just, enjoying quiet time. For the more adventurous and active, hunting and fishing is also allowed (in season) at the refuge.

The 48,000 acre refuge that also stretches into Oktibbeha and Winston counties was originally transferred to the government in 1935 as part of a New Deal resettlement project. And In 1940 the land was established as a National Wildlife Refuge to conserve, protect, and restore the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations.

Today, the refuge not only provides year-round recreation and education to the public but is an excellent DeSoto 33

example of conservation, wildlife and game management. “Our main focus,” Reagan said, “is to provide a healthy environment for wildlife. This included reintroducing a number of species to their natural habitat, restoring historic conditions, and dealing with erosion issues.”

Reagan and his 10 staff stay busy with upkeep and maintenance of over 350 assets and amenities, including trails, boardwalks, and buildings. And for that reason Reagan said, they depend a lot on volunteers. “Our volunteers do a little bit of everything from helping with litter to grading roads using heavy machinery and prescribing fires. We treat them pretty much just like staff members,” he said.

A large portion of the staff ’s time and resources are dedicated to creating a suitable habitat to the resident and migratory birds of the area. And the resident species at NNWR is the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker who relies on the refuge for its existence in east-central Mississippi.

The NNWR is one of only four sites the species can be seen in the state. There is a quarter-mile Woodpecker Trail that goes through an active red-cockaded woodpecker cluster, offering an excellent opportunity for visitors to see the bird. There are three observation platforms and beyond the red-cockaded woodpecker, visitors can expect to see bald eagles, golden eagles and wood storks.

Besides birds there is a large diversity of species, including deer, turkey, American alligator, and water fowl.

There is an estimated 15,000 waterfowl, primarily American widgeons, gadwalls, mallards and wood ducks that winter on the refuges’ Loakfoma and Bluff lakes. And March through October offers sport fishing on these lakes as well as in the rivers and creeks. Crappy and bass are most popular type of fish.

34 DeSoto

As summer turns to fall at the refuge, Reagan is gearing up for hunting season. The white tailed deer is the most common game hunted but there also wild turkeys, waterfowl, bobwhite quail and even smaller game like raccoons and squirrel available to hunt. This season, NNWR will host two handicapped hunts giving disabled hunters more access to the grounds. There will also be youth hunts which provide safe options for deer and waterfowl hunts.

Reagan estimates the refuge sees 220,000 visitors per year. The majority of these visitors are non-consumptive visitors, meaning they come to mostly just observe and enjoy the grounds. Reagan comments that many visitors are college students who enjoy relaxing and destressing in the outdoors.

“We see a lot of college students who come here and like to lie in hammocks or study in the picnic areas. There are a lot of nature photographers who take advantage of the scenery as well,” he said.

Beyond conservation and recreation, public education is a large facet of the refuge’s mission. In fact, each year during the last weekend in September the NNWR hosts a Refuge Week event that focuses on education. The event includes outdoor booths, arts and crafts, displays of the conservation equipment and techniques, fish tanks with live native fish, as well as archaeological artifacts on display.

It is interacting with the public and events like Refuge Week that Reagan said is one of his favorite aspects of the job.

“I can point to several memorable moments with young visitors or school groups. Sometimes the public can really demonstrate how special this place is.”

DeSoto 35

exploring cuisine } thanksgiving turkey

36 DeSoto

Turkey Day Gone Astray

By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of allrecipes.com, meatbbq.com and emerils.com

Whether it’s the annual family football game or Grandma’s green bean casserole, tradition and Thanksgiving are as inseparable as mashed potatoes and gravy for many families. But there is room to experiment with even the most sacred menu of the year without committing Butterball blasphemy.

Here are some Southern chefs’ suggestions to elevate a Thanksgiving meal while retaining its down-home roots.

Before moving to Mississippi from his native Texas, chef Jesse Houston faced off for several seasons against his father for a Thanksgiving “turkey throw down.”

“He would do a turkey one way, whether it was traditional, or fried or smoked,” said Houston, a 2016 James Beard award semi-finalist and executive chef at Saltine Oyster Bar in Jackson.

“Then, I would do something kind of out there. We’d serve them to the family and everyone would sort of vote on whose turkey was the best.”

One November, he cut a turkey into pieces and marinated it overnight in a traditional tandoori-style yogurt marinade rich with spices, garlic and other aromatics before grilling it.

“Another year, and this was one of my favorite turkeys, I broke the turkey down in the same way and cured it overnight with some salt, sugar, garlic, peppercorns, thyme and bay leaves. Then I confited it in a mixture of duck fat and bacon fat, cooking it for about eight hours overnight in a 180-degree low-temperature oven. That was very juicy, fall-off-the-bone flavorful.”

The only misstep in the process – which entails DeSoto 37

covering a meat in oil and cooking it at low heat -- came when Houston’s dad sloshed some of the duck and bacon fat onto the kitchen’s tile floor.

“And that fat doesn’t come up easy,” the younger Houston said. “We had to scrub for a long time.”

Even without spilled confit concoctions, home cooked Thanksgiving meals take time and effort. The results are worth it, especially when everyone is involved in the planning and preparation process, no matter what their age. Indeed, many chef ’s fondest Thanksgiving memories have as much to do with family as with food, and turkey sometimes plays a supporting role to appetizers, side dishes and other Southern specialties.

For Jonathan Fox, the surprising highlight of the feast is the modest relish plate.“The relish plate is always the first item to go out, and I think it was because you were so hungry waiting for dinner time that you snacked on anything in front of you,” said Fox, who operates Atlanta’s Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q with his identical twin Justin. “Over time, this little plate of olives and other snacks has to be there or it just isn’t Thanksgiving.”

For Jeremy Enfinger, executive chef at the County Seat restaurant in the historic town of Livingston, Miss., it was the big pot of gumbo his grandmother cooked up every year.

“Why did she do this? I have no idea, but I did always appreciate the variety and vast amounts of food. I think she knew I loved it so she made sure to always have it,” said 38 DeSoto

Enfinger, who continues the Thanksgiving tradition. “The best part was pulling out all those whole blue crabs and cracking them for their meat.”

As for the main course, Enfinger loves the fascinating butchery feat and flavor behind a turducken, and recommends a few techniques to build layers of flavor into any bird.

“Don’t ever just use water, use stock. Taste and season constantly without overdoing it,” he said. “And always brine your meats. Brining is like flavoring from the inside out.”

Luke Williams, sous chef at The 404 Kitchen in Nashville also recommends butchering and brining the bird and likes using different cooking methods on white and dark meat. He suggests smoking the breasts. For the legs, he prefers slowly braising them in turkey stock. But brining the pieces is essential, no matter what the cooking method.

“Soak them in a salt, water and aromatic mixture so that the inside of the turkey is seasoned and stays succulent during the cooking process,” he said.

And don’t settle for substandard sides. Instead, start prepping and cooking early to avoid much-maligned canned yams and solid-state cranberry “sauce” found on supermarket shelves.

“I like to take the cranberries and cook them down with a little sugar, vanilla bean, cinnamon, fresh-squeezed orange juice and orange zest. Just let it bubble away till it

thickens and gets happy,” said Justin Fox of Fox Bros. “Your leftover sammie will thank you on Friday or late Thursday night!”

Likewise, family and friends will probably be secretly thankful if you modernize Mom’s sweet potato casserole, said Matthew Sheeter, executive chef at the Farmer’s Table Cooking School in Livingston.

“I grew up in northwest Ohio and, when we had sweet potatoes, it was canned yams. I hated them as a child. I never ate them. People would put marshmallows on top and really think they did something.”

So Sheeter opts for fresh potatoes, adds bourbon and crowns his casserole with a pecan-streusel topping instead, essentially improving on the classics without omitting family favorites.

“A n d , i f y o u w a n t t o a d d something to the regular menu, then absolutely, you could do that. I think it’s the greatest holiday meal of all holidays.”

DeSoto 39

exploring destinations } ocean springs

40 DeSoto

Ocean Springs Art

By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of Ocean Springs, Mississippi CVB

George Walter Anderson worked in imports and exports in New Orleans but his wife Annette leaned towards the arts, having been educated at Newcomb College around the turn of the 20th century. They sent their three boys to a New York military academy but it became clear that Annette’s background took sway. The boys — Peter, Walter and James — enrolled in the Isadore Newman Vocational School and studied pottery and other crafts.

Annette’s family had a home in Bay St. Louis so the couple searched for a similar summer home along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They found a 24-acre estate in Ocean Springs in 1918 and named it “Fairhaven.” George Anderson later retired and the family lived there fulltime.

It was in Ocean Springs that Peter Anderson searched for his career, first settling on shipbuilding then later turning to pottery after a chance meeting with Joseph Meyer, the Newcomb College Art Potter and mentor to potter George Ohr, known as the “Mad Potter of Biloxi.” Anderson began experimenting with clays, building a kiln on the family grounds

and later studying under established potters such as Edmund deForest Curtis at the Conestoga Pottery, former director at Van Briggle Pottery, and with Charles F. Binns at the School of Clay-Working and Ceramics at Alfred, New York.

In 1928 Anderson opened up a shop to sell his artwork. He called the studio “Shearwater,” a name taken from a book on North American birds. In 1930, his younger brother Walter Inglis Anderson entered the business, an artist who would become famous for his blockprints, watercolors, murals and other artwork.

Peter Anderson died in 1984 but Shearwater Pottery DeSoto 41

exists today in Ocean Springs, managed by family members who create and sell pottery from Anderson’s original creations.

And every first weekend in November a festival is held in his honor in Ocean Springs.

The 38th Annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival — recognized as “Festival of the Year” by Southeast Tourism Society, “Southern Traveler Treasure” by AAA Southern Traveler’s Magazine and “Best Special Event” by Mississippi Main Street — will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6, in downtown Ocean Springs. The event will include about 400 artistic vendors, live music, Southern food and special events.

The event also provides opportunities for young artists.

“We will once again for the second year offer our Young at Art Kids Exhibit during the festival,” said Cynthia Dobbs Sutton, executive director of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce-Main Street-Tourism Bureau and co-organizer of the festival with Shawn Sutton. “This is a great way for children in the community ages 8 to 18 to show their creative side.”

Students residing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast will set up booths from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, on the grounds of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art and sell their handmade works to the public, Sutton explained.

“We hold this annual event to give aspiring artists the opportunity to learn that art can be their livelihood,” said Corey Christie, marketing and development director with the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.

The festival is supported by Blue Moon beer, which includes the Blue Moon Art Project where local towns 42 DeSoto

encourage individual artists to partner with Blue Moon and craft artwork in the form of a painting that depicts the individual’s interpretation of Blue Moon. Mississippi residents age 21 and older were invited to submit artwork that will be judged by a juried committee. The lucky winner — to be announced at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 — will receive $2,000 and the work will become the symbol for Blue Moon’s marketing surrounding the 2017 Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival.

Other festival events include demonstrations by visiting artists, including firing up pottery, and hands-on marine education by members of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Because of its fall date, it’s a roll of the dice as to the weather. When Alice Guillotte of Basile, Louisiana, visited the festival, it was a cool 48 degrees.

“We started at the O’Keefe Center (Mary O’Keefe Cultural Center of Arts and Education) where the symphony was playing outside and visitors were offered coffee and cookies inside,” Guillotte said. “We warmed up there and then headed out to cruise the tents set up along Government Street and a side street. There was about 200 tents and we did our best to see every one of them. There were beautiful paintings, weavings, jewelry, carvings, rugs, toys and more.”

The annual festival has grown to become the largest fine arts festival in the state, according to Sutton, attracting more than 120,000 people to the area.

For more information, visit peterandersonfestival.com.

DeSoto 43

a day away } old towne olive branch

Old Towne Olive Branch 9:00 Enjoy a delicious coffee and croissant breakfast sandwich at P inks. This charming little coffee shop serves up specialty drinks, as well as breakfast and lunch. Other local favorites are the hash brown casserole and quiche of the day.

10:00 Stroll the streets of Old Towne on an historic walking tour. Sites include the old movie theatre where Johnny Cash performed, the bank and post office. The oldest stop dates as far back as 1838.

12:00 Lunch at locally-owned Side Street Burgers. These award winning burgers will melt in your mouth. Order the regular or turkey version with cheese and bacon and a side of garlic potato wedges.

1:00 View art by local artists at the Arts in the Alley outdoor gallery and the Painted P igeon Art Gallery. The Olive Branch Arts C ouncil hosts many events every year including monthly kids craft workshops. Painted P igeon hours are Thursday through Saturday 12:00pm - 4:00pm.

2:00 Shopping in Old Towne has something for everyone. Cute boutiques and shops line the streets offering gifts, music, clothing, accessories and home decor. You could spend hours in antique stores like The Shack and Old Towne Antiques & Upholstery.

Be sure to check out Random Thoughts Vintage Mall with new and old clothing, art and accessories. Take a break and grab a sweet treat at Old Towne Bakery. Enjoy a home baked cookie, slice of pie or chocolate covered strawberry.

5:30 Dinner at Wray’s Fins and Feathers. Home cooked southern favorites like fried catfish or shrimp and pork chops are served with your choice of sides. Can’t choose one? Then get the buffet which offers catfish, chicken, fried okra, turnip greens, their famous hushpuppies and a lot more. Open Thursday - Saturday and Sunday lunch.

44 DeSoto

For more information: www.olivebrancholdtowne.org sidestreetburgers.weebly.com www.wraysfinsandfeathers.com www.obarts.com

DeSoto 45

Upcoming Events: November 3 Olive Branch Arts Council Annual Arts Palette & Pizzazz Silent auction, art by local artists, wine and cheese reception and raffle. 6:00 - 8:00PM For more information call 901-619-0261.

November 26 Shop Local - Holiday Open Houses Cookies with Santa December 3 City Christmas Tree Lighting December 4 Olive Branch Christmas Parade

2017 Events: April 15 Easter in Old Towne May 14 MayFest and MayFest 5K June - September Farmers Market Fridays in June Summer Fun Series Outdoor Family Movies October 22 FallFest - Trick or Treat in Old Towne Strutt Your Mutt and Bob Marr Memorial Classic Car Show

46 DeSoto

DeSoto 47

greater goods } holiday gift guide

Gifts for Her

1

2

4

6

5

7

1. Belle Candles, The Speckled Egg, 5100 Interstate 55, Marion, AR 2. Amy Head cosmetics, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 3. Sherpa Blankets, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 4. CC Beanies, The Bunker Boutiue, 2631 McIngvale Suite #106, Hernando, MS 5. Janey Bee Jems, The Bunker Boutiue, 2631 McIngvale Suite #106, Hernando, MS 6. Women’s wallets, The Blue Olive, 210 E Commerce St # 4, Hernando, MS 7. Large Jewelry Selection, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS

48 DeSoto

3

Gifts for Her

8

9 11 12

10 13

8. Hobo Wallets, Center Stage Fashions, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 9. Down Jackets, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 10. Women’s necklaces, Frank, 210 E Commerce St, Hernando, MS 11. Inis fragrances, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 12. Bed Stu purse, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 13. Bernie Mev Shoes, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS

DeSoto 49

greater goods } holiday gift guide

Gifts for Him

1

2

4

3

5

1. Drake jackets and vest, The Bunker Boutiue, 2631 McIngvale Suite #106, Hernando, MS 2. Bed Stu backpack, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 3. Wisecalls duck calls, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 4. Duke Cannon Soaps, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 5. Properly Tied Shirt, Pullover and Pajama Pants, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS

50 DeSoto

Gifts for Him

6

8

7

9

10

6. Beard Kits, The Blue Olive, 210 E Commerce St # 4, Hernando, MS 7. Guns, ammo and tactical backbacks, The Gun Shop, 10 E Commerce St #5, Hernando, MS 8. ZepPro Collegeiate Ties, The Other Side Gifts, 124 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS 9. Men’s Ozone socks, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 10. Fish Hippie men’s shirts, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS

DeSoto 51

greater goods } holiday gift guide

1

Gifts for the Home 2 4

3

5

6 7

8

10

9 52 DeSoto

Gifts for the Home 11

12

13 14 1. Rio Salado 6 Light Chandelier , Magnolia Lighting, 470 Hwy. 51, Hernando, MS 2. Coton Colors Dinnerware, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 3. Joseph Eckles pottery, Square Cupboard, 328 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 4. Satterfield pottery, The Wooden Door, 2521 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 5. Villa Pillows, The Wooden Door, 2521 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 6. Christmas picture frames, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 7. Chalkboard, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 8. Corkcicle Invisiball, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 9. Southern Firefly soy candles, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Rd., Marion, AR 10. Kudzu pottery, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 11. Pillows, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 12. Willow Tree Angels, Center Stage Fashions, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 13. Good Earth Serving Pieces, The Other Side Gifts, 124 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS 14. Catstudio MS Pillow, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS

DeSoto 53

greater goods } holiday gift guide

1

Gifts for Kids 2

3

4

7

5 6 1. Pillow Pets, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 2. Christmas Wish books, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 3. The Orginal Green Toys, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 4. Wash, dry & iron set by Melissa and Doug, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Rd., Marion, AR 5. Piero Liventi Baby Tights and Socks, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Rd. #115, Olive Branch, MS 6. Gardening Kit, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 7. Stephen Joseph Cook Set and Apron, The Corner Shoe Store, 1140 W Main Shopping Center, Tupelo, MS

54 DeSoto

DeSoto 55

56 DeSoto

Rescue & Restoration

By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of the Palmer Home for Children

Tucked quietly away in the Desoto County countryside, the Hernando campus of the Palmer Home for Children is rescuing and restoring the lives of children from broken homes. The serene setting marks a stark contrast for those children who have endured a volatile situation with their own families. For many, this time of year provides an opportunity to reflect on their many blessings, with family typically topping their list. However, for some, the concept of family is bittersweet. Such is the case for the children at the Palmer Home, a Christian-based private foster care network.

DeSoto 57

58 DeSoto

Rescued as a 12-year-old with five siblings from an abusive home in Houston, Texas, 23-year-old Chasity, talked about her experience with Palmer Home and what happened when she had the chance to return to her biological mother.

“I have a lot of good memories of my time at Palmer Home,” she said. “But my favorite memory is very bittersweet. It’s of the day I told my mom I wasn’t going back to her house. That was a really tough thing to do. I cried about it and prayed about it, talked about it with people I trusted, and then I had that conversation with my mom.”

Now a g raduate of Belmont University’s nursing program, Chasity shared, “I felt at peace with that decision, and it set in motion all the changes for the better that would change my life.”

Chartered in 1895 by the state of Mississippi, the Palmer Home was created by the prompting of William States Jacobs, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Miss. Jacobs’ father was the founder of South Carolina’s Thornwell Orphanage. And as an admirer of Reverend Benjamin Morgan Palmer of New Orleans, Jacobs challenged his congregation to start its own orphanage named after Dr. Palmer.

In 1898 after land had been purchased and the first building erected, Palmer Home accepted its first child. As the years went on, the Palmer Home continued to expand to the current 110-acre campus in Columbus and accept more children.

Children who would go on to serve in the world wars, win beauty pageant titles, and serve in high-ranking government capacities.

In 2003, the Hernando campus opened on 72 acres. With the hope of one day serving up to 120 children at this location, expansion plans are underway to help them get closer to that goal. Currently, serving eight children in each of the three cottages, ground was broken this past spring to begin the next phase of expansion to include three additional cottages as well as the Dr. Hugh Francis Wellness Center.

Robert Farris, vice president of Rescue, elaborated on the expansion plans.

“We can’t take all of the children that need placement because of a lack of space. This will allow us to accept and help more children. It’s a good use of the land and the resources available to us.”

The Wellness Center will be the place where visitors can go and be greeted by a gatekeeper. We will also have administrative DeSoto 59

60 DeSoto

offices, boardroom, educational resources, gym, and a counseling suite. It’s an exciting time as we fine tune our plans to best meet the needs of the children,” he continued.

Being able to accept more children will help complete their mission to not only rescue, but help children heal. Kellum Kim, director of marketing, commented on their relationship with other agencies involving children.

“Not only do we have a rescue line available 24/7, but we also have a good working relationship with judges and the Department of Human Services. One of the biggest advantages to being placed at Palmer Home is that we accept sibling groups. Unfortunately, in the public foster care system, siblings are often split up among multiple foster parents. We accept children from all over the country. And if we see that we will not be able to meet the needs of a particular child, we will refer them to an agency that can best meet those needs.”

The average stay at Palmer Home is 47 months with some children as young as one year being placed. Other children have lived there as long as 17 years.

Depending on the situation, children may have limited visitation to no visitation with their biological parent(s). However, the majority of the children do maintain some form of relationship with their parents.

Using the Whole Child Initiative model created by Dr. David Foster, their goal is to help each child feel Christ’s love for them. Certified foster parents and staff members participate in training which is now being shared with other child agencies around the world. The platform focuses on four areas: physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual.

To meet the needs of the children a variety of activities are incorporated in each focus area. For example, children participate in physical activities such as classes at their local YMCA. They may experience emotional healing through animal therapy, such as therapeutic horseback riding. Participation in worship services with the cottage parents at the church of their choosing can bring about spiritual healing and growth. Educational needs are met at the Hernando campus by attendance at the public schools, while many of the children at the Columbus location are taught by certified teachers on site at the Palmer School.

DeSoto 61

62 DeSoto

In 2013, the Palmer Home partnered with Jonah’s Journey, a Christianbased ministry placing children, often newborns, of incarcerated mothers with foster parents. Based out of Nashville, Tenn., these children are placed into the homes of married couples as opposed to living on campus. Foster parents are certified, but unlike the state system, they do not receive financial compensation. The Palmer Home has expanded the program to include any child in need of foster care, not just those with incarcerated mothers.

The average length of a child’s stay placed through Jonah’s Journey is 84 months in Mississippi.

Farris has been impressed with the outpouring of support from individuals, organizations, and businesses.

“As we continue to get the word out about the great things taking places at the Palmer Home, we’ve been blessed through our fundraisers and the many friends we’ve made along the way.”

With a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, including Shotguns & Sunflowers and Tailgate for Palmer in the fall, Mid-Southerners will be looking forward to the 13th year of the Mudbug Bash, scheduled for April 8, 2017.

Live music, auction, crawfish, and other food vendors make this a popular spring event in Hernando.

“Last year, we had over 1,000 attendees at that event. It was our largest Mudbug Bash to date,” commented Kim.

“The community has really rallied around Palmer Home,” said Farris.

To learn more about the Palmer Home and ways you can help, contact them at 662-449-2400. www.palmerhome.org

“When I hear people talk about ‘poor neglected orphan children,’ I know they have never visited a place like Palmer Home.

I know because I spent my childhood at Palmer Home, along with my sister, Jacqueline, and brother, Richard.

We had the most wonderful experience imaginable.”

Evelyn McPhail

Former co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee

DeSoto 63

64 DeSoto

“To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, dancing a jig…”

Mother Goose

By Judy Smith. Photography courtesy of pigglywiggly.net, Reddit and The Pink Palace

Many institutions in our country and especially the South are often shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Why is that ancient nursey rhyme from Mother Goose of importance? It just might be the inspiration behind the legendary name of Clarence Saunders’ innovative and long-standing grocery stores, Piggly Wiggly which is celebrating their 100th year.

DeSoto 65

66 DeSoto

Or maybe the name came from an image that stuck with Saunders of little pigs trying to squeeze under a fence while Saunders was taking a cross-country train ride. No one knows the exact origin of the unique name, and Saunders reveled in the intrigue and mystery it inspired.

“He chose that name because he said many times in interviews that he wanted that name so people would continue to ask that question and wonder where it came from,” said Caroline Mitchell with the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis. “It could have also led to some of its success.”

This year, Piggly Wiggly reaches a very impressive milestone, marking a century in business. For 100 years, Piggly Wiggly grocery stores across the country have served generations of patrons, and Saunders basically revolutionized grocery shopping. Founded in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee, Piggly Wiggly became the very first self-service grocery store as well as holding the honor of many other “firsts.”

“Saunders really was a visionary in business,” Mitchell said. “He started out in the business as a wholesale dealer that would travel around to the smaller country stores and tell them what they needed to buy.”

Saunders observed how time consuming and how frustrating grocery shopping at that time could be. In the early 1900s, customers brought a list of items they needed to the store clerk who would pull those goods from the shelves for each shopper, leading to what Saunders viewed as wasted time, long lines, and often grumpy shoppers. Saunders devised a self-service plan where customers could pick up their own groceries, knowing that as shoppers browsed around, they would surely purchase a few items not written on their shopping lists. Despite naysayers, Saunders opened his first self-service grocery store on September 6, 1916, in Memphis, and his legacy will be forever woven through the fabric of the history of Memphis and North Mississippi.

Saunders’ revolutionary plan included open shelves, shopping baskets and carts, and more freedom for customers.

When Saunders opened his first store, he established the Piggly Wiggly Corporation which allowed for many more franchises to operate their own Piggly Wiggly stores around the country. Saunders built up quite a fortune as he possessed the patents DeSoto 67

68 DeSoto

for this manner of shopping, the name of the store, and several other aspects of this very popular way of shopping. Saunders even put his stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Saunders was very wealthy and successful at the time and wanted to show that off a little as he started building this very beautiful and opulent mansion, but when he made a few bad trades in the 1920s, he lost his fortune and his home,” Mitchell said.

“The Pink Palace was actually supposed to be Saunders’ grand home. It’s easy to see that he spared no expense in the building of it, but he never got to live here as he lost his fortune, home, and just about everything.”

At the Pink Palace Museum, guests can experience what grocery shopping 100 years ago was like. The museum contains a replica of the first Piggly Wiggly store, and museum patrons can walk up and down the aisles and journey back into the past, experiencing the origin of the present-day shopping experience.

Saunders lost all his connections with the Piggly Wiggly stores. Despite his disassociation with the Piggly Wiggly Corporation, the stores continued to flourish, and each store was independently owned. Despite Saunders’ misfortunes, his innovative ideas are still practiced today in grocery stores and department stores across the country.

Piggly Wiggly introduced many conveniences and services that we often take for granted today. The stores, boasting the pig in the white butcher hat with the slogan of “The Original Self Service”, were the first to put price tags on products and offer checkout stands. Shoppers were treated with more food for their bucks and got the chance to purchase complete selections from nationally-advertised brand name foods. Piggly Wiggly was the first to use refrigerated cases to keep their fruits and veggies cooler and fresher longer.

Despite its many revolutionary methods, the Piggly Wiggly stores have maintained a very important feature that continues to keep generations of shoppers returning. Piggly Wiggly has never lost the feel of a small, hometown neighborhood store where customers are greeted with a smile and shoppers can always expect the best products for great prices.

“I can remember shopping here since I was a little girl,” Ruth Wilson of Laurel, Miss. said. “When I got older, this is DeSoto 69

where I always did my shopping, and now my kids shop here. We have been coming her for about 30 years or more because it’s just a homey type feeling here. It’s not so crowded like other stores, and the workers are so friendly and helpful. I won’t do my shopping anywhere else.”

Although the city that launched this successful, revolutionary store no longer is home to any Piggly Wiggly stores, there are over 530 Piggly Wiggly stores located in 17 states today—mostly in the Southeast but there are a few as far away as Wisconsin.

Despite different geographies, managers ensure shoppers are provided with an enjoyable shopping experience with only the best, freshest foods. But each store does have its own unique style. The Piggly Wiggly in Birmingham, Alabama, schedules many events throughout each month, such as Texas Tamale Tasting, Cheese Tasting, and an annual Wine and Beer Showcase, just to name a few. In Laurel, Mississippi, you will be treated with the best downhome cooking in the deli and chicken that will melt in your mouth. The Batesville, Mississippi, Piggly Wiggly store is so popular that it was forced to relocate to a bigger location to accommodate the large crowds and often has to enlist security guards to control the traffic during busy shopping times.

It is a quandary how these smaller grocery stores thrive and survive, as big corporations have taken over much of the country’s business. Anthony Conerly of Laurel’s Piggly Wiggly believes that the grocery store has been successful because it offers something the other stores don’t—that personal touch.

“We make it a point to maintain that one-on-one connection with our customers,” Conerly said. “We greet our customers with a friendly smile and a warm greeting, small talk, get their carts for them when we can, and our customers know that we will only give them the best possible service and goods.”

In a world where major corporations are putting so many smaller stores or family grocery stores out of business, Piggly Wiggly has been a mainstay in our 70 DeSoto

nation’s history, especially in Memphis and North Mississippi. It’s apparent that Clarence Saunders was a dreamer of great dreams, but did he realize that his visionary insight would revolutionize the face of grocery shopping—much less survive over a century?

Being in business for 100 years is certainly a reason to celebrate, and many of the Piggly Wiggly stores have joined in the festivities as some have given away $100 gift cards to commemorate the occasion. Many customers in Georgia and Alabama were lucky enough to find “the golden ticket”, allowing them to shop like it was 1916 with prices like a dozen eggs for just 29 cents.

As Pig g ly Wig g ly celebrates its 100th Birthday, it’s a certainty that customers will continue to come to these homey, friendly grocery stores for many more years to come. And to think, it all began with a pig of unknown origin.

DeSoto 71

72 DeSoto

Thistle Farms and My Cup of Tea transform women

By Robin Gallaher Branch.

Photography courtesy of Peggy Napier, Taro Yamasaki and Kristin Sweeting

Bringing blessings like jobs and friendships, two social enterprise businesses— My Cup of Tea in Memphis and Thistle Farms in Nashville—bookend a section of Tennessee.

DeSoto 73

Thistle Farms Education Workshop at Thistle Stop Cafe Thistle Farms Building

74 DeSoto

My Cup of Tea, or MCOT as it is nicknamed, targets women in Orange Mound, the first residential area in the South open to African Americans. Thistle Farms is known as a community of women who are healing from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. At MCOT, three unusual chandeliers grace its office at 823 Semmes in Memphis. Lovely china and glass tea cups dangle from varied lengths of twine, about 25 to a fixture. Underneath one chandelier is a wooden table laden with boxes of loose tea shipped from international suppliers.

After unpacking the boxes and sorting their contents, the loose tea will be packaged, labeled, shipped, distributed—and enjoyed.

MCOT is a business bringing hope, change, and new friendships to a historically proud but disadvantaged Memphis neighborhood.

Its website states its mission is “to walk with women beyond the boundaries of poverty and neglect and assist them in finding their purpose.”

As a social enterprise, it sources employees from programs taking place at The House at Orange Mound, a nonprofit operated under the auspices of the Neighborhood Christian Centers.

Established in 2012, The House, as it is nicknamed, began as an outreach of women from Second Presbyterian Church (2PC), a well-established church in Memphis, to women in Orange Mound, a historicallyblack neighborhood formed in 1890.

“It’s a great thing the Lord is doing,” said Carey Moore, a 2PC member and the visionary behind The House. “It’s fun being part of it.” Several years ago, a verse that riveted her and changed her life was John 1:14 from “The Message”, a New Testament translation by Eugene Peterson: “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” The Word is one of Jesus’ names.

“Jesus didn’t sit on the porch,” Moore laughed. “He went out to people.”

And so did Moore. She and her husband bought a two-story house on the corner of Semmes and Carnes. It was remodeled by Orange Mound contractors and painted an attractive gray with red trim. Pine trees dot its yard. A lot across the street was bought for additional parking space. Raised beds share the lot and provide flowers and vegetables in the summer. Wrought iron fences rim both properties.

“It’s all about relationships,” Moore said. The House brings together DeSoto 75

Mary Stuart, Lolita & Kristin on the Road with Thistle Farms

Thistle Farms Lotions

76 DeSoto

women of different backgrounds, cultures, ages, and education levels. A requirement for 2PC women volunteering is that they take a course in understanding the different lifestyles and worldviews of the upper class, middle class, and poor.

In January 2015 an opportunity came to buy MCOT, an established, international, Memphis-based tea business, and Moore took it.

“It’s about jobs,” she said, “jobs for Orange Mound.”

The busy House offers a job training curriculum customized by another Memphis nonprofit, Advance Memphis.

Women who take that course and pass it may be offered a chance to receive further training in the tea business. Currently MCOT employs 10 graduates and five more are coming through the program.

“We have champagne-quality tea,” Moore said. Names include Mango Tango and Georgia Sunshine. A line of instant teas (designed to compete with grocery store standards like Bigelow and Lipton) will debut in early 2017.

Bretta Calhoun, an Orange Mound resident for 20 years, is one of MCOT’s new employees. “I’m the customer service associate,” she said. “It’s an honor to work. It behooves us to do every little thing to God’s glory.” Calhoun began coming to The House simply because it was in the neighborhood. She attended Bible studies and found God-centered friendships. She noticed that stopping to pray is common at The House. She heard other women sharing life issues they faced and saw the loving responses they received.She believes that The House and MCOT help empower “women to get out of situations they are in.

They help you return to God.” She smiled as she mentioned MCOT’s added bonus: “I can walk to work.”

Thistle Farms in Nashville likewise is a social enterprise whose workforce has survived prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. Its wares include a natural body care line, sewing studio, candles, and a café, as well as some products made from the thistle like tea and paper. Sales topped $1 million last year.

Started in 2001, Thistle Farms now employs more than 80 people; among them are 59 women who are either residents or graduates of its recovery program at Magdalene House.

Magdalene House was started DeSoto 77

in 1997 by the Rev. Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest, who recognized that women who experienced the horrors of street life year after year needed a place to heal. Magdalene House offers a two-year program that includes room, board, medical and dental needs, and trauma-informed care. Stevens seeks to share what she calls “a farmer’s theology.” She describes Thistle Farms as a place “that strives for justice and peace through loving our neighbors” and one in which “we reap a hundredfold the seeds that are sown in a loving community.”

One such survivor and graduate is Jennifer Clinger, 51. She now works for Thistle Farms in hospitality and administration. “It’s an honor to work with my survivor sisters,” she said. “There are so many amazing women here.” Clinger thinks Thistle Farms is well named. The thistle is a hardy, prickly plant that grows pell-mell along some Tennessee roadsides. “It is not a weed,” Clinger emphasized. “It is a wildflower. It’s a survivor, too. The milk of the thistle is a detoxifier. It cleanses you.”

The plant’s properties go into positiffitea, a herbal tea with a crazy name which Clinger guarantees is loved by Magdalene women, and into artisan paper for greeting cards, a popular selling item.

Thistle Farms’ motto is Love Heals. “I see modern-day miracles and resurrections all the time,” Clinger said.Thistle 78 DeSoto

Farms started as a cottage industry and now has gone global; its products are available online. It’s part of Shared Trade, an international free-trade association marketing products of women survivors.

Words tumble from Clinger when asked what Thistle Farms means to her: “I own a car. I have an apartment. This is my first full-time job, something I never had before in my life.”

Thistle Farms acknowledges a set of 24 spiritual principles that the community agreed upon. One is “Let God Sort it Out.” Another is “Pray for Courage.”

“This is a community of people with different backgrounds and beliefs who love each other. It is not faithbased, but there is definitely a loving presence here,” Clinger said and added, “but I personally believe in Jesus. Oh, absolutely.”

Magdalene started as a place for five women to heal.

There are now five houses and 32 women in the program.

Clinger pointed out that the women fit a pattern. “Ninety-five percent of us before age 10 had suffered rape, abandonment, and other abuses,” she said.

By age 15 or 16, girls with this history are on the streets. They have to eat. They sell themselves to survive. The physical cycle starts, the emotional cycle of worthlessness begins, too. Clinger said that “so many awful, awful, shocking

things happen” that life becomes “hell on earth.” She lived on the street for 20 years and tried to kill herself three times before coming to Magdalene in 2010.

What she discovered at Magdalene House was that “healing is a community thing. It’s not a competition. As Becca has said, everybody needs it-- from the priest to the prostitute.”

Healing also takes place at MCOT and The House at Orange Mound.

Remember those teacups? What do they symbolize? “We’re all broken people,” Moore answered. “If someone shares her brokenness with me, we become cup holders of each other’s lives.” www.shopmycupoftea.com www.thistlefarms.org

DeSoto 79

homegrown } high point roasters

80 DeSoto

Brewing Pleasure

By Judy Smith. Photography courtesy of High Point Roasters

Everyone needs a little something to get them going in the morning, and coffee seems to be the energizer of choice for many. But students who pull an all-night study session or those making that dreaded commute to work shouldn’t have to wake up and greet the day with the brown sludge so many offices or bistros consider coffee. Everyone deserves to start their day with only the best tasting coffee, and that just happens to be anything that comes from the Magnolia State’s own High Point Roasters.

Although it seems that Dan Skinner was destined to excel in the world of java, he insists that his venture into the world of coffee roasting came about out of necessity. This New Albany, Mississippi, native was content in his former job and intended to retire there someday, but the economy had other plans. He was laid off and began his search for a new means to survive. Skinner had a friend in the coffee business, and the gears started to turn in this coffee master’s mind. With a pipe dream and a great deal of determination, Skinner went to the bank to get a loan to buy only the best coffee equipment around and established his business, High Point Roasters in New Albany.

“My goal will always be to provide only the best coffee for our customers,” Skinner said. “We only use the highest quality of coffee beans and keep a close watch on the roasting process because you have to get it just right for it to be great. If you roast it too long or not enough, it won’t have the taste that I want to offer our customers and that they deserve.”

Never one to enter any endeavor halfway, Skinner has been trained by some of the finest in the coffee roasting profession and has competed in several competitions. What is no surprise to anyone who has ever tasted Skinner’s coffee is that his espressos or java creations have even beaten out top nationally-known coffee brand names, such as Starbucks in several competitions for top coffees or espressos.

Since establishing his business in 2004, the very friendly and amiable Skinner has branched out quite a bit, shipping his coffee to 55 shops, some in Mississippi and some outside the borders of the Magnolia State, and roasts at least 1,000 pounds of coffee beans a week. Skinner works hard to bring only the finest coffee to his very grateful coffee drinking following. Skinner likens his craft to creating a work of art or giving birth.

“I really love all parts of my business. I love roasting the beans, keeping a close eye on them to make sure that they aren’t over roasted,” Skinner said. “It is a very fulfilling process of going through each of the stages to get only the best taste for our customers. It’s like pottery. You are a part of all of that process. You watch it, feel it, and see it develop. That’s truly your work of art or your baby.”

But Skinner emphasizes that his coffee would not taste great at all without high quality ingredients. That is why he only imports the highest-quality coffee beans from around the world. “You can’t make a good cake with eggs that have gone bad or ingredients that don’t taste right,” Skinner said. “Plus, you have to cook it a certain amount of time for it to be truly worthy of our brand. We try to use high quality ingredients and work to make sure that they are roasted to perfection.”

Coffee fans can choose from many different blends with intriguing names like Campfire Blend or Mocha Java.

With detailed descriptions of the beans and grinds, the blends make it easy for newcomers to choose their preferred taste.

Skinner and High Point Roasters has developed quite a following among fine coffee connoisseurs. Shane Reed of Strange Brew Coffeehouse in Starkville, Mississippi, is among that faithful following. “For 12 years, the only beans we’ve ever had in our grinders and espresso machines have all come from High Point,” Reed said. “Dan and the crew are amazing to work with. We get fresh batches of coffee every single week in small batches and our customers love it. Dan has actually delivered emergency orders over the holidays when we have unexpected rushes.”

Another aspect of working with Skinner that Reed enjoys is that it doesn’t feel like work when he is dealing with Skinner. “It feels like more than just a business relationship with them because they’re always asking about family, and you can tell they really care,” Reed said.

It is that attention to detail and care and concern for his craft and customers that has made Skinner and High Point Roasters so successful. Whenever any morning sun is greeted with a cup of joe from High Point Roasters it’s sure to set a tone for the rest of the day.

DeSoto 81

southern harmony } big and rich

Big & Rich in spirit

By Debra Pamplin. Photography courtesy of Webster PR

82 DeSoto

Since the first time “Save a Horse” hit the radio airwaves, Big & Rich have been a household name. John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin have been one of country’s favorite duos since 2003. Their debut album, “Horse of a Different Color” went triple platinum, solidifying the fact that these two would be country music game changers.

Individually, both are great singers, but together, they produce a sound completely unique and fresh. It is a sound that is hard to describe, Alphin notes. “You still can’t really define what that sound is. Even we can’t.”

Rich agreed. “When Kenny and I were first considering doing music together some 15 years ago, I can recall like it was yesterday him saying, ‘Man, we are like two individual planets— wouldn’t it be awesome to collide and smash the universe together,” he recalled. “We definitely felt that creative gravitational pull from the beginning and I think it continues to translate into the music.”

“No question in my mind,” said Alphin, “that we have put forward as high quality music as we can do. And we believe we just keep getting better.”

This un-named sound was first introduced in the duo’s first album, was maintained throughout the subsequent four albums and is just as bright and fresh in the current album, “Gravity”.

There is one notable difference in the most recent project, and that is the music label. They are the creative force behind their own label, appropriately named Big & Rich Records.

About the label’s creation, Rich shares, “It’s terrifying and exciting all at the same time. You take on all the business and marketing side yourself, but there’s a big team of people that we have assembled that are helping us do this. But at the end of the day, our board meeting consists of two guys. If we agree, it will happen, and if we don’t, it doesn’t.”

Rich and Alphin have collaborated with many other artists from a variety of genres. Martina McBride was the first collaboration back in 2003. Over the years, artists such as Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, John Legend, Lil Jon and Wyclef Jean have teamed with the duo. The duo, along with Gretchen Wilson and Van Zant contributed to Hank Williams, JR’s 2006, “That’s How They Do it in Dixie”. Most recently, fans can hear the pair joining with Tim McGraw on “Lovin’ Lately”.

They both wear a songwriter’s hat. Rich co-wrote Gretchen Wilson’s hit, “Redneck Woman” and teamed up with Alphin to co-write “Here for the Party”. Rich also co-wrote “Mississippi Girl” and “Like We Never Loved at All”, both recorded by Faith Hill.

Alphin recalls he was in Vegas to see Alabama’s farewell tour, and due to being in between projects, he was literally “down to his last dollar”. Once back into his hotel room, he sat down to pull his boots off, and that is when one of the heels broke lose. Thirty minutes passed, and he had

several of the song’s lines kicked out. The song was of interest to Tim McGraw, but Alphin went on to explain that wouldn’t be released by McGraw until 2007. It was the lead song of McGraw’s album that year, and went straight to #1.

In addition to all things musical, two members of the ‘Muzik Mafia’, Rich and Alphin are solid good-will ambassadors. They are often labeled as givers of time, talent and fortune to great causes. Both members of the duo participated in this year’s Memorial Day music festival that raised money for The Special Charitable Trust.

Alphin is a world traveler, determined in the fight against poverty and is a supporter of education through the United Nations Foundation as well as the Red Cross. He also regularly participates in several charity events, including concerts set to raise awareness of natural disasters for the Red Cross. Among many other events, Alphin has played at the premier of a new United Nations Foundation film set to support the Global Fund, and a 2009 Nashville4Africa concert in 2009.

Alphin’s “Love Everybody” motto is the family crest of his “Love Everybody Foundation”. A simple message, with dramatic results, Alphin’s career has allowed him to provide aid and raise awareness for causes he believes in. Such causes include the Haitian earthquake, building schools and feeding hungry children. The foundation works alongside the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and is a nonprofit platform that accepts donations from family, friends and anyone who wants to be a part of the foundation. One hundred percent of all donations go to those in need.

Rich gives to numerous charities, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In fact, through his win on The Celebrity Apprentice, he raised well over $1 million dollars for the children’s hospital.

This past June, the 5th annual St. Jude Presents John Rich and Friends was held in Memphis. The yearly event is a mix of celebrity, music, philanthropy and fun, all benefitting the lifesaving mission of the children’s hospital. A portion of the evening features a live auction, with money raised going to help offset costs of day-to-day operations of the research hospital.

Of the duo’s super-status as Big & Rich, John shared: “We both have a lot of things that we do creatively,” adds John, “but there’s been something magical about this since the beginning. As good as we are at what we do separately; neither of us is as good as Big & Rich are together. The Big & Rich thing is like a new color in the crayon box.”

DeSoto 83

table talk} dauphin’s in mobile

84 DeSoto

A Table with a View

By James Richardson. Photography courtesy of Aloha Hospitality

“I gave myself the title of ‘head fry cook’ and my job is to keep everybody straight,” jokingly said Bob Baumhower, who actually, is the majority owner of Dauphin’s Restaurant in Mobile, Alabama.

Despite his modesty, Baumhower has a pretty impressive resume. He is a former SEC football player from the University of Alabama and was a professional football player for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. He was one part of the Killer B’s of the 1970s and 80s. Now, he serves as CEO of Aloha Hospitality International, a restaurant management company that develops and runs several eateries, including Dauphin’s.

Baumhower spoke of Dauphin’s lofty advantage.

“The facility has an added benefit with our view. It’s 34 stories up, on the top floor of the Trustmark Building. The space that we are currently in was called the Bienville Club, which has been around since the 1960s. The building was renovated a couple of years ago. It’s a beautiful location. We have been open here since early 2016.” The restaurant overlooks Mobile Bay and Mobile’s downtown.

“Our executive chef is Steve Zucker. He’s been in fine dining for a long time. We worked together for 11 years.

We have a chain of casual sports-themed restaurants around the state of Alabama.” His restaurants were formerly called Wings, but in 2012 the name was changed to Baumhower’s Restaurants, of which there are several across Alabama from the Gulf Coast to Huntsville.

“The menu is what we call Coastal Dining with hints of Creole and Caribbean. When I was in South Florida,” Baumhower continued, “I became a fan of Caribbean cuisine.

So, we have a nice blend of French Creole and Caribbean Creole. As far as the coastal piece and Mobile are concerned, we have one of the healthiest fisheries in North America. We have bountiful seafood here and we make the most of everything that we can get. So, our menu contains a lot of seafood. We have really nice steaks. And appetizers, like venison carpaccio.

We have a section called Creole Soul, where we have everything from greens to fried chicken.”

Mobile Bay is important to local seafood restaurants.

Its estuaries, where the fresh water from several rivers meets the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico, support both fresh and saltwater species and serve as nursery habitat for many commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish.

“We buy local and if we can get it local, it is going to be on the menu, especially if it’s related to seafood. We buy chicken and pork locally also. Baldwin County, which is the county across Mobile Bay from Mobile, is the largest in

the state and it’s also a farming community. We have access to high-quality produce and, luckily for us, Baldwin County grows a large variety of vegetables, whether it’s Silver Queen corn or potatoes. There are also a few farmers that are into microgreens, and we buy some of those that are really explosive in flavor.” Microgreens are the shoots of salad vegetables picked just after the first leaves have developed.

According to Dauphin’s website, it encourages visitors to “start their meal with Mobile Bay staples like West Indies salad or crab claws. What’s next? Maple leaf duck breast or Ono Island tuna. And a must is Chef Zucker’s version of Gumbo Z’herb - just named one of Alabama’s ‘100 Dishes to Eat Before You Die.’”

“We are seasonal and Chef Zucker will have some nice holiday dishes. We’ll be doing some things with pumpkin and cranberry, a lot of the holiday foods. We’ll have some wild game. We do duck specials from time to time. We will definitely be catering to the holiday season. We do the same thing with Mardi Gras,” said Baumhower. Mardi Gras in 2017 happens in late January through mid-February. Dauphin’s feature a dessert called Moon Pie Bread Pudding.

“We have live music every evening and for Sunday brunch. The music is piano and saxophone. For the most part, they play standards and jazz. We are open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday. On Saturday we are open only in the evening from four to close. And Sunday we are open for brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.”

With plenty of menu options from seafood platters to burgers, Dauphin’s can accommodate most any craving, according to Baumhower.

“You can get your venison carpaccio or creme brulee.

But our local piece is where, I think, we hang our hat.”

For more information: Dauphin’s 107 St. Francis Street Suite 3400 Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 444-0200

DeSoto 85

in good spirits} whiskey cranberry splash

86 DeSoto

Just a splash of Cranberry

By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of hollyshelpings.wordpress.com

In the midst of the 19th century bartenders began adding lemon juice to whiskey to produce an acidic touch to the alcohol. The first mention of a “whiskey sour” occurred in 1870 when a Wisconsin newspaper named the drink, according to Journeyman Distillery, which offers its own take on the 1800’s cocktail by adding vanilla simple syrup and lemon juice to its Last Feather Rye whiskey.

Author and master mixologist Eben Klemm believes that fruit was introduced into cocktails when railways enabled citrus to be shipped throughout the country.

“Perhaps patrons could fool themselves and their teetotaling friends that they were drinking lemonade when their glass was filled with fruit juice sweetened by simple syrup and fortified with only a ‘splash’ of gin,” Klemm writes in “The Cocktail Primer.” “Or perhaps a glass of freshly squeezed citrus juice seemed exotic when compared to a big old glass of whiskey. Most likely, with the population explosion and industrialization of the North American city, we just needed a cocktail that would beat the heat a little bit better.”

And so the whiskey sour was born, a combination of whiskey, fruit juice (usually lemon juice), sugar and a dash of egg white that’s shaken and strained into a chilled glass. Substituting cranberry juice — and eliminating the egg — makes the drink a tasty cocktail for the holidays — and a colorful one!

Here’s a spirited cranberry whiskey cocktail from Brian Thom, wine director and assistant manager of Social Southern Table and Bar of Lafayette, Louisiana. This Cranberry Whiskey Splash offers Midnight Moon Junior Johnson’s Cranberry Moonshine along with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, the latter giving the drink a bit of sophistication alongside its homespun partner that infuses moonshine with cranberries. Mix both shots of alcohol with cranberry and lime juice, club soda and simple syrup and you’ve got a festive splash of a cocktail.

Cranberry Whiskey Splash 1 ounce Midnight Moon Junior Johnson’s Cranberry Moonshine 1 ounce Buffalo Trace Bourbon 1.5 ounces cranberry juice 0.5 ounce turbinado syrup 0.25 ounce lime juice 2 ounces club soda Mix together and serve in a chilled glass. Garnish with something festive like red cherries or a green lime peel.

And here’s a unique holiday cocktail, the Belle Meade Sling, from The Honeysuckle Local and Social of Franklin, Tenn.

Belle Meade Sling 2 ounces of Belle Meade Bourbon 3/4 cranberry, cinnamon, orange simple syrup 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters Mix together and garnish with a flaming orange.

DeSoto 87

exploring events } november Holiday Open Houses: November 4 & 5 Corinth, MS November 4 - 6 Columbus, MS November 7 Holly Springs, MS November 10 - 12 Greenwood, MS November 12 Senatobia, MS - Collierville, TN - Marion, AR November 13 Hernando, MS - New Albany, MS November 13 & 14 Cleveland, MS November 20 Batesville, MS - Tupelo, MS November 20 Pontotoc, MS November 27 Oxford, MS - Vicksburg, MS

Kudzu Playhouse Presents “Annie Jr” Through November 6 Hernando Performing Arts Center Hernando, MS For more information visit www.kudzuplayers.com or call 888-429-7871 Horn Lake’s 4th Annual Veteran’s Day Salute November 10 First Choice Catering Horn Lake, MS 10:00AM The City of Horn Lake invites veterans and current military personnel to the free Veteran’s Day breakfast at John Wood’s First Choice Catering. The program is a salute to all of our veterans. To RSVP or for more information, contact A. J. Linville at alinville@hornlake.org or call 662-342-3482.

Carrie Underword November 13 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00PM For more information visit www.ticketmaster.com.

DeSoto Arts Council Red Door Market November 13 1 Memphis Street Hernando, MS 11:00AM - 9:00PM Arts and crafts from local artisans, refreshments, raffle prizes, and holiday portrait pictures. After party 5 -9PM. For more information visit desotoarts.com.

First Annual Po’ Monkey Backroad Blues Fest November 17 - 18 Cleveland, MS The rural juke joint played an integral role in the development of the blues, offering a distinctly secular space for people to socialize, dance, and forget their everyday troubles. While many such jukes once dotted the cotton fields of the Delta countryside, Po’ Monkey’s was one of the relatively few to survive into the 21st century. Initially frequented by locals, Po’

88 DeSoto

Monkey’s became a destination point for blues tourists from around the world during the 1990s. For more information call 662-402-5299.

Jeff Dunham Perfectly Unbalanced Tour November 17 Landers Center Southaven, MS 7:30PM Purchase tickets at LANDERS Center box office 662-470-2131, www.ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. For more information, visit www.landerscenter.com.

Memphis Potters’ Guild Annual Holiday Show & Sale November 18 - 20 Memphis Botanic Garden’s Goldsmith Civic Center Memphis, TN For additional information, call: the Memphis Potters’ Guild 901-230-9373; the Memphis Botanic Garden 901.685.1566, or visit www.thememphispottersguild.com The Polar Express Train Ride November 18-20, 25-27 December 2-4, 7-11, 14-23 Departing from Batesville, MS For more information, visit www.grenadapolarexpressride.com or call 877-334-4783.

Cedar Hill Farm Christmas Tree Farm November 21 - December 22 Cedar Hill Farm Hernando, MS For more information please call 662-429-2540, visit www.gocedarhillfarm.com or email cedarhfarm@yahoo.com.

56th Annual “Country Store and Bake Sale” November 22 Stephen D. Lee Home Columbus, MS 10:00 a.m. - Noon Association for the Preservation of Antiquities members prepare a vast array of delicious goodies, ranging from freshly baked homemade cakes, cookies, cheese straws, rolls, biscuits, pies, candies, jams, Jellies, and pickles which are offered for sale to the public. For more information call 662-327-3193.

18th Annual Southern Lights November 24 - December 31 Central Park Southaven, MS For more information, visit www.southaven.org or call Southaven parks & Recreation at 662-280-2489.

DeSoto 89

reflections} food

Food

By Karen Ott Mayer

The radiation oncologist appeared in the doorway, a thin quiet man with a serious demeanor. I sat next to my sister whose six-month breast cancer journey had brought her to this next proverbial phase of treatment. First, chemotherapy, then surgery, now radiation. The next day, we sat with the medical oncologist, a striking Brazilian woman with obvious expertise.

While our family has been steeped in medical decisions this year, I remembered another conversation that settled in my brain since another interview. During a tour of the new Crosstown Concourse in Memphis someone talked about “food as medicine”, noting that a former New Orleans chef went to medical school specifically to study food as our primary medicine and Tulane has started a medical food program.

Having deep passionate beliefs about our American food system and being an avid, pesky label reader, my heart jumped at those words. On the day these two oncologists talked with us, a familiar theme emerged for cancer patients like my sister. Our food is making us sick.

One doctor strongly encouraged her to avoid sugars, starches, preservatives and toxins. As I listened, I couldn’t help but laugh inside. Being someone who actively searches for real food options, it’s a challenge. Our American food system is fully polluted, so much so, that going to the grocery to grab a box of crackers or cereal is easy--if you don’t look beyond the pretty box decorated with marketing claims. A glance at the label will reveal a completely different story. It’s a journey into the incomprehensible.

Along with these conversation threads, another thought occurred that reminded me of the tandem forces at work in our food worlds. On a quiet hillside East of Como this month, a monumentous event occurred that few even 90 DeSoto

know. At Home Place Pastures, a team of USDA inspectors granted Marshall Bartlett clearance to begin processing meat at his newly-built facility. This facility is now the only USDAapproved processing plant---in the entire state of Mississippi.

The long term ramifications for Mississippians is significant.

Not only can area producers now process meat in our region, anyone who believes strongly in sourcing real food options now have a huge opportunity (Home Place Pastures has an online store and soon a retail store).

As we set our Thanksgiving tables and move into the season of food, it’s the perfect time to really open the pantry and take stock. What are you buying? Have you ever read the label? Do you even know what you’re eating? Do you feel good about what you’re serving your family and friends? Maybe it’s the season to think about it.

My 97-year old grandma kept a handwritten pencil file with food notes. She was perhaps the first foodie, like many of her generation. From her, I learned that butter isn’t evil, that baking your own bread beats anything else and that moderation is key. She lived what she ate, she ate to live. She was never rich, famous, didn’t own the best car, or the biggest house but her pride came from the kitchen. At 94, I arrived on her Ohio doorstep at noon and asked if I could take her to lunch.

“No honey, I have some soup on the stove.” True to form, her homemade chicken noodle soup sat waiting in her small apartment.

As I set my Thanksgiving table for family and friends this year, I am grateful my sister’s prognosis is good. I am grateful that Marshall is succeeding against a heavy tide in the food world. And I’m grateful for all the time to share our world with you. To you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

DeSoto 91

92 DeSoto