DeSoto 1
2 DeSoto
DeSoto 3
4 DeSoto
DeSoto 5
6 DeSoto
September CONTENTS 2014 • VOLUME 11 • NO. 9
features 46 A House Divided
When one couple roots for opposing teams. By Andrea Ross
53 It’s Festivus Time!
Funky, original fall festivals. By Chelle Ellis
60 On The Fly
Arkansas’ Jamie Rouse still master of the rivers. By Lazelle Jones
67 The Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Following the rich history of distilling. By Chere Coen
departments 18 Living Well
High marks for healthy snacks. By Peggy Reisser Winburne
20 Living Real
Repair Days at Memphis’ Metal Museum. By Corey Latta
22 Exploring Art
39 A Day Away…
Carrollton, Mississippi
42 Greater Goods 72 Homegrown
Oxford Candle Company sells fragrant inspiration. By Chelle Ellis
Political cartoonist Michael Ramirez still sketches laughs. By Chere Coen
74 In Good Spirits
26 Exploring Books
76 Table Talk
Tech Savvy Parenting hits shelves--and minds. By Karen Ott Mayer
30 Exploring Cuisine
Time for tasty tailgating. By Judy Smith
34 Exploring Destinations
Hot Toddy warms during cool months. By Diane Donnelly Bardog Tavern still top dog. By James Richardson
78 Exploring Events 80 Reflections
Calling All Kids By Karen Ott Mayer
Hermann’s Oktoberfest, all October. By Karen Ott Mayer DeSoto 7
8 DeSoto
editor’s note }
september
All summer long,
I’ve felt as if fall has been sitting on my shoulder. Maybe it’s the temperate, cooler weather or just the anticipation I feel every year about this time. I’ve always thought it odd the one season that symbolizes a slow acceptance of endings and impermanence, be it a fall harvest or the return to classrooms, also holds such anticipation. Our stories hold that common thread this month. It’s football time and that big game day always offers families and friends the chance to gather, eat, and cajole. Taking it one step further, Andrea talked to a few couples who live with opposing loyalties--and do it with grace-- in “A House Divided” on page 46. Chelle, Corey and Chere took different paths that lead us all to the same place. Maybe this fall, you’ll be inspired to check out a funky fall festival or wander Kentucky’s scenic countryside to learn all about the history of bourbon. Personally, I hope to visit the Ornamental Metal Museum’s Repair Days and take a few items in need of repair. With so much talent in one place, I can’t pass it up! Knowing the weather will soon turn cold and gray, we’ve included a few warming leads, including gifts from the Oxford Candle Company (page 72) and a recipe for a Hot Toddy. Parents, we haven’t forgotten that fall means new school years. Brian Housman and Peggy Reisser Winburne
SEPTEMBER 2014 • Vol. 11 No. 9
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell
EDITOR Karen Ott Mayer
PHOTOGRAPHY Karen Ott Mayer Adam Mitchell Paula Mitchell Jane Pate Steven Pittman
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS both bring hard-core advice on healthy snacks and technology, both hot spots for kids and parents these days. See? Anticipation. I hope each time you turn a page in this issue, we satisfy some part of your curiousity this fall. Take a drive or head to the game. I promise the season won’t disappoint. Until next month,
Karen
on the cover A House Divided! Read the funny, survival story on page 47. Special thanks to Jim & Sandra Greer of Hernando MS. Their beautiful front doors made a great cover with Scott & Niki Miller’s bulldog, Daisy Mae. The door hangers can be purchased at Bon Von Gift Shop. 214 W Center St Hernando, MS (662) 429-5266.
Cheré Coen Diane Donnelly Chelle Ellis Lazelle Jones Corey Latta Karen Ott Mayer Andrea Brown Ross Judy Smith Peggy Reisser Winburne
PUBLISHED BY Desoto Media Co.
2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 Fax 662.449.5813
DeSotoMagazine.com © 2014 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 interested in advertising should email paula@desotomag.com or call 662.429.4617. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.
DeSoto 9
10 DeSoto
The Bunker
DeSoto 11
dear desoto } a roll in the hay Dear Readers: We love hearing from you. Drop us a line if you have comments, questions or suggestions related to our editorial features and/or departments. Email our editor, Karen, at karen@desotomag.com or write to: 2375 Memphis St., Ste 205, Hernando, MS 38632. This is the time of year when hay is made. Those of us who take scenic, country drives see these huge rolls dot pastures and farmland. Our friend, Jason Coleman of Hernando, shares his photos and explains the process of how it’s done.
The first cutt ing of the Ber muda hay is around the 1st of July. The second cutt ing is around the middle to late August because the Ber muda will start to become dormant with the cooler nights.
o to Once the hay has been cut , it wil l take tw three days to dr y in the sun and wind.
12 DeSoto
After it’s dry it will be raked into wind rows so that the baler can process the hay into approximately 1,100 pound rolls or 50 pound square bales to be used as a food source during the winter months for livestock. One cow can eat approximately 5 of the 1,100 rolls during the winter, per local farmer Andy Anderson.
DeSoto 13
14 DeSoto
DeSoto 15
16 DeSoto
Corinth CVB
DeSoto 17
18 DeSoto
DeSoto 19
living well }
healthy snacks
But,Mom! Snacks, Kids & Healthy Choices By Peggy Reisser Winburne Photography courtesy Peri Jane Pate, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)
Family is the main ingredient when it comes to building a healthy eater. That’s the advice Dr. Joan Han, the director of the new UT-Le Bonheur Pediatric Obesity Center in Memphis, gives to parents who want to help their children eat better. An associate professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dr. Han was recruited to Memphis in July to help improve the health of children and teens in the region, where according to the Centers for Disease Control, numbers for teen obesity are higher than the 13.7 percent reported nationwide. In Tennessee, 16.9 percent of 9th through 12th graders are obese, 15.4 percent in Mississippi, and 17.8 percent in Arkansas. 20 DeSoto
But her focus is not just on helping children and teens lose weight. She hopes to promote fitter, healthier young people in the Mid-South, and in the process, healthier families. “I think that having children observe the whole family making healthier choices is a really big part of making lifelong changes,” she said. “It’s a consistency of message.” It’s also very practical. “For most children, they’re not the ones choosing what’s happening at the grocery store,” Dr. Han said. Katelyn Wolfe, a registered dietitian in the Healthy Lifestyle Clinic that is a component of the pediatric obesity program, takes that thought a step further. “If you don’t buy it, they can’t eat it,” she said.
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, which focuses attention on efforts to reverse the epidemic that counts more than 23 million children and teenagers in the United States as obese or overweight. It’s also early in a new school year, and a time when parents are focused on feeding hungry children before, during and after school. So it’s the perfect time to adopt the whole-family approach to healthy eating that Dr. Han promotes. “Parents have to help children make better choices,” she said, adding that choice works better than mandating children eat healthier. “Teaching them to make the healthy choice is an important part of them developing a lifelong responsibility for their own health care.” Dena Dourisseau, also a registered dietitian for the Healthy Lifestyle Clinic, is all about small changes that lead to bigger changes and eventually yield major results. “We remind our parents to start small, and not get overwhelmed,” she said. One small change with a big payoff is cutting out sugary drinks – Kool-Aid, punch and regular soda. Water or milk are ideal selections. If you are picking something else, make sure it doesn’t have added sugars. Putting a focus on healthy snacks is another small step that can go a long way in promoting a more healthful diet, according to Dr. Han. Wolfe suggests focusing on what she calls the “three feel-full heroes” -- protein, fluids and fiber. Include protein in meals and snacks, fluids throughout the day so thirst isn’t mistaken for hunger, and fiber because it’s more slowly digested and promotes a feeling of fullness longer. When hungry kids hit the door or stream into aftercare, give them a snack that includes these components. Pair a small or medium banana with 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or 1 cup Cheerios with low-fat or fat-free string cheese, or whole grain graham crackers with 2 tablespoons of low-fat cream cheese. Pick items that are low in sugar, fat and salt for smarter snacking, such as fresh fruit, raw veggies, a half sandwich of lean lunch meat and veggies, or homemade trail mix with cereal, pretzels, nuts and dried fruit. Limit high-sugar and high-fat treats, including cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts, chips, Ramen noodles, candy, pizza rolls or ice cream, to special occasions. Dourisseau reminds parents to be conscious of portion sizes when preparing snacks. “Read what the serving size says on the label and keep the snack in the portion size it says,” she said. Stocking up on several healthy snack choices and letting children, and especially teens, decide within those choices will make for a healthier and happier eater. Peggy Reisser Winburne is a media relations specialist for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
SMART SNACKING Here are some snack choices that combine protein and fiber. Drinking water or milk with the snack will boost fluids. • 1 cup Cheerios with skim or one-percent milk • Apple slices with low-fat or fat-free string cheese • 10 whole wheat crackers with 6 ounces low-fat or fat-free yogurt • Mini bag of pretzels with one-fourth cup nuts or seeds • Handful of grapes with low-fat turkey, ham or roast beef slices • Snack bag of baked chips with 2 tablespoons of hummus or bean dip • One-half cup berries or melon with 2 ounces of canned tuna in water • 4 ounces of apple sauce with a lean beef jerky stick • Handful of goldfish crackers with a hard-boiled or scrambled egg • Pair baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced peppers, or two to three cups light popcorn with any of the protein items listed above. Source: The Healthy Lifestyle Clinic of the UT-Le Bonheur Pediatric Obesity Center.
DeSoto 21
living real } repair days
REPAIR DAYS FORGE RELATIONSHIPS
By Corey Latta Photo courtesy of National Ornamental Metal Museum
On the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, the sound of metal meeting metal rings out particularly loud each fall. The National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, is the only institution in the United States exclusively devoted to advancing the art of fine metalwork, functioning as a learning center for metal crafting enthusiasts, attracting tourists, and serving as a temporary artisans home for top metalsmiths. Not only does the museum boast creative exhibits by the most talented metalsmiths in the world, actively promoting the careers and works of metal artisans, it also exists as an inviting community center where the public can engage the craft of metal work. Each year, the Metal Museum’s annual Repair 22 DeSoto
Days event gives shape to this communal engagement. Blacksmiths and metal workers come from across the country to stay on Museum grounds, hosting the public who are invited to bring their broken metal objects to the Museum for all manner of repair. The event welcomes anyone with metal items in need of mending to visit the event’s talented collection of metalsmith professionals, who all donate their time and talents to participate in the yearly event. Eileen Townsend, the Museum’s Public Engagement Associate, describes Repair Days as, “a big reunion for the metal working community and an educational event for the Memphis community.” In addition to repairing the public’s broken metal items, Repair Days also hosts an auction, the proceeds of which directly support the museum. “Amazing metal artwork
is donated internationally to help fund the Museum, which is non-profit,” Townsend explains. The auction is yet another way the Metal Museum makes its presence known to its local community. The auction’s open invitation to the public continues as an important part of the Repair Days event, as it allows people to participate in the Museum’s mission of elevating metal art through its patrons’ financial support. Along with the auction, Repair Days provides a large stew dinner and a family fun day– both open to the public–on the Saturday of the weekend event. What the Museum forges through events like Repair Days, beyond some broken chairs and unwrought lamps, are relationships with people that empower the Museum’s promotion of metal artistry and benefit the economic and cultural life of Memphis and the Mid-South. Forging a strong cultural, local and national presence is one of Repair Days’ primary purposes. One of Repair Day’s most exciting means of forging that cultural presence in the Mid-South is annually celebrating a notable, often award-winning, metalsmith. “Each year we honor a Master Metalsmith who simultaneously has an exhibit in the museum,” says Townsend. This year, the metalsmith of honor is Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, a recipient of the 2012 United States Artists Glasgow Fellowship in Craft and Traditional Arts and a winner of the National Endowment of the Arts–among other notable awards. “Mimlitsch-Gray takes a functional object and distorts it so that it loses functionality and takes on artistic purposes,” Townsend notes when explaining the uniqueness of Mimlitsch-Gray’s work. The Museum’s presentation of Mimlitsch-Gray’s work will feature her first solo retrospective exhibition, a collaborative series focusing on “interconnected spaces offering differing perspectives on her work, evaluating it for its historic, thematic, and formal qualities,” the Museum explains. The Mimlitsch-Gray exhibit will be accompanied by a catalogue, special reception, and artist talk during Repair Days, on Saturday, October 5th. In all, Repair Days offers a warm welcome to the local community and a public invitation to engage in one of Memphis’s most unique cultural offerings. Tourists, art aficionados, and those simply seeking a spot welding fix are given access to the Metal Museum’s celebration of artistry as well as its service to the Mid-South community. Not only does Repair Days bring together the nation’s most talented metalsmiths to mend someone’s silver or iron, it also amalgamates innovative art with community service.
National Ornamental Metal Museum Repair Days. October 2-5, 2014 metalmuseum.org
DeSoto 23
exploring art } michael ramirez
24 DeSoto
Penciling Politics By Corey Latta Photogrphy courtesy of Michael Ramirez
Perhaps the gift of recreation through animation is one reason for Michael Ramirez’s national, critical and popular success. Ramirez, a two-time Pulitzer Prize, nationally syndicated political cartoonist, has drawn a dynamic career for himself as a cultural critic. Through perceptive, evocative, and often controversial political animation, Ramirez has successfully made an impact on the political climate of the day. Ironically, Ramirez never planned on being a cartoonist. Born into a family of physicians, Ramirez’s professional path would eventually point in a far different direction from his original professional ideas. Ramirez set out to be a cardiovascular surgeon, but when he asked his brothers and sisters for tips on getting into medical school, they advised Ramirez to make himself a more appealing candidate by double majoring in biological science and the fine arts. Having already gained journalism experience editing his high school newspaper, Ramirez entered college with of a knack for the opinionated world of the press. After the editor of the college newspaper noticed Ramirez’s artistic talent, he asked
Ramirez if he could draw a cartoon about the school’s election. Ramirez recalls the request. “There were two candidates, and neither had a platform. It was like a big popularity contest.” Ramirez’s humorous yet biting cartoon incited quite the contested response. “I realized that hard hitting written editorials typically didn’t matter, but one cartoon could cause two days of protest.” A defining moment in Ramirez’s career’s redirection happened during his junior year, when he drew an unflattering cartoon characterizing an incident of police abuse by the hands of the Newport Beach police, in Newport Beach, Calif. So upset was the Newport Beach Police Department that the Chief of Police drove down to the paper to yell at the publisher, the editor, and to try to find Ramirez. “Just one cartoon made a profound impact and called attention to an act of injustice,” Ramirez noted. When Ramirez came on staff full-time for the newspaper that published this Newport Beach police cartoon, his career as a cultural commentator and cartoonist was well underway. DeSoto 25
26 DeSoto
Michael Ramirez visiting Afghanistan.
Ramirez sees his cartoons as journalistic endeavors. “I think art should contain a substantive message.” At times that message is substantively incendiary, as readers from all political walks of life find their views in Ramirez’s keen animated sights. “Philosophically, I’m conservative, but I’m an equal opportunity offender,” said Ramirez. Ramirez’s cartoons have revealed just how connected people are to their political ideas. “People ask if I’ve received death threats because of my cartoons. I joke and say the first came from my parents when I told them I was going to be a cartoonist,” Ramirez joked. He believes the responses to his work are so extreme because, “people are so emotionally wedded to their political ideas.” Before working for the Los Angeles Times, Ramirez resided in Memphis for seven years. Ramirez moved to Memphis to work with Lionel Linder, the highly-respected editor at Memphis’s Commercial Appeal, as the paper’s political cartoonist. Ramirez remembers fondly his time in Memphis. “I love Memphis. I love the Southern gentility. I loved the people. I loved the city’s sense of community. You can’t be in a better place for music; I loved the music. Of course, I loved the barbeque. It is a great town.” Ramirez became nationally syndicated and eventually ended up back in California, where he still resides. Ramirez now serves as a senior editor at Investor’s Business Daily, where his work appears regularly.
“The majority of my job is spent doing research. I read and absorb as much info as possible. You have to gain familiarity with your topic before you can recreate it through art.” Ramirez said before a political or cultural event can be articulated through a cartoon, the artist must be overly familiar with his subject matter. “I have to be on top of the news, and I aim for sound, accurate articulation.” Why create cartoons at all? Besides being a fine alternative career choice to cardiovascular surgery, the answer lies in a cartoon’s ability to convey meaning. “I’m a big believer in the purpose of art. Like many artists, I’m trying to save the world from itself,” he said. Cartoons have the unique ability to condense and capture a concept for public consumption. “Editorial cartooning is a lot like advertising. It’s the same process essentially, but I’m selling an idea through a cartoon, through animation,” Ramirez explained. The ultimate end is to create critical participation by the citizenry in the governmental policies that shape society. Cartoons point to truths through their recreation of the idea, the event, and the politician. For the average reader, cartoons create access to a political viewpoint, and therefore, to the actual political process. “We Americans need to remember that we have access to the government. I want to expand that access and make an impact on the political climate of the day.”
“I’ve always had the ability to look at something and recreate it.” - Michael Ramirez DeSoto 27
exploring books } tech savvy parenting
28 DeSoto
.tech savvy parenting Photos Courtesy of Brian Housman
DeSoto recently sat down with Brian Housman, local author, parenting coach and executive director of 360 Family, to chat with him about his new book “Tech Savvy Parenting”. A prolific writer for parenting magazines, most notably Parenting Teenagers and Parent Life, he has also published, “Engaging Your Teen’s World“ and “Raising Responsible Teens in a Digital World”. He appears regularly on FOX News Memphis as a parenting coach. You’ve done a lot of public speaking with parents and educators. How often does the topic of technology and kids come up? Every single conversation. Most of the teens laugh out loud when it comes up. On the other hand, however, on Fox News, I recently said that technology is like the sex conversation of the 1980s. Parents didn’t know how to talk about it and it’s the same
with technology. Parents are overwhelmed and technology is ubiquitous. The average child will spend 9 to 10 hours per day tied to some form of technology, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Screens carry messages. A child’s first exposure to porn is age nine. I would be a fool not to talk about this topic. The number one question I get is when should a parent buy a cellphone for their child. Basically, a cellphone isn’t a right guaranteed by the Constitution. The question is at what age can the child handle the responsibility? What do you hear as the common complaints from parents? The biggest complaint is the busyness of the family. Families are baffled when I tell them we have at least four dinners each week together. We’re just as busy with sports, cheerleading, the debate team, but we choose not to let culture dictate our DeSoto 29
pace. I made that commitment to my wife before we even ever had kids. We’re in this together. We come first. We like to go camping or rock climbing and my kids know they can always bring friends, either to our house or on a trip.
Are you a parent?
My wife of 21 years and I have a boy and girl, ages 14 and 16. We kept hearing everyone say “just wait until they’re older”. So we did and they were still fine. The we heard, “wait until they’re in high school” and we did but they’re both good, not on drugs or pregnant. I think we as parents become immobilized and live in fear because we’re afraid of making mistakes. We have to set boundaries and we all dislike boundaries because we view them as restrictions, but they can be about freedom, especially if you live within God’s boundaries.
Do you think technology is interfering with goodold fashioned play?
I remember when I grew up in Horn Lake, I rode my bike two miles from home to the library. We played with friends all day or roamed the woods. Parents live in fear because we’re growing up in a CSI culture and we watch so much fear-based media. Things do happen, but FBI statistics show 90 percent of events are perpetrated by a family member. Ninety-seven percent of all boys play video games. Now, kids have to rediscover what to do with their mind, body and eyes. It all comes back to parents. If we want them to be highly creative, we have to put them in environments where they are forced to think and solve problems. Video screens don’t do that. 30 DeSoto
In your experience, what do you envision as the worst case scenario for kids and technology? A child that is exposed to pornography or inappropriate content. We’ve had several parents find an unauthorized image of their child online. Cyberbullying. Kids creating fake Facebook profiles or sending sexually inappropriate messages. Kids making foolish choices. For instance, a girl took a nude picture of herself and sent it to her boyfriend. Then, they broke up and he thought it would be funny to send to the whole school. This is a new problem that is even baffling to law officials. Is this distribution of child pornography when she took the photo herself ? He’s then arrested but kids all over are doing this and we can’t arrest them all. How do we handle this? The number one app now is KIK. Kids are creating personal relationships with total strangers.
What drove/inspired you to write this book?
The number one reason is my own kids are of an age that technology is a big part of their life and I didn’t want a list of rules. It’s part of my journey as a parent.
How do we teach kids responsible phone use?
On our website, we have free tools for parents. One is a free cellphone contract. If we have to sign a contract with a company, then its reasonable to ask kids to sign a contract agreeing to use, the content, the time of day etc. We have to help our kids. They don’t know what’s appropriate.
I see toddlers playing with iphones and ipads. Do we know the true effects of technology on the very young, like toddlers? The American Pediatric Association says anyone under age 16 shouldn’t be on technology more than two hours. And no screens under age two.
What message do you hope readers take from this book?
I hope they take away that technology can be a fun thing. It’s possible for you as a parent to have a healthy relationship with your child and technology.
What is 360Family?
A non-profit organization that exists to equip and encourage parents to help parents and lead families to discover who God meant them to be. While it has a spiritual basis, I also do a ton of general parenting counsel, speaking to teachers and conducting workshops to educate on the post-modern mind.
"A child's first exposure to porn is age nine.
I would be a fool not to talk about this topic." - Brian Housman DeSoto 31
exploring cuisine } tailgating
32 DeSoto
Eat, Drink and
Tailgate Story by Judy Smith
Photography provided by foodriot.com and deliciouslywell.com
It is tailgating time. It’s been said that even if certain schools lose on the field, they always win the pre-game food celebration.
B
Bob Lynch, managing editor of the Red Cup Rebellion a sports forum devoted to all things involving the Ole Miss Rebels, readily admits that tailgating is one of his favorite things about the fall. Since his first tailgating experience in 2002 as a high school junior, Lynch fell in love with The Grove. His biggest crowd-pleasers? Foods that are easy to eat while socializing--not too messy, portable, and of course, delicious. “Fried chicken tenders or grilled chicken legs are usually my go to, but we’ve also made sliders, sausage balls, and desserts like cupcakes a part of our regular tailgating fare,” Lynch said. The most unique tailgating food he’s ever come across was
alligator tail being smoked by a few overzealous Louisiana State University fans. When cheering on his Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, John Duease of McKinney, Texas, must have a few staples such as corn dip Seymour Sandwiches, hot tamales, shortbread, pulled pork, Bloody Marys, and screwdrivers But he has observed and experienced a few unusual recipes along the way. “The tailgate group next to us always has…get this…Peanut Butter Nachos,” Duease said. “One of our girls makes an unbelievable homemade pizza soup for cold weather games.” DeSoto 33
Fellow Golden Eagle Jenny Boudreaux, Assistant Director for Communications for the Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, likes a variety. “Dips and finger foods, along with a grill, to grill everyone’s favorite meat and seafood items. If we have a fairly early game, we enjoy setting up our tailgate that morning and grilling an array of breakfast items, in which we refer to as ‘Brunch at The Rock!” Boudreaux said. While devoted Mississippi State fan David Easley fondly recalls sitting on his dad’s tailgate outside the stadium eating hot ham and cheese sandwiches made by his mom, those simple days have changed for Easley. “My number one tailgate accessory is the grill,” Easley said. “I love having a TV out there but food right off the grill is hard to beat. Deer meat cubes (beef can substituted) with a bit of cream cheese and a jalapeno wrapped in bacon is a favorite treat from the grill. Of course, burgers, ribs, and don’t forget ‘beer can chicken’ are all great for tailgating.” Easley’s wife loves to add her Captain Rodney’s Dip, consisting of cream cheese, Captain Rodney’s glaze, and bacon. The couple is always on the lookout for new and interesting recipes to try. Easley thinks he’s found a winner for this year’s pre-game fun. “I recently found a recipe for grilled bacon chocolate chip cookies online,” Easley said. “Basically, make your favorite chocolate chip cookies, add chipped up crispy bacon, and grill on a cedar plank.” Susan Hauenstein of Laurel, Miss. has been tailgating in The Grove for as long as she can remember. For the Hauenstein 34 DeSoto
family, there are a few “must have” foods for their tailgating spread, such as chicken, barbeque, and cold beer, but the selections may change up a little bit according to the season. “The temp outside dictates my family’s request for certain foods,” Hauenstein said. “When it is hot, we stick to finger foods, but when it cools off they prefer chili, red beans and rice or jambalaya.” As change comes to every part of the world, Hauenstein has observed the dramatic change in tailgating at her beloved Ole Miss, as well as around the world of college football. The days of pulling down the tailgate and parking your car in the Grove are gone, giving way now to tents with crystal chandeliers, flat screen televisions, and catered fanfare. But for Vickers, he’s really a simple man to please when he tailgates, requiring an almost endless supply of chicken tenders. “I typically have a platter at my tailgate by 10 a.m., and I snack on them all day long,” Vickers said. “No food poisoning yet.” And he’s really longing to try a new recipe “Bacon Explosion,” consisting of “bacon, ground beef, more bacon, barbeque sauce, and then some more bacon. Food and tailgaiting can’t be separated. The creative cook and enthusiastic foodie, however, can easily make an original mark long before the whistle blows.
DeSoto 35
exploring destinations } hermann’s oktoberfest
36 DeSoto
Oktoberfest, all October Hermann, Missouri’s annual salute to heritage Story by Karen Ott Mayer. Photography by Paula Mitchell
i
t’s October, German style. Brats, beer, and the Oompah bands are out in full force in the picturesque hill town of Hermann, Missouri. Throughout the town, Oktoberfest unfolds, not just on one day or weekend, but the entire month of October. In this quaint town known for its German heritage, wineries, and scenery, those hoping to revel in the fall spirit can indulge until the cows come home. Or, in this case, the Germans. Those who support Oktoberfest run the gamut from businesses like the Hermann Wurst Haus, run by Mike and Lynnette Sloan, to the Starry Night Inn. “The festival runs for the whole month,” said Lynnette Sloan.
Her husband, a local boy and the Wurstmeister, remembers many Oktoberfests through the years. “The event was started by Stone Hill Winery in the 1970s. That’s about when everything reversed and more wineries began opening up,” said Mike. During Oktoberfest, it’s business as usual at the Wurst Haus where the couple makes all their own sausages, with one exception. “Our specialty is the bratwurst and we make over 40 different kinds. During October, we do make a special Oktoberwurst,” said Mike. And they don’t just stop with brats year round. “We also make four flavors of beer onsite,” said Lynnette. About 2,400 people live in Hermann which is located an DeSoto 37
Wurstmeister Mike and Bratwursts
hour and a half east of St. Louis and approximately five hours from Memphis. But during October, as many as 20,000 visit the town. “The two busiest weekends are the second and third. If you’re planning to come anytime during the month, it’s best to make reservations now,” said Cindi Benz, tourism director for Hermann. The second weekend, the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce hosts an Arts & Crafts fair, this year to be held on October 11 and 12 at the local middle school. All art lovers need to bring along walking shoes for the Artists in Wine Country tour during which visitors can embark on a walking tour around town, enjoying local art and a brisk walk. Near the end of the month, the Gasconade County Cemetery Tour Walk happens on October 26. For a nominal $10 fee (students and children are free), guests can enjoy costumed impersonators, masquerading as some of the earliest souls buried in the cemetery. Over at Lost Creek Vineyard, things could get a little wild with the annual pumpkin chunkin’. With the Hermann Wine Trail, the celebrations continue over hill and vale, into the countryside. Missouri holds a rich wine history dating back to 1837 when German settlers moved into 38 DeSoto
the area and began planting vineyards. At one time, Missouri was one of the largest wine producing regions in the world, with local wineries like Stone Hill marked as the second largest in the country. Each weekend in October, wineries like Adam Puchta, Stone Hill, OakGlenn and others offer live music and tastings. According to the Missouri Wine & Grape Board, Missouri operates 128 wineries as of June 2014. “Missouri wines today compete internationally and we’re really producing some good wines,” said Mike. Wineries like Stone Hill Winery have a long history in winemaking and today’s vineyards include popular grape varieties such as Norton, Chambourcin, Vidal, Vignoles, Traminette, Catawba and Concord. The historic facility is located in Hermann and offers tours of the largest serunderground cellars in North America. If beer is preferred, then a walk over to the Tin Mill Company is in order. Here, beer drinkers can enjoy the hearty Oktoberfest which is available from September through December. A blend of Pilsner and Munich malt, this signature beer packs a slightly more bitter taste. Bias Winery also has a brewery attached and plenty of live music during October. Hermann, located on the Missouri River, is a walkable town
Oktoberfest
“You can’t shut it off once it starts.” - Wurstmeister Mike
DeSoto 39
filled with interesting architecture and historical landscapes. With most of the town on the National Register of Historic Places, visitors can get a first-hand look at buildings that date back to the 1800s. “They don’t tear anything down. The building we are in was vacant for five years and was an automotive parts store before we renovated it,” said Mike. Unlike many struggling, small towns, Hermann maintains a thriving presence all year round, attracting visitors with its quaint atmosphere and true heritage. Oktoberfest just adds a whole other layer for locals. “One of the best things is the people watching. It’s a great sidewalk town,” said Mike. Hermann’s Oktoberfest began on one weekend, then grew to encompass more. “You can’t shut it off once it starts,” said Mike.
40 DeSoto
DeSoto 41
Carr ollton, MS
off-the-beaten pat h town. 10am -Ar rive in Car rollt on after a love ly scenic drive to find the Par k directly in front of the unusual open-door C ourt house. side streets filled with 11:00 Wander the quiet streets of Car rollt on proper, especial ly the to talk about the area’s stately old homes and cottages. The locals are friend ly--and like hist ory. ly-o pened, The Nook joins 12:00 Lunch can be a hit-or-miss affair depending on the day. New on this day away. Dixie’s as a place to grab a bite. C onsi der taki ng a picnic lunch cheese sandwich mirr ors Wit h scenic spots, shady trees and hillsides, a homemade pimento the vintage mood. 1:00 Visit the Mer rill Museum and hist oric churches in town. rollt on, considered the 2:00 Take a stro ll acro ss the bridge from Car rollt on to Nor th Car iques, filled from ceili ng to greater area of commerce. Bro wse for antiques at Rayburn’s Ant f loor with ever y imaginable treasure. or keep sake. Visit The P ickett Fence or Anderson’s P harmacy to find a fun gift ppe just acro ss from the 3:00 Wal k back to Car rollt on for an ice cream at The Sweet Sho property of J.Z. George Car roll C ount y C ourt house. Drive out to C oteswort h, the hist oric (best to call ahead for hours) outside of town owned by 4:00 Drive to C oach’s. Ant ique store or museum? This old home just ory and C oach’s colorful C oach Jenkins is near ly iconic in the area. Packed, packed with hist stor ies.
5:00 Ear ly dinner at Charlie Ray’s on Highway 82.
42 DeSoto
Located in North Central Mississippi and approximately eight miles east of the Mississippi Delta on U. S. Highway 82, Carrollton is proud to be the ancestral home of two U. S. Senators, one of whom was J. Z. George, a primary author of the present 1890 Mississippi Constitution. Carrollton also proudly claims to be the home of native author Elizabeth Spencer as well as noted “blues� composers Shell Smith and Willie Narmour. Carrollton is one of the largest historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. There are approximately eighteen historic sites located around Court Square, making a walking tour an enjoyable event.
carrolltonms.com visitcarrolltonms.com northcarrolltonms.com cotesworthcenter.com
DeSoto 43
gift guide } fall boots
Fall Boots Lace Bootie from Volatile - $78 Blue Olive 210 E Commerce St, Hernando, MS 38632
Short black boot by Steve Madden - $98 Center Stage 324 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 38632 662-429-5288
662-449-1520
Cowboy Rain Boot by Corky’s - $39 Center Stage 324 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 662-429-5288
Suede lace-up bootie Pellie by DV- $90 The Pink Zinia 134 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 662-449-5533
44 DeSoto
gift guide } gameday fashion
Gameday Fashion Go Tigers! Top by Hourglass Lilly - $44 Necklace - $22 Janie Rose Boutique 5627 Getwell Rd, Southaven, MS 38672 662-510-5577 Hotty Toddy! Top by Fashion Spy - $49 Center Stage 324 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 38632 662-429-5288
Statement Necklace $30 Mimi’s on Main 432 West Main Street. Senatobia, MS 662-562-8261
Necklaces by Beaucoup Designs - $42-$50 Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey St Hernando, MS 662-469-9026
Hail State! Dress by Everly - $38 Janie Rose 5627 Getwell Rd, Southaven, MS 662-510-5577
DeSoto 45
gift guide } tailgating
Tailgating Bottle Poppers Ultimate Bottle Opener - $16 Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey St Hernando, MS 662-469-9026
Towels by Hanging By A Thread - $20 each Mimi’s on Main 432 West Main Street. Senatobia, MS 662-562-8261
Shatter resistant Dinner plates by Magnolia Lane - $12 each Square Cupboard 328 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 662-449-2686
University of Memphis Tiger Cups - $12 a sleeve Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey St Hernando, MS 662-469-9026
Wickles and Captain Rodney’s glaze. Merry Magnolia 194 E Military Rd, Marion, AR 870-739-5579
46 DeSoto
DeSoto 47
48 DeSoto
A House
d i v i d e d Team Loyalty and Love Andrea Brown Ross Photos courtesy of Steven Pittman and auburnfootball.com
hen the first football game was played in the fall of 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton, who knew just how popular the game would become or how team loyalty could produce everything from friendly rivalry to fanaticism. As one of America’s favorite past times, football season has become a time of camaraderie, to sing in unison to the school fight song, to cheer on players, and to “high five” complete strangers when the team scores. But what happens when the one you love, the one you’ve vowed to stick by for better, or for worse, roots for the other team? Mid-South couples share how they survive and enjoy football season…in a house divided. Brandi Malin of
W
Hernando, Mississippi, discusses the friendly football rivalry with her husband, Stephen. “I graduated from Mississippi State University in December 2000. I have always been a huge State fan and knew from a very young age that I wanted to attend MSU. My husband, Stephen, has always liked the Ole Miss football program. Most of his family live in Arkansas and are die hard Razorback fans, so when Houston Nutt came to Ole Miss, it only gave him more reason to cheer for his Rebs!” Malin reassures that the ‘house divided rivalry’ is all in good fun. “We host an Egg Bowl party every year. We started this tradition four years ago, and it is something that we have continued and look forward to every year. We both basically DeSoto 49
live for football season, and this big game gives us a reason to entertain our favorite football friends with good food, fun and a little competition!” As many fans like Malin explain, it’s not always about a dollar or the need to win. “We don’t necessarily make bets or wagers on the game, we just both want the ‘bragging rights!’ As a rule, when State and Ole Miss are not playing each other, we cheer for the Mississippi team playing. But on Egg Bowl Day, we are truly a house divided.” Just like the football team prepping for game day, Malin describes how they prepare for the big game. “We start planning the Egg Bowl party in August. We order football-themed invitations and spend hours online and in stores shopping for Ole Miss and Mississippi State decor. We have dishes, tablecloths, streamers and even our Baggo game set fits our theme. Wardrobe is also important for the big day. We want to make sure we are decked out in our colors to show our team spirit. Of course, I’ll have my cowbell as part of my outfit. I even bought my English Bulldog, T-bone, his own MSU jersey!” Sometimes the rivalry can encompass familial generations. Such is the case for the Locke family in Batesville, Miss. Royce and 50 DeSoto
Fran Locke, owner and operators of Double L Fish & Steak located in Sardis Miss., have a dining room dedicated to the opposing teams. Fran explains the reasoning behind the house divided room in their restaurant. “We dedicated that part of the building to a sports room where games can be watched while customers dine. It’s a reflection of the good healthy football rivalry in our family. We also think it represents a good portion of our customers, and everyone feels comfortable rooting for their team. The room is literally divided by team décor. Of course, it can get complicated when both teams are playing and the games are being broadcast simultaneously. We end up flipping channels quite a bit. We also sell Ole Miss and Mississippi State décor.” Fran and Royce’s son, Brian, is an Ole Miss fan, while his wife, Ginger, hails from Mississippi Sate. Brian explains the dynamics of the rivalry. “The Ole Miss side of the family is composed of the male members with the exception of one of my brothers. The ladies in the Locke family are Mississippi State fans.” Brian believes living in close proximity to Oxford contributes to the family’s partiality to Ole Miss. “Growing up, we often attended home
DeSoto 51
games and some away games.” Royce discusses how the rivalry gained momentum when one of his three sons decided to attend Mississippi State. “My wife, Fran, was already a Bulldog fan. When one of our sons chose to attend Mississippi State, it really upped the ante during football season. We look forward to the Egg Bowl.” Brian says the Egg Bowl is a family tradition. When he and his wife were dating, they attended an Egg Bowl game. Brian teases about what happened when he realized his wife was not a Rebel fan. “I prayed for my wife when we were dating, and I realized she was a Bulldog fan.” Ginger counters. “I started to fall in love with Brian, before I found out he was an Ole Miss fan.” Even love couldn’t convert one another to their favorite collegiate team, so they still continue a fun rivalry as a married couple. Brian explains their antics. “Since we’ve been married, we have made bets with each other, such as the losing team has to wear the opposing team’s apparel for a month. I hang up Ole Miss memorabilia around the house to provoke my wife. She will then promptly put on a MSU shirt in retaliation. It’s a constant ‘Hotty Toddy, Hail State’ back and forth during football season.” When they are unable to attend the Egg Bowl, they meet at the home of Brian’s parents. Brian describes the annual get together. “Everyone wears their favorite team’s jersey. We cook out, and even some of the extended family will come over. It’s ‘game on’ then! We look forward to who will get bragging rights until the next Egg Bowl.” Still, in the end, true love conquers all. “When football season is over, we all still love each other,” says Fran. So even though true love prevails in the end, perhaps a small tweaking of the traditional marital vows is in order for rival couples as they wed. Perhaps, “I…take you…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.” Or, at least until the next football season.
When football season is over, we all still each other.
Love 52 DeSoto
DeSoto 53
A dish from the National Shrimp Festival’s Restaurant Challenge
54 DeSoto
The Great Delta Bear Affair
it’s
US F E STIVtime! Story by Chelle Ellis
Photos courtesy of the mentioned festivals
Of autumn’s wine, now drink your fill; the frost’s on the pumpkin, and snow’s on the hill. - The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 1993 People have always celebrated bountiful harvests and the end of the annual growing season with festivals. Festivals have grown to include the off-beat, with some of the quirkiest in Mississippi. Here are a few that stand out in the crowd:
Mississippi Peanut Festival - Collins, Mississippi:
When: Saturday, October 4th, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 5th, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission: $10.00 (includes admission to pumpkin patch and maze and a free pumpkin) Expected Crowd: 4,000
Mitchell Farms is celebrating its 4th annual year of the peanut festival where visitors can enjoy live entertainment, more than 100 art and food vendors, and tours of historic log cabins, equipment, antiques and artifacts. Tour a working peanut and pumpkin farm, learn about the peanut and observe how they are cleaned and sacked. And you can do all of that while enjoying delicious boiled and starched peanuts or peanut brittle. DeSoto 55
This year will include the newly added Tiny Town, a play area set up with eight different buildings designed for kids. The playhouses include a church house, school house, fire house, hotel, country store and mayor’s mansion patterned after Dunleith, located in Natchez, Mississippi.
talent, from locals and residents of nearby counties to compete for a scholarship.
For more information visit mitchellfarms-ms.com or call (601) 765-8609.
When: Saturday, October 25th – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: Free Expected Crowd: 400 to 500
National Shrimp Festival – On the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama: When: Thursday, October 9th - Sunday, October 12th Admission: Free Expected Crowd: 250,000
The National Shrimp Festival is in its 43rd year and one of the nation’s largest outdoor festivals offering fine art, arts & crafts, a retail marketplace, outdoor village, and shrimp from more than 300 vendors. Live music is available from two stages while kids can participate in fun activities and the creation of art at the Children’s Activity Village. Saturday, October 11th, is a jam-packed day beginning with a 10K/5K run benefiting local public schools, then a familyfriendly sand sculpture contest which includes prizes of cash and trophies. Saturday also ends the 6th Annual Restaurant Challenge where competing restaurants offer their best shot at recipes with the main ingredient of Alabama wild shrimp.
To learn more visit: myshrimpfest.com
Leland Frog Fest – Leland, Mississippi:
The 4th annual Leland Frog Fest celebrates Kermit the Frog and creator Jim Henson, who through his rearing in Leland, became inspired to create his green, felted buddy. The kidfriendly festival (which takes place at the original Rainbow Connection Bridge) offers hands-on arts activities for children of all ages, a train ride, inflatables, and a touch-a-truck event, where kids can touch and climb into: a helicopter, fire engine, police vehicle and farm implements. Additional activities include the children’s fun run, art contest and costume contest. Adults can find entertainment as well with an afternoon of Southern music, art and food vendors, the Deer Creek Chili Cook-off and the Deer Creek Grand Prix, a four-mile race that ends in big prizes. The festival is over at 4 p.m. but you can make a full day trip by driving on to Rolling Fork, Mississippi, where The Great Delta Bear Affair occurs that same day and into the night. For more information visit: lelandfrogfest.com
Also on Saturday, October 11th, the festival runs its second annual Shrimp Festival Idol Contest, featuring the best youth 56 DeSoto
DeSoto 57
The Great Delta Bear Affair – Rolling Fork, Mississippi:
When: Saturday, October 25th - 9 a.m. until Admission: A $3 donation is requested but not mandatory Expected Crowd: 5,000 – 6,000 The Great Delta Bear Affair was started in 2002 on the 100th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous bear hunt in Sharkey County, Mississippi, which launched the creation of the Teddy Bear. During that trip, Roosevelt refused to shoot an injured bear, stating that it would be unsportsmanlike. The 13th annual festival will feature live music by Eden Brent of Greenwood, Mississippi, and Mr. Sipp of Vicksburg, Mississippi – winners of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge, 2006 and 2014 respectively. This bluesrich line-up has festival organizer, Meg Cooper, very excited. “We’re thrilled to celebrate ‘Muddy Turns 100’, as this year would have been the 100th birthday of Muddy Waters. He was born here in the Rolling Fork area,” Cooper said. The Teddy Bear Color Run will prestart the festival at 8 a.m., followed by a prehistoric mound driving tour guided by retired archaeologist, Sam Brookes. Closely following are various activities for children, a magic show, and a demonstration of Mississippi snakes with Terry Vandeventer. Enjoy art, food and a visit with emcee and Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, Case Hicks. You can finish the day off by taking in the annual bear carving performed by world champion chainsaw artist, Dayton Scoggins and the fireworks show at 7:30 p.m. For more information visit greatdeltabearaffair.org or call (662) 873-6261.
Sweet Potato Festival – Vardaman, Mississippi: Saturday, November 1st – Saturday, November 8th Admission: Free Expected Crowd: 10,000 to 12,000 58 DeSoto
The 41st annual Sweet Potato Festival goes on all week but the first Saturday of November will bring a crowd that makes walking down Main Street Vardaman nearly impossible. The day will begin downtown where a 5K Run/Walk takes place, but most everyone will come for the arts and crafts portion of the festival. The festival features 300 or more vendors from all over, wrapping down the inside and outside of Main Street, twice. An additional shorter street is set up for foodonly booths. Maxine Blue has been organizing the festival most of its years and believes she’ll soon have to add another street for vendors that vie for a spot in the giant crowd of shoppers. Blue describes the activity of 12,000 people, “We’ve had photos of the crowd on the streets, and it’s packed full. Busloads of people come for Arts and Crafts day.” The Arts and Crafts Festival begins at 7 a.m. and closes down at 3 p.m.; so much has to happen in little time. There is serious sweet potato business to take place: a sweet potato tasting booth, sweet potato pie eating contest and judging of entries for washed/waxed bushels of Vardaman sweet potatoes and the best Potato Creature - a creature carved from a sweet potato. In other contests, judges must consider candidates for antique tractors, art, photography and writing while local bands entertain the crowd, and put them in the mood for the Vardaman Fire Station’s famous barbecued chicken dinner. Sunday, November 2nd through Friday November 7th is reserved for the Sweet Potato King/Queen Pageant. On Saturday, Novemeber 8th, the festival will choose its winner of the original sweet potato recipe contest and later that evening give a presentation of awards at the Sweet Potato Festival banquet at the Vardaman Gym. An auction of the 2014 Sweet Potato Quilt will take place, as well as after dinner entertainment. To learn more visit: vardamansweetpotatofestival.org DeSoto 59
60 DeSoto
DeSoto 61
Big Bob Gibson’s Pork Chicken Combo
62 DeSoto
Arkansas
On the Fly
Story by Lazelle Jones Photography courtesy of Jamie Rouse
Feature: Jamie Rouse Fly Fishing
In Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”, protagonist Santiago does battle with a huge 18’ marlin in the middle of Florida’s Gulf Stream; in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, Captain Ahab fights a great white whale to his own death. Today in Arkansas, real-life character Jamie Rouse has been stalking trophy trout, walleye and hybrid bass for more than 20 years. For those in the real world who have a similar passion to land aquatic trophies like the ferocious, fighting brown trout and possibly garner a personal best or possibly even a world record, the Ozarks in Arkansas is the place to go. More specifically, the Little Red River and Greers Ferry region of this bucolic paradise is where fishing routinely happens. DeSoto 63
Located in Heber Springs, a two and a half hour drive from Memphis, Tennessee, Jamie Rouse and the fishing guides at Jamie Rouse Fly Fishing Adventures have earned the distinction of being the only Orvis endorsed guide service in Arkansas. Anglers worldwide know this is the place where achieving a personal best record brown trout is totally possible. During one of Rouse’s fly fishing trips, even the complete novice who wants to learn how to fly fish can have a first time experience where catching 40 or 50 fish routinely happens. The rivers boast browns, rainbows, smallmouth and hybrid bass. Rouse hosts only catch-and-release guided fishing expeditions using flies with barbless hooks when fishing certain techniques. He prefers the barbless approach when the potential of a fish risk taking the hook deep exists. With a barbless hook, an angler can quickly remove the hook and returned the fish to its home. However, Rouse has been known to fish a single barb when out roaming with big streamers looking for large predatory fish. Every fish caught on a Jamie Rouse guided fishing trip has the fly removed, measurements and photographs taken, and then released. So, how big do the brown trout in the Little Red River get? In 1995 a world record brown was landed here that weighed 40 pounds 4 ounces. Estimated to be about 20 years old at this stage in the life, these fish are purely carnivorous and eat fish that can be up to one third their own size. When asked why these Ozark trout grow to be so big, Rouse explained. “It’s simply because the rivers and lakes here in the Ozarks don’t freeze over and the fish can grow year round,” said Rouse. 64 DeSoto
Rouse loves to share one fish story that, despite the reputation of fish stories, he attests is true. One morning while working a trip with one of his guides, each landed--within hours of each other-- a brown trout that weighed approximately 27 pounds. All by itself a trophy fish like that makes the day if not the year. Ironically, on the other guided fishing expedition a second angler landed a trophy brown trout estimated at 22 pounds. “This kind of occurrence just never, never happens,” said Rouse. But in this case it did. Rouse’s fly fishing adventures feature three different styles of fishing. One is called “streamer fishing” that utilizes a huge fly with a barb that is used to go after the trophy fish. The second style of fly fishing is called “nymphing” where a small handtied fly with a barbless hook replicates a bug moving about below the surface of the water. The third style of fly fishing is “dry fly” fishing where a tied fly with a barbless hook is treated with a compound that keeps it floating on the surface of the water. When presented to a fish a dry fly leads them to believe that a bug (insect) is no longer in the nymph stage, but is an adult insect that is floating on the surface of the water. Rouse also designs and ties flies, many of which are offered for sale to anglers in fly shops around the country. Tied flies, with interesting names like the J Dub Sowbug and Rouse’s Poodle, are large streamers that are used to go after the big ones. Jamie Rouse Fly Fishing Adventures is endorsed by the Orvis Company and has won several awards including 2007 Guide of the Year and 2012 Guide Service of the Year. This relationship with Orvis has attracted guests from all over who want to experience the wonder of the Ozarks.
DeSoto 65
Rouse and his wife Kati, who runs the business while Rouse is out guiding have two children who are also getting involved in this family business. But for Rouse and Kati, “family” is broader than just the four of them. His brother-in-law is a true “foodie” and chef who hosts a catering service called Fish Food who not only caters all the food for each of Rouse’s clients who spend a day of chasing a trophy, but Fish Food also provides this catering service to other guiding companies in the area. The commitment to the local community goes beyond their immediate family because the Rouses see the community as being part of a broader, more extended family. All of their drift and power boats are fabricated and manufactured for them by Supreme Boats, a local boat builder. Jamie Rouse Fly Fishing Adventures also works with an ozark outfitting and apparel manufacturer called Fayettechill Clothing Company who provides functional apparel to Rouse and the crew. They also have a local fly tying expert tie the many unique flies Rouse and his crew create. The anglers who return to Jamie Rouse Fly Fishing Adventures have grown into a family of fly fishing enthusiasts who anchor themselves around both the unique natural opportunities of the Ozarks and enduring friendships with the entire Rouse team.
www.jamierouse.com
66 DeSoto
“
I “ t’s simply because the rivers and lakes here in the Ozarks don’t freeze over and the
fish can
grow year round.
Jamie Rouse DeSoto 67
68 DeSoto
Behind the Bottle Kentucky Bourbon Trail offers rich glimpse into regional culture, landscape and history
I
By Cheré Coen
Photos courtesy of bourbontrailexplorer.com, kybourbontrail.com & bourbonblog.com
It sounds like a dream, the ultimate tourist destination for those who love spirits — the alcoholic kind. But the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is very much real, a marketing success story begun by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association in 1999 that’s now attracting millions of visitors worldwide. The “trail” winds through the bluegrass regions known for crafting bourbon, home to cities such as Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown and including bourbon distilleries such as Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses and many more. Many northern Kentucky restaurants serve up bourbon-infused meals and because it’s horse country, it’s always mint julep time at Churchill Downs and Keeneland racetrack.
Bourbon beginnings
Early Kentucky settlers incorporated crops into producing whiskey, utilizing corn and other grains grown in the bluegrass state along with the region’s limestone-rich water. Farmers shipped their whiskey from Bourbon County, heading the oak barrels downstream to places such as New Orleans. The extra aging time plus its unique ingredients produced a delicious whiskey. Because the barrels were stamped from Bourbon County, the name took hold and became known as Bourbon whiskey. There’s a lot of reasons why Kentucky makes great bourbon, said Bourbon Trail director Adam Johnson, including the DeSoto 69
limestone water. He credits factors such as Kentucky’s four seasons which adequately age the bourbon, plentiful corn, numerous bourbon suppliers and a long history of production. “We’ve been doing this a long time,” Johnson said. “We make 95 percent of the world’s bourbon. And I think that history and heritage does come out in every bottle.” Bardstown, Kentucky drew distillers in the 1770s, followed by Louisville, Frankfort and Owensboro. Today, there are distillers throughout Kentucky but Bardstown remains the hub, titled “The Bourbon Capital of the World.” Congress officially recognized Kentucky bourbon as “America’s Official Native Spirit” in 1964. According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, bourbon production “generates more than $125 million in tax revenue each year” and “nearly 2.5 million visitors from all 50 states and 25 countries” have visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in the last five years alone.
Get out your glasses
Since the Trail includes numerous distilleries in a large region, Johnson recommends spending at least three days to see them all. He and his staff can offer suggestions based on 70 DeSoto
favorite brands, level of bourbon expertise and other attractions appealing to tourists. Johnson suggests starting in Louisville, then traveling down to Bardstown and coming back up to Lexington. Along the way are both distilleries and the beautiful Kentucky countryside. “Louisville is our gateway city to the Bourbon Trail,” Johnson explained, but the rural scenic drives remain the number one positive comment by Trailmakers. Accommodations in Louisville range from the elegant historic Brown Hotel, one of Travel+Leisure’s “500 World’s Best Hotels,” to the upscale Louisville Marriott East, a fourDiamond, bourbon-themed hotel that features a bourbon suite with bourbon barrel décor and a bourbon of the day at Charr’d Bourbon Kitchen and Lounge. Start your bourbon tour at Evan Williams, located along Louisville’s historic “Whiskey Row” downtown. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience offers tours and a tasting room, including a guided tour that explains the bourbon-making process and a Speakeasy Tour celebrating the last days of Prohibition in Louisville. While downtown, check out the beautiful examples of
DeSoto 71
cast iron Victorian-era buildings, then stop for small-batch bourbon truffles at Art Eatables or a number of fine restaurants incorporating bourbon in their cuisine, part of the Louisville Urban Bourbon Trail. Another favorite stop close to downtown is Louisville Stoneware, in business since 1815 and offering factory tours, paint your own pottery experiences and a retail store.
Turkey in Lawrenceburg. To get a sense of Bardstown’s history, visit the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in historic Spalding Hall, next to the Bardstown Historical Museum, also a must see. The Getz Museum includes bourbon memorabilia by Getz and other distillers, George Washington’s mill stone, Carrie Nation’s hatchet and other historical pieces.
Bardstown
Lexington
Bardstown remains one of the most charming historic towns, one of the reasons why it was named “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” in the Best of the Road Competition sponsored by Rand McNally and USA Today. It’s also home to several bourbon distilleries. Get a threehour, behind-the-scenes tour of bourbon production at Heaven Hill Distilleries, which includes a film, a working rickhouse (barrel aging warehouse) and tasting in the Parker Beam Tasting Barrel. Make sure you sample the Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage, which won five “Whiskey of the Year” awards. Another lovely single barrel bourbon comes from Four Roses, which offers free private tours of its distillery by appointment. Other area distilleries include Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont, Maker’s Mark in Loretto (purchase a souvenir bottle and you can dip the top in the signature red wax), and Wild
72 DeSoto
No trip to Kentucky would be complete without viewing horses and in Lexington the Kentucky Horse Park offers a variety of equine events plus three museums, carriage rides, horseback riding and more. There’s also thoroughbred racing at Keeneland and horse farm tours. Distilleries in the area include Town Branch Distillery, named appropriately for the stream running through Lexington which contains that important limestone essence, and Woodford Reserve Distillery in neighboring Versailles, the oldest working bourbon distillery in the country and a National Historic Landmark. Woodford hosts several tours, including a “Corn to Cork” educational tour, and a restaurant serving Kentucky cuisine such as country ham and barbecue. While in Versailles, spend the evening at the Woodford Inn bed & breakfast with easy access to Lexington attractions.
Everything in between
There are so many other towns to visit between these three cities, it’s best to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail web site kybourbontrail.com and get a feel for what each offers. You’ll also find a page for events and programming, a handy app for smart phones and suggestions for accommodations and restaurants. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail also offers a sister trail for craft distilleries, known as the Craft Tour. Nine distilleries throughout Kentucky make up the list, from old distilleries to new kids on the block. “What makes the Craft Tour fun is you have people in different stages of life, so to speak,” Johnson explained. For instance, tourists can watch bourbon coming off a still into a bucket at Barrel House Distilling Co. in Lexington, he said. Make sure to pick up a passport at any of the distilleries or tourism centers, then have your book stamped at each distillery. Once your passport is complete, mail or return it to the Trail office for a free T-shirt. As Johnson mentioned, the back roads of Kentucky are some of the most spectacular in the nation. Take time to enjoy the rolling bluegrass, dancing thoroughbreds and peaceful rural life.
DeSoto 73
homegrown } oxford candle company
Making Good Scents
A
Oxford Candle Company
Story by Andrea Brown Ross Photos by Oxford Candle Company and Adam Mitchell
According to scientists, smells can trigger strong reactions in the brain, affecting moods, enhancing school or work performance, and even influencing someone to buy a home. Is it any wonder then The Oxford Candle Company has found success combining candles, scents and pottery? Located in Oxford, Mississippi, the family company operates through the hard work of owners Chad and Anna Brown. This full-time venture is mostly a family affair, with their two young daughters pitching in to help at times. In fact, family is the reason Chad, a South Carolina native, ended up in Oxford. A military transfer placed his stepfather in charge of the ROTC at the University of Mississippi. After a few years, it was time to transfer again. However, Chad had decided he was ready to set down roots. “I was at a point in my life where I was old enough to take care of myself and I had fallen in love with small town living in Oxford and I was not about to move anywhere else. I stayed 74 DeSoto
behind by myself and my family moved away. I have made Oxford my home and I have lived here since 1996.” Chad explains how his family became involved in candle making. “I’m the type of person that likes to try my hand at things that interest me--just to see if I can do it. Most of the time I find out that I can do it, then I move on to something else. I stuck with the candle making because of the pottery which is another challenge all in itself. Now I have a handmade product from the candle to the container and can offer a retailer an American made product that they can offer to their customer base. There is a huge sense of pride to be able to produce a product from raw materials.” The Browns opened the company in August 2013. By October of that year, their products could be found in retail locations. Currently, Oxford Candle Company sells in more than 70 retail locations from Texas to Florida. Chad describes the materials used in their candle making process.
“You first need to choose what type of wax you want to use. We did not want to use a paraffin wax, because it is a solid derivable from petroleum, coal, or shale that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules. Paraffin wax is a dirty candle and not friendly to our environment or home. Paraffin wax has its advantages to selling to the consumer because you can create a stronger smelling candle with it.” Although other well-known candle companies use paraffin wax, the Browns chose to go the natural route. “We, on the other hand, wanted to use a natural wax, such as a soy base wax, that is clean burning and friendly to our environment and customers. We also use ecofriendly wicks in our candles. We have been able to achieve a strong smelling candle, but we have to use more fragrance which makes it more expensive to make. All of our candles are hand poured.” Then, those crucial scents come into the process. “We currently have 40 candle fragrances, and trying to figure out what people want is the biggest trick of all, simply because as humans, we are all different and prefer different scents. We have our top selling fall and top selling spring scents and both of those categories will consist of eight scents each for the top sellers. Some of the customer spring/summer favorites include Savannah, Passion, Pure, Seaside Escape, Citrus Zest, and Tropical Fruit. Our customers’ favorites for the fall/winter include Apple Toffee, Morning Jo, Snickerdoodle, and Twisted Pumpkin.” Undoubtedly, the fragrances help sell the candles, but there is yet another unique element to their candles, the pottery containers. “We currently have five different designs for the pottery containers. We have containers that have a cross, owl, state of Mississippi, fleur de lis, and palm tree. We are always looking ahead and making plans to add more styles to our candle line. The pottery is all made here by us in Oxford.” Chad further explains how the pottery makes their candles one of a kind. “Each container is handmade and is different from the other, sort of like a snow flake. We make all of our glazes from our own recipes and the containers are food, oven, and microwave safe after the wick tabs have been removed. You have a reusable product, and a product that can be repurposed.” Chad believes this makes their candles a great gift for any occasion. “When someone buys one of our candles for a gift, the person receiving the candle is getting two gifts in one.” Cynthia Hollingsworth has been selling Oxford Candles at her shop, Cynthia’s Boutique, in Hernando, Miss., for almost a year. “These candles make a great gift for any occasion. Birthday, house warming, wedding, teacher appreciation, or just because!”
Visit oxfordcandlecompany.com to find a retailer near you.
DeSoto 75
in good spirts } hot toddy
Hot Toddy By Diane Donnelly
Photo courtesy of 213nightlife.com
A lways carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake. - W.C. Fields 76 DeSoto
The Drink: Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is typically a mixed drink made of liquor, water, sugar, spices--and served hot. Traditionally drunk before going to bed or during wet or cold weather, the drink varies. Some believe the drink relieves cold and flu symptoms. In “How to Drink”, Victoria Moore describes the drink as “the vitamin C for health, the honey to soothe, the alcohol to numb.” The University of Mississippi, Ole Miss football fans know the words ‘Hotty Toddy’ well as it is the lead lyric in their most famous cheer. At The Grove on game days, a hot toddy accompanies traditional southern fried chicken, seafood dishes, pork, homemade dressings, barbeque, boiled peanuts, veggie spreads, chili, dip, sandwiches, mashed potatoes, stuffed eggs, and of course, more drinks.
History: Toddy originally referred to the juice or sap from various palm trees in India that were fermented and distilled to produce the alcoholic beverage called arrack. Toddy could have been introduced into Scotland by a retired member of the British East India Company. A well-named Todian Spring, or the Tod’s well which supplies Edinburgh with water, is mentioned in a poem by Allan Ramsay in 1721. Ramsay noted that Scots brought “kettles full of Todian spring” to a tea party, “rather than tea from China or sugar from Amazonia or West Indies”.
The Mixology: Americans usually think of a classic “Hot Toddy” as one that has been made for decades with bourbon or a blended whisky. Bourbon has a more robust flavor, where brandy makes the drink sweeter. An Irish version has brown sugar, Irish whiskey, a lemon slice, cloves and hot water. A spicier toddy has bourbon, ginger liqueur, honey, lemon juice, and hot water. Apple brandy is mixed in a hot apple toddy. And for a delicious tropical toddy, try a rum hot toddy made with a sweet orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier, and a hit of lime juice.
Recipes:
Even your grandmother can make a hot toddy-and probably did on a chilly fall evening. Bartender Carrie Smith at Kelly English’s Magnolia House in Harrah’s Gulf Coast concocts a Hot Toddy as follows:
“In a cup of hot water, put a tea bag, one shot of the whiskey of your choice (that’s one ounce of liquor), a teaspoon of honey, and a lemon slice.” Carrie said, “Most people use it to open their chests, or their sinuses.” Chef and restauranteur Kelly English quotes Larin Culp, “Manager, Bartendress, and BossLady” of The Second Line in Memphis:
“We serve a Hot Toddy with bourbon, hot tea, lemon, and honey; and we dress it with a cinnamon stick!”
DeSoto 77
table talk } bardog
Bardog owner Aldo Dean
Memphis’’Bardog Tavern - still top dog Story and Photography by James Richardson
Someone let the bar dogs out in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.
Bardog Tavern, founded in 2008, has since been named Best New Bar in 2009 by the Memphis Flyer and Best Bar Staff by Memphis Magazine in 2013, as well as winning the Best Happy Hour award. So what is this place? A dream incarnate thanks to owner, architect-turned restauranteur Aldo Dean. Located at 73 Monroe Avenue, which is between Main Street and Front Street, Bardog Tavern has become a popular destination. Bardog owner Aldo Dean credits its success to his staff. “They are super!” 78 DeSoto
Dean was born in New Jersey, educated in New York City, and he tended bar through college. He majored in English literature and creative writing, but never got tired of bartending. He has gained a wide range of experience both in New York and in Memphis. “I learned here in Tennessee that someone can’t be in a bar without food. So, when we decided to open Bardog,
we could have had a less expensive venue with burgers and fries, but we put together a nice menu that people here, all the business people, could enjoy at lunch,” said Dean. Aldo has opened two other eateries in Memphis, the Slider Inn in Midtown and Aldo’s Pizza Pies on Main Street with another soon to be opened in Memphis’ Cooper Young District. “We cater to a cross section of society -- to the banker, to the writer, the artist, the biker, and the construction worker,” said Dean. “At different times of the day, Bardog especially reflects different parts of society. In the morning, we’ll have a lot of third shifters. Cops and nurses will come in. At lunch, we’ll have secretaries and such. In the evenings, there will be the younger crowd, locals mostly. I think this is the number one local bar in Downtown Memphis.” Dean also explained the name for Bardog Tavern. During his research, he read about the saloons of the Old West and learned that their bartenders were called “bardogs.” Hence, the name. Registered nurses from Methodist University Hospital, Jesse Gill and Natalie Nichols come to Bardog at least once a week after work. They eat breakfast and hang out with friends. Both like the bacon and egg sliders with spicy mayonnaise and Pepper Jack cheese. Natalie likes to add french fries with Aioli sauce.
Executive chef John Haley says the sliders are one of the restaurant’s most popular items on the menu, along with their “Amazing Island Club” and the meatballs. “I like the idea of our daily specials for lunch and dinner. It allows for the culinary freedom of food ideas we don’t normally have on the menu, like fried grouper poor boys and jalapeno johnny cakes.” Bardog’s menu has a lot of s’s: snacks, salads, supper, soups, supplements, sandwiches, sweets, and sippers. And breakfast. Manager Ruby Renfro, who along with the chef has been at Bardog since it opened, explained regular events. Every Monday the Salty Dog Running Club meets. Poker night is on Wednesdays. Annual events include the Alley Party to celebrate their anniversary, and the Bardog Breakaway 5K, where as many as 1,000 runners participate. Proceeds from both annual events benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. On Halloween each year a hearse is given away. Other tenants share the three-story building on Monroe, one of which is The Little Tea Shop. The interior of Bardog’s has mirrors over brick with a black ceiling. The main or ground floor is actually the second floor and allows smoking. The lower floor, which has a similarly stocked bar, but is non-smoking, is used for events, banquets, and the Wednesday poker night.
Bardog first shift bartender Brittany Bloom
BARDOG TAVERN 73 Monroe Avenue. Memphis, TN 38103 901-275-8752 www.bardog.com Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 3 a.m. Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. - 3 a.m. Kitchen: Closes one hour before the Bar closes DeSoto 79
exploring events } september Delta Fair and Music Festival August 29 - September 7 Delta Fair has something for everyone to enter. With a brand new Cupcake contest, along with national contests that are always fun to enter and win great awards. Men are invited to try out their best Chili recipe in a challenge to the ladies - Get your entry form in today! Daily demonstrations of crafts, culinary skills and Ask A Master Gardener always provide something to see. Everyone wants to win our beautiful Best of Show rosette, and you could be Delta Fair’s next Best Cook. Start planning and creating today for Delta Fair 2014! www.deltafest.com Strawberry Plains Audubon Center’s Hummingbird Migration & Nature Celebration September 5-7 9:00am - 5:00pm Holly Springs, MS Native plant sale, Hummingbird banding, kids tent, guest speakers and wagon rides. www.strawberryplains.audubon.org 662-252-1155
Wings Polo Classic (Benefitting Wings Cancer Foundation) Sunday, September 14 2:00 - 6:00pm Memphis Polo Club 2650 Stinson Rossville, TN Get your seersucker, sundresses and derby hats ready for one of the biggest parties of the year! www.wingscancerfoundation.org/polo 901-322-2984 Alcorn County Fair at the Crossroads Arena September 16-20 2800 South Harper Road Corinth, MS Fun for the entire family. Carnival, art, quilts, canning, livestock judging, bull riding and petting zoo. www.alcornfair.com
Tunica Roadhouse Free Concert Series FireHouse September 6 9:00pm 1107 Casino Center Drive Tunica Resorts, MS 800-391-3777
158th Annual Mid-South Fair September 19-29 Landers Center 4560 Venture Drive Southaven, MS Enjoy carnival games, amusement rides, outdoor live entertainment, contests, fair food and petting zoo. www.midsouthfair.com 901-274-8800
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan Grits and Glamour Tour September 6 8:00 pm Fitz Casino Tunica 711 Lucky Lane Tunica Resorts, MS www.ticketmaster.com
37th Annual Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival September 20 Washington County Convention Center Greenville, MS www.deltablues.org 888-812-5837
43rd Annual Germantown Festival September 6 and 7 Germantown Civic Club Complex 7745 Poplar Pike Germantown, TN More than 400 local and national arts and crafts vendors along with foods, games, kiddie rides, community attractions, live stage entertainment and new car exhibits will be on display. 901-757-9212 www.germantownfest.com 80 DeSoto
Music City Food + Wine Festival September 20 & 21 The second annual Music City Food + Wine Festival is where national top chefs, winemakers, and spirits experts meet with local talent to give you a taste of Nashville’s vibrant culinary scene. Just like its inaugural year, your schedule includes an exclusive weekend filled with bites and beverages to sample and savor, over 30 demos and panels with incredible talent, and enough southern character that will make Music City feel like home for your taste buds. www.musiccityfoodandwinefestival.com
The Wrecking Ball September 20th, 2014 6 pm-10 pm The grounds of Chalmers will come alive with a host of artists, authors, musicians and historians who have donated their appearances for the evening. The Ball will not only highlight regional cultural treasures, but also provide dinner and beverages and a silent auction featuring regional art! www.preservemarshallcounty.org/wrecking-ball/ Tallahatchie Riverfest September 25-27 New Albany, MS Free concerts, arts fair, green market, kids row, food and Faulkner www.tallahatchieriverfest.com 2nd Annual Eagle Fest Saturday, September 27 10:00am - 5:00pm Dub Patton Area, Arkabutla Lake 3905 Arkabutla Dam Road Fun for the whole family. Interactive wildlife exhibits will highlight imaginative ways to teach children of
all ages the fundamentals of caring for and enjoying nature. www.facebook.com/DeSotoEagleFest 5th Annual Historic Rose Hill Cemetery Tour Saturday, September 27 10:00am and 6:00pm Meridian, MS www.historicrosehillcemeterytours.com For more info: 601-483-9752 Free and open to the public. Learn about local and Mississippi history through the arts of drama and storytelling.
Eagle Fest, Saturday, September 27
DeSoto 81
reflections } blues
calling all kids Story by Karen Ott Mayer
Years ago, I’m driving down the road with my young nephew who sat silently gazing out the back window. Over my shoulder, I heard him call my name. “Aunt Karen, why do those people keep fighting over in Israel?” Considering this question just followed on the heels of two others which covered the reason we didn’t have one religion in the world and the state of education, I wondered what was driving this under-10 child’s brain. “Well, they’ve fought for years over a piece of land they each call their own.” He thought a moment. “Why don’t they just draw a line down the middle and share it?” Ah, the beauty of youth. Simplistic clarity and complete trust. As this school year cranks up, this same child starts high school, and in typical teenage fashion, has expressed more excitement about the all-you-can-eat buffet than any other aspect of his impending learning career. It’s an idea worth following: What if we just let kids suggest solutions to all our adult problems? Recently, I heard on the radio that among the international conflicts, the dwindling working class and the failing educational system, now we all need to be concerned with “the state of play” in our country. As a non-parent, I can’t even conceive of what parenting entails these days. Looking in from the outside, it seems as if our emotions are clouding our judgement to the point of nonsense. The commentator went on to say that swings are now being taken down due to fear of injury, that adults are so fearful we’ve restricted play to the extent that our children have little opportunity to go wander, play and be kids. The entire piece focused on this new place designed just for kids where they’re allowed 82 DeSoto
to swing a hammer or build, run or jump unfettered. Maybe I’m just getting old and slow, but isn’t that what we called a playground? When this same nephew visited the farm over the years, he came with a list of rules. During a conversation with my sister as she reiterated her wishes, I asked her one question. “Do you want me to just keep him inside and read to him all weekend?” She paused. “Yes, that would be fine with me!” We had to laugh at that point. Somewhere, we reached a point of compromise and I came up with my own parenting plan based on complete inept-non-parent ideology. We had one farm rule. “What’s the rule?” I asked him upon arrival. “To be safe, Aunt Karen.” That seemed to cover it for us. Being safe, it’s what we all hope for as kids leave for their first day of kindergarten or step onto a high school football field with monstrous opponents. Back at the newly-crafted idea of a playground, the commentator interviewed young boys. “What do you like about this place?” One little guy pondered the question and then answered. “It’s like the whole place was designed by kids, just for kids and no adults.” As the new school year begins, the question of how our children learn and grow will be at the forefront of many minds. While educational bureaucracy, the latest teaching technique, or the best private schools may promise to mold these brains, sometimes promises fall short. It matters not to me if my nieces or nephews make all A’s or come out of school as a solid C student. What matters most in my mind is they try hard and always seek to remain curious learners who can appreciate the depth of knowledge and culture in our world.
DeSoto 83
84 DeSoto