I asked a couple of my favorite Chef’s to tell me where they ate and why… I hope you’ll enjoy these mini-posts as much as I did.
Chef Name: Jay Parmegiani-Chef and Owner at ROCA
Jay’s Pick: Pizza and Chicken Wings
Restaurant: Sal and Mookies
This is simple. As a chef a lot of people assume I always eat fancy food. Yes, I like quality, but this doesn’t have to mean there are luxury foodstuffs involved. My two favorite things to eat on my day off is pizza and chicken wings. Sal and Mookies has the best of both. I’m not sure what authentic New York style pizza taste like, but if this is it…it’s the best pizza I’ve ever had. It’s obvious that all the ingredients were made fresh in house, and then put on top of a crust I can’t even describe. The wings are perfect with a light crisp batter, hot sauce, and rich gorgonzola cheese dipping sauce. Normally I don’t like my wings battered, but these are the exception. It’s also a place where my three boys have no trouble picking anything off the menu.
Chef Name: Andy Cook, Chef at The Parker House
Andy’s Pick: Brisket and Fried Chicken; Pho
Restaurants: Lumpkin’s; Saigon
Ok, so here’s my pick. When I’m off work, I rarely crave extravagant food; I generally crave something with some soul, something that tells me something about the character or personality of the chef or owners. I have two picks and they are a tie: Lumpkin’s and Saigon. Lumpkin’s for two things: brisket and fried chicken, both are ethereal. And plus the staff, especially the owners, Melvin and Monique, they are the two people that truly seek to have a positive impact on everyone and everything around them.
Tied with them is Saigon restaurant, and their Pho, especially the number 1. It has all the goodies in it that scare the hell out of most Mississippians: tripe and cartilage (as well as raw eye or round beef, braised brisket and Vietnamese sausage. It served with rice noodles and the most amazing broth you’ve ever tasted. And then you get this side plate with bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapenos, and cilantro. This dish will sooth the soul. The other pho’s are great too, but this one has particular restorative powers. The owners there are warm and gracious hosts, and seem to have a genuine interest in getting to know there customers and they remember what your favorites are.
Chef Name: Dan Blumenthal – Executive Chef at Broad Street, BRAVO! and Sal & Mookies
Dan’s Pick: Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Sage, Maple Brown Butter
Restaurant: Walker’s Drive-In
Gnocchi is something that you almost never see in Jackson restaurants ( I used to do one at BRAVO!) and this one is particularly good with the sweet potato, butter and maple flavors melding into a deliciously rich and balanced appetizer. Pronounced nee-ookee, these are dumplings often made out of potatoes with flour as a binder. They are served as a pasta course in Italian cuisine, often with simple sauces including brown butter, gorgonzola-cream, pesto and tomato sauces.
Chef Name: Matthew Kajden
Matthew’s Pick: Clay Pot Cooking
Restaurant: Saigon, Vietnamese joint on Lakeland Drive
My favorite restaurant is Jackson is Saigon, it’s a Vietnamese joint on Lakeland. If you haven’t been there, you need to go. By far the best food and over all flavor in Jackson. They keep it simple everything is over rice or noodles, they have huge bowls of soup served with fresh veggies and herbs. They have tons of apps that are all authentic Vietnamese cuisine. But my favorite dish they have there is the hot pot. It’s an item that is not traditional Vietnamese food it actually dates back to Roman times. They call it clay pot cooking – back in the day they would soak an unglazed pot in water so that when you cooked the food or rice dish in it, the water would release and steam the food inside. It is SMOKING GOOD!!!! Everything they have there is good. One of my buddies who is a chef in town introduced it to me and it was introduced to him through another chef. My buddies name is Karl Gorline – sous chef at Local 463 and Dan Blumenthal from Bravo is the guy who told him. So when you hear about good food through good chefs, you go try it.
Saigon is one of my FAVORITE places to eat in Jxn. Sal & Mookies is always a staple as well!
I love the pho from Saigon and their rolls. In addition, I love thier Vietnamese bbq pork over rice. Yes sir!
Saigon is one of my FAVORITE places to eat in Jxn. Sal & Mookies is always a staple as well!
I love the pho from Saigon and their rolls. In addition, I love thier Vietnamese bbq pork over rice. Yes sir!
I like to see that master chefs crave regular food. I’m with Chef Cook; I crave soul food. People rarely cook like that at home these days. But obviously, I need to head to Saigon. Although, I must admit that I am one of those Mississippians that would be frightened by a RAW EYE! Perhaps I’ll go when I’m having a fear-factor moment. Great post!
I like to see that master chefs crave regular food. I’m with Chef Cook; I crave soul food. People rarely cook like that at home these days. But obviously, I need to head to Saigon. Although, I must admit that I am one of those Mississippians that would be frightened by a RAW EYE! Perhaps I’ll go when I’m having a fear-factor moment. Great post!
I too am pretty stoked to see Saigon mentioned. It is one of my top five favorite restaurants in Jackson. Spring rolls and Pho. You just can’t go wrong!
I too am pretty stoked to see Saigon mentioned. It is one of my top five favorite restaurants in Jackson. Spring rolls and Pho. You just can’t go wrong!
Great times at Saigon… One summer afternoon a few years back, and I met Frank Melton. He was entertaining a group of diplomats I believe from a sister city in Vietnam. Why he brought the Vietnamese govrnor to a Jackson Vietnamese restaurant, I’ll never know.
Frank’s personnal gift to the guy? Black leather cowboy boots.
Great times at Saigon… One summer afternoon a few years back, and I met Frank Melton. He was entertaining a group of diplomats I believe from a sister city in Vietnam. Why he brought the Vietnamese govrnor to a Jackson Vietnamese restaurant, I’ll never know.
Frank’s personnal gift to the guy? Black leather cowboy boots.
Saigon is sooo good. Haven’t been in a while. Now that it is getting cooler, may have to go get some soup or something. mmmmm
Saigon is sooo good. Haven’t been in a while. Now that it is getting cooler, may have to go get some soup or something. mmmmm
I am a chef, and i have to say after a long day of working or drinking i will hit Waffle House, and ANY Waffle House, it is always consistant… my family ever chirstmas eve after midnight mass head to waffle house, i think we are the only people in history to have a standing reservation at waffle house at the same table!
Bacon Egg And Cheese Sandwich on Texas Toast
I am a chef, and i have to say after a long day of working or drinking i will hit Waffle House, and ANY Waffle House, it is always consistant… my family ever chirstmas eve after midnight mass head to waffle house, i think we are the only people in history to have a standing reservation at waffle house at the same table!
Bacon Egg And Cheese Sandwich on Texas Toast
I’d like to know where Chef’s go after a long night out.
I’d like to know where Chef’s go after a long night out.
Saigon, La Morena, Edo, Sal & Mookie’s, Parlor Market, Walkers
Saigon, La Morena, Edo, Sal & Mookie’s, Parlor Market, Walkers
La Morena for Posole, Homemade Guac and those pickled onions with habeneros, or the Huarache (local diners eat this up). Ask for Ariel he owns the place and is happy to translate as very little english is spoken.
Saigon for Pho and Summer rolls with Vietnamese coffee slow dripped table side over Eagle Brand milk and served over ice. The Vietnamese pizza, the Vietnamese carpaccio salad if you are brave enough. Cannot be beat in town, period.
Char on Tuesday for the Fred Flintstone Rib Bone is probably best value in town.
La Morena for Posole, Homemade Guac and those pickled onions with habeneros, or the Huarache (local diners eat this up). Ask for Ariel he owns the place and is happy to translate as very little english is spoken.
Saigon for Pho and Summer rolls with Vietnamese coffee slow dripped table side over Eagle Brand milk and served over ice. The Vietnamese pizza, the Vietnamese carpaccio salad if you are brave enough. Cannot be beat in town, period.
Char on Tuesday for the Fred Flintstone Rib Bone is probably best value in town.