On the Road: Starkville & Hattiesburg

By trade, I'm a Regional Sales Manager. I manage sales reps in 13 different cities across Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, & West Tennessee. Last week I hopped a plane from Raleigh-Durham to Jackson, MS (via Orlando) with my boss. We were part of the Mississippi State Career Fair in Starkville, MS & interviewed candidates all day before going our separate ways, me to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, & Texas A&M in College Station for him.

Although we have tight schedules, we found time to take in a few good places to grab a bite or a beer...after all, he's a bigger foodie than I am & is usually the person recommending the various places I try out each weekend.

Our first stop in Starkville was a popular burger joint downtown called Mugshots. We commented on how the building reminded us of NOLA, with its balcony overlooking downtown. The burgers were phenomenal.

For lunch the following day we enjoy some good ole BBQ from Little Dewey's. A pulled pork sandwich, corn, & peach cobbler is good for the soul.

That evening we treated ourselves to steak & a beer. We earned it. Harvey's was the spot. The beer was Sierra Nevada Torpedo & the steak was a NY Strip, rare w/ loaded mashed potatoes.

Now the road & work schedule do not always allow for the best eating. Many meals are consumed in the car while driving to the next location while simultaneously participating in a conference call. 

After finishing a full day in Hattiesburg & driving back to Jackson, MS to catch a flight home, I made excellent time of my work at the hotel & decided to explore Jackson, MS a bit. There were a few places on my Bottle List to try & check off!

I headed to The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs. Brent's Drugs is a breakfast join set up in an old drug store. The retro dinner gives off an eerie aura at night as people enter the abandoned restaurant, closed for the night.

Brent's holds a secret in the back of the establishment, past the freshly mopped floors & chairs stacked on their respective tables.

In the back, behind a door I a narrow hallway you'll find yourself talking to a hostess. She'll push back a heavy black curtain to reveal a speak-easy hidden in the back of this family friendly breakfast joint.

The Apothecary.

Easily some of the best cocktails outside of New Orleans. The knowledgable & creative bar tender dishing out mesmerizing concoctions, like Rum Old Fashioneds.

After consuming my fair share of rum & bourbon, I stepped outside to see a Tapas Bar directly infront of me, beckoning. 

Inside, my stomach yearned for lump crab ceviche & tacos the perfect late night snack. So as I savored my ceviche & Schlaffy IPA, I asked the bartender to surprise me with 3 tacos. She didn't disappoint when she delivered a plate featuring a carne de cerdo taco, shrimp taco, & redfish taco.

The hangover the following day was curbed by the fantastic tacos & ceviche.