A beautiful setting for Association of Food Journalists in Clarksdale at Oxbow
By POOR WILLIAM
CLARKSDALE, Mississippi – INCLUDES PHOTO SLIDESHOW
Known for blues, good eats and Southern hospitality, Clarksdale provided a heaping helping of all three last Friday night at downtown Oxbow Restaurant. The Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) held its annual meeting in Memphis last week with an optional side trip to Clarksdale, heart of the Mississippi Delta. Attendees stayed at the Clark House Residential Inn, the Shack Up Inn, the Lofts at the Five and Dime and possibly another spot or two.
The writers were treated to a walking tour of downtown by local historian Robert Birdsong, a tamale-rolling demonstration by Dreamboat BBQ, a visit to Rosalyn Wilcox’s art gallery and John Ruskey’s Quapaw Canoe Co., and the opportunity to hear some killa blues at Ground Zero Blues Club and Red’s Lounge. The 25-plus journalists, who dipped down into the Delta, also enjoyed a wonderful reception at Hayden and Erica Hall’s Oxbow.
Mississippi Development Authority Director of Tourism Malcolm White spoke about our creative economy while Mayor Bill Luckett and Cat Head Blues & Folk Art owner Roger Stole welcomed the food journalists from all over the U.S.
Vendors who provided sumptuous victuals at the Oxbow fete included the following: See menu below.
Menu for event at Oxbow Restaurant in Clarksdale for American Food Journalists
Cat Head Vodka from Jackson and Yalobusha Brewery and Lazy Magnolia—both Mississippi breweries—were on hand to augment the fine eats with equally fine libations.
The crowd was a fine mix of locals and touring journalists. One of the evening’s highlights for me was the delightful privilege of sitting at the table with Troy Catchings, Clarksdale Press Register photographer and a fine, fine man. All present had a good time and the journalists experienced Clarksdale’s welcoming spirit, awesome groceries and unparalleled blues. Y’all come on back, and be sure and say some mighty nice things about us when you blog! pw
PHOTO SLIDESHOW
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- Oxbow’s Hayden and Erica Hall finish presentation of Southern Smorgasbord for AFJ in Clarksdale
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- Local businesses contributed to the southern smorgasbord for AFJ at Oxbow
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- Dreamboat BBQ plate of ribs at AFJ event at Oxbow in Clarksdale
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- Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett welcomes the Association of Food Journalists AFJ at Oxbow
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- MS Director of Tourism Malcolm White visits with Dreamboat Jerry McCray at Oxbow for AFJ
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- Sweet Magnolia Hugh Balthrop, Dreamboat BBQ Jerry McCray, Press Register Troy Catchings at Oxbow for AFJ
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- Sweet Magnolia founder and owner Hugh Balthrop ready to serve the AFJ visitors his delicious ice cream at Oxbow in Clarksdale
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- Sweet Magnolia founder Hugh Balthrop visits with Yalobusha Brewing Company representatives at Oxbow
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- Clarksdale Mayor Assistant Heather Williams and Cat Head owner Roger Stolle at AFJ event at Oxbow
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- Beautiful Meghan Maike Young, server at Oxbow
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- Oxbow co-owner Erica Hall, Server Casey Hence, sous chef Israel Spralls
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- Dreamboat BBQ owner Jerry McCray at AFJ event at Oxbow in Clarksdale
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- Dreamboat Jerry McCray, Press Register Troy Catchings, Magical Madge, Sweet Magnolia Hugh Balthrop at Oxbow in Clarksdale
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- Meghan Maike Young, Casey Hence, Poor William Billy Howell, Dr. Erica Balthrop, Erica Hall at Oxbow AFJ event
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- Dreamboat Jerry McCray, Cat Head Roger Stolle, Mayor Assistant Heather Williams, Press Register Troy Catchings
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- Association of Food Journalists loading up their plates of southern cuisine in Clarksdale at Oxbow event
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- Association of Food Journalists loading up their plates of southern cuisine in Clarksdale at Oxbow event
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- A beautiful setting for Association of Food Journalists in Clarksdale at Oxbow
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- Association of Food Journalists mingle outside Oxbow before heading out on the town in Clarksdale
Read more about the event HERE.
Great coverage as always, y’all! That was a very cool “Delta Detour” night for AFJ (and some very lucky locals)… thanks to organizer Susan Puckett (and everyone else who cooked, talked, played or attended).
BIG thank you to Susan, for sho’! I betcha some of ’em come back. 🙂 https://deltabohemian.com/food-journalists-dip-down-delta/