Meetings South, January 2007
Southern Swag
by Carolyn Blackburn
When planners book inland Mississippi, they might like to send delegates away with more than just fond memories. Read on to discover ideas for gifts that are native to the region. Jackson- Comeback Sauce: (601.948.0888; www.halandmals.com) Comeback Sauce, which is enjoyed at many local Jackson restaurants, can be purchased at Hal & Mal’s Restaurant and Brewery. It’s a tangy salad dressing, or sauce, for fried pickles and mushrooms—you can throw it on anything you’d like, really—that got its name from the old Southern expression, “Y’all come back now, y’hear?”
Meridian- Carousel Gifts: (601.483.2355; www.belk.com) Akin to the artsy cows that grace Chicago’s streets, visitors will find nearly 30 public art carousel horses (and other animals) throughout Meridian. The carousel animals’ presence is an offshoot of the famous Dentzel carousel—there are only three in the U.S.—located in nearby Highland Park, Miss. Belk, one of many shops in Bonita Lakes Mall, carries books filled with carousel pictures as well as six-inch-high carousel replicas.
Hattiesburg- Snaps: (601.582.9629; www.flathausfinefoods.com) Made in nearby Petal, Miss., by Flathau’s Fine Foods and gaining national recognition are the super popular Snaps powdered cookies. They’re so tasty, in fact, that they’ll be featured on the Food Network in January. Sold in miniature paint cans, delegates can enjoy various flavors, including peppermint, raspberry, key lime, butterscotch, and cinnamon. If you can’t make up your mind, order the Snap Pack for a delicious selection of four flavors.
Vicksburg- Storycook Cheese Straws: (601.636.0008; www.storycookfavorites.com) While you generally see cheese and crackers served with wine, in Mississippi, cheese straws (the same idea rolled into one) often show up alongside the vino. Planners can buy Vicksburg’s favorite cheese straw through Storycook Favorites, and they are also available at Peterson’s Art and Antiques store.
Greenwood- Mississippi Gift Company: (662.455.6961; www.themississippigiftcompany.com) Located in Greenwood, the Mississippi Gift Company is filled to its brim with Mississippi-made or -manufactured items that make great gifts, such as Fat Mama’s Knock You Naked Margartia Mix out of Natchez, Miss. Everything from stationery and salsa to pottery and preserves are found here. Specialty gift boxes and baskets are available as well.
Starkville- Aspen Bay Candles: (662.323.0929; www.aspenbaycandles.com) Visitors will enjoy poking around the showroom and store at the newly relocated Aspen Bay Candle Company in Starkville’s Cotton Crossing district. The company touts its varied special creations, from “practical to whimsical, as well as country to contemporary” candles, including scented varieties.
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I started here in late 2000, after spending about eight years covering the travel agent side of the industry, focusing on destination coverage. I’ve seen a lot of change in the time I’ve been in the industry, from the post-9/11 downturn to days of largesse and then the last recession, which I think has been by far the worst in terms of its impact on the industry.
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