tennis

Ten Fun Finds and Things

In the good name of procrastination, I’ve complied this post of fun things instead of writing about restaurants.

1. Cooking Wild in Missouri cookbook
Unexpected gifts are the best kind. The other day a friend sent us a copy of Cooking Wild in Missouri, a cookbook focused on using seasonal, local ingredients and meats. Chronicling their adventures of hunting, gathering and scavenging to work their way through all the recipes, they started their own blog, Woods to Food. Read their stories of true woods to table meals.

2. Zoya nail polishes
While scanning the deal headlines in my feed reader, I saw a post advertising a code for two free Zoya nail polishes for the cost of shipping. Normally $8 a piece, I got polishes in Jem and Dea for $6.95, a total savings of $16. I love those bargain blogs.

3. Pinkberry
Torn between feeling crushed and relieved, the nearest Pinkberry is two and a half hours away. I could eat it every day especially after being easily swayed by the numerous so-called health benefits. We had it twice in the same day in New Orleans, it’s that delicious.

4. Appetite for Jackson
On Saturday, January 28 from 2-9 p.m. I’ll be at the Art Garden downtown eating great food, listening to live music and maybe even sipping on a beer. Andrew Zimmerman from the Travel Channel will be there. The proceeds benefit the Craig Noone Miracle League. Can I say awesome?

5. Mississippi Warrior Dash
I was suckered in by the pit of fire and the Nordic helmet. Jackson hosts Mississippi’s Warrior Dash on April 21, and you can find me sinking in a mud pit or hurling myself over a wall.

6. Australian Open
Although there never is a true winter in the South, at least not to this Northern girl, I am excited it’s warming up outside and tennis season is starting up again. And nothing is more motivating to get back on the court than watching a little of the Australian Open.

7. Thirty-One umbrella
One a snowy evening in January many years ago, I arrived in the United States from South Korea and was welcomed into my family. Each year my mom commemorates my “Coming to America” day with a thoughtful gift and this year it was a personalized umbrella. Timing was perfect because it poured the next day.

8. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Please go read this book by Mindy Kaling. She writes likes she’s having a conversation – a hilarious conversation – which is an amazing feat. Her story felt so familiar and I believe we could be friends. You’ll want to be her friend too. (If you’re not convinced, she’s the Indian girl on The Office who writes, produces and acts.)

9. Prima Donna’s Closet
In New Orleans I scored the best find at a consignment store, Prima Donna’s Closet. Hiding among the racks was a Banana Republic black blazer, similar to the one pictured above. An equal original is currently selling for $158, I paid $19.

10. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Everyone needs to read this book. The story is nearly unbelievable except that it’s very much true and Louis Zamperini lives on. Laura Hillenbrand masterfully narrates Zamperini’s childhood, Olympic running aspirations and survival through World War II. I stayed up until 1 a.m. on a work night to finish this book because it is riveting beginning to end.

Can’t get enough of my lengthy ramblings? Then visit my list page!

Ajax Diner

Chicken and Dumplings Plate

The food is finer than football in Oxford.

During the first year I moved down to the South, my husband and I traveled to Oxford once to compete in the Rebel Man sprint triathlon. We managed to cross the finish line and eat out at a couple places, but time was limited and our focus wasn’t on food.

Since then, the University of Mississippi mascot has changed from Colonel Reb to a black bear and the football program has grown rockier than Lindsay Lohan’s career.

We virtually have no reason to wander that direction, but I found myself back up there this past September for a mixed doubles state tennis tournament. Although my primary purpose was tennis, I managed to squeeze in a few good meals.

Between two days, I ate an undocumented but nice dinner at Boure and lunch at Ajax Diner twice. Sadly I missed the team brunch at Big Bad Breakfast and left before hitting City Grocery, Snackbar, Taylor Grocery or Ravine. Five reasons to go back.

For our initial team meal before the matches started, we met up at Ajax Diner on the square. Once you walk into Ajax, it’s every man for themselves because they have open seating. We scrambled to piece together tables for our party of thirteen in a jam packed dining room.

Ajax features salads, sandwiches and po’boys, but I’d say their main specialty is plate lunches. They feature soul food and Southern staples such as red beans and rice with andouille sausage, pot roast, fried catfish and meatloaf. And throughout these two years in the South I’ve never been tempted to order a vegetable plate, until I saw their menu. They have twenty items under the Veggie category, even if that does include cheese grits.

I decided on the Chicken and Dumplings plate lunch, selecting turnip greens and upgrading to macaroni and cheese for the two side items. I wished there were more discernible pieces of chicken, but like most versions the meat was integrated into the gravy. The macaroni and cheese was creamy and the greens had a smokey touch. The portions are generous and a large square of jalapeno cornbread came perched on the plate, well worth the $11.

On the second day, we played hard and finished our final matches at a strange time, leaving us hungry and tired mid-afternoon. I tried to go to City Grocery (closed, and too sweaty for the dining room) and Bottletree Bakery (rented out for a private party) but ran out of luck. Then I found myself back at Ajax.

They were still doing a brisk business at off hours which only speaks well of their food. Feeling dejected from our losses I went with the Chicken Fried Steak plate lunch, ultimate comfort food worth the extra calories.

Next to a large chicken fried steak I got mashed potatoes, cucumber and tomato salad, more turnip greens and a homemade lemonade. I was extra worn out but everything on the second go around tasted extra delicious. The tangy cucumber salad and fresh, sweet lemonade cut the richness of the brown gravy drowned potatoes and meat. In fact, I tried not to eat the entire piece but couldn’t stop myself from cleaning my plate. This meal almost made up for our disappointing loss on the tennis courts.

If comfort food isn’t your dish, then there are plenty of other options to choose from. I would really have loved to try the Hot Tamale Pie at dinner.

Oxford is a small college town home to Ole Miss football, William Faulkner and some great Southern eats.

Ajax Diner
118 Courthouse Square
Oxford, MS 38655
Phone 662-232-8880
http://ajaxdiner.net