And ..We have $100 gift cards to Georgia Blue for @JennsJ55 @mcackett @berly Beth Temple, Ali Miller & Susan Bolian. Thank you all for using the Connection

To help celebrate the great success of the past three years, we are offering an unprecedented array of prizes this summer from July 12th- August 26th. Just take a picture of yourself using an offer at one of the businesses in the County Connections and post it on our Facebook Page (CountyConnections) or Twitter (@countyconnect). Everyone who posts a picture will qualify for great weekly prizes.

Some of the weekly prizes are:
1. $20 Gift Cards to Bravo, Broadstreet & Sal and Mookies
2. $25 Gift Cards to Pelican Cove
3. $25 Gift Cards to Olga’s Fine Dining
4. $25 Gift Cards To Georgia Blue
5. $25 Gift Cards to Parlor Market
6. $25 Gift Cards to Babalu
7. $25 Gift Cards to Table 100
8. $25 Gift Cards to Five Guys Burger & Fries
9. $55 Gift Cards to The Rogue
10. (1) 4 pack tote of sparkling wine Govino glasses from Vintage Wine Market
11. (1) 4 pack tote of wine Govino glasses from Vintage Wine Market

Plus much more!!!

And we’ll wrap up the season August 26th with a grand prize worth $1,000 or more!

The Grand Prize will include:
1. $25 Gift Card to Table 100
2. $25 Gift Cards to Five Guys Burger & Fries
3. $50 Gift Card to Pelican Cove
4. $50 Gift Card to Olga’s Fine Dining
5. $50 Gift Card to Parlor Market
6. $50 Gift Card to Mezza
7.$100 Gift Card to Bravo, Broadstreet & Sal and Mookies
8. $100 Gift Card to Georgia Blue
9. $250 Gift Card to The Rogue
10. 1 Hour Massage from Massage Envy – Flowood
11. (1) 4 pack tote of sparkling wine Govino glasses & (1) 4 pack tote of wine Govino glasses from Vintage Wine Market
Plus much more!!!

We will be adding prizes every week so check back often!!

You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CountyConnections
You can also follow us on twitter @countyconnect

This is the first of many great things coming from County Connections this year. Stay tuned for more!

The message is simple. Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) is doing such a good job that the amount of blood they distribute every year has almost doubled in the last decade.

MBS distributed 68,000 units of blood in 2000, and in 2010 they distributed 126,000.

What’s even more amazing is the fact that the demand for blood has outgrown the supply. In fact, of the 126,000 units distributed last year, only 69,000 were collected in the service area. The rest had to be purchased to keep up with demand.

MBS provides blood to more than 50 hospitals across the state, and to some in Arkansas and Tennessee. Technically, the company is a not-for-profit pharmaceutical company regulated by the FDA and licensed to distribute a perishable product to hospitals. MBS is the only blood service headquartered in Mississippi.

Growing, Growing, Growing
MBS started modestly, in a former grocery store in 1979. Demand drove the supply up and they moved to their larger location in a former furniture store on Lakeland Drive in 1996. And now Mississippi Blood Services has moved into its third facility on Tree Top Road. The new, two-story 52,000-square-foot building features two freezers, two sub-zero freezers, dedicated donor areas and flat-screen TVs with live shows and movies to enjoy while blood is being drawn. To strengthen outreach to potential donors, the company has eight buses that make 150 trips a month across the state to collect blood.

The size of the new MBS home brings greater capacity as well as improved efficiency. Now inventory can flow from donation to storage to distribution more easily. Additional space also means that in times of crisis or increased need, locally or out of state, they have the ability to handle the extra capacity.

It’s Never Been Easier
While donating blood may not be at the top of your list of leisure activities, once you understand the impact you can have in a short time, it makes it one of the easiest decisions you will ever make.

The entire experience takes less than an hour and the needle prick takes less than a second.

The equipment used is completely safe and you can’t catch a disease from the process. Before you donate, you get a “mini physical,” with MBS techs checking your iron level, your blood pressure, your temperature and your pulse.

Every visit earns you cookies and juice!

Additionally, donors and donor groups get supplemental insurance to help cover blood related costs should they ever be in need.

Donor incentive plans to encourage donations include:
The Family 1 Plan: Provides supplemental insurance for the donor and his or her immediate family when you donate at least once annually.

The Family 2 Plan: Provides the same supplemental coverage to another family chosen by the donor when you donate at least once annually.

The Group Plan: Provides the coverage to a business or other group when 25% of the members donate blood at least once annually.

A DECADE OF GROWTH!

2000 68,000 Units Distributed
2010 126,000 Units Distributed

Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) is a not-for-profit blood service, founded in 1979. Their new offices are located at 115 Tree Street in Flowood. They can be reached toll free at (888) 90-BLOOD. Hours are: Mon.-Wed. and Fri. 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Sun. by appointment only.

When Maya Mahouli was a child in Sidon, Lebanon, she stood in the kitchen at her mother’s elbow, the aromas of her country fragrant in her nose. Standing there, she watched, listened and learned about the cuisine of her homeland. Today, those same scents drift through the air at Mezza, Mahouli’s new restaurant on Main Street in Madison. The journey from child novice to executive chef has been non-traditional, but the flavor and the quality of the food tell their own story.

Mahouli started Mezza out of a desire to bring authentic Lebanese cuisine to the Metro Area. A computer specialist by trade, education and training, Mahouli immigrated to America and began working in that field. Once she realized that life behind a desk was not for her, Mahouli left desk life to cook at Petra Cafe in Clinton. After Petra, she joined Bravo in Jackson to strengthen her culinary chops and gain valuable experience in order to start her own business.

The commitment to cooking the cuisine of her youth drives Mahouli in the execution of every one of her dishes. Tabouli, moussaka, foul, hummus, kibbih. All of these Lebanese mainstays are executed with authenticity and care. Mahouli seeks a balance of authentic flavors in a variety of recipes. Mezza is one area of the menu that encourages exploration. Meaning “small plate,” mezzas offer customers a chance to sample several menu items at a time, discovering new flavors and combinations of food. Passing small plates around and feasting together encourages conversation and a family table atmosphere to be enjoyed by all.
The menu also features items more accessible to children’s palate’s like hamburger rolled in pita bread and chicken strips. There is an open wood fire oven, too, where children can watch from bar stools as the chef prepares delicious, fresh pizzas cooked amongst the glow of the flames.

Fresh Fish, Head On
Mahouli also presents to her customers a dish rarely seen here in the West–a whole fish grilled with the head still on. The whole fish is truly a feast for a group. It comes with a variety of mezzas and salads. Mahouli states, “the flavors, the textures and the aromas are intoxicating”. Currently, the whole fish is served only on Saturdays, but Mahouli plans to make it a staple — and a favorite — every day of the week. Feasts of roasted goat or lamb are two more Lebanese specialties that diners can call ahead to arrange.

Houka, Y’all!
Another cultural emblem of the Middle East that Mahouli is excited to introduce to the area is the houka bar. With an ample deck on the side of the restaurant, Mahouli looks forward to patrons enjoying the atmosphere of the houka pipe during the warmer months here in Mississippi. To add to the enticement, Mezza has a happy hour featuring meal and drink combos. If you order a drink and a houka pipe, you can enjoy a free appetizer or a 20% discount on food. Features change weekly, so be sure to contact Mezza for the latest specials.

Currently the restaurant sells beer and has a brown bag license for customers who love wine. Soon a full bar will be open, though personal bottles of wine will still be allowed for a corking fee. Mezza also caters parties and weddings, bringing Lebanese flavors and festiveness to these special events.

Mezza is located at 1896 Main Street in Madison. You can call them at (601) 853-0876. They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and are ready to serve you, your family and your friends.

Enjoy Comfortable Food in a Relaxed, Cool Environment.

As Georgia Blue’s reputation grows, word is beginning to spread about some of its coveted recipes.
And at a restaurant that takes special care to develop and serve delicious food at a welcoming price, there are many dishes to try. In fact, when they first opened, Chef Zack Athearn and entrepreneur Jason Ishee weren’t sure which dishes might gain the largest number of fans. The grilled Mahi? The select steaks? The Gorgonzola chips? Who knew?

As it turns out, one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant has an ecclesiastical beginning, a touch of persistence, and a side helping of innovation–the St. Columb’s-style Red Beans & Rice.

Award-Winning Recipe Meets Entrepreneurial Spirit
For years Ishee had been enjoying the best red beans and rice he had ever tasted. Period. Served during church dinners at St. Columb’s Episcopal Church in Ridgeland, Ishee feasted on the dish for years, wondering what could make it taste so good. When he started working with Athearn on Georgia Blue, the idea of those red beans and rice just wouldn’t leave his mind. So he went to the cook to ask him a very
important question.
“I asked him if I could have his recipe,” Ishee said. “I told him I wouldn’t share it with anyone, but I just thought it was the best I had ever had. He said it was an old family recipe and he had to think about it. So a month later I asked
him again.”

Soon the caretaker of the recipe relented. Just a little. He agreed to hand over the base of the recipe, the foundation if you will. And upon that foundation Athearn would construct his own version of red beans and rice.

Sloooooow Foooooooood
For Athearn, making the recipe his own made it all that much better. It was an act of combining the right ingredients and the right amount of cooking time. And that cooking time is a long, long time.

First comes the sausage. Thirty-two pounds of it, to be exact–22 lbs of Kielbasa and 10 lbs of ground Italian.

When Poland meets Italy in the pot, delicious things happen.
To that is added red beans, then the requisite slow cooking. Once the beans are done, some of them are removed, mashed to a paste, seasoned, then added back. The result is a ramping up of the thickness and the flavor alike. The seasoning, by the way, is a proprietary blend, as is the homemade hot sauce that
is added.

Topping it all off, literally, are a grilled Kielbasa, homemade croutons, and a colossal crab claw. And Athearn said the crew just can’t keep it
in stock.

“It is a top seller,” he said. “We sell out every week. I had no idea when we started making it that it would be this popular.”

Georgia Blue was created to bring people together with finely crafted meals at an affordable price, in a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place for family, friends, buddies or business. You can enjoy staples like burgers, steaks and salads–ribeyes, mahi mahi, and more. Or just go for the red beans and rice–and make it a favorite of yours!

Georgia Blue Café is located in Colony Crossing Shopping Center in Madison.
The Café is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun-Wed, and 11 a.m.-12a.m. Thur-Sat.
For a menu preview, visit www.georgiablue.net,
call them at (601) 898-3330, or find them on Facebook for blue plate specials and other event updates.

This notable cocktail was not always associated with bourbon, but since its introduction in Washington, D. C., by Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky at the Round Robin Bar in the Willard Hotel, the bourbon version has grown legs. This signature cocktail of the Kentucky Derby is one of the most well known drinks in the world and has even achieved a $1000 per-glass price tag for a special version of the drink sold only at the Kentucky Derby. The special Derby Mint Julep was introduced in 2006 and is actually served in gold-plated cups with silver straws featuring a specially selected batch of Woodford Reserve Bourbon (www.woodfordreserve.com) served over ice from the Bavarian Alps, with fresh mint from Ireland and sugar from Australia. Proceeds from this upscale cocktail go to charitable causes that support retired race horses.

While Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, it is Early Times Kentucky Whiskey (www.earlytimes.com), a Woodford Reserve sister brand produced by Brown-Forman, that is used to make the Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby. It is said that Churchill Downs serves over 120,000 of these Derby juleps over a two day period!

Ready for some fun? Just prior to the Kentucky Derby there are several special Derby editions of bourbon that become available. Brands such as Makers Mark, Woodford Reserve and Early Times have all released special Derby editions, sometimes at a higher cost with additional proceeds going toward thoroughbred retirement causes. These coveted editions are hard to come by and a delight to find and offer to guests as the Run for the Roses takes place in Kentucky. Touted as the most watched two minutes of sports, the Derby, also the first of three races in the Triple Crown, offers a splendid opportunity for people across the country to entertain and celebrate.

Locally, Chris Clark of Vintage Wine Market offers an impressive selection of both bourbons and whiskeys, as well as a knowledge base that is sure to impress the most astute bourbon enthusiast. He and his trained staff can help you choose the perfect selection for your Derby event, and can offer suggestions that take you all the way from sippin’ to mixin’ to sugared-up and minted.

This first recipe and other classic cocktail recipes are chronicled in Southern Cocktails: Dixie Drinks, Party Potions and Classic Libations.

Mint Julep
Ingredients:
6 – 7 fresh mint leaves
1 Tbsp. simple syrup
2 oz. bourbon
Crushed ice
Tools: bar spoon

Preparation:
Combine mint leaves, syrup and bourbon in a glass. Using a bar spoon, crush the mint to release its essence into the liquid. Fill the glass with ice. Gently press the spoon into the ice, shaking it to incorporate the bourbon-syrup mixture. Garnish.

Traditional Bourbon Mint Julep
Ingredients:
Mint (leaves and sprigs)
Granulated sugar (to taste)
Bourbon
Crushed or shaved ice

Preparation:
In an Old-Fashioned glass, Collins glass, high ball glass or julep cup, add mint leaves, granulated sugar and crushed or shaved ice in the bottom. Crush the ingredients together. Fill with bourbon. Top with crushed or shaved ice. Stir well. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

The Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby
Use Early Times Kentucky Whiskey instead of bourbon and serve in an Official Kentucky Derby Glass.

The Special $1000 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep
In a gold-plated julep cup, use Bavarian Alps ice, Irish fresh mint leaves, Australian sugar and Woodford Reserve’s choice bourbon if you can get your hands on it! Garnish with a sprig of Irish mint and a silver straw.

Interesting Twists
Finish the original recipe with a couple of dashes of Fee Brothers Mint Bitters.
Substitute 1 oz. of Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur for the simple syrup.

Consumption
If using a silver or pewter julep cup, hold the cup at the rim or base and allow main body of cup to frost.

For more information on bourbon whiskey, flavors and suggestions contact Chris Clark at Vintage Wine Market in Ridgeland, Mississippi at (601) 605-9199. One of Mississippi’s newest, best, unkept secrets, Vintage Wine Market (www.vintagewinemarket.com), is located in the Renaissance Center next to Fresh Market and provides choices as well as expertise when it comes to their ever expanding selection of bourbon whiskeys. www.facebook.com/VintageWineMarket

Ridgeland, Mississippi, has earned great recognition for its excellent police force. The Ridgeland Police Department has State Accreditation, awards and public recognition fueling their well-deserved reputation. Their professionalism and phenomenal response time have earned them this honor with both citizens and those on the wrong side of the law.

Mayor Gene McGee, mayor of the City of Ridgeland since 1989 states, “Our community has benefited greatly from the quality of our police protection. The entire City is proud of the job our officers do and the reputation they have achieved.”

So what does it take to create and sustain a police force of this caliber? According to Ridgeland Police Chief Jimmy Houston, who has served in three cities for five mayors during his exemplary 36-year career, it is four things: community policing, raising leaders, solid administration, and aggressive external funding.

The Ridgeland Police Department has State Accreditation, awards and public recognition fueling their well-deserved reputation.

Community Policing
Chief Houston, who has spent his entire career in law enforcement, learned long ago that the community is the key to being effective. He learned that by taking care of the residents and really listening to their concerns, he has been able to establish a relationship of trust and cooperation.

The Chief recalls a story from his experience with the Jackson Police Department. A neighborhood had a formidable “open air” drug problem. The traditional strategy is to apply a forceful approach and embark on an aggressive search and arrest program. The Chief found out from residents that they in fact had two problems. The first was the drug issue. The second was a trash pickup problem. Trash was not being handled and was accumulating; creating problems for the residents. Jimmy Houston called and had trucks out the next day cleaning up the trash issue. Within a few weeks, the police department was getting calls from the community helping them find and arrest the source elements in the community. It was a clear case where police work was solved in cooperation with the community. Together they handled the trash problem and drug problem to turn around their community. According to Houston, “It was something a show of force could not have accomplished with the same degree of effectiveness and permanence.”

Raising Leaders
Leadership is critical to any police organization. All departments must run smoothly and have a leadership presence, especially when someone is absent. Recognizing your strongest employees and “training them up” has been a mission of Chief Houston’s from early on in his career that he tries to instill in his staff. He believes in building leadership in the department so that the department as a whole becomes empowered and is better able to protect its community. Houston states, “I am proud to say there are several officers within the Ridgeland Police Department that show great leadership ability.” In fact, during his career, Houston has mentored two officers who have in turn become chiefs of their own departments.

One of those officers is none other that Johnny Dewitt, who is the celebrated Chief of the Flowood Police Department. Chief Dewitt worked with Chief Houston from 1997 to 2000 at the Flowood Police Department as Lieutenant of Operations. According to Chief Dewitt, one of the things Chief Houston taught him is that “you have to look for goal-oriented people who want to lead and put them in positions to make important decisions and learn how to lead in the process.” He also commends Chief Houston’s ability to see the bigger picture and to encourage others to do
the same.

Solid Administration
It takes more than police work to run a department. The administrative function is the backbone of the force. Administration is the key to organization and enables officers to focus on their jobs. Administration helps to strategically place officers where they are most needed. According to Chief Houston, “ Accountability is the golden rule, from patrol officer to Chief and from Chief to patrol officer.”

Funding
The Ridgeland Police Department has taken an aggressive approach to securing grants and external funding. According to Mayor Gene McGee, “Our police force has greatly benefited from external funding. It has allowed our department to upgrade our technology and put more man hours on patrol. The City of Ridgeland has always pushed for innovative solutions to traditional problems.” And the Chief is is pleased too. Every police unit in Ridgeland is equipped with video. His officers are able to submit reports remotely, turning paperwork and travel time into patrol and visibility time.

“Our officers are safer.Our citizens are safer. We have helped relieve the tax burden and have developed a world class police department. Everyone wins.”

- Chief Houston

Thanks to great leadership and guiding principles, Ridgeland residents and business owners sleep better at night knowing they have one of the finest police forces protecting them around the clock.

Is Your Business a “Go To” Place for Something? Just One Thing? You Should Be. This and Two Other Golden Rules to Do Business By.

Even with care, treatment and regular cleaning, teeth can develop cavities or become fractured. As long as they are used, teeth are vulnerable to stains and decay. When patients need help with decay, dentists use the time-honored method of filling
the teeth.

While filling teeth has been used as a method for hundreds of years, current methods of repair are more advanced than ever.

The question that dentists face with their patients is whether to go with the traditional method of filling — known as amalgams — or the newer method called composites. The differences are material and color. Amalgams are a metal made of a silver-tin alloy, copper and mercury. Composites are a composite resin designed to roughly match the natural color of teeth.

Silver or White?
Though metal amalgams have been used historically around the world, fear began to spread about the material in the latter part of the 20th Century. Awareness of the dangers of mercury have made that metal and the harm it causes top of mind for many. And with the knowledge that mercury was a component of amalgams, a negative association was natural. Research has shown these fears to be unfounded, for while mercury on its own can be toxic, when it bonds with other materials in an amalgam, it is neutralized and is harmless. Studies about the release of mercury from normal wear of chewing and grinding show that five fillings release about the same amount of mercury as is found in a tuna sandwich.
There is also the cost factor. Amalgams can cost up to 25 % less than composites. They also may last longer, depending on a variety of factors.

Amalgams
The main argument against the use of silver fillings is aesthetic. Depending on where the tooth is located, the appearance of an amalgam filling may be less attractive than a more natural-looking composite filling. Also, for some patients the feeling of metal in the mouth may be displeasing. Over time, like most metals, silver fillings will eventually corrode and even leak causing decay to reoccur underneath the fillings. There is also a slow expansion that amalgam undergoes and the part of the tooth next to the filling may fracture over time, necessitating a much larger filling, a crown or even extraction of the tooth, if the fracture runs vertically down the root below the bone.

Composites
Composite fillings are primarily a resin which has been “filled” with other inorganic materials. This compound makes a composite filling more resistant to wear, helps it be color adjustable, and makes it easier to polish.
The advantages of choosing a composite filling include a more natural appearance, frequently a strengthening of the filled tooth, and a bonding of the filling to the tooth creating a better seal. The disadvantages are that composite fillings themselves are weaker and may last a shorter period than an amalgam filling. In addition, a composite filling may cost about 25% more
than amalgam.

Composites can develop what is called dissolution. They dissolve slowly over time regardless of whether you eat on them directly. They also can discolor over time, acquiring a yellowish tinge, and may become pitted, leaving pinholes on the surface, which may pick up stains.

You Make The Call
Ultimately, you should work with your dentist to make the decision that’s right for you. Dr. Andrew Achord of Achord Family Dentistry helps his patients make these decisions on a daily basis. Dr. Achord says it’s important to consider the facts and realize that neither solution is right for everyone. The facts for each individual will point to the right solution for that person’s situation.

To help prevent cavities and other dental related diseases and conditions, put your dental plan into place at Achord Family Dentistry located at 290 Lakeland Drive Suite C in Flowood, Mississippi. Dr. Andrew Achord also holds a degree in immunopathology. His areas of focus include restorative dental care, diseases of the mouth and their effects on the rest of the body, and dental treatment for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

You can also visit www.achorddentistry.com or call (601) 664-0492 to schedule an appointment.

Surprising Familiarity

Born out of a desire to give popular, delicious food an unexpected twist, Georgia Blue goes several steps beyond, melding atmosphere and menu into a dining delight. Chef Zack Athearn, who is regularly featured on Fox 40 and Friends, wanted to combine atmosphere, great recipes and fresh ingredients into a holistic dining experience.

“We have pretty much the best food you can get at this price point,” Athearn said. “Most of our price competitors use a lot of frozen food. Here we make almost every dish with fresh ingredients. We break down our own steaks, we use local produce and protein whenever possible. Honey, blueberries, Vardaman sweet potatoes. We bring them all to the table when we create a dish.”

The menu reflects this determination. Take for instance the Crispy Smoked Duck. It’s served with sweet potato risotto, blueberry reduction and Mississippi Hoover Sauce. This surprising dish combines the familiar with the new for a flavor profile that pleases yet keeps you guessing.

Bring The Kids!

As carefully conceived as Georgia Blue has been, Athearn said one aspect of its success that has perhaps surprised him is the amount of success with families. Given the location in Colony Crossing, the fit is actually a natural. Madison is a haven for families and as they travel to and from home and school and sporting events. They inevitably end up eating out. And many of them are making Georgia Blue their go-to place for the meal out, whether for lunch or for dinner.

“We found out that families love to come in because the kids can find things they enjoy on the menu and parents can have a delicious meal in an atmosphere that is fun for everyone,” Athearn said.

Heart Rooted Firmly In The South

The feeling of the South completely permeates Georgia Blue. You find it in the sweet tea. You find it in the cabbage that takes the place of lettuce on the burgers. You even find it in the license plates that have been crafted into baskets for the fries, Gorgonzola chips and other appetizers and sides.

With blues music warming up the evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it’s apparent that the inner child that lives in Georgia Blue is a child of the South. And, the dishes that seem to be the most popular carry a bit of the South within them. The shrimp po-boy, the Blues Burger, and the grilled mahi-mahi remain favorites at lunch. And in the evenings, the mahi dinner is staying strong, as is the ribeye and the shrimp and grits.

If you’re ready for food prepared with care in an atmosphere that’s relaxing and welcoming, find your way to Georgia Blue. Most likely your friends are already there!

……………………………….
Georgia Blue Café is located in Colony Crossing Shopping Center in Madison.
The Café is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun-Wed, and 11 a.m.-12a.m. Thur-Sat.
For a menu preview, visit www.georgiablue.net, call them at (601) 898-3330, or find them on Facebook for blue plate specials and other event updates.

While the chocolate lover’s tooth and the oenophile’s palate might seem incompatible to some, many who appreciate the one find a way to love the other as well. But too often this gustatory viewpoint is limited in its scope. As a result, many people think chocolate and Cabernet Sauvignon are the only acceptable pairing of wine and chocolate. In truth, a richer, fuller variety of combinations is available to all who want to explore. And what better time to start the journey than on Valentine’s Day, and in the weeks beyond?

To get past the Cabernet Sauvignon delusion, it helps to open up to other things: sparkling wine, Champagne, Madeira, port and dessert wine. Below are our top wine choices for Valentine’s Day. Plus, some tasty, and perhaps pleasantly surprising, pairings.

Bricco Riella Moscato d’Asti

• Fresh Strawberries
• Strawberries & Chantilly Cream
• White Chocolate Mousse

Banfi Rosa Regale

• Dove Milk Chocolates or Dark Chocolates
• Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate Truffles
• Milk Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Duval Leroy Champagne

• Dark Chocolate Truffles

Roederer Estate Brut Rose

• High Cocoa Content Chocolates

Broadbent Madeira

• Dark Chocolate
• Vanilla Chocolate Crème Brulee
• Chocolate Covered or Pure Caramel

Broadbent Auction Reserve Lot 1 Port

• Coffee Chocolate Truffles

Pacific Rim Framboise

• Chocolate Cheesecake

Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls

• Dark Chocolate
• Dark Chocolate Tarts

Alvear PX

• Chocolate Bread Pudding with a Crème anglaise

If chocolate is not your thing then don’t forget there are other fun things to do. For example, Champagne cocktails are a delight that can warm the heart.

Champagne cocktails

Sence Limoncello Sparkle

• 1 oz. Caravella Limoncello
• 1 oz. Sence Rose Necta
• 1/2 oz. Cointreau
• Cristalino Cava or you favorite sparkling wine

Kir Royale

• 1/2 oz.Briottet Creme de Casis
• Monte Vicor Cava or you favorite sparkling wine

Canton Royale

• 1 oz.Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
• Casteller Cava or you favorite sparkling wine

According to Chris Clark, Managing Partner and Sommelier at Vintage Wine Market in Ridgeland, “Each person will have their own individual tastes. There are many creative directions you can follow to help create the perfect Valentine holiday.”

……………….

For more information on Valentine flavors and suggestions contact Chris Clark at Vintage Wine Market in Ridgeland, Mississippi at (601) 605-9199. One of Mississippi’s newest, best, unkept secrets, Vintage Wine Market (www.vintagewinemarket.com, www.facebook.com/VintageWineMarket), is located in the Renaissance Center next to Fresh Market and provides choices as well as expertise when it comes to their ever expanding selection of wines, Champaignes and other beverage styles and choices.