Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2016

DINING change of scenery
THE
SOCIAL
SUPPER
THE LAST SOCIAL SUPPER was held at the Selex Galileo facility at the Diamondhead Airport.
Nstory by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of The Magnolia Business Alliance
AN EDIBLE EXPERIENCE
Diners can enjoy good food while helping small businesses
o one can argue that Guess attended some events similar having a good meal in to Social Supper in New Orleans.
an unusual setting is an “We didn’t have anything like it here enjoyable experience. and I wanted to get local people and When that pleasure products involved. We’re keeping includes raising funds
CHEF WAS LOUIE FINN of Louie & The Redhead Lady with beverages provided by Lazy Magnolia.
WALT CLEIGHTON, Carol Cleighton, Shirley Sanger, Leon Sanger,
Joe Dudenhefer, Carol Dudenhefer and Mark Henderson.
restaurant that used the funds to buy tables and chairs and a boat owner who installed solar panels to convert his boat to a tour boat.
The next Social Supper will be held March 24 with location and chef to be determined. Please check these websites for updated information.
Magnolia Business Alliance
www.thesocialsupper.com www.magnolia-ba.biz 228.222.5922
to help small businesses, it’s even better. The Magnolia Business Alliance created Social Suppers to help fund
its grant program while spreading some cheer and good food. They plan to have the event each quarter with different businesses providing the venue, chef and beverages.
Natalie Guess, director of the Magnolia Business Alliance, said, “Social Supper is designed to create a unique experience for your taste buds in a place where you’ve never dined and with people you may have never met. Each quarter, the scenery, chef, food and beverages may change but the experience will remain one of a kind. We want to have it each time in a place where people can’t normally eat.”
The Magnolia Business Alliance is a not-for-profit corporation that acts as
a support organization and forum for the advancement of small and medium businesses providing mentorship, training and logistics support.
everything Mississippi focused,” she said. “Everyone involved is excited to be part of it.”
There have been two Social Suppers. Each time seafood was provided by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, an ongoing partner. The first event was held at the Lazy Magnolia Brewery with the chef from the Blind Tiger in Bay St. Louis. The second event was held at the Selex Galileo facility at the Diamondhead Airport. The chef was Louie Finnan
of Louie & The Redhead Lady with beverages provided by Lazy Magnolia Brewery. Guess says that $3,000 has been raised from the two suppers.
Karen Sites started her business,
MS Engineering and Development Company, in her Diamondhead home one year ago. “We got a $500 grant and later got a $1,000 grant,” she said. “As a startup company, the grants have been a lifesaver.”
Guess says the grant application
is a simple one-page process. Some recent examples of recipients include a
72 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • January 2016
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