Page 53 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2015

Outstanding food and Southern ambiance stowed in Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino
opportunity to meet people from all over the world. “Every patron who sits at my bar has a story,” she said. “Chef Kelly consistently states that he refuses to serve a guest anything he wouldn’t serve his mother. I stand behind that sentiment with the drinks that come from the bar.”
Asked to name his favorite dish on the menu, English hesitated
— of course he loves them all — but said, “The Gulf catch and crabmeat au gratin, well, but there hasn’t been a pork chop I haven’t loved, and all the side dishes are great. One of the neat things is that we take a hard look at seafood but also give other things some attention.”
If the proof is in the pudding, let’s discuss the food. I began with the bibb lettuce salad with fresh strawberries, candied pecans and goat cheese in a honey balsamic vinaigrette. The entree was corn fried Mississippi Delta catfish with brown butter pecans and brabant potatoes, and I ended with grandmother’s bread pudding, which uses Kelly English’s grandmother’s recipe.
Since I’m not a food critic, I can only say every bite was wonderful. My opinion echoes that of diners — travelers from Arizona — at the next table. The wife
said to her husband, “You’ve got to have a bite of this; it’s like nothing I’ve
ever tasted.” She was eating the Gulf shrimp and grits. Her husband had the pistachio crusted Gulf snapper and was as positively impressed as his wife.
My dining companion had crab bisque, blackened mahi mahi with Pontchartrain sauce and finished with sweet potato cheesecake. His plan was to save some of the fish for lunch the next day. That plan went awry with this delicious entree.
OPPOSITE PAGE: MAGNOLIA HOUSE has a beautiful dining and bar area that is very inviting to guests. ABOVE: Corn fried Mississippi Delta catfish with brown butter pecans. ABOVE RIGHT: The Wine Cellar has a large stock of divine wines for any taste bud. BOTTOM: Crab brie bisque.
Magnolia House
Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Closed Monday 228.436.2946 www.caesars.com/harrah’s-gulfcoast
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
July 2015 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 53