Amelia Miller’s Food Picks
Ghost of Amelia, Bar Muse
During my first visit to Bar Muse, I opted for the Ghost of Amelia, and it exceeded all expectations. Despite not being a rum enthusiast, I felt compelled to try it given the shared name. The initial sip was divine! The combination of pineapple, lime, and almond milk create a surprisingly light and invigorating flavor profile, solidifying its status as my preferred cocktail in town.
Panzanella Salad, St. Leo
I love all things St. Leo, but my favorite is the seasonal Panzanella Salad. It’s the combination of perfectly ripe tomatoes and delicious bread that make this one of my quintessential summer meals. Every bite is surprisingly refreshing.
SOLA Spaghetti with Garlic Bread
Traditional spaghetti and meat sauce holds a special place in my heart, and SOLA absolutely masters it! Their rendition is always piping hot, freshly prepared, and absolutely delicious—a winning combination.
Joseph Climer’s Food Picks
Pork
The secret to a well-made dish is not only a balance of flavor, but texture as well. Tarasque’s Pork Scaloppine blends crispy-fried savory pork, wilted bitter greens stewed in a spicy tomato sauce with a heavy push of garlic chili aioli for the ideal touch of flavor and fat. I can remember trying it for the first time – that first bite. You cannot ask for much more.
Chicken & waffles – Big Bad Breakfast
You’d be hard pressed to find a brunch menu anywhere across the country that doesn’t showcase this dish in some fashion. I’ve seen it all from waffle sliders with American cheese to piled high with peach cobbler and whip cream – all great in their own right. But I always come back to the traditional approach. Southern-fried boneless chicken thighs atop a Belgian made-to-order waffle with a touch of local honey. It’s the BBB way.
Chick Pea Caesar Salad – Volta
As any Caesar should, this one remains true to the classic and simple approach. What makes this salad interesting is it’s touch of Mediterrian. Served with crispy-fried chickpeas, grated Parmesan, and garlic pita – it’s my preferred salad all over town!
Deconstructed Tomato Sandwich – City Grocery
Listed on the menu as “tomato sandwich”. Heirloom tomatoes, Truffle Tremor cheese, Benton’s ham, Georgia EVOO, Duke’s mayonnaise, and baby buttermilk biscuits.
Holidays are great, but I most look forward to tomato season. I can remember growing my own a few summers back and turning it into a tomato sandwich – appropriately dressed on white bread with Dukes Mayo. Coming across this dish during an evening at City Grocery, I was immediately intrigued. Heirloom tomatoes lightly dashed with sea salt and black pepper, Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor cheese, showcasing local heroes – Benton’s ham, Georgia Olive Oil, and Dukes Mayonnaise – all spread amongst baby buttermilk biscuits. I’m not typically a fan on the deconstructionist era of food culture. But I’ll take a tomato sandwich however I can get it.
Rebecca Alexander’s Food Picks
The shrimp Poboy from Tallahatchie Gourmet has always been my go-to sandwich in Oxford. In a town with so many really good Poboys, it is their bread from New Orleans that makes this sandwhich stand out. It has an incredibly thin crunchy crust that you hear crackle with every bite. The bread to shrimp ratio is perfect. It is simply dressed with mayo, shredded lettuce and dill pickles. The Poboy is stuffed full of fresh tasting shrimp is lightly fried and crispy. The crinkle cut fries seasoned with salt and pepper pair nicely with the Poboy.
The chocolate chess pie topped with whipped cream from Ajax is my favorite dessert. It tastes homemade, because it is, as are all the dishes at Ajax. This is a chocolate lover’s dream dessert, and much richer than a cake or a brownie. The warm chocolate pie has a smooth texture that is a sweet delight. Although I am usually too full to order dessert after a meal at Ajax, this is the one pie to make room for.
My favorite lunch deal is the nigiri lunch special at Kabuki. It is a 3 course meal at lunch prices. First you are served hot miso soup followed by a chilled lettuce salad with ginger dressing. The five nice sized pieces of nigiri are top quality in freshness, plus you get a large California roll. More food than I can actually eat at lunch. I always take some of the California roll home. The place itself has a timeless vibe and is an oasis of calm. I love going when I can find the time at lunch to relax.
