Decided spur-of-the-moment on Saturday morning to take a trip to Vicksburg to try some places that have been on my hit-list for a while. So, I threw some stuff in a bag, hopped in the CH-R and we got on the road.

One spot I’d been wanting to return to was Mammy’s Cupboard. Last time I was there was after Hurricane Isaac and I was looking forward to going back. I know it gets a lot of hate on this board as well as from Natchez locals but I’ve always enjoyed my meals there. My son liked the unique set-up of the place.

I had the turkey sandwich on homemade bread, which came with a bowl of vegetable soup and potato salad, with a blueberry lemonade. Delicious.

My woman had the Reuben which was solid, and my son had the special of the day: red beans and rice. These were the worst, blandest red beans and rice I've ever tasted, topped with sour cream and cheddar cheese (?) My son wouldn't eat it, and was still hungry, so I ordered him a slice of banana caramel pie, which he loved. He said instead of a birthday cake this year, he wants me to make him that pie. He let me have a few bites and it was damn tasty.

I bought a bottle of Mammy's muscadine hot sauce and then we got back on Hwy. 61.

After we arrived in Vicksburg and checked in to the hotel, I took the short drive to Solly's to pick up some tamales and a chili cheeseburger. The tamales were some of the best I've ever had, and the burger was great. While I was gone, my gf and son had walked over to Waffle House and got him something to eat.

When I got back to the hotel it was pouring down rain, so we just rested up till around 7, then got ready for dinner. I wasn't all that hungry, but I'd been wanting to try H.D. Gibbes & Sons in Learned and I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. It truly was in the middle of nowhere.

There were quite a few cars parked out front so I was expecting a wait, but fortunately we were seated right away. My son wasn't hungry so he didn't get anything. The lady and I both ordered ribeyes (medium rare of course), which were served with two sides and bread. We both opted for the spinach casserole; she got a salad while I picked a loaded sweet potato.

The steaks were cooked perfectly and were very flavorful. My absolute favorite steak is the whiskey ribeye at Jesse's in Magnolia Springs (AL) and the 2nd best I've had was at the now-defunct Bourbon Mall in Bourbon (MS). This wasn't quite on that level but it was still very good. The spinach casserole had an off-putting sour flavor and neither of us cared for it. Total w/ tip was $75.

At this point I was stuffed, so we went back to the hotel and crashed for the night.

Today after we woke up once again my son wanted Waffle House, so we got him that. Then we went to Beechwood Steakhouse & Lounge for another steak, which I had heard good things about.

GF had the fried crab claws that were sprinkled with their "hot" seasoning, and she enjoyed them immensely. I had the ribeye with a side salad and onion rings.

The steak was well-cooked, but obviously wasn't as good a cut of meat as what I had experienced at Gibbes'. It was a good cheap steak though, and the onion rings were legit.

At this point we decided to get back on the road to BR. As were were headed down Hwy. 61, I spied this place on the side of the highway, and decided to stop.

Called The Tomato Place, it was a a roadside produce stand/restaurant. They sold various sandwiches, produce, and homemade smoothies. One of my favorite foods in the world is a fresh sliced tomato sandwich with mayo, S&P, and they had this on their menu, served on their home-baked bread. I decided to get one to bring home for later.

A little ways down the highway in the tiny speck of a town called Lorman, we stopped at the Lorman Country Store for Mr. D's renowned fried chicken buffet. I hadn't eaten it in about 10 years and I was eager to sample it again.

Overall, it was disappointing. The chicken was pretty good, but the restaurant was filthy. We got there around 2:30 (they are open from 11-4) and it was obvious that the food had just been sitting there since they first opened. None of it (with the exception of the chicken, which had to be refilled semi-often) was fresh. On top of that, the place was filthy. I'm not a stickler for cleanliness, but my shoes were sticking to the floor as I walked, and it just wasn't enjoyable. This will be my last visit here.

We made it home and I decided to eat my sandwich, as well as the two leftover tamales I had from Solly's. The sandwich was awesome and the tamales were still top-notch.

All in all, a very enjoyable trip.

This post was edited on 5/27/18 at 10:45 pm