As my family explores the culinary landscape of the Golden Triangle, we’d like to share some of the highlights of our journeys.
The past few weeks, we have visited newly opened stores, received information on ground-breakings and store openings. We’d love to hear from you too. If you know of a place within an hour’s drive of the Golden Triangle that is family friendly and worth the visit, email me at [email protected].
This week, we’ll touch on some food adventures in Starkville.
After a busy morning of cross-country races and rec league soccer games, we visited the Cotton District Art Festival on Saturday.
Taste of Starkville showed off some of the best in the city’s food truck and restaurant scene. My kids made a special note of the fresh pineapple being served by 1883 Smokehouse as something unique and adventurous.
I was intrigued by everything at the festival, as the Starkville Area Arts Council and the organizing committee put together a variety of artisans — chefs, carvers, jewelry makers, potters, musicians, painters, etc. — together in a setting that I found very hard to leave. I loved it so much that I took my kids — okay, my kids broken into two groups — twice. Each time, I found something new that piqued my interest and curiosity.
The older kids wanted a treat, especially the runner. After competing at the South Pontotoc Invitational, she wanted a doughnut sundae from The Dapper Doughnut, 100 Maxwell St. The store recently opened in the Cotton District in a small building behind Bin 612. It offers fresh, made-to-order mini doughnuts that are topped with things, such as lemon cream, s’mores, bananas Foster, etc.
We took home a six-pack of two flavors — lemon cream and cookies and cream — for the soccer player. The cookie and cream flavor was the kids’ favorite. The runner enjoyed her s’mores sundae, but wanted extra doughnuts.
The shop also offers milkshakes. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, according to the website, https://thedapperdoughnut.com/ .
Bakeries
Proof held a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently. The bakery, at 109 W. Main St., Starkville, offers quite a few tasty treats. We received a tip from a reader to check the store’s Facebook page to check product availability before stopping by. The menu varies daily with breakfast bagel sandwiches being available daily until 11 a.m. Throughout the week, a variety of items, such as specialty breads, croissants and baguettes are made. You can also find some gluten-free and vegan items.
My kids explored Proof on their own during the summer, so I can’t tell you what they had. I just know they liked what they had.
According to Google, Proof is open from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Check out Proof’s menu at https://www.proofbakeryms.com/
Power of the Almond, which offers keto, celiac and diabetic friendly treats, opened at 60 Technology Blvd., Suite 100, Starkville. They also have a sister location in Tupelo.
The kids and I tried their snickerdoodles after buying some at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market during one of our first visits to the area. They were very similar to a regular snickerdoodle, but with a little stronger cinnamon profile. Needless to say, they didn’t last long in our house.
Power of the Almond also has a sister location in Tupelo. The Starkville location is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, according to Google. They have made a few birthday cakes and other items, which is helpful for those with dietary restrictions.
For information, visit their Facebook site or check out their menu at powerofthealmond.menufy.com .
Walk-On’s coming
On the same day as Proofs ribbon-cutting, ground was broken on a Starkville location of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
The full-service restaurant and sports bar with Cajun flair was recently recognized as the No. 1 brand in Entrepreneur’s 2020 Top New Franchises Ranking.
The franchisees for Starkville, Tupelo and Meridian are brothers Eddie and Alan Gant. The Gants are Mississippi natives, and both attended Mississippi State. The duo has been working to grow and diversify its restaurant industry portfolio, which currently consists of two Zaxby’s franchise locations in Grenada and Cleveland.
Originally, the restaurant was supposed to be open by spring 2021, but the pandemic put a hold on those plans.
We’ll keep you updated as necessary.
Have a great food adventure today!
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.