Ultimate Guide To Experiencing The Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Pearl In An Oyster

Spanning a total of 12 cities along the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is like a glistening pearl inside an oyster that has yet to be discovered. While each of these cities has its own unique characteristic - from the charming Bay St. Louis to the beachfront Biloxi - one thing about the Mississippi Gulf Coast remains consistent across all cities: its perfect blend of natural beauty with exhilarating activities and genuine Southern hospitality will make you want to visit the region over and over again.

How to Get to Mississippi Gulf Coast

Located between Mobile and New Orleans, Mississippi Gulf Coast can be best reached from the nearby Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, the hub for those traveling from afar. The airport serves three major airlines including American Airlines, Delta, and United with direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, and Houston. You can also take a scenic, 1-hour drive along the coast from New Orleans to the west or Mobile to the east.

Where to Stay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Suite-style lodging at the South Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites

Sonheim Photography

While there are several casinos and mega hotels lined up along Beach Blvd. in Biloxi, opt for the cozy yet spacious South Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites for a suite-style, family-friendly lodging. As Biloxi’s only hotel located directly on the beach, this all-suite hotel offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of the gulf from the balcony where you can watch the sun rise or catch a sunset. Some suites are also equipped with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and other amenities to provide a feel of being at home.

What to Do on Mississippi Gulf Coast

Revive the rich history at Beauvoir

J.D.R. Hawkins

A former home of Jefferson Davis, the only President of the Confederate States of America, the beautifully restored Beauvoir is a majestic, 51-acre estate that features a rose garden, confederate soldiers’ cemetery, nature trails, and the Presidential Library. Revive the rich history of the American South by visiting the gulf-facing, National Historic Landmark where Jefferson Davis once wrote his memoirs.

Discover the coast from a new perspective withPaddles Up

Whether you are a newbie or an experienced paddle boarder, you can be at one with the water when you take a stand up paddle boarding or a yoga session with Paddles Up, which offers lessons, rentals, and retail in stand up paddle boards and accessories. Row out to the gentle gulf on a paddle board, where you can test your balance and strengthen your core, all the while discovering the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast from a whole new perspective.

Tour a craft brewery at Chandeleur Brewing Company

Started by twin brothers Cain and Cam Roberds, Chandeleur Brewing Companyoffers tour and tasting at its brewery located in downtown Gulfport. With the purchase of a ticket, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at craft brewing and sample delicious beers made using the freshest malted barley, hops, and local ingredients. Try a sample of Surfside Wheat Ale, which has an interesting flavor profile of spicy Germany hops and fresh pineapple juice, or Curlew’s Toasted Coconut Porter, which is infused with a touch of coconut.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Deer Island

Bask in the natural beauty of Mississippi Gulf Coast by taking a quick boat ride or kayaking toDeer Island, which is located just a quarter mile away from the shore. Boasting rich resources and wildlife with beautifully conserved walking trails managed by theDepartment of Marine Resources, Deer Island recently welcomed a new, 170-foot pier on its north side to expand public access to the island and to promote eco-tourism on Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Learn about the Sea Life at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum

With the mission of preserving the maritime history and heritage of Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts and photographs that focus on the wealthy sea life in the region. The newly built, three-floor museum features an array of exhibits that ranges from charter boats to shrimping to net making, as well as valuable artifacts like the original Ship Island lighthouse lens and the U.S.S. Biloxi bell.

Get pampered at Senses Spa and Salon

IP Casino Resort

Rejuvenate your mind and body at Senses Spa and Salon at the IP Casino Resort in Biloxi. Indulge in spa treatments inspired by nature, including a full body massage based on traditional Swedish techniques of long strokes that soothe muscles and increase blood flow. Additionally, the spa offers a complete facial, manicure, and even a special treatment designed for men. You can also enjoy a relaxing sauna or work out at its state-of-the-art gym before your treatment.

Where to Dine on Mississippi Gulf Coast

Sweet and savory biscuits at The Greenhouse on Porter

The Greenhouse on Porter, a quaint cafe on the quiet west end of Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs, specializes in delectable, homemade biscuits (plain or sweet potato) with a rotating menu of special biscuits, such as onion biscuit roasted with cheddar and mushrooms or Louisiana strawberry biscuit with ricotta and citrus marmalade. Top it off with various fixin like pimento cheese, seasonal fruit jam, honey butter, or goat cheese fluff, and add a cup of pour over coffee for the perfect way to start your morning.

Innovative blend of cuisines at Corks & Cleaver

A Gulfport native, Chef David Dickensauge of Corks & Cleaver has worked at highly acclaimed restaurants across the country - from New York to Chicago to Miami - before packing his knives back to his roots to introduce the Deep South to his culinary ingenuity. Sourcing only the freshest ingredients, Corks & Cleaver highlights a creative menu with items that seamlessly fuses cuisines from around the world, including tuna poke over a bed of seaweed and edamame salad with kimchi puree and duck confit beignets with bok choy kimchi, smoked date marmalade, and cayenne powder sugar.

Seasonal menu with local ingredients at Vestige Restaurant

Featuring a constantly evolving menu that highlights local, seasonal ingredients,Vestige Restaurant in Ocean Springs serves modern American cuisine with a Southern flair. Start your meal with a couple small plates to share, including the tender, slow cooked pork cheeks over local rice risotto or house-made orecchiette pasta with garlic cream and parmigiano-reggiano. Highlights from the main course includes juicy, sous-vide pork chop with seasonal vegetables and pan-roasted fresh catch of the day with purple sweet potatoes.

Upscale dining in a historic house at Mary Mahoney’s

Located in the historic Old French House built in 1737, Mary Mahoney’s provides an upscale dining experience in one of the oldest homes in the U.S. Satisfy your hunger with the ultimate surf and turf menu of stuffed snapper, lobster, and filet mignon while enjoying the elegant ambiance of high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and open fireplaces. Don’t forget to leave room for Mary Mahoney’s famous bread pudding with rum sauce.

Island-style, patio dining with gulf view at Shaggy’s

With three locations across Mississippi Gulf Coast, Shaggy’s is a favorite spot among locals and tourists alike. This family-friendly, beachfront restaurant offers fresh seafood, burgers, and drinks on a colorful patio with a stunning view of the gulf. Enjoy shareable appetizers like fried green tomatoes topped with house-made remoulade and crab meat or blackened shrimp or a platter of boiled, cajun-spiced crawfish. Beach tacos with an assortment of seafood or meat selections like blackened mahi, fried oyster, or pulled pork enhance Shaggy’s lively, island ambiance.

Finger-licking, authentic Southern barbecue at Murky Waters BBQ

Get ready to use all 10 fingers while enjoying authentic, Southern barbecue at Murky Waters BBQ. Murky Waters smokes everything from tender brisket to fall-off-the-bones ribs for an ultimate BBQ experience. Try three different types of homemade BBQ sauces, including regular (sweet), spicy, and vinegar, and mix + match different sides like baked beans, fried okra, and sweet potato fries to create the perfect meal. The restaurant also hosts some of the south’s most renowned Blues musicians.

Eat and Drink to End Hunger: A Weekend of Culinary Delight at NYCWFF

What is every foodie's favorite event of the year? No, this is not a tricky question, but one with a rather straightforward answer: New York City Wine and Food Festival! Every year in October, TV personalities, celebrity chefs, and foodies from all over the world gather in NYC for this fundraiser festival to indulge in the tastiest of food and drinks, while helping to end hunger. Since its inception in 2007, NYCWFF has raised more than $9 million for Food Bank For New York City and the No Kid Hungry campaign. From educational seminars to intimate dinners to walk-around tastings, NYCWFF events are guaranteed to satiate your palate. Here are some of my favorite events from this year's festival. Grand Tasting Presented by ShopRite At this signature event, I felt more overwhelmed than a kid at a candy store upon entering the venue. I experienced nearly 130,000 square feet of culinary wonderland featuring top food stars in the country, samples from my favorite brands and food products, and bites and drinks from local NYC restaurants. In addition to the grand walk-around tastings, I also watched my favorite culinary stars showing off their delicious new recipe and creative technique that I could use in my own kitchen. Thrillist's BBQ & The Blues Don't be shy about using those fingers to get all the meat off from the delicious ribs at Thrillist's Barbecue & The Blues - I certainly wasn't! The event celebrated two of life's staples - smoked meat and blues music - with custom-crafted BBQ creations from top NYC chefs and live blues playing in the background all night long. The event attendees also got to vote for their favorite dish - in the end, Pig Beach's BBQ baked potatoes with pulled pork, bacon mac & cheese sauce, and scallions was voted as the people's favorite. Personally, I loved Vermillion's blackened tamarind ribs with mango rice and chimichurri sauce. Top Dog - A NY Hot Dog Competition Hosted by Bizarre Food's Andrew Zimmern, Top Dog welcomed NYC's favorite hot dog purveyors to battle for the title of the best hot dog in NYC. While the walk around tasting did not feature the likes of crickets, snakes, or other bizarre foods that Zimmern is used to devouring in his show, the event highlighted different varieties of sausages (all natural beef, bratwurst, bacon-wrapped, etc.) with unique toppings like mini mozzarella balls, porchetta crumbs, and chili, all sandwiched in between potato or pretzel buns. In addition to sampling this classic New York treat from an iconic street cart with contemporary twists, Zimmern also previewed his new accessories line, Delicacies - the first and only line of jewelry for epicureans featuring raw ingredients cast in sterling silver and paired with rich Italian leather.

Bites and Sounds of the Season at the Fifth Annual Saveur Summer BBQ

Summer barbecue conjures up images of grilled cuts of meat, cold cans of beer, and loud blasts of music. All these were present at Saveur's Fifth Annual Summer BBQ at the Boat Basin Café, but with a touch of fabulousness. Instead of plain hamburger and cheap beer, guests enjoyed a mix of surf and turf with entrees that ranged from grilled lamb sliders and beef kabobs to vanilla-glazed salmon and barbecued octopus, while sipping on fancy cocktails, wine, and beer from an open bar. The night also included a DJ playing the hottest hits of the season, a photo booth and a #selfie wall, and a beautiful view of the sunset along the Hudson River. The crowds packed the outdoor stage area of the Boat Basin Café's at this sold-out event. Upon entering the venue, I was greeted by the wafting smell of Iraqi Yellow Spice-Rubbed Chicken from Saveur Test Kitchen. The chicken was grilled to perfection, with the crispiness of the charcoaled skin balancing well with the juicy and tender meat inside. The dish was served with tabbouleh, herbed red onion pickles, and a slice of pita bread with a drizzle of basil pesto. A couple tables down, Sean Rembold of Reynard at the Wythe Hotel served what looked like a hotdog, but with a twist. His bite-size Seafood Boudin Blanc topped with bacon bits, pickled cabbage, and a bed of salmon roe on a house-made brioche bun that has been rubbed with avocado aioli had a burst of flavors. I then took a trip to Italy to try Jonathan Benno and Richard Capizzi of Lincoln Ristorante's Paccheri Pasta with Grilled Pork Spareribs. The highlight of this perfectly al dente pasta in the shape of big, flattened round tubes was the pork spareribs, which came off the bone so easily and just melted in my mouth. My favorite dish at the BBQ also happened to be the simplest -- a traditional New England Clam Bake by Joey Campanaro of The Little Owl and Mike Price of The Clam. An ensemble of steamed littleneck clams, mussels, shrimps, corn on the cob, and potatoes steamed in a savory jus was served pile high with a generous scoop of butter. Every bite of the seafood exuded lemon zest jus all over my mouth like an explosion. Other savory dishes prepared by the star-studded lineup of chefs included Amanda Freitag of Empire Diner's Grilled Lamb Slider with green goddess dressing and grilled tomato chutney on brioche sider bun (the lamb was slightly overcooked and dry), Marc Meyer of Cookshop's Little Picnic Box containing BBQ chicken wings with jalapeno coleslaw and BBQ potato chips (the chips got soggy too quickly), and Roberto Caporuscio of Don Antonio's Sorrentina Pizza topped with smoked buffalo mozzarella, sliced lemons, and basil (the thin crust was chewy in the middle and crispy on the edges with some burnt bits). A meal would be incomplete if it didn't end on a sweet note. I loved Dana Cree of Blackbird's Cinnamon Concha. By itself, concha, or shell-shaped Mexican sweet bread, can be a bit bland and dry. But Cree paired this playful dessert with luscious roasted strawberries and airy whipped goat cheese for the perfect dosage of sweetness and moistness. Towards the end of the dinner service, the all-star chefs who dished up delicious food to the guests at the event gathered for a group photo in front of Le Creuset's Selfie Wall. I, of course, seized this opportunity to snag a selfie shot with the chefs in the background! With savory and sweet bites from the country's hottest chefs, refreshing drinks, and upbeat music, Saveur Summer BBQ was a great way to kick off the season. As James Oseland, the editor-in-chief of Saveur, aptly described how this year's event stood out from those of previous years, "[The BBQ] is more fabulous every year." If that is the case, then I am already looking forward to the event in 2015! Photo courtesy of Ang Snaps Photography

Grilling On Crystal Belly Grill at Kristalbelli in NYC

New York City is the mecca of fine dining experience. It is also a place where the world's top chefs (as well as young, up-and-coming chefs) gather to explore their culinary endeavors.

Kristalbelli, a relatively new Korean fusion restaurant in Midtown West, is owned by JYP, an entertainment guru in South Korea. According to its website, the restaurant prides in its use of the finest ingredients to showcase "the full range of authentic and robust Korean flavors and also to spotlight the delicate aspects of forward Korean cooking.." The restaurant's menu features modern twist to traditional Korean dishes.

The restaurant gets its name from the crystal belly-shaped grill that is at the center of each table. Apparently, they are personally designed by JYP at a cost of $30,000 each! Some of the advantages of crystal grills include...
1. Infrared-ray, which allows the meat to cook inside and outside simultaneously, therefore keeping the juice within.
2. Cooks 2 to 3 times faster compared to traditional stainless or metal grills
3. Prevents smoke, therefore keeping the grilling experience clean

The chef brought us complementary appetizer. The triangular plate had pieces of kimchi kimbop (rice, kimchi, and beef rolled in seaweed), lightly battered and fried. The dish was accompanied by rolled-up spicy noodles and refreshing salad.

I am not a fan of fried food, but the kimbob tempura wasn't too heavy. Too be honest, the restaurant was dark and I didn't realize it was fried before I took a bite of it. The crunchy texture on the outside complemented the savory beef, spicy kimchi, and seasoned rice.

What a great way to start a meal. The noodle was too spicy for my liking, but the fresh greens balanced it well.

Gamja Jeon ($14) is a shredded potatoes and jalapeno pancake. It was really greasy at the bottom, even after dabbing it with napkin. The slightly burnt, crunchy potatoes gave it a similar feel as French fries. The pancake tastes a bit bland without the soy sauce that came with the dish.

Chadol Bap ($12), or thinly sliced beef brisket with rice. I guess this is sort of a fusion on Japanese nigiri. The waiter had really tough time separating the thin slices on the grill. The meat was really fatty. The square sushi rice was topped with jalapeno, wasabi, and some sort of red pepper flakes.

After our appetizers, the waiters came by to set up our table for the main meal. Rather than having one sets of banchans (side dishes) that everyone share, we got individual plates of side dishes. All I could think was, "There are lots of dishes to be washed tonight!"

Filet Mignon ($55/person). Once the crystal grill was hot enough, the waiter brought four chunks of filet mignon. Judging by the color of the meat, I could tell how juicy and savory they will be!

I prefer my steak rare because if it's cooked well, the meat loses its tenderness. The waiter cut the meat for us, and then they will be up for grabs.

Pink meat, just the way I love it! Despite not having much fat, the filet mignon was amazingly tender and juicy. I didn't fully grasp the meaning of "melt in your mouth" until I had this.

Next on the grill were two pieces of NY Strip ($49). These were fattier than the filet mignon.

The crystal grill sucked all the smokes in the vent, so my clothes did not smell like grilled BBQ afterward.

We wrapped up the meal with Korean fusion desserts. Even though we only ordered one dessert, the chef brought us complementary desserts...aka all the desserts on the menu!Goguma Cake($10): Sweet Potato cake with candied sweet potato and sweet potato ice cream. The cake was a bit dry, but I really loved the sweet potato puree/cream swirled within the cake. The ice cream just tasted vanilla to me.

Sesame ice cream ($10). An interesting flavor.

Chaps! by B E S F R E N ($10): Handmade Gluten-free Korean Rice Cake Blended w/ Artistic Flavors including chocolate caramel chips, cheese cream oreo, and vanilla blackcurrant berry. The mochi that I ate had oreo bits. I prefer traditional mochi with red bean fillings.

Ho-Tteok ($10): House made rice cake with vanilla ice cream. Unlike traditional ho-tteok that you can get from street vendors in Korea, this ho-tteok wasn't drenched in oil. Inside the glutenous, chewy rice cake was sweet honey jam fillings.