138576 Tue Mar 22 11:14:34 -0800 2005 3 11 South 0 742089 A recent visit to Jackson gave me a chance to pick up a couple of my favorite carry-out items: 1. A pulled-pork sandwich from the Hickory Pit bbq (Hickory Pit, 1491 Canton Mart Road, Jackson; 601-956-7079) was excellent, though the mild sauce that accompanied it was a little too assertive for its own good. I really do like my BBQ almost plain so that I can taste the smokiness & the meat with not much in the way. Cole-slaw was good, too: crunchy and not at all mayonaissey, and flavorful but mild enough that if you wanted to doctor it up with your own salt and pepper, you could. The potato salad was close to mashed-potato-salad but had the requisite tang, so I was happy. My dining companions enjoyed their chopped brisket sandwiches, and I liked my sample enough to order it the next time I’m in Jackson. I guess I’ll have to get that AND the pulled pork. 2. Caramel cake from Primos (Primos Cafe & Bake Shop, 2323 Lakeland Drive # A, Flowood; 601-936-3398) was great. This signature item from Primos is a yellow cake with caramel icing, and I’ve discovered that the key is to cut your slice thin. (We usually get a whole cake at a time.) It is a really sweet cake, and if they’ve overloaded it with icing, well, just one slice can be overwhelming and you just might have to go lie down for a while 'til it wears off. So, moderation, okay? Susan Tue Mar 22 11:14:34 -0800 2005 0 Miss Sue 1 742194 Thanks for the info. My wife and I have been meaning to try the Hickory Pit for some time now. Do you know of other good barbecue around here? The best I've found is the Pig Out Inn in Natchez. Sat Mar 26 18:36:18 -0800 2005 742089 0 Alec 2 742212 Alec, I get down to Jackson several times a year, but haven't had a chance to try much BBQ, mostly because I go back again and again to Hickory Pit. My one experience with the Jackson branch of Corky's was dismal. Will have to look for the Pig Out Inn next time I'm in Natchez. Let me know what you find. Maybe some Jackson regulars will chime in. Susan Sun Mar 27 14:33:30 -0800 2005 742194 0 Miss Sue 1 748344 Excellent -- good call on the Hickory Pit BBQ. Quick addition to the directions: 1491 Canton Mart Road, Jackson; 601-956-7079. Canton Mart Road is off of I-55 frontage road northbound between exits 100 and 102. I got the pulled pork, coleslaw, baked beans, and pecan pie (making up for an omitted birthday cake a few days ago). Here's my take: - Pulled pork: fantastic, smokey meat. Soft and while not dry, not particularly moist either. I like my meat with sauce, so for me, it wasn't an issue at all. For those of you that like your Q without sauce, this might be an issue. Meat: 7/10. Sauces: sweet was best (7/10); medium (as previously described) overwhelmed the meat (4/10); hot sauce tasted off -- not appetizing at all (1/10). - Coleslaw - medium cut; nothing original, just good traditional, slightly sweet, not too wet (6/10). - Baked beans - a first for me -- there was meat in the beans. Definitely not traditional, nor did they taste like traditional baked beans. Tasted more like chili. If that's your thing, go for it, otherwise I wouldn't recommend the beans (4/10). - Pecan pie - served cold (out of the fridge), pre-sliced. Pecans were what I describe as soggy (not crispy, not soft) due to the refrigeration. (4/10) Big plate of meat (nearly 1/2 pound of meat) + 2 sides -- $11. Good value. Overall though, BBQ for me is about the meat and the sauce. Thoroughly enjoyable, and definitely good Q. Skip the beans, skip the desserts, stick with the meat and the sweet sauce. Final rating (8/10). Tue Jan 10 21:14:21 -0800 2006 742089 0 Andrew L