Again once we began writing Tallahassee Desk, we mentioned that consuming was the greatest option to carry folks collectively and to get pleasure from what’s round us. That has change into more durable of late, however not inconceivable — with a little assist from our native eating places.
We ordered takeout household meals from Mimi’s Desk, which we paid for in advance by bank card, and picked up curbside. (The final time we dined at Mimi’s, we have been at tables lined with white linens and served by an attentive employees with accents of contemporary flowers and retro posters. It was one thing particular.)
This time, the scene was our favourite close by park for a twilight picnic underneath the oaks. We every introduced our personal utensils, drinks, and plates. We sat at reverse ends of a lengthy picnic desk, the correct social distancing.
We served ourselves — and a shoutout to chef/proprietor William Lawson for packaging every thing in paper packing containers as a substitute of Styrofoam — and supped amongst the wildflowers, serenaded by birds. The meals, the camaraderie, and perhaps a tad an excessive amount of wine turned our little outing into one thing particular.
Even in these circumstances, Mimi’s manages to keep up top quality delicacies. Choices embrace a three-course dinner for one, small dinners for 2, and enormous dinners for 4 plus a la carte objects and children’ meals. You may also order wine and beer to go, which we didn’t get however perhaps subsequent time.
My husband and I ordered the grilled pork chop dinner for 2. It included bread, a backyard salad, two enormous pork chops, collard greens and mashed potatoes and a brownie for dessert for $40. Dinner for 4 is $75. We didn’t need a salad so Mimi’s gave us inexperienced beans as a substitute, a scrumptious substitution.
Our pork chops have been completely cooked with these fascinating grill marks, tender and smoky, served with a small container of untamed mushroom cream sauce. My husband mentioned he might have eaten a jar of it. We had a mound of homey mashed potatoes and Southern-style collards with a trace of potent pot liquor.
Our pals ordered the braised beef quick ribs for 2, slow-cooked in crimson wine sauce, served with roasted crimson potatoes and people scrumptious inexperienced beans.
We every obtained a giant, aptly named “decadent” chocolate brownie garnished with a slice of strawberry. Simply writing about it makes me need one proper now.
Different household meal dinner selections embrace vegetable or meat lasagna and Tuscan hen. We had sufficient to take some residence for leftovers the subsequent day.
We ended our picnic fortunately, grateful that we are able to nonetheless depend on easy pleasures in such unsure occasions.
Mimi’s Desk is at 1311 Miccosukee Rd. Takeout is offered from 5 to eight p.m. on Tuesday to Sunday. To order, go to Mimi’s web site or name 850-999-8406. You may also order reward playing cards.
