MADIDI
CONTINUES TO BUILD ACCLAIM Restaurant proves it has national
appeal
BY John Philleo
the clarksdale press register - September 5, 2001
Clarksdale’s Madidi restaurant
continues to garner national publicity for its eclectic menu
and unlikely location.
The restaurant, owner by local attorney Bill Luckett and famed
actor Morgan Freeman, is featured in the September issues
of Bon Appetit and Southern Living magazines.
“There’s not that many small town restaurants
that get this kind of press,” Luckett said. “It’s
priceless media.”
The Bon Appetit article features a relaxed photo of Freeman
wearing a tuxedo and a confident grin, seated at a Madidi
table adorned with Chef David Krog’s signature entrée,
an herb-encrusted rack of lamb. The photo was taken during
January’s Grand Opening festivities.
A short interview with Freeman quotes him describing his restaurant
as “an upscale restaurant with a French- and southern-
influenced menu.”
Perhaps only Krog could pull that off. Freeman says in the
article that Krog has “a real touch with meat.”
Krog varies the menu every three months, keeping top sellers,
such as the rack of lamb and the filet of beef on the menu,
but varying other dishes according to seasonal availability
and whim.
The Southern Living article divides space between Madidi and
Cleveland’s KC’s leading into the article by saying
“Believe it or not, there’s foie gras and fine
wine in the middle-of-nowhere Mississippi.”
Pastry Chef Anden Hamilton’s artistically presented
pecan-crusted mascarpone cheesecake “sits on a vivid,
abstract plate-as-canvas,” in an accompanying photo.
Luckett couldn’t be happier with the regional and national
coverage – he said the restaurant has gotten reservations
form as far away as Louisiana, Atlanta and New York in the
past week as a direct result.
“Southern Living has already caused us to have four
parties call in from Atlanta to eat at Madidi,” he said,
adding that he had no idea he would be getting a visit from
the popular magazine.
Food Editor Dana Adkins Campbell, who wrote the article, did
not introduce herself to him until after her dining experience,
he said.
“When I asked her about her experience, she said, ‘It
was fabulous. We’re sending a photographer,” Luckett
said.
Madidi is located at 164 Delta Ave. in Clarksdale, and is
open for dinner only.
The bar opens at 5 p.m., with dinner seating at six. Reservations
are recommended. Call 627-7770 or 624-7724
