Visions of traumatic holiday travel still dancing in your head? Cancelled
flights, late arrivals, sitting on the tarmac–all memories to make weary travelers want to stay home! Stress no more, an enticing destination is an afternoon’s drive away. Blaze your own trail to Greenwood, Mississippi, home to the
renowned Alluvian Hotel, Spa and Viking Cooking School.
First stop on your southern tour should be Miller’s Mud Pottery in Dumas Arkansas. Head south on Hwy 65 to find one-of-a-kind,
free form pieces created by local potters. Indulge in a beautiful bowl,
platter, vase or wall hanging. Folks flock from miles around to this “careful or you’ll miss it” location. Owner Gail Miller, a cancer survivor, credits her craft as part of
her therapy while going through treatments. Adversity has not kept the faithful
entrepreneur from doing what she does best. The creative team is on hand to
answer questions and help shoppers make selections. After much deliberation, I chose a gorgeous wall piece. Go to
www.millersmudmill.com to see more of the collection.
Next stop: The Alluvian Hotel.
Continue south to Greenville Mississippi where you head east to reach Greenwood
Mississippi. Opened in 2003, The Alluvian Hotel is a boutique hotel with
cosmopolitan flair. The Alluvian features the award-winning design of noted
architectural firm ForrestPerkins, luxuriously appointed guest rooms, and a
custom art collection by eminent Mississippi artists. You’ll discover an eclectic, surprisingly modern hotel nestled in the heart of the
Mississippi Delta. Across the street from the hotel are numerous boutiques,
antique stores and quaint restaurants that complement this upscale destination.
The Alluvian Spa:
The 7,000-square-foot luxury spa at The Alluvian offers a complete menu of
treatments including face and body care, massage therapy, therapeutic baths,
hand and foot care, and cosmetic and hair services. The spa pampers guests even
further with indigenous treatments and its signature Sweet Tea services. The
Alluvian Spa is dedicated to rejuvenating both body and soul, providing a
premium spa visit and in a relaxing Delta atmosphere.
The Viking Cooking School:
For those seeking culinary adventure, The Viking Cooking School offers two
state-of-the-art teaching kitchens, a theater-style demonstration kitchen and a
retail store. Signature classes such as Fear of Frying and Cooking to the Blues
offer unique opportunities to combine indigenous Southern cuisine with
traditional Delta Blues. Weekly classes cover everything from knife skills to
party menus to children’s cooking classes. Multiple cooking stations outfitted with Viking professional
appliances allow 8 to 18 students to work on the finest equipment, while
multi-level seating and overhead video monitors enable 40 or more students to
have a close-up view of noted visiting chefs. The Alluvian Hotel and Viking
Cooking School joined forces in 2004 to offer exclusive culinary weekend
packages featuring the culinary genius of guest chefs from across the US, and
the annual continuation of these weekend packages has transformed downtown
Greenwood into a culinary mecca. A full curriculum combines down home southern
culture with epicurean expertise for a one-of-a-kind Delta experience.
On my first night the attentive staff hosted a festive martini happy hour for
guests, complete with manicurists off to the side for special pampering. Live
music created an upbeat, classy atmosphere for hotel guests and the many locals
who flock to the Alluvian for happy hours and gourmet dinners. Knowing that Tom
Cruise and Oprah Winfrey had also slept in the same luxurious suite added to
the excitement.
Southern hospitality abounds at The Alluvian whether you are checking in,
seeking suggestions for local points of interest or experiencing the chef’s culinary creations at Giardinas restaurant. In addition to the steaks,
seafood, and pastas from the founders’ native Italy, Giardina’s kitchen offers southern cuisine innovation with the chef’s daily off-the-menu creations.
For specials packages, group cooking schools, or a corporate event, this hotel
truly has something for everyone.
