Brent's burgers brush with fame

Server Lauren Rugledge (standing) delivers baskets of food to customers (from left) Kala Knox of Jackson, Lynn Palmer of Clinton, and Rebecca Easley of Jackson, as the three hometown friends from Amory enjoy lunch at Brent's. (Credit: The Clarion-Ledger)

I had such fun watching “The Help.” Not because I thought it was a cinematic masterpiece, although Viola Davis was especially good, and not only because I salivated like Pavlov’s dog over the food. I did. Watching “The Help” was like watching a Paula Deen marathon. But I digress.

I had fun watching “The Help” because it was filmed in Mississippi. I got to see it with an editor friend of mine from Greenwood who could point out what was what in the movie from Greenwood. The Jackson things I could spot pretty well, and one of them was Brent’s.

You know the scene, where Skeeter sees Elizabeth Leefolt and Hilly Holbrook at the drugstore counter. This was back in the time when drugstores had soda fountains. Brent’s off of Duling has had a soda fountain a long time, and used to be, it was just off the pharmacy area and you’d eat your hamburger amongst the mops, brooms and cleansers of the housewares counter.

Not anymore. Since its moment of fame in “The Help,” Brent’s has more table space, and the pharmacy counter’s gone. But what’s there is the food. Oh, how I love a Brent’s cheeseburger with mayonnaise and potato chips. That’s some comfort food that might rival Minny’s fried chicken. Brent’s is one of my favorite uniquely Jackson burger joints because they do such a great fried burger. Grilling can be overrated. Fried burgers are nice and juicy.

I went to Brent’s most recently, just like the Jackson Junior League girls did, with a friend for girl talk. She loves the egg and olive sandwich there, another classic of drugstore fare. And if you work downtown, Brent’s is a hop, skip and a jump away. Nothing takes the stress of the office away like some drug store soda fountain fare.