Mississippians know that Jackson is home to some of the best restaurants in the South, but now, those same people who have culinary affection for the capital city can help get the word out on a national level.
On Monday, it was announced that the city of Jackson was voted as a finalist for “The Best Culinary Town in the South” title presented by The Local Palate. Going up against Durham, N.C., and Spartanburg, S.C., voting for the region’s top food destination is open until July 31.
Jackson and the Carolina counterparts ousted Baton Rouge, La., Savannah, Ga., and West Palm Beach, Fla., to land in the top three. The winning town will be featured on the cover of the magazine’s Dec. 16 edition.
“We’re looking for the best and brightest culinary towns across the Southeast, where you can not only find exceptional restaurants but also farmers’ markets, home good stores, wine shops, classic Southern dishes, great bars and more,” staff at the Local Palate wrote in the poll’s description. “You’ve helped us narrow it down to the Top 3, and this week will decide the winner!”
Jackson checks all of the boxes in the aforementioned excerpt, from the weekly farmer’s market downtown to plenty of grade-A wine stores and bustling bars. As for the restaurant side, the capital is home to a long list of award-winning eateries.
This includes Mayflower and Elvie’s (Hunter Evans) and Sambou’s African Kitchen (Joseph Sambou), whose chefs were James Beard Awards semifinalists in recent years. Other notable hotspots are Big Apple Inn – where late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain famously traveled to try a pig-ear sandwich – Aplos, Amerigo, Bravo, Char, Crazy Cat Eat Up, Hal & Mal’s, Keifer’s, Martin’s, Stamp’s Super Burgers, The Iron Horse Grill, The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen, The Pig & Pint, and Walker’s Drive In, among others.
Anyways, you get the picture. If you want to help Jackson secure the crown as “The Best Culinary Town in the South,” click here to vote.
