Chefs are gathering in Jackson, Mississippi, from near and far to show off their skills in one of the tastiest events of the year: the JXN Food & Wine Festival. Mississippi has always been a big, bold flavor state, and Jackson wears the crown proudly. Southern cooking, delectable seafood, hand-crafted cocktails, and more will put their prowess on display in Mississippi’s capital.
This first-ever food and wine fest in the City With Soul is creating some delicious competitiveness among chefs. As Top Chef finalist, Chopped champion, Jacksonian, and spearhead of the festival Nick Wallace says, “It’s going to be friendly competition because we all are trying to cook the best and we want to be the best.” Local, regional, and national chefs look to serve up beautiful plates and provide festival-goers with an unforgettable experience.
Master chefs such as first female Iron Chef Cat Cora, Top Chef competitors Damarr Brown and Ashleigh Shanti, and 2-time Top Chef winner Buddha Lo headline the festival with Chef Nick. More than 20 local, regional, and national chefs are bringing decades of expertise and their signature dishes. From African cuisine to Southern cooking to acclaimed BBQ and everything in between, mouthwatering courses are going to be plentiful.Great food always goes well with a fine drink. Cocktails from local vendors will show what it means to make a well-crafted beverage—the Jackson way. Wine from around the world will be served for all festival-goers to savor, one sip at a time.
The South is known for two things: warm hospitality and delicious food. And no one knows that better than Geno Lee. He is the fourth-generation proprietor of Big Apple Inn and will be a big presence at the JXN Food and Wine Festival. Geno says, “We have a love for people that comes from deep within. And I think you will see it in the way we interact with people, the way that we prepare our food for people. . . . City With Soul is soul food, soul love, and soulful. I think that’s what Jackson is all about.”
So, on March 2, 2024, get ready for a feast for the senses: delectable food, bountiful beverages, live music, and more at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Get your tickets now at jxnfoodandwine.com.
