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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

Janice Hogan: Chef Danny Eslava (Eslava Grill) … his fried oysters are simply divine.

Melissa Fowler: Darling Chef Roaché (Rochez). The only chef in town for true foodies.

Dylan Ray: Tom Ramsey’s food is so good! He fed me and some friends on our prom night, and it was the best food I’ve ever had probably inside or outside of Mississippi! Underground 119 is a really cool place too, which doesn’t hurt! But it’s all about the food!

Jessica Myrick Singleton: Personally I’m a huge fan of Dan Blumenthal (BRAVO!, Sal & Mookie’s). Not only is he a great chef, but he puts amazing people in charge at his restaurants who incorporate new and fun dishes. All of his (and Jeff’s) restaurants have such a friendly and fun atmosphere and are simply AMAZING people to work for.

Nick Thompson: Lee Hurley at Parlor Market. Makes the finest gourmet pb & j for his close friends. His 4th of july cookout was a feast.

Sherri Hughes: Chef Nicholas Wallace of The King Edward. A toss up between the great meal which was prepared at the Clash in The Kitchen, a WONDERFUL fish and the Mediterranean Shrimp Taco and Black Eyed Pea Gumbo, which are both on the menu at the King Edward, you can’t go wrong with whatever you may choose.

Troy Berch: Derek Emerson….Walker’s (Drive-In) Mac and Cheese is close to heaven on Earth, and his scallops are served at the Pearly Gates.

Write us: letters@jacksonfreepress.com. Tweet us: @JxnFreePress.

Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.