JXN Food & Wine Festival 2026: Culinary Excellence!
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JXN, Mississippi

Save the Date: March 19–21, 2027


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    From down-home soul food to fine dining, JXN, Mississippi’s Capital City, offers a multitude of opportunities to discover a bite of Southern culture presented in vibrant restaurants springing up all across the city. JXN Food and Wine Festival 2025 represents the city’s diverse chef talent and the region’s top culinary and beverage artists.

    A portion of the proceeds helps fund the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation.  This fund provides scholarships to students seeking a post-secondary degree in restaurant management or culinary arts.

    JXN Food & Wine is investing in the restaurant industry’s future workforce!

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    Savor the Flavor

    Meet the 2026 Culinary Maestros

    Get ready to embark on a delectable journey. Our talented chefs are at the heart of the JXN Food and Wine Festival, bringing a diverse array of flavors to your plate. From celebrity chefs to local legends, their passion for food is a testament to the soul of Jackson, Mississippi.

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    About Nick Wallace

    Nick is Gifted, talented, and inspired by nature. Nick Wallace’s mission is to remain focused on the beauty of food. Nick was voted Best Chef for Jackson, MS, the last four years. He was named Best Chef of Mississippi 2020 and has remained on the list of Best Chef America.

    National Recognition and Cooking Around The World

    Nick has also been featured on many Publication Networks such as Southern Living Magazine, Food Networks “Comfort Nation” (Season 2), Food Network’s “Chopped” and Alton’s Challenge on Food Networks “Chopped,” Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen,” Food Network’s Canada “Firemasters”. “Unexplored America – Mississippi.” It aires in France on the Channel “Voyage.” Beautiful Destinations. Two Features with Visit USA (Beautiful Destinations).

    Nick participated in 50 States – 50 Chefs (Flavored Nation) in Chattanooga, TN, and has also been blessed to present five James Beard Foundation “Mississippi Themed”  dinners in New York. He is known for redefining the Southern experience.

    More about Nick Wallace

    Nick can express his understanding of food through the taste and appearance of every plate of food that he prepares. While giving his grandmothers, Queen Morris and Lennel Donald credit for his beginning love for culinary arts, everyone would agree that Wallace’s talents lie within his heart and have been there before birth.

    Nick combines his family farm origins with a sophisticated French technique to create his modern Mississippi cuisine that is exceptionally pleasing to the pallet.

    Nick has served as Executive Chef for some of the country’s largest and most prominent museums and hotels. Through these positions, both his leadership skills and drive for continuous innovation flourish.

    Nick Wallace is the Founder/Chef of Nick Wallace Culinary, Nissan Cafe by Nick Wallace, Nick Wallace Catering, and the important Non-Profit Creativity Kitchen, giving kids and families the utmost attention inside the public schools, teaching and preparing the best experience ever.

    Giving Back

    Nick works closely with local farmers. With the ability to produce healthier fresh foods, Wallace has moved his culinary talent and innovative ways into Jackson Public Schools through his non-profit organization, Creativity Kitchen. Through Creativity Kitchen, Nick works closely with the Jackson Public Schools’ chefs to provide better tasting and healthier food for scholars. Just recently, Creativity Kitchen partnered with Whole Food’s 5% Community Giving Program and put the money back into the community by donating a percentage of it to one of the local elementary schools. Nick’s vision for culinary innovation, understanding of flavor, and technique have formed an exquisite growing of innovative cuisine.

    Nick continues to reach out to the community by partnering with organizations such as Dole, Novo Nordisk, American Cancer Society, Co-Chair of Share the Gulf, Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. Nick will continue to use his gifts, abilities, and talents to touch lives through innovation, palate-pleasing cuisine, and humbleness.

    Nick Wallace

    Nick Wallace Culinary;
    Hen and Egg; Nissan Cafe

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Brittanny Anderson

    Bar Buoy; Metzger Bar and Butchery; Black Lodge; The Pink Room

    Richmond, VA

    Saturday

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    Chris Viaud

    The Dining Room

    Tilton, NH

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    Evelyn Garcia

    JUN; KIN HTX

    Houston, TX

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    Nini Nguyen

    Dac Biet Hospitality

    New Orleans, LA

    Saturday

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    Chaz Lindsay

    Pulito Osteria; Rowan’s

    Jackson, MS

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    Chris deJesus

    Butcher and Bee

    Nashville, TN

    Saturday

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    Damien Cavicchi

    Hal and Mal’s; The Walk-in; Campbell’s Bakery

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Donovan Campbell

    Estelle Southern Table

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Eddie Wright

    Eddie Wright BBQ

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Enrika Williams

    Fauna Foodworks

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    John Tierre

    Johnny T’s

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Micah Klasky

    The Hive

    Bentonville, AR

    Saturday

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    Pierre Pryer, Sr.

    Iron Horse Grill

    Jackson, MS

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    Alex Eaton

    Aplos

    Jackson, MS

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    Chester Williams

    Amerigo Italian Restaurant

    Ridgeland, MS

    Saturday

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    Geno Lee

    Big Apple Inn

    Jackson, MS

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    Guillermo Salinas

    Just Vanilla Bake Shop

    Jackson, MS

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    Joseph Cravens

    Walker’s Drive In

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Pig & Pint

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Sam Fore

    Tuk Tuk Snack Shop

    Lexington, KY

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    Qunika Rueben

    Mayflower Cafe

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Jon Lansdale

    Crazy Cat Eat Up

    Jackson, MS

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    A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Hunter Evans discovered a love for cooking while working in the kitchens helmed by acclaimed chef John Currence while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Hunter continued his training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. While enrolled at the CIA, Hunter staged at some of NYC’s top restaurants, including Le Bernardin, Cafe Boulud and Daniel. After graduation, Hunter went on to work for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality before returning to Mississippi to fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant in his hometown. Hunter has formed strong relationships with Mississippi farmers and purveyors and showcases regional ingredients at his new restaurant, Elvie’s, which opened earlier this year. Inspired by his travels through Europe and memories with his grandmother in New Orleans, Elvie’s offers a modern take on classic French cuisine through the lens of Southern culinary traditions and ingredients. Since opening Elvie’s Evans has received lots of recognition as well as being named as on of Plate Magazines Chefs to Watch!

    Hunter Evans

    Elvie’s; Mayflower Cafe

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Nicki Gatlin-Lovell

    Campbell’s Bakery

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Phillip Brown

    Chef Phillip’s Creative Foods

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Austin Sumrall

    White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge

    Biloxi, MS

    Saturday

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    Joey Thompson

    Moondog Makers and Bakers

    Corinth, MS

    Saturday

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    Jon Davis

    City Grocery

    Oxford , MS

    Saturday

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    Paul Halaszyn

    Lula Perl Cafe

    Ruston, LA

    Saturday

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    Ross Hester, Joseph Stinchcomb & Patrick Hudgins

    Good Day Cafe

    Oxford, MS

    Saturday

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    Taylor Harris

    Bayonet

    Birmingham, AL

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    Matt Jeffries

    Rooster’s Fondren

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Mike Greenhill

    Josett

    Jackson, MS

    Saturday

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    Jeremy Noffke

    Big Trouble

    Hattiesburg, MS

    Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors

    Copyright © 2026 JXN Food and Wine Festival