About the
Festival
Mission & Goals
Visit Jackson, in partnership with The Local Palate, is proud to fulfill their mission to highlight the rich tapestry of Jackson, Mississippi’s culinary landscape. From down-home comfort food to fine dining, the City With Soul offers a multitude of opportunities to discover a bite of Southern culture, and at JXN Food & Wine Festival, we proudly represent the city’s diverse chefs and the region’s top culinary talent.
It doesn’t stop there. JXN Food & Wine believes in giving back to the community, and we’re dedicating a portion of our proceeds to support the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation. This fund provides scholarships to students seeking a post-secondary degree in restaurant manage or culinary arts.
JXN Food & Wine is here to celebrate Southern culinary heritage and invest in the restaurant industry’s future workforce!
About the Chef Chair
The Chef Chair role is meant to be both a local ambassador and connector—someone who helps us ensure the festival feels rooted in Jackson while also elevating the overall culinary experience. The Chef Chair brings new life and experiences to JXNFW through themes, guest chefs, and an overall personality.
What the Chef Chair Does:
- Feedback: Ongoing, open dialogue around what’s working well and where we can continue to improve.
- Talent recruitment: Recommending and helping connect JXNFW with a strong mix of local, regional, and national chefs.
- Programming input: Sharing feedback on the chef lineup, demo stage, and overall culinary direction.
- On-site presence: Being visible and engaged throughout the festival weekend.
Hunter Evans
Chef Chair
Elvie’s; Mayflower Cafe
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, staging at some of NYC’s top restaurants, including Le Bernardin, Café Boulud, and Daniel. After graduation, Hunter worked for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality before returning to Mississippi to open his own restaurant, Elvie’s, a modern take on classic French cuisine through the lens of Southern culinary traditions.
Accolades: Named one of Plate Magazine’s Chefs to Watch; 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist, Best Chef: South.
Nick Wallace
Chef Chair Emeritus
Nick Wallace Culinary;
Hen and Egg; Nissan Cafe
Mississippi-born and raised, Nick Wallace grew up on his family farm and credits his grandmothers with sparking his love of cooking, later blending those Southern roots with French technique to create his own modern Mississippi cuisine. He’s served as Executive Chef for some of the country’s top museums and hotels, was named Best Chef in Jackson four years running and Best Chef of Mississippi in 2020, and remains on the Best Chefs in America list. Nationally, he’s appeared on Food Network’s Top Chef, Chopped (winning Season 34 in 2017), Cutthroat Kitchen, and Comfort Nation, and has presented five Mississippi-themed dinners for the James Beard Foundation in New York. He also founded Creativity Kitchen, a nonprofit partnering with Jackson Public Schools to bring healthier food to students. Nick Wallace served as JXNFW’s Chef Chair from 2024–2026, bringing Top Chef talent and national attention to the festival during his tenure.