Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark to Headline JXN Food & Wine Festival with Chef Nick Wallace

JXN Food & Wine Festival (JXNFW), the premier culinary festival celebrating the vibrant food scene in Mississippi’s capital, along with The Local Palate and Visit Jackson, announces Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark will join Nick Wallace as the co-host to the lineup for their 2025 event.

Clark is a celebrated chef and author, and recently launched her new book Southern Get-Togethers, a guide on the art of entertaining and hosting. A native of Dothan, Alabama, Clark made history as the fifth woman and the first Southerner to win Bravo’s Top Chef in season 16. She was also a semifinalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. Clark’s culinary journey began at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, where she trained and worked in several Michelin-star restaurants, including Café Boulud. She later returned to Dothan to operate her namesake restaurant and catering company, KBC, which serves her signature southern-French cuisine, inspired by family recipes and classic French techniques.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark to our talented lineup of chefs for the 2025 JXN Food & Wine Festival,” said Visit Jackson's President & CEO, Rickey Thigpen, Ph.D. “Her vast experience and culinary expertise will undoubtedly elevate the festival and create an unforgettable experience for all attendees.”

JXNFW 2025 will take place on March 14-15, 2025 and will feature an expanded roster of renowned chefs, including Bravo’s Top Chefs Gabriel Pascuzzi and Michelle Wallace. The festival will offer a weekend of engaging culinary experiences, including intimate dinners at Chef Chair Nick Wallace’s newest restaurant, The Hen & Egg, on the evening of Friday, March 14. The tasting on Saturday, March 15 will bring together local talent and celebrated chefs from Jackson, the broader Mississippi region, and beyond for live cooking demonstrations, an array of bites and beverages, and live music.

Tickets for JXNFW 2025 are now available for purchase. VIP tickets are $170 and general admission tickets are $90. VIP ticket holders will have early access, with doors opening at 5:00 p.m., while general admission begins at 6:00 p.m. The event will conclude at 9:00 p.m. Food enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the website jxnfoodandwine.com and follow @jxnfoodandwine on Instagram and Facebook to keep abreast of updates and additional chefs added to the lineup.