JXN Food & Wine Set For Friday, Saturday; Grand Tasting Moves to JCC

The final countdown to the anticipated JXN Food & Wine Festival (JXNFW) is on, as acclaimed chefs and beverage providers return to Mississippi’s capital March 14-15. Headlined by co-hosts Chef Nick Wallace and Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark, this year’s festival features 38 chefs from across the country and brewers, vintners, and distillers from 17 beverage brands sharing their flavors amongst grand tastings, demonstrations, and exclusive dining experiences.

Friday, March 14: The Hen & Egg Dinners, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Location: 401 N Lamar Street, Jackson, MS, 39202
Limited tickets still available: $225 each
Website: jxnfoodandwine.com/hen-and-egg-dinners-2025

Epicureans are invited to indulge in a four-course dinner prepared by an all-star lineup of chefs. Chef Chair Nick Wallace, a celebrated Mississippi chef known for his farm-to-table approach and deep Southern culinary roots, will host the intimate evening at his brand-new restaurant, The Hen & Egg. He will be joined by "Top Chef" alum Gabriel Pascuzzi from Portland, Oregon, who is known for his bold flavors and innovative techniques; Enrika Williams, a talented chef and food consultant whose work emphasizes cultural storytelling through cuisine; and Vishwesh Bhatt, a James Beard Award-winning chef with restaurants in Oxford, Mississippi, renowned for his inventive take on Southern food with Indian and global influences.

Saturday, March 15: Grand Tasting
Location: MOVED INDOORS DUE TO WEATHER FORECASTS – Jackson Convention Complex, 105 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS 39201
Doors open at 5 p.m. for VIP ticket holders, and 6 p.m. for General Admission. The event ends at 9 p.m.
VIP and General Admission, sold out

The Festival’s grand tasting events will take place inside the Jackson Convention Complex. Gourmands will be treated to live cooking demonstrations and an array of bites prepared by celebrated chefs from Jackson, the broader Mississippi region, and beyond.

The full roster of participating chefs includes:

• Alex Harrell, Gloriette at The Southern Hotel - Northshore, LA
• Austin Sumrall, White Plains – Coastal Mississippi
• Brian Myrick, Johnny T's – Jackson, MS
• Brittany Cochran, Stagioni - Charlotte, NC
• Chaz Lindsay, Pulito Osteria, Rowan’s - Jackson, MS
• Chester Williams, Amerigo – Jackson, MS
• Cristian Rodriguez, Aplos – Jackson, MS
• Damien Cavicchi, Hal & Mal's, The Walk-in – Jackson, MS
• Desi Bourgeois, Grown and Grazed + Heard Freighthouse Food Park - Ruston, LA
• Eddie Wright, Eddie Wright BBQ – Jackson, MS
• Enrika Williams, Fauna Foodworks - Jackson, MS
• Enrique Diaz, Saltine – Jackson, MS
• Evelyn Aviles, Buenos Aires Bakery – Ridgeland, MS
• Gabriel Pascuzzi, Bistecca Wood Fire Steakhouse & Tip Top Burger Shop - Portland, OR
• Geno Lee, Big Apple Inn – Jackson, MS
• Hunter Ray, The Pig & Pint – Jackson, MS
• Hunter Evans, Elvie's, Mayflower – Jackson, MS
• Jeff Hansell, Thorny Oyster – Coastal Mississippi
• Jon Davis, City Grocery – Oxford, MS
• Joseph Sambou, Sambou's African Kitchen – Jackson, MS
• Katie Dixon, Birdie's – Hattiesburg, MS
• Kelsey Barnard Clark, KBC - Dothan, AL
• La Brioche + Spark Confectionary Team, La Brioche Patisserie and Spark Confectionary – Jackson, MS
• Luke Joseph, Current Charcoal Grill - Birmingham, AL
• Michelle Wallace, B’tween Sandwich Co. - Houston, TX
• Nick Wallace, Hen and Egg, Nissan Cafe – Jackson, MS
• Nicki Gatlin-Lovell, Campbell's Bakery – Jackson, MS
• Phillip Brown, Chef Phillip's Creative Foods LLC – Jackson, MS
• Phillip Brown, Estelle at the Westin Jackson – Jackson, MS
• Pierre Pryer, Sr., Iron Horse Grill – Jackson, MS
• Sam Fore, Tuk Tuk Snack Shop - Lexington, KY
• Sarah Welch, Marrow; Mink - Detroit, MI
• Shawn Knight, Eudora's Brasserie – Jackson, MS
• Ty Thames, Restaurant Tyler – Starkville, MS
• Vannesa Bordoy, White Limozeen - Nashville, TN
• Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar - Oxford, MS

Official beverage partners include a curated lineup of spirits, wines, and beer/non-alcoholic options. In the spirits category, featured brands include Anteel Tequila, Bardstown Bourbon, Cathead Distillery, Circle Hook Distilling, Rivuelt Artisan Pecan Liqueur, and Wonderbird Spirits. The wine selection boasts offerings from Babylonstoren, Gallo, International Wines, Jackson Family Wines, Queen’s Reward Meadery, Renegade Lemonade, and South to South Wines. For beer and non-alcoholic beverages, partners include Brown Bottling Group, Fertile Ground, North Shore Specialty Coffee, and Stella Artois.

The 2025 sponsors include a distinguished group of organizations. Leading the way are Visit Mississippi, MWB, Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association, The Westin Jackson, and Visit Jackson, with Mississippi Museum of Art serving as the host venue. Additional sponsors include Cadence Bank, Singer | H&R, WJTV, US Foods, Cadillac of Jackson, iHeartMedia, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, JXN Water, and The Country Squire Tobacconist. Regional partners representing key locations include Visit Oxford, Coastal Mississippi, Visit Starkville, Visit Tupelo, Visit HATTIESBURG, Explore Ridgeland, Visit The Northshore, and Experience Ruston, showcasing the widespread support for this year’s gathering.

Limited tickets for JXNFW 2025 are still available online. A portion of JXNFW proceeds help fund the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to students seeking a post-secondary degree in restaurant management or culinary arts.

Visit jxnfoodandwine.com and follow @jxnfoodandwine on Instagram and Facebook for more information.