Mississippi
Inaugural Michelin Guide American South honors 10 MS restaurants. See which made the list
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In the inaugural Michelin Guide American South, Mississippi restaurants from the northern corners to the coast were recognized, with two winning the prestigious Bib Gourmand distinction and another eight making Michelin’s “recommended restaurants” list.
Michelin Guide announced the 2025 American South selections during a ceremony in Greenville, South Carolina, Monday night, Nov. 3.
In total, the Michelin Guide honored 228 restaurants representing 44 different types of cuisine and seven Southern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The guide awarded 10 restaurants Michelin Stars, one of the most coveted distinctions in the dining world.
While Mississippi did not collect any Michelin Stars, the state was still heavily represented.
Bib Gourmand distinction
The Bib Gourmand distinction recognizes eateries for great food at a great value, according to Michelin Guide.
The 2025 American South selections had a total of 50 restaurants, including two Mississippi eateries: Elvie’s of Jackson and Sacred Ground Barbecue of Pocahontas.
Both restaurants are fairly new to the Mississippi dining scene.
Elvie’s
In 2020, award-winning Jackson chef Hunter Evans opened Elvie’s as a homage to his grandmother, May Eliveretta Good, who provided the chef’s first memories of the complex nature of food. Evans grew up visiting his grandmother in New Orleans and fondly remembers eating her classic Southern cooking, which inspires Elvie’s menu today.
In 2020, weeks after Elvie’s had opened, the restaurant fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic and, like so many other restaurants around the world, shut its doors. The closure was temporary, however, and Evans and his crew managed to grow the restaurant through pop-ups and takeout meals.
Five years later, Elvie’s is still going strong. Earlier this year, the restaurant was named a James Beard Awards Semifinalist.
The menu, split between day and night, includes classic Southern breakfast dishes such as home fries and cheese grits, as well as some more upscale dishes, including oysters and caviar service. The menu includes a wide range of wines and specialty cocktails.
Sacred Ground Barbecue
Sacred Ground Barbecue, tucked away in Pocahontas, opened in 2024 and has quickly become a local favorite.
The newcomer to the Mississippi barbecue scene won the first-ever Clarion Ledger Jackson Metro BBQ Battle in August.
After five weeks and five rounds of bracket-style voting, starting with 32 competitors, Sacred Ground emerged victorious. The menu’s non-traditional dishes managed to beat out established local favorites week after week.
Award-winning local chef Derek Emerson opened the restaurant in late 2024. Emerson, originally from California, started his culinary journey working at the Subway on East Northside Drive in 1989.
When the old Tivoli’s Crawfish building next to the former Big D’s Barbecue went up for sale, Emerson and his wife knew it was perfect for a barbecue joint. The location is far enough away from the busy city, but close enough to make the drive worthwhile.
The name “Sacred Ground” is an homage to the sacred Native American mounds across the street. According to Emerson, the mounds were not burial mounds, but rather served as a central meeting place and ceremonial site.
Sacred Ground’s menu includes some twists on BBQ classics like Kung Pao Pork Belly and BBQ baked potatoes. You can also get plates of brisket, turkey, tri tip, pulled pork, pork ribs and even lamb.
Other menu items include Frito pie, nachos, house-made sausage, brisket melts, smash burgers and smoked pork butts.
American South’s 2025 Recommended Restaurants
In addition to the two Bib Gourmand descriptions, Mississippi garnered eight spots on the American South’s 2025 Recommended Restaurants list:
- Ajax Diner, Oxford
- City Grocery, Oxford
- Snackbar, Oxford
- Taylor Grocery, Taylor
- Pulito Osteria, Jackson
- Siren Social Club, Gulfport
- Vestige, Ocean Springs
- White Pillars, Biloxi
Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com
JACKSON COUNTY, Ms. (WZTV) — The family of a Mississippi teenager whose body was found after he went missing Fourth of July weekend is now demanding answers.
On Friday, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump , Rev. Al Sharpton and the family of Wells are holding a press conference to demand an investigation into the teen’s death.
Wells’ body was reportedly found Monday in the water near the end of Horn Island in Jackson County, Mississippi.
Rev. Sharpton opened the conference by stating there are too many unanswered questions to close the investigation into Wells’ death. He says Wells, who is Black, went on a boat with three white men, who returned with Wells’ phone and keys, but not Wells.
“We we’ve been told does not make sense,” Rev. Sharpton said. “There’s just too many questions where they should not be closing the investigation. This does not smell right.”
Attorney Crump leading an independent investigation into Wells’ death.
Investigators are asking anyone who was on or near Horn Island on July 4 to come forward, especially if they saw Wells, spoke with him, heard or saw any type of disturbance or have original photos or videos from the island.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Division at 228-769-3065 during regular business hours or 228-769-3063 after hours.
This is a developing story. Check back as we continue to update this story.
Mississippi
Mississippi Highway Patrol deployed to Goodman after viral gun video, leaders explain goals
GOODMAN, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has deployed state troopers to the Town of Goodman indefinitely following a viral video showing people waving guns and mocking the absence of police in the town.
DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell and other department leaders flew into Goodman on Thursday to meet with town officials. Tindell said the video drew the attention of both himself and Gov. Tate Reeves.
“We felt like there needed to be a presence of law enforcement in Goodman to send a message,” Tindell said. “That it’s not a town or any town in Mississippi that we’re going to allow lawlessness to prevail.”
Troopers conducting stops, working alongside sheriff’s office
Since Wednesday, troopers have been stopping drivers in downtown Goodman and in neighborhoods. Tindell said the Mississippi Highway Patrol is working alongside the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office as part of the investigation.
“It’s more regular law enforcement duties at this point,” Tindell said. “You know, we’re looking at individuals in the video to ask who they were and go from there.”
Tindell said MHP deployments to towns across the state are not uncommon, and include safety checkpoints, driver’s license verifications and insurance verifications.
“So that’s not unusual anywhere on any given day,” Tindell said. “We just happen to be in Goodman because they needed additional help at that time.”
Mayor supports presence; some residents question it
Mayor Michael Howard said he supports MHP’s increased presence in the town. However, resident Keni El questioned whether the deployment was necessary.
“It really doesn’t change anything because if the people they’ve seen on the video are who they came for then that’s who they need to be looking for,” El said. “Because in a way, it’s kind of harassing the people for stupidity of some younglings.”
El said leaders should instead focus on providing resources to mentor young people.
“The youth need to be taught the right knowledge, right wisdom, right understanding,” El said. “But I’m not going to be afraid of no child.”
Tindell said he is unsure how long state troopers will remain in Goodman but will stay in contact with town officials until a departure date is determined.
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