Earlier this year, The Local Palate, a culinary magazine based in Charleston, South Carolina, nominated the city of Jackson and nine other cities in the top 10 for “The Best Culinary Town in the South.” On July 28, Visit Jackson announced that Jackson advanced to the top three, now competing against Durham, North Carolina, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, for the title.
Visit Jackson Director of External Affairs, Partnerships & Alliances Yolanda Clay-Moore said a contact at the magazine reached out to Visit Jackson to tell them the city was nominated.
“The Local Palate has been here, as they are one of the producers of the Jackson Food and Wine Festival, and they’ve had the experience of the wonderful foods here and the talented chefs that cook it … to know that this is one of the towns that should be considered,” she told the Mississippi Free Press.
Visit Jackson has made concerted efforts to promote the Jackson’s culinary scene, which Clay-Moore said is part of the city’s DNA. The organization has curated events like The Jackson Food and Wine Festival and initiatives such as Jxn Restaurant Week. Visit Jackson also helps host an expo at Hinds Community College wherein restauranteurs speak to students about opportunities in the industry…