Snackbar, part of James Beard Award winner and author Chef John Currence’s City Grocery Restaurant Group, is proud to announce Mississippi Monday: A Summer Supper Series, benefitting Good Food For Oxford Schools. The series, hosted by James Beard Award finalist Chef Vishwesh Bhatt, will feature award-winning Mississippi chefs and will shine a light on Mississippi ingredients. Call 662-236-6363 or visit snackbaroxford.com for reservations.
Chef Ty Thames, owner of Restaurant Tyler, The Guest Room, Bin 612, and City Bagel Café in Starkville, Mississippi, will lead off the series starting June 11.
Chef Jonathan “Ty” Thames is a Mississippi native who started his culinary career at the age of fifteen. Chef Ty started his educational path at the University of Southern Mississippi. He then went on to the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, where he graduated with distinction. After leaving Vermont, Chef Ty moved to Parma, Italy to pursue his culinary passion of Italian cuisine.
There he apprenticed under Chef Leonardo of Maria Luigi Restaurant. Upon returning to the United States, Chef Ty moved to Washington D.C. There, he began work at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Georgetown Property. After gaining all of the knowledge he could under the renowned chefs of the Ritz Carlton, Chef Ty moved to the regional Italian fine dining restaurant Centro, located in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was recognized in many publications such as The Washington Times, The Washington Post, D.C. Style Magazine, and the Washingtonian Magazine.
Chef Ty moved from D.C. to pursue his dream of owning a restaurant in his native state of Mississippi. Traveling back to his roots, he found home in Starkville. Here, Chef Ty has managed to bring the best that he has learned back to the Magnolia State.
Chef Ty is a chef who takes civic responsibility for what he cooks and serves. He is a believer in using natural ingredients, in even the most complex recipes, and he preaches and practices professional responsibility when it comes to chemicals and hormones in foods. Chef Ty believes all chefs should be aware of what is going on in our environment regarding over-fishing, waste management, and the products we buy and sell. Chef Ty believes that chefs should burden the responsibility of educating others of their impact to the industry. You can learn more about Chef Ty at eatlocalstarkville.com.
On deck for July 9 is James Beard Award nominated Chef Cole Ellis, of the Delta Meat Market in Cleveland, Mississippi. Reigning King of American Seafood, Chef Alex Eaton, owner of much-lauded Manship, and soon-to-open Aplos, in Jackson, Mississippi will be in Oxford on August 6.
Stay tuned for details on multi-course menus highlighting Mississippi grown ingredients as well as ticket sales! Be sure to visit www.citygroceryonline.com, and follow us on Instagram @snackbaroxford and Facebook.
“The goal of this series is to bring the best of Mississippi to Oxford and raise money for a great cause,” says Bhatt. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with these amazing Chefs. I am honored that they have accepted the invitation to come cook at Snackbar. Oxford is in for a real treat!” He added.
