JACKSON, MS — In partnership with Visit Ridgeland, Eat Y’all will present the second annual Sweetest
Chefs of the South event on Monday, September 12 at The Lake House in Ridgeland, Mississippi from 7–8:30 pm (VIP entrance at 6:30 p.m.).
Sweetest Chefs of the South features our region’s top pastry chefs competing in a people’s choice competition for the title, Sweetest Chef of the South, and the opportunity to advance to the World Food Championships to compete in the World Dessert Challenge this November. Attendees will serve as food judges and name the winner thru their vote. The event serves as a fundraiser for Extra Table.
“It’s like a high stakes version of Eat Jackson’s popular Throwdown series,” said Andy Chapman, creator of the event and founder of Eat Jackson and Eat Y’all, the host of Sweetest Chefs of the South presented by Visit Ridgeland.
“It’s all the fun of food judging, sampling and a good party – but with the addition of a next step: the winner will go on to compete for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes at the World Food Championships,” Chapman said.
The following chefs will compete:
- Austin Agent, Pastry Chef at City Grocery Restaurant Group Oxford, MS
- Bretagne Buonaparte, Owner of Simple Family Bakery in Monroe, LA
- Nealy Frentz, Chef/Owner of LOLA and Chopped in Covington, LA
- Brittany Garrigus, Executive Pastry Chef at The Club, Inc. in Birmingham, AL
- Dwayne Ingraham, Chef/Owner of Sinfully Southern Bakery in Oxford, MS
- Jacqueline Ladnier, Chef/Owner of French Kiss Pastries in Ocean Springs, MS
- Jen Adelsheimer Lancaster, Executive Pastry Chef at Mangia Bene Restaurant Group in Jackson, MS
- Von Larson, Chef/Owner of Von’s Bistro in Mobile, AL
- Stephanie Little, Private Chef & Food Consultant, Oxford, MS
- Mitchell Moore, Chef/Owner of Campbell’s Bakery in Jackson, MS
- Mary Jennifer Russell, Chef/Owner of Sugaree’s Bakery in New Albany, MS
- Danielle Smathers, Pastry Chef at (insert location) in Atlanta, GA
Emcees for the event will be Robert St. John and Martie Duncan. Robert St. John is a Mississippi author and restaurant owner as well as the founder of Extra Table, the event’s beneficiary. Extra Table partners with Sysco to deliver nutritious foods at the lowest cost possible directly to local food pantries and soup kitchens. Martie Duncan, Food Network Star finalist, cookbook author and queen of party planning from Birmingham, AL, will co-host the event.
Guests will also enjoy a savory hot food bar provided by Ridgeland’s top restaurants as well as beverages from Southern Prohibition brewery in Hattiesburg, Charboneau Distillery in Natchez and Mississippi Cold Drip in Jackson. Live entertainment will be enjoyed throughout the evening and guests will serve as “Official Food Judges” to name the Sweetest Chef of the South through private ballot after enjoying tastes of each competing dessert.
Finally, guests will receive a thank you gift at the end of the evening, courtesy of our partners, Visit Ridgeland, Southern United Dairy Industry Association, Southern Peanut Growers, Mississippi Blue Rice, Simmons Catfish, the Chefter app, Broad Street Baking Company, Nandy’s Candy, and more.
Tickets are $39 for general admission and $49 for VIP entry. Purchase tickets online at eatyall.com/sweetestchefs or call 601-852- 3463. Media and volunteer requests may also be submitted at eatyall.com/sweetestchefs. For information about sponsorship or table reservation for groups, please call 601-852-3463. Funds raised from this event will provide nutritious foods to Jackson metro food pantries and soup kitchens through Extra Table. 
