Photo by Thomas Robertson.
The Mayflower Café in Jackson, MS.
A New Era at The Mayflower
In downtown Jackson, Mississippi, The Mayflower Cafe has stood sentry for almost a century now, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the state. Opened in 1935 by Greek immigrants George Kountouris and John Gouras as a hamburger joint and beer garden, it has since earned the status of a grand dame, known for its distinctive Mississippi classics-meets-Greek delights menu and featured nationally on Food Network’s Sauced, Ghosts of Mississippi, and The Help. In recent years, rumors have been percolating about the restaurant’s closure, but earlier this year came the announcement that the legacy would live on, now in the hands of James Beard Award-winning Jackson chef Hunter Evans, who also owns Elvie’s down the street. Evans has promised that the iconic restaurant’s character will go unchanged, with new developments carefully inspired and informed by the Mayflower’s illustrious history. One change customers can look forward to is a committed-to-fresh approach on the seafood menu, translating Evans’s commitment at Elvie’s to sourcing locally whenever possible. The Mayflower Café officially reopened August 26. themayflowercafe.com.
[Read this story about Chef Hunter Evans and Elvie's in Jackson, from our January 2024 issue.]
Launching: Kenner’s Inaugural Restaurant Week
Smart and adventurous Louisiana eaters should make plans to visit Kenner this month, as the river/lakeside city outside the Crescent launches its inaugural Restaurant Week. With plenty of specials and discounts for visitors from September 8–14, there’s no better time to try local favorites like Baja Nola Mexicajun, Chilango’s Seafood, Gendusa’s Italian Eatery, and more. visitkenner.us/kenner-restaurant-week.
Baton Rouge’s Main Street Market Re-Opens
From the folks who bring you the Red Stick Farmers Market each Saturday, the 8,000-square-foot Main Street Market under the Galvez Parking Garage at 504 N. 5th Street in downtown Baton Rouge is set to welcome new businesses in its freshly renovated space. The $1 million state project began last November as an effort to better connect the outdoor market to the indoor vendors—with an emphasis on healthy food options, supporting small Louisiana farms, and overall sustainability. Now accepting vendor applications, BREADA has said that there is availability for permanent vendor stalls, pop up spaces, and a fully-equipped teaching kitchen. On September 26, BREADA’s annual Farm Fête will be held in the space as a first-look opportunity for the Baton Rouge community. breada.org/farm-fete.
