Elvie’s chef can add James Beard Award finalist to his resume

BIG DEAL. >> THE JAMES BEARD AWARD IS BASICALLY LIKE THE OSCARS. OF THE FOOD WORLD. I’M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE CAMERA AND LET YOU SEE WHAT IT’S LOOKING LIKE HERE AT THE GOOD BAR, YOU CAN SEE A TV. THEY HAVE A TV SET UP TO WATCH. UM, HUNTER POSSIBLY WIN TONIGHT AT 16. WHAT RECENTLY TALKED TO EVANS BEFORE HE LEFT FOR CHICAGO TO GO TO THE JAMES BEARD AWARDS, AND HE EXPRESSED SO MUCH GRATITUDE AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE NOMINATION. HE SAYS THIS NOMINATION FURTHER CONFIRMS THAT MISSISSIPPI CAN BE SEEN AS A CULINARY DESTINATION. NOW, IF YOU PLAN ON IF YOU PLAN ON CELEBRATING HUNTER TONIGHT AND YOU WANT TO WATCH THE LIVE LIVE STREAM TONIGHT, YOU CAN COME HERE AT THE GOOD BAR. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE THE TV SET UP FOR YOU TO WATCH AND ENJOY THE LIVE STREAM. REPORTING FROM BELHAVEN, BROOKLYN

A Jackson chef traveled to Chicago for the James Beard Awards ceremony.Hunter Evans of Elvie's was one of five finalists for Best Chef: South. Evans advanced from being a semifinalist, something he was also named in 2023. Evans is traveling to Chicago for Monday's awards ceremony.Elvie's held a watch party at Good Bar, which is next to the restaurant on Manship Street in Belhaven. While Evans didn't take home the award, he was happy to be named as a finalist."It's a dream come true," Evans said. "The James Beard Award is the Oscars, and the highest honor in America. And it's always been a bucket list dream." Elvie's opened in Belhaven in 2020 and is named after Evans’ grandmother. As the restaurant has grown in popularity, so have the accolades, including being named one of "America’s Best Restaurants" by the New York Times.Evans and his business partner, Cody McCain, recently purchased the Mayflower Café on West Capitol Street. The Jackson staple changed ownership in the spring and is closed for renovation. It is expected to reopen this summer.

JACKSON, Miss. —

A Jackson chef traveled to Chicago for the James Beard Awards ceremony.

Hunter Evans of Elvie's was one of five finalists for Best Chef: South. Evans advanced from being a semifinalist, something he was also named in 2023. Evans is traveling to Chicago for Monday's awards ceremony.

Elvie's held a watch party at Good Bar, which is next to the restaurant on Manship Street in Belhaven. While Evans didn't take home the award, he was happy to be named as a finalist.

"It's a dream come true," Evans said. "The James Beard Award is the Oscars, and the highest honor in America. And it's always been a bucket list dream."

Elvie's opened in Belhaven in 2020 and is named after Evans’ grandmother. As the restaurant has grown in popularity, so have the accolades, including being named one of "America’s Best Restaurants" by the New York Times.

Evans and his business partner, Cody McCain, recently purchased the Mayflower Café on West Capitol Street. The Jackson staple changed ownership in the spring and is closed for renovation. It is expected to reopen this summer.