CHEF ALEX PERRY
Born and raised in Ocean Springs , Chef Alex Perry was just named a 2024 James Beard Awards semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurant category for his eatery , Vestige . He has been a semifinalist for the James Beard Award Best Chef in the South three times , back in 2019 , 2022 and 2023 . Located in the heart of historic downtown Ocean Springs , Vestige is a farm-to-table concept where Perry sources ingredients from farmers markets and partners with Mississippi growers and vendors . Being a chef wasn ’ t Perry ’ s original plan . After graduating with a degree in microbiology from the University of South Alabama , he decided to change paths and enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Miami , Florida . In 2013 , after seven years of on-the-job learning at NoJa in Mobile , Alabama , Perry opened Vestige back in his hometown of Ocean Springs .
spent money in Meridian ,” said The MAX ’ s festival producer Elizabeth Williams . “ But when they come here , they stay at our hotels , they eat at our restaurants , they go to our bars and they spend money downtown . That is one thing I really like about Sipp & Savor , people come in and support our economy and our local businesses .”
This year ’ s Sipp & Savor starts at 6 p . m . for general admission and 5 p . m . for premium pass holders . Ticket holders can stroll through the festival area sampling tastings from nearly 50 chefs , master mixologists and distillers while sipping on a a wide variety of craft cocktails , cold beers , fine wines and nonalcoholic drinks , such as kombucha and chai tea . The event has a festival atmosphere with live music and lots of fun .
“ It would be a very expensive road trip to try all of these chefs ’ dishes , but you have the opportunity to purchase a ticket and sample your way all around the Southeast ,” Williams said .
The chefs offer a wide variety of dishes so event goers should find something to satisfy their appetite , even those who are a little more selective in their eating choices .
“ They each prepare a small bite ,” Williams explained . “ We have had everything you can imagine on these bites . We had one chef that did fried chicken last year , and then you see foie gras and all of that high-end stuff . But we also had a chef last year who made pizza rolls with beer cheese on them that were really good . It ’ s a wide variety of dishes to try .”
The MAX ’ s first Sipp & Savor fundraiser was scheduled to take place in 2020 . But 17 days before the event night , the Mississippi Department of Health confirmed the first
COVID-19 case in the state with Gov . Tate Reeves proclaiming a state of emergency three days later on March 14 .
“ Our first one was supposed to be March 28 , 2020 , but the world closed 13 days before that , which I will never forget ,” Williams said . “ So , our first Sipp & Savor ended up being in April 2021 .”
Twelve chefs were secured for the culinary event in 2021 , and organizers were hoping for at least 600 attendees . But with the rollout of Covid vaccinations , coupled with residents ’ weariness of takeout food and a desire to return to normal life , turnout quite exceeded expectations .
“ Everybody had gotten vaccinated and gotten a little more comfortable and over night we sold 800 tickets one night . So , I ended up having to call all of my chefs and be like , ‘ Ah , there are 1,200 people coming next week .’” Williams said . “ It has just kind of grown since then .”
In 2022 , Sipp & Savor drew about two dozen chefs and more than 1,800 attendees . Nearly 34 chefs and more than 2,800 people turned out for last year ’ s event .
This year , she said , “ we have chefs coming from South Carolina , from Florida , Tennessee , Georgia , Alabama and , of course , Mississippi .”
This year ’ s headline chef will be food blogger and wild game chef , Tori Loomis , of Natchez , who has a strong following on her Instagram page , “ The Gatherin ’ Girl .” A big proponent of the field-to-table lifestyle , Loomis plans to serve up her prize-winning dish , smoked duck gumbo .
Returning festival favorites from last year include Alex Eaton ( The Manship , Aplós , Smoke Show ), a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best Chef in the South ; Hunter Evans ( Elvie ’ s ), a two-time Jeans Beard semifinalist for Best Chef in the South ; Loma Xayalinh ( Lomakase ); Brandon
CHEF ENRIKA WILLIAMS
Chef Enrika Williams is the Mississippi born-and-raised chef and owner of Fauna Foodworks , an abstract and re-imagined culinary food lab in Jackson . Her premiere food lab produces thoughtful , bohemian chic cuisine . Williams will cook exclusively for this year ’ s Sponsor Lounge Pre-Party at Sipp & Savor . Previously , she has been featured in a series of three dinners at the prestigious James Beard House and has worked with celebrity chefs Carla Hall and Emeril Lagasse . Williams was featured on an episode of FOX ’ s “ Hotel Hell ” with Chef Gordon Ramsay , and she battled Chef Bobby Flay on Food Network ’ s “ Beat Bobby Flay .”
8 • MERIDIAN LIFE