A New Chef In Town

J A C K S O N  ,  M I S S I S S I P P I

          Standing tall in the heart of Jackson, towers the Westin hotel and in it, you’ll find Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro.  When you walk into Estelle you are met with a bustling open kitchen and modern design. As you take your seat, the aroma of fresh ingredients dances around you. We know your stomach is growling already… ours too! Executive Chef Jonathan Boyd is the mastermind behind Estelle’s menu, and he and his team aim to showcase all that Jackson has to offer, one plate at a time. “The Jackson area has some of the best farms in the country around us,” Chef Jonathan, Art Institute of Atlanta grad, shares. “It is our job to show off their hard work and the flavor they provide for us.” Talk about eating local! So what inspires Chef Jonathan and how did we get so lucky to have him land in Jackson? Keep scrolling and we’ll fill you in! 

            Chef Jonathan has been cooking practically his whole life.  He started by helping his grandmothers in their kitchens when he was a boy, but it wasn’t until he was a senior in high school that he first considered culinary school. “My ‘job’ in the house was to make sure there was food every night for the family when my parents returned home from work. Though this was the start of the idea of being a chef, it was the experience of working in my first kitchen job at The Hil at Serenbe where I realized that this is what I wanted to do.” There he was introduced to farm-to-table cooking, a culinary theme he’d carry with him through his career. “It was special. I saw that true southern food could be elegant and its own niche,” he reflects. ​

           Fast forward 16 years and add culinary school and several dashes of restaurant experience, Chef Jonathan made his way to Jackson as Executive Chef of Estelle where he is surrounded by a supportive and driven staff. “I get to do my dream job because I have a team that goes above and beyond every day,” Chef gushes. “Each day they arrive to be a better cook, chef, front-of-house manager, server, or dishwasher. It is a great team to be a part of, and they inspire me in return.” When he’s not throwing down in the kitchen, you can find Chef Jonathan visiting local farms, working on his family farm, or producing his podcast Food and Farm. 

        So when you visit Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro, expect nothing short of excellence throughout your entire dining experience. “Our team is excited about 2021 and we are looking forward to showcasing Jackson and the love we have for our city. We are going to bring the soul and love of Jackson into every dish.” Be sure to pay Chef Jonathan Boyd and his team a visit. They have worked on a delicious Christmas Eve menu, and their New Year offerings are sure to make your mouth water.  To book your reservation, give them a call at 769-235-8400 or visit their website www.estellejackson.com to make your reservation.