This superstar chef pop-up dinner is a dream match-up in Biloxi
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chef Austin Sumrall announced a pop-up in Biloxi for June 7 featuring Justin Kennedy.
- The all po-boy dinner at White Pillars had 75 reservations in its first hour..
- Justin Kennedy, Parkway Bakery head chef, has Biloxi ties
Chef Austin Sumrall’s phone was dinging with reservations Wednesday, an hour after he announced one of the more unusual and enticing pop-up dinners coming to White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge in Biloxi.
“We have a huge announcement,” he posted on social media, for an event what will unite two friends and power chefs.
The next White Pillars pop-up chef series will bring Justin Kennedy back to Biloxi for an all-po’boy dinner. The chefs already had 75 reservations through OpenTable in the first hour, and Sumrall said he expects reservations for the experience on June 7 to fill up fast.
Kennedy is head chef at Parkway Bakery and Tavern in New Orleans.
“This po’boy shop is on the friggin @michelinguide y’all!” said Sumrall, whose White Pillars in Biloxi and Siren Social Club in Gulfport are Michelin recommended restaurants.
Sumrall, who roams the Gulf Coast looking for the best shirmp po’boy to try and rate on social media, said he just likes po’boys and pursuing the best ones. Now they are coming to his place.
The menu for the pop-up will be all po’boys, Sumrall said. Kennedy will be slinging some classic and favorite Parkway po’boys, Sumrall said, while he expects to add “White Pillars quirky and weird” small plates and sides to go with them.
Those who attend will order their favorites off the menu.
What makes this pairing even more notable are Kennedy’s ties to Biloxi.
“He is a direct descendant of Josephine Folkes (of Eggplant Josephine fame) who grew up in the building,” Sumrall said. Austin and Tresse Sumrall brought back the famed Eggplant Josephine when they reopened White Pillars in 2017, and it’s still on the menu.
Sumrall and Kennedy have known each other for years and became friends over family celebrations at the restaurant.
Kennedy asked him a few months ago about the White Pillars pop-up chef series, Sumrall said, and “Would y’all want to consider doing a Parkway one?”
Sumrall said he’s so excited about the pop-up and “Maybe if he has a really good night, we can we talk him into opening a second Parkway.”
