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Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

My Kind of Town: RSJ’s Chicago Favorites

CHICAGO— This city has been a part of my life for the past thirty-five years. It’s a city that holds a special place in my heart, not only for the food but for the people and the memories that have shaped my career in hospitality. Since I started writing this weekly column 26 years ago,Continue reading “My Kind of Town: RSJ’s Chicago Favorites”

The Weight of Weather and a Wedding

A bitter cold has settled into the Pine Belt of Mississippi this week, and it’s the kind of chill that makes you appreciate the sweltering days of August. Down here, cold weather feels like an event, something that calls for a hearty soup on the stove and extra layers by the backdoor. As the temperaturesContinue reading “The Weight of Weather and a Wedding”

Holy Smokes: Discovering Barbecue Heaven at Sacred Ground

For most of my early life, barbecue wasn’t much of a staple. Not because I didn’t like it—far from it—but because there simply weren’t a lot of barbecue options in Hattiesburg, Mississippi during the 1960s and 70s. There was a popular legacy restaurant called The Wagon Wheel, and it was beloved by locals, though manyContinue reading “Holy Smokes: Discovering Barbecue Heaven at Sacred Ground”

RSJ’s Most Memorable Meals of 2024

For the past 25 years, my final column of the year has always been a list of the top 10 most memorable meals I enjoyed in the previous year. The list isn’t about the fanciest, most exclusive, or faraway dining experiences I’ve had—it’s about meals that stuck with me for one reason or another. SideContinue reading “RSJ’s Most Memorable Meals of 2024”

Team and Leadership

Last night, my leadership team gathered for our 37th annual Christmas dinner—a tradition I cherish. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and thank the incredible hard-working and dedicated people who make everything we do possible. This tradition brings together our leadership team, C-Suite, admin staff, and their significant others for an evening of barbecue ribsContinue reading “Team and Leadership”

Success Starts with Failure

My success today is rooted in the failures of my past. Failure can be a necessary ingredient for success, and the earlier it happens, the better. I learned this the hard way, stumbling more times than I care to count. But each failure, no matter how brutal, was a steppingstone. Looking back, I wouldn’t changeContinue reading “Success Starts with Failure”