No one signs up for a European tour expecting to have lunch in a stranger’s home in a village so small, it doesn’t show up on most maps. But that’s exactly where my guests found themselves—deep in the Andalusian hills, breaking bread in the homes of Spanish women who didn’t speak our language but knewContinue reading “No Sign, No Menu, Just Home”
Author Archives: paul
The Romance of a Pig Farm
SEVILLE— No one expects to use the word romantic when talking about a pig farm. But standing in the soft morning light, in the rolling hills of southern Spain, watching Iberian pigs roam free under a canopy of ancient cork and oak, that’s the only word that kept coming to mind. Romantic. When my RSJContinue reading “The Romance of a Pig Farm”
A Father’s Reflection on a Wedding Weekend
There are only a few moments in life when time slows down enough to let you take it all in.For me, this past weekend was one of those moments. My daughter, Holleman, got married. If you’ve been following along these past few weeks, you’ve read some of my reflections leading up to this day. AndContinue reading “A Father’s Reflection on a Wedding Weekend”
The Weight of a Wedding
Life tends to deliver milestones in clusters, never spreading them out at a leisurely pace, but stacking them up all at once. This week is no exception. On Saturday, my daughter is getting married—a once-in-a-lifetime event. Then, two days later, I board a plane to spend the next eight weeks working overseas. It’s not idealContinue reading “The Weight of a Wedding”
End of an Era: The Last Chapter of Coney Island Café
Some people judge towns by their population. Others point to school systems, parks, water and air quality, or thriving local businesses. But to me, the character of a town is best measured by its small, independent restaurants and cafes—the places that stand the test of time. They’re more than just places to grab a meal—they’reContinue reading “End of an Era: The Last Chapter of Coney Island Café”
The Wedding
These days, emotions are running high. One minute, I’m in my truck thinking about our restaurants or the travel business, and the next, a song comes on, and I’m blinking back tears. Not over business, not over projects—over something much bigger, and way more important. My daughter is getting married in 18 days. I’ve cateredContinue reading “The Wedding”
Ribeyes, Foxes, with a Side of Zebras
In the 1990s, I was at a statewide board meeting for the Mississippi Restaurant Association, and during a discussion about tourism, I mentioned the Hattiesburg Zoo in my hometown. That got some laughs. “Hattiesburg has a zoo?” they scoffed. Some of them chuckled like I’d just suggested we start promoting Hattiesburg as the next greatContinue reading “Ribeyes, Foxes, with a Side of Zebras”
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”
S’mores Are a Sticky Lie
Last week, a polar vortex blew through the region and New Orleans got eight inches of snow. I think that’s a record. We had a couple of inches in Hattiesburg—just enough to shut everything down and turn the South into a snow day for grown-ups. The night before the freeze seemed like perfect weather forContinue reading “S’mores Are a Sticky Lie”