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Robert St. John

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

Featured Recipe

Muz’s Pancakes – The World’s Best

I believe that pancakes are love. It's true. Think about all the times you have eaten pancakes in your life (outside of a restaurant or diner), and I'll bet the pancakes were made by someone who loved you. Everyone who has been someone who loved me, and someone whom I loved. My grandmother, we called her Muz, make the world's greatest pancakes. She was born and raised in Nashville, and I'm sure this recipe came from that area. These pancakes have been uniquely "Mississippi" for over half a century now. They are love on a plate.

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Most Popular

Robert St. John’s Baked Shrimp and Squash

I have always believed that my baked shrimp and squash recipe is a perfect example of Pineywoods cuisine. It makes use of shrimp harvested an hour south in the Gulf of Mexico, it has Creole seasonings from New Orleans and the Louisiana bayous 90 minutes to the southwest. And it draws its main ingredient from the South Mississippi garden.

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Muz’s Pancakes – The World’s Best

I believe that pancakes are love. It's true. Think about all the times you have eaten pancakes in your life (outside of a restaurant or diner), and I'll bet the pancakes were made by someone who loved you. Everyone who has been someone who loved me, and someone whom I loved. My grandmother, we called her Muz, make the world's greatest pancakes. She was born and raised in Nashville, and I'm sure this recipe came from that area. These pancakes have been uniquely "Mississippi" for over half a century now. They are love on a plate.

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90% Crab Cakes

Preheat oven to 375. Preheat flat griddle to 350. Combine all ingredients except panko and crabmeat. Gently fold in the…

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Breakfast Staples

Andouille Cheese Grits

This recipe has been something I've served friends and family for years. It's a great breakfast to make for a large group. This recipe will be included in my upcoming book release, Mississippi Mornings.

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Chive and Cheddar Biscuits

Preheat oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, pepper, cheddar…

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Perfect Scrambled Eggs

I had breakfast with Julia Child twice. I was in awe of her knowledge, passion, and modesty. I learned volumes in the short time we visited. Both times we spoke about eggs. She told me her recipe for the perfect scrambled egg, and it’s the method I still use today.

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Recent Recipes

Stewed Squid

In a 2 quart sauce pan, heat the oil over medium and sweat the garlic and the crushed red pepper…

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Cinnamon Cream Syrup

This pairs perfectly with Sweet Potato Pancakes. It may be better than the pancakes themselves (and they’re great). But try this recipe on regular pancakes, waffles, and French toast.

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Sweet Potato Pancakes

I ate my first sweet potato pancake during my only visit to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. My family, along with another couple and their young children rented a cabin in the mountains during spring break. I woke every morning and headed into town for breakfast. I would imagine Gatlinburg has more pancake houses per capita than any place on the planet. My problem is that I never found a good-tasting pancake until I happened across sweet potato pancakes at one of the pancake houses. We serve a version of this recipe at The Midtowner. The Cinnamon Cream Syrup is a must.

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RSJ’s Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Dip

The smoked tuna dip at Harbor docks is, by far, the best in the area. Actually, it’s the best I have ever tasted. Over the years I have taken a few stabs at recreating a Harbor Dock’s version, but always come up short. After several failed attempts, and facing a cookbook deadline, I finally worked up a recipe for smoked crab dip, which is excellent, though my wife still prefers Harbor Docks smoked tuna dip.

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Basic Muffin Mix

(This can be substituted with a white cake mix) Makes 12 each Sift together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.…

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Streusel

Pulse the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, butter, salt, and vanilla in a food processor. Add the flour and pulse…

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Blackberry Farm Raspberry Almond Crumb Cake

 Makes one 11x 7x 2-inch rectangular cake Preheat oven to 350 degrees Cream ¼ cup butter and sugar briefly.  Add almond…

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My Version of My Mom’s Stuffed Peppers

I probably ate stuffed peppers 90% of the birthdays in the first half-century of my life. Stuffed peppers, mashed potatoes, and English peas. Almost all my fondest childhood memories are set around meals in my home or the homes of one of my grandparents. I never gave them much thought back then, but a shared meal is something that I cherish, and never take for granted these days.

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Crabmeat Holleman

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the first eight ingredients and mix thoroughly with a wire whisk. Stir in peppers.…

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Crawfish Omelet with Horseradish Cream

This recipe is from the upcoming cookbook Mississippi Mornings, which will be released in the fall of 2023.

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Peach BBQ Sauce

Preheat oven to 300. In a 2-quart oven-proof sauce pot, heat the bacon fat over low heat. Cook onions 5…

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The Late-Great Louis Norman’s Garlicky-Sweet Dill Pickles

Start with one-gallon of the cheapest dill pickles you can find (Do not use kosher dills). Drain and discard all…

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Tapeo Ribs

PREPARATION Separate the individual ribs. Put the ribs and the rest of the ingredients in a sous-vide bag. Cook slowly…

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Rosanna’s Tiramisu

Combine the egg yolks and sugar in the chilled bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Beat…

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Frank Brigtsen’s Mashed Potatoes

The two best mashed potato dishes I have eaten in my life were from my friend and famed New Orleans chef, Frank Brigtsen’s and at my grandmother’s dining room table (and I’d have a hard time choosing a winner between the two).

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Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters

Make a lot because they’re gonna go fast.

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Fried Crab Claws

Heat oil to 350 degrees in a large cast iron skillet. Beat together the buttermilk and egg. Combine flour, and…

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Butternut Shrimp Bisque

Here is Frank Brigsten’s Butternut Shrimp Bisque (the key is in making a rich and flavorful stock) Frank Brigtsen – Brigtsen's Restaurant

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Scampi

The Italian peninsula is surrounded by five seas— the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenean, Ligurian, and Mediterranean. I have never eaten a dish like this while visiting Italy (they have probably never heard of Old Bay Seasoning), but we sell a lot of it in the States. Make sure and and dip warm ciabatta in the butter sauce left in the bottom of the bowl.

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Rosedale Rosemary BBQ Shrimp

In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, toast the pepper and rosemary until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add canola…

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Black and Blue Nachos

I use filet mignon, but ribeye or a New York strip would work well, too. Cut the tortillas into eighths…

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90% Crab Cakes

Preheat oven to 375. Preheat flat griddle to 350. Combine all ingredients except panko and crabmeat. Gently fold in the…

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Harbor Docks Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Dip

Mix together and store refrigerated for up to five days.

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Robert St. John’s Mississippi BBQ Shrimp

Bring all ingredients to a boil, immediately remove from heat and cool (can be made 2-3 days ahead of time).…

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Summer Morning Casserole

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Brown bacon in a large skillet and drain most of the fat. Add mushrooms, bell…

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RSJ’s Crawfish Etouffee (tomato version)

Heat clarified butter. Sauté garlic quickly but do not brown. Add crawfish and cook for 2 minutes until hot. Add…

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Mam-Maw’s Chicken Salad

Fill a stockpot one-half full with cold water and add carrots, onion and celery. Bring to a boil and add…

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Roasted Turkey and Giblet Gravy

Dissolve the salt in a small amount of hot water; add ice and cold water to equal a gallon. In…

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Asparagus Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 Heat oil in a two-quart saucepot over low heat. Add onions, shallots, celery, and salt. Cook…

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Port Wine Glaze

Place all ingredients in a small sauce pot. Simmer and reduce until mixture forms a thick syrup. Yield: One quarter…

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Sweet Potatoes and Not a Marshmallow in Sight

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 13 x 9 casserole dish. Combine prepared sweet potatoes, sugar, honey, one…

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Cranberry Relish

Combine cranberries, shallot, Madeira, sugars, orange juice and cranberry juice in a 1-quart sauce pot and simmer over low- medium…

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Our first restaurant, The Purple Parrot, served many memorable dishes. This Pumpkin Cheesecake is one of those. When we do our Monthly Pop-ups, this is always a popular request.

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Green Bean Casserole

Preheat oven to 350. In a large saucepot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Place green beans in the broth…

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Deviled Eggs x3

For the hard-boiled eggs: Place 24 eggs in a large pot. Add cool water, enough to cover the eggs by…

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Vanilla Bean Custard Ice Cream

To make the vanilla ice cream: Combine the cream, milk, salt, and 3/4 cup of the sugar in a large…

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