Recipes from Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hattiesburg chef ‘s Katie Dixon and Josh Casper share their Mississippi inspired recipes.

Meet Katie Dixon

Katie Dixon’s love for food was born from a desire to fuel her body while developing a passion for healthy eating. Katie opened Hattiesburg’s Birdhouse Cafe in 2017 and now has eateries in three states, creating an environment where everyone leaves feeling loved, nourished, and inspired. Katie also serves as a spokesperson for the MS UProot Campaign – a campaign with the objective of “building a healthier Mississippi from the ground up.” Katie was awarded Best Chef of the Pine Belt in 2017, Best Personality and Best New Restaurant in the Pine Belt for 2018, and Best Vegan Restaurant in the Pine Belt in 2020. A finalist on MasterChef season 7 and Food Network Star, Dixon also has a published cookbook, “Be Nourished,” and enjoys representing her home state of Mississippi at foodie events throughout the world.

Get the Recipe: Katie Dixon’s Butternut Squash Soup

Meet Josh Casper

Josh Casper was raised in Picayune, Mississippi. He spent most of his younger life bouncing between the Mississippi and Louisiana state lines, which influences much of how he likes to eat and cook today. Casper spent five years in Portland, Oregon, after graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he spent his time learning how to hustle and cook. He spent time at Red Hills Market in Dundee wine country and further honed his skills at Woodlawn Coffee & Pastry in northeast Portland as Sous Chef. Josh moved back to Hattiesburg in 2015, where he took over the kitchen at The Depot Kitchen and currently acts as head chef and co-owner.

Get the Recipe: Josh Casper’s Buttermilk Cornbread and Tomato Gravy

Discover more at visitmississippi.org.