When the first French colonists arrived in 1699 to what they would call Billocsi after the local Native America tribe they found there, the area now known as Biloxi, Mississippi, has always been a popular landing spot for explorers and fishermen alike.

The sleepy little Mississippi port really didn’t come into its own, however, until the early 19th century, and even then there were few Mississippians that lived along the coast. Those that did live there eked out a living as fisherman, supplying the local population with some of the most succulent shrimp and plumpest oysters that mankind had ever tasted.

Still, no matter how succulent the shrimp and plump the oysters, fishermen still made little money because they couldn’t ship their catches very far without fear of it spoiling. Three things would change all that by the mid-1800s: the coming of the railroad, the invention of artificial ice, and the acumen of a few local Biloxi businessmen.

Mississippi’s Cannery Row

In 1872 the L&N Railroad established Biloxi as a flag stop on its line that ran the Gulf Coast from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana. Around the same time, machines were invented that would make artificial ice for refrigeration and keep food from spoiling so quickly.

Seeing this as an opportunity, Biloxi businessmen Lazaro Lopez, F. William Elmer, W. K. M. Dukate, William Gorenflo, and James Maycock collectively brought together $8,000 and opened the first oyster packing business in Biloxi – Lopez, Elmer & Company – in 1881. Located on Back Bay Biloxi’s Reynoir Street, they canned not only oysters, but also shrimp, and even sold raw oysters in bulk, all supplied by the abundant waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Biloxi Bohemians

After taking a trip to Baltimore, Maryland to learn more about the seafood industry, W. K. M. Dukate was impressed by the work ethic of the Bohemian immigrants working in the industry there. As a result, Dukate and his partners worked out a way to transport some of the Bohemian workers from Baltimore to Biloxi, and the first workers arrived on January 11, 1890. The workers lived in rows of little shotgun shacks built for them by Biloxi factory owners. Though they weren’t paid much, the Bohemians would continue to migrate to Biloxi for the next 28 years and become a great benefit to the Biloxi seafood industry.

When the Bohemians first arrived in there in 1890, Biloxi canneries were processing two million pounds of oysters and 614,000 pounds of shrimp a year. Those numbers would triple just two years later with a dozen canneries reporting a combined catch of nearly six million pounds of oysters and 4.5 million pounds of shrimp. With a population of around 8,000 people, Biloxi was processing so much seafood in 1903 that it became known as the “The Seafood Capital of the World.”

By 1930, Biloxi’s canneries reported that 20,000,000 cans of oysters and shrimp and 17,000 gallons of raw oysters had been shipped out of the city that year. That same year, local citizens got together and created the Seafood Festival to honor the importance of the industry to Biloxi and the vital part it played in the economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy as well as the cultural fabric of Biloxi.

 

Biloxi Today

When the state legalized casino gambling in the 1990s, it seemed that the high-rise, high-rolling resorts would begin to overshadow the seafood industry. In fact, with the influx of construction crews, hospitality workers, and tourist gamblers, the new gold rush instead helped to stabilize the seafood business, with casino kitchens understanding the value of this fresh, local food source. Although it may no longer be the Seafood Capital of the World it was 100 years ago, the seafood industry still plays a big part in Biloxi today.

While shifting industries, populations, and hurricanes have all had an impact on Biloxi’s seafood production, the most consistent champion for the business has been the presence of local families devoted to the cause. Local history museums are loaded with stories of generations of these families involved in seafood.

Surnames as diverse as Lesso, Mavar, Rosetti, Gallott (responsible for ushering in the area’s Vietnamese fisherfolk), and Desporte stretch way back, some to the mid-1800s and are still essential players in harvesting, packaging, shipping, retail, and restaurants today. Thanks to this solid family backbone, Biloxi’s seafood processors are some of the largest in the country, with clients spread across the globe.

Plus, the annual Biloxi Seafood Festival continues to celebrate the city’s rich culture, heritage, and connection to the seafood industry. The event is held every year on the second weekend of September, and attendees come from all over to enjoy live entertainment, arts & crafts, kids activities, and some of the best seafood on the Gulf Coast.

See ’Em at the Museum

So by now you’re probably wondering how I know all of this stuff about Biloxi. Well, I learned it by exploring the 300 years of history, heritage, and culture that you can find at Biloxi’s Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum.

Over six galleries at the museum take you from the diverse environment of the Mississippi coastal wetlands, to an exhibit on canning factories, to a giant hall filled with some of the most beautiful wooden boats and schooners to ever sail Mississippi’s abundant Gulf waters.

If you’re feeling a little more “hands-on,” then it’s all hands on deck at the museum which offers chartered cruises aboard local schooners for up to 44 people. For the landlubbers among you, they also offer “Walk on Sail” tours, where weekly Sea & Sail Adventure summer camps are also available for your little mariners aged 6 to 12 to learn about sailing a schooner, boating safety, and the rules of the sea. 🌊

More of a roadtripper than a seafarer, Stephanie Stuckey is the CEO of Stuckey’s, the iconic roadside stop that’s been selling pecans and pecan treats since 1937.

If You’re Going, Go! Gulf States & Stuckey’s

Are you planning a road trip to Coastal Mississippi or just passing through? Then check out more fun things to see and do along America’s Third Coast at Go! Gulf States.

No matter where you’re going in the Gulf States this season, be sure to take Stuckey’s along with you. We’ve got all of your favorite road trip snacks like our iconic Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls and Pecan Pralines.

If it’s along America’s third coast, let Go! Gulf States and Stuckey’s help get you where you’re going.

Stuckey’s – We’re Making Road Trips  Fun Again!

The post When Biloxi Was the Seafood Capital of the World appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Scott Gold’s modest King Cake proposal had us not only guffawing, but also in serious crave mode. Dang it, as if the countdown after Christmas isn’t tough enough – the tantalizing tick-tock that there are 12 more days to countdown before King Cake is available. He makes a good argument, but still manages to taunt tastebuds. For those of us in non-Mardi Gras cities (can you believe there are such things?), not only do we have to wait for January 6, but we also have to endure the indignity of shipping.   – Editor

Gather round, my children, and let the gnarled old sage tell you of a time long ago in New Orleans, in that paleolithic era known as “the early 1980’s.” It was a simple time, back when Emeril had a last name and was known only as a local restaurant chef, when Maison Blanche still operated out of a storefront on Canal Street, and the idea of the Saints ever making it to the Super Bowl was considered a fantasy as far fetched and unlikely as the development of cold fusion or interstellar travel. Also, people who took pictures of their food at this time were considered to be “touched in the head.” Oh, how the world has changed, my young friends.

Back then in New Orleans, too, even king cake was different. It was a simple carnival treat, and not the platform for unabashed decadence and excess it has become today. Back then, they were massive circular loaves of dense, doughy, vaguely cinnamon-inflected bread topped with granular sugar colored purple, green and gold.

For many years, this is what “king cake” meant to me as a child, and as you can imagine, I wasn’t much of a fan. Why gnaw on what seemed to be six baguettes worth of bread when you can have doberge cake or buttermilk drops? It was, to my mind, the red-headed stepchild of New Orleans baked goods. Then, one glorious day, I tasted a cream cheese stuffed Haydel’s king cake, and my entire king cake worldview encountered an intense paradigm shift.

Since that time, king cakes have been getting steadily more elaborate and creative, with bakers insisting each Carnival season on a kind of good natured one-upsmanship that, for the most part, has resulted in king cakes with ingenious new flavor combinations, frostings and fillings. (This is consistent, of course, with the New Orleans bushido of excess.)

The post ⚜️ Peak King Cake Season Means Serious Carnival Craving appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Not that glorious Key Lime Pie isn’t enough! There are many other treats capable of representing the food of Florida Keys. Mango and Citrus and Conch everything, Cuban sandwiches, Bahamian BBQ, plus so much more. Cuisine of the region will take center stage in a national touring museum collaboration coming to Key West in early 2026.  – Editor

Florida Humanities, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), has launched a new exhibition partnership program, “Exhibition Starter Kit: FOOD.” The partnership has selected the Key West Art & Historical Society as an inaugural recipient. In total, eight nonprofit organizations received funding from Florida Humanities in June 2024. These nonprofits will create exhibitions that capture local narratives on food, utilizing resources and support from the Smithsonian.

Exhibition Starter Kits provide a Smithsonian-developed framework to guide selected venues through the development of local humanities-based exhibitions using their own collections. While working on their exhibition project, funded venues will receive guidance from the Smithsonian. These venues will learn how to design and develop compelling exhibitions that highlight their local history and culture through the lens of food.

“Peeling back the layers of our local and regional food, you uncover a much larger story centering around the Key West’s diverse community,” says Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Society. “We are elated to have been selected by the Smithsonian and Florida Humanities to be one of eight partners in the state. It’s an opportunity to tell the abundant Florida Keys food story that has been shaped by a mixture of Indigenous, Bahamian, Cuban, and international peoples.”

The post Food Is the Main Dish as Key West Preps to Highlight Florida Keys Cuisine appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Bourbon milk punch is a holiday staple in New Orleans.

Inspired by Compere Lapin Chef Nina Compton’s father’s recipe served at family gatherings, this spin on a New Orleans original cocktail is one you won’t want to miss out on this holiday season. Compton’s version uses dark rum instead.

This refreshing cocktail would be perfect for Christmas or New Year’s Eve and could easily satisfy a crowd.

Click through for the full recipe, and kick your holidays up a notch!

The post It’s the Most Wonderful Time… for Daddy’s Milk Punch Recipe appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Stuckey’s mission statement, “Making Road Trips Fun Again!” is right up our alley. Our childhood memories are chock full of visiting Stuckey’s on family car trips up and down the South. These days, we stop along I-10 in East Texas; road trips aren’t complete ’til we grab some Hunkey Dorey. Go! Gulf States appreciates Stephanie Stuckey and the entire Stuckey’s crew for their support as we “coast” through this holiday season.  – Editor

Well, folks, the most wonderful time of the year is now upon us. That means it’s time once again to make a Stuckey’s stop – whether online at Stuckeys.com or in-person at a shop – for everyone on your gift list.

At Stuckey’s, you’ll find gifts for all your family and friends – even those who seem to have everything.

For the roadtrippers on your list, why not get them a box of world-famous Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls? After all, what’s a road trip without ’em? (Vanilla 2oz. rolls and the 10oz. roll complete with cherry bits, make great stocking stuffers!) Stuckey’s Gift Shoppe bags in six different pecan flavors are also great for those who can’t wait to hit the road. And don’t forget a Stuckey’s travel mug so they can wash down those treats with their favorite beverage while on the go.

Teens will love the variety of hoodies and retro Ts to keep them “comfy cozy” and looking nostalgi-cool all year. And why not get yourself a “Merry Christmas, Y’all” T-shirt to keep you in holiday spirit all season long? Santa says you’ve been nice.

At work, your colleagues will love digging into the Stuckey’s Chockful Gift Tin at the annual party. And nothing will say you’re the best Secret Santa quite like the surprises they’ll find in the Stuckey’s Mystery Box.

Of course, there’s so much more to choose from, and you’re sure to find something for everyone. Make a Stuckey’s stop on the information superhighway today at stuckeys.com for all of your holiday needs.

Oh! And don’t forget to stock up on Stuckey’s snacks just in time for the Bowl games happening all across December and into the New Year!

Happy Holidays from Stuckey’s!

The post Hey, Santa! Please Bring a Ho-Ho-Whole Lot of Gifts from Stuckey’s This Year appeared first on Go Gulf States.

The event featured a traditional ceremony where the final steel beam painted gold was signed by guests. The beam is to be placed atop the new building, symbolizing progress and a bright future.

In addition to celebrating the topping off event, Legendary Marina & Yacht Club is pleased to announce the addition of Margaritaville restaurant. The Jimmy Buffett-themed dining destination will be part of the Town Center of Gulf Shores marketplace and entertainment center.

The post Legendary Marina Reveals Margaritaville Plans at Topping Off Event appeared first on Go Gulf States.

We boned up on our French just enough to say that we are très jaloux that founding team member and intrepid correspondent Patti Lou is headed to Lafayette to take in Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 2023. The festival happens during the city’s bicentennial and just one year shy of the festival’s 50th. Here’s a lovely pre-trip preamble we’re posting just as Patti & crew head out for the festival opening: the cutting of the boudin. Look for Part 2 coming soon.  – Editor

While road trips to Louisiana became a semi-regular feature of my 20s, it was not about cultural awareness so much as it was about going to party in “flagrant vice capital of the civilized world,” as Ignatius P. Reilly would refer to his hometown. We were there to drink. And eat.

And I’m not gonna lie: I was unprepared for the food.

To be clear, I don’t have a true family connection to Cajun culture, unless you count that time in the 80s when my roots-music-loving father went through a serious Cajun phase that none of us really ever got over. It featured repeated listens of Harry Choates, Jolie Blonde, and big pots of gumbo simmering on the stove. Maybe we should count it, after all, having experienced this immersion in such tender formative childhood years – despite, or maybe as a complement to my deep Texas roots.

The gumbos of Louisiana were richer and had more seafood funkiness than what Dad made back home in Austin. My first fried oyster poboy at Acme Oyster House in New Orleans was a revelation – the funkiness of the Gulf with the crunch of homemade coleslaw, the zip of the horseradish only somewhat contained in a bread roll that resembled a small baguette. It was paired perfectly with a delicious Bloody Mary that I still think of often, and not just because it was garnished with a pickled green bean instead of celery.

(Side note: Years later, when I was a lunch cook at a small-town cafe in New Mexico, I attempted to recreate this sandwich as a lunch special. I had discovered a small tub of fresh oysters in the walk-in, and I sent someone to the store for horseradish. I wrote it up on the specials board, but apparently no one in NM knew what a poboy was, so I didn’t sell a one. Which was fine, because when the Italian-trained, Mexican national chef/owner arrived, she wanted to know just what the hell I was doing with her oysters!)

This common bond of Dad’s deep Cajun phase is what later inspired my brother to establish a tradition of taking his Central Texas-based family to New Orleans each spring for New Orleans Jazz Fest. Then in 2015, he began raving about this other, free music festival and insisted we book a vacation rental in Lafayette for a lovely fall weekend. The trek from Central Texas to Lafayette is a good bit shorter, but still has plenty to do and see along the way.

Anyway there’s a lot to be excited about, so let’s start with the road trip! Turns out, you don’t even have to wait until you get all the way to Louisiana for some good food. I really want to stop at  Big John’s Grill in Beaumont for some down-home Mom-&-Pop soul food, but if I do, I better not fill up, because down the road in Lake Charles, there’s Cajun seafood at Steamboat Bill’s!  When we get just outside Lafayette, there’s Best Stop Supermarket in Scott, Louisiana, a grocery store specializing in all manner of Cajunized meats, including award-winning boudin. Definitely a great place to stock up on Cajun goodness when we’re heading back to Texas, but hey, let’s stop by real quick  and get some provisions for the weekend rental.

Can’t wait to revisit the Old Tyme Grocery for one of their delicious meatball poboys. Or should I get a muffaletta? Oh yeah, also gotta check out the Blue Moon Saloon, cool homegrown honky-tonk that’s a short walk away from the rental, for some post-festival refreshment and local music.

I know, I’m not even at the festival yet!

Just what is it about Festivals Acadiens et Créoles that makes this Texas heart go all-aflutter? It could be the four or five stages burning up with should-be-more-famous talent all day Saturday and Sunday, or that when the music starts, the dance floor fills up with twirling, two-stepping couples that never seem to tire.

Could it be the food?  My husband has been talking about the crawfish etouffee in a bread bowl for the past eight years, and I totally get it. Some of Louisiana’s finest culinary offerings are available at this fête, from boudin to poboys, to seafood gumbos. Oh, and the festival features cooking demonstrations as well, so maybe you can take a little of that magic home!

Maybe it’s that Lafayette itself is another world, where French is spoken under ancient oak trees, and the past is kept alive not just in museums, but in the way people live everyday.

Check back for Part 2!

The post Allons a la Louisiane: Road Runners en Route to Festivals Acadiens et Créoles appeared first on Go Gulf States.

It’s the 50th annual National Shrimp Festival presented by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, and the show must go on! Just a few hours later than slated.

According to the press release:

“The Annual National Shrimp Festival is announcing a delay of the Festival’s opening to 2pm on Thursday, Oct. 12 due to threats of severe weather on Wednesday afternoon.

“The forecasted high winds and rain will be delaying the time typically slated for vendor setup. The decision was made to ensure everyone working on-site remains safe throughout the setup process.

“From Thursday afternoon on, forecasts are favorable and organizers are looking forward to celebrating what will be a milestone weekend for the Gulf Coast.”

The Shrimp Festival is a free, non-ticketed, and non-gated event, attracting anywhere from 100,000-250,000 attendees. Live music will run throughout the four days of the festival on two stages.

Happy 50th Shrimp Fest!

The post Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop the 50th National Shrimp Fest appeared first on Go Gulf States.

On the morning of February 21, 1956, a young man walked into the Waffle Stop on Sarasota’s South Washington Boulevard for breakfast. He ordered three eggs with bacon, three glasses of milk, pan-fried potatoes, and toast. Once he finished, he paid for his meal, leaving behind a 50₵ tip and an autographed picture of himself.

The waitress who served the young man, Edith Barr Dunn pocketed the tip and threw the picture in the trash. After all, she’d never before heard of this kid with the odd-sounding name. Months later, however, she saw that same young man on The Ed Sullivan Show. She never forgot the name Elvis Presley after that. In fact, Edith later owned the Waffle Stop and turned it into a kind of tribute to the time he stopped in. Still, she regretted throwing that picture away until her dying day at the age of 94 on February 3, 2015.

 

Eat Where Elvis Ate

Today, the restaurant still pays tribute to the young man who would become the King of Rock & Roll. “Elvis Ate Here!” is prominently displayed on the window outside. Inside, guests are greeted by a larger-than-life statue of Presley, and his pictures take up nearly every inch of wall space. Coffee is served in mugs with, well, Elvis’ mug and the words “Elvis dined here in 1956. Sarasota, Florida” printed on them. And of course, the jukebox is a veritable greatest hits collection of the King.

 What’s more, even the menu gets the rock & roll royalty treatment. Sure, you can order the same thing Elvis ate for breakfast at this landmark restaurant. However, why settle for simple bacon & eggs when you can order the spicy Burning Love or the All Shook Up omelet?

For lunch, try the Hunka Hunka Burger, the Blackened Blue Suede Shoes Burger, or the Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, there’s always the Hard-Headed Woman Chicken Salad. Be sure to order whatever you choose with a side of Jailhouse Rock chili cheese fries.

The Waffle Stop is located on Washington Boulevard in Sarasota. It’s open for breakfast and lunch from 6am to 1:30pm every day except Wednesday. For more information, visit their website.

Long Live the King

 

While you’re looking at the Waffle Stop menu, you might notice an ad for Jim “Elvis” Reese.

The Sarasota area is full of Elvis tribute artists, and Jim Reese is perhaps one of the most well-known. His love for Elvis began as a teen. One day he was on his father’s boat mending a net and listening to a local hillbilly station. That’s when Jim says he heard the most electric voice he’d ever heard – before or since. He found the singer’s voice so incredible that he put down the net and mending hook to get closer to the radio. Of course, it was the voice of Elvis Presley. That was when Jim – and not just his father’s net – was hooked.

Years later, Jim retired from his career as a gym teacher and became a full-time Elvis tribute artist. His sister sewed his first couple of jumpsuits, a collection that now includes a specially made replica of Elvis’ peacock jumpsuit. Jim’s wife, Judy, helps him manage Jim “Elvis” Reese Entertainment. Jim has performed as Elvis across the country – from Sarasota to Branson, Missouri. What’s more, on special occasions like Elvis’ birthday or remembering his passing, Jim can often be found performing at the Waffle Stop.

 

Going to Graceland (South)

Stephanie Stuckey croons a tune with the King at Graceland South

And Jim doesn’t just walk the walk (or swagger, we suppose, in Elvis’ case) when it comes to paying homage to the king. The Reeses live in a home decorated inside and out with all sorts of Elvis memorabilia collected over the years. They call it “Graceland South,” and you can’t miss it. At the entrance, you’ll find a life-size, in-living-color statue of Elvis mid-song. And behind the gates with silhouettes of Elvis on them is a mural of the original Graceland gates.

Unfortunately, tours of the inside of Graceland South are not open to the public. However, those that have been to the Reeses’ annual Chinese New Year Party describe it exactly as what you’d expect. With luxurious red carpeting, dark furniture, soft lighting, and everything Elvis that you can imagine, walking into the house can be a sensory explosion. In fact, pictures, statues, and other Elvis memorabilia adorn so much wall and ceiling, there’s hardly room to add more. There’s even a jungle room decorated with animal prints and lush plant life. 

Graceland South is located at the end of Windemere Place in Sarasota. However, please remember: This is a private residence, so don’t go beyond the gate. 

 

Elvis at the Opera

So what was Elvis doing in Sarasota that morning? Well, he was actually playing at the Florida Theatre that night as part of his first nationwide tour. In addition to Elvis’ backup crew – the Jordanaires and the Blue Moon Boys – other artists on the bill included the future Mrs. Johnny Cash, June Carter and the Louvin Brothers. Tickets were $1, and Elvis took the stage at 7:35pm.

Known today as the Sarasota Opera House, the venue – formerly known as the Florida Theatre – offers a robust calendar of events, including classic films, signature local events, festivals, and of course, opera. Check out the calendar on their website.                                                  🌊

Did you know that Florida Wawa stores carry your favorite Stuckey’s Maple Flavored Toasted Pecans? That means if you’re craving some delicious Stuckey’s pecans while touring around Sarasota, go ahead and stop in one of the many Wawa stores in the area to get your Stuckey’s Maple Flavored Toasted Pecans fix.

Of course, you can always get your favorite road trip snacks like our world-famous Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls, classic Stuckey’s Pecan Pralines and our family favorite Hunkey Dorey popcorn snacks delivered right to your door.

Head over to stuckey’s.com  today and place your order for your next big road trip. (And check out our new Four Flavor Pecan Sampler Multi-Pack with a 2oz. Stuckey’s Pecan Log Roll while you’re there!)

And don’t forget, if you’re looking for more exciting and fun things to do along America’s third coast, visit Go! Gulf States online, check out the events listings, and start planning your next big road trip today!

Stuckey’s – We’re Making Road Trips Fun Again.

The post All Shook Up… at Sarasota’s Waffle Stop appeared first on Go Gulf States.

If this past Memorial Weekend was any indication of the summer travel season ahead, we’re gonna need a bigger glass. Well, good thing it’s Deep South Magazine to the rescue, offering this simple recipe for a sure quencher, excerpted from the book, ‘Beach Cocktails’ by the Editors of ‘Coastal Living.’ – Editor

This zesty twist on iced tea holds all the tasty secrets of the mint julep – bracingly fragrant mint and the sweet burn of bourbon – along with fresh lemon, lime, and sweetened tea. Mix it up to create a summer-ready drink that pairs perfectly with a good book.

The post The Sweet Burn of Summer Meets the Sweet Burn of Bourbon All in One Frosty Glass appeared first on Go Gulf States.