Mississippi native, Robert St. John, to host King Cake Pop-Up this morning starting at 10 a.m.

VICKSBURG, Miss. — Chef and author Robert St. John will host a Loblolly Bakery King Cake pop-up this morning at 1100 Washington St. in downtown Vicksburg on Monday, Feb. 24, beginning at 10 a.m. Copies of St. John’s books will also be available for purchase across the street at Lorelei Books.

“The King Cake Mafia has deemed this cake a 10 out of 10 rating. I had one last week, and it is hands down the best you have ever had,” said Shelley Hall Tingle.

Previous pop-ups have sold out within minutes, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early. The King Cakes will be available for $40, card payments only.

Robert St. John, born and raised in Hattiesburg, Miss., has spent four decades in the restaurant industry, including 36 years as the owner of several Mississippi establishments such as Crescent City Grill, Mahogany Bar, Branch, Tabella, Ed’s Burger Joint, The Midtowner, and Loblolly Bakery in Hattiesburg, as well as Enzo Osteria in Ridgeland.

He is the author of 13 books, including An Italian Palate, which he wrote while traveling through 72 cities, 17 countries, and two continents with his family. For over 24 years, he has penned a weekly syndicated newspaper column and served as the creator, producer, and co-host of the PBS series Palate to Palette. He also produced the Southeastern Emmy-winning documentary Walter Anderson: The Extraordinary Life and Art of the Islander.

In 2009, St. John founded Extra Table, a statewide nonprofit that provides over 300,000 pounds of healthy food each month to more than 60 Mississippi soup kitchens and mission pantries at no cost to the agencies. In 2020 alone, the organization distributed 5.9 million pounds of food to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.