Jackson Free Press

After a busy lunch, traffic through Two Sisters Kitchen had slowed down by mid-afternoon last Friday when I met owner Dianne Alford. The restaurant, which has been a Jackson institution for almost 20 years, boasts Jackson's best fried chicken (as voted by Jackson Free Press readers repeatedly) and other trademark southern dishes. Alford's meals will go up for auction in the March of Dimes signature chefs auction Thursday, Oct. 16, with proceeds going toward preventing birth defects, premature births and infant mortality in Mississippi newborns.

How long have you been cooking?
Probably since I was in the third grade.

Did you have any professional training?
No, just at my grandmother's knees, and my mother's. That's it.

Did you ever want professional training?
No, I just happened into it. I'm from a big family, and in the South when you do family reunions, you have a lot of food, and in the office I was usually part of the ones that fixed the party and stuff like that and organized everybody bringing something to eat and that kind of thing.

Favorite type of food to cook?
Dessert!

What's your favorite dessert?
Bread pudding I guess, only Jeanie (Welch) usually makes it. She's the ultimate bread-pudding maker.

So how did you get involved with the March of Dimes?
Somebody invited me, and I can't remember who, to participate. In our family, we have lost a couple of children, so it's near and dear to my heart to do things to help take care of babies. My cousin is a maternal fetal specialist, and it's just, you know, they're so tiny a lot of times when they get here, and they're just looking for us to take care of them.

You've been auctioned off before, right?
Well, it's not me. Each chef who comes to the event brings to the table a special package for the silent auction. My special package is Sunday lunch for four, once a month for a year. I put the menu in there, and it gives the hours and our phone number and what we have every day and a gift certificate for each month, and you can use it any Sunday during that particular month.

What are you looking forward to the most about this event?
Getting to see people and raising money for the kids. I always like to see how much my package goes for, too. (laughs)

The 11th annual March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Mississippi TelCom Center Thursday, Oct. 16. For reservations and tickets, call 601-933-1071 or visit marchofdimes.com/Mississippi.