Jackson Free Press

I'm a hometown boy who fell in love with a hometown girl and, thanks to Craig Noone's big dreams for Jackson, I'm living my dream in my hometown.

I grew up knowing I wanted to cook and believing that meant I would end up somewhere other than Jackson. After cooking my way through college, I packed my knives, headed to New Orleans and started cooking for Cochon and two of the best chefs in the country, Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski.

New Orleans offered everything an aspiring chef would want, but it wasn't home. Home was Jackson and the people I love most, my family. Jackson was also home to another who left home to cook and returned with a commitment to make Jackson the country's next great, small food city—Craig Noone.

Jackson was already a small city with great food and great food people who welcomed the opportunity to work together. I was beyond excited to join the movement when Craig asked me to come home and cook for Parlor Market.

I will love Jackson even more when streets are lined with shops and restaurants, sidewalks are filled with people attracted to city, and you can hear the music from Farish Street while enjoying a fine dinner at Parlor Market.

PMCN. BBE. (Parlor Market Craig Noone. Best Boss Ever.)

Hometown boy Reynolds Boykin is living his dream as sous chef at downtown Jackson's Parlor Market and is among those keeping Craig Noone's dream alive.