Chef Jonathan "Ty" Thames is a Mississippi native who started his culinary career at the age fifteen. Chef Ty started his educational path at the University of Southern Mississippi where he received a BA in Hospitality Management. He then went on to the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont where he graduated with distinction. After leaving Vermont, Chef Ty moved to Parma, Italy to pursue his culinary passion of Italian cuisine. There he apprenticed under Chef Leonardo of Maria Luigi Restaurant. Upon returning to the U.S., Chef Ty moved to Washington D.C. There, he began work at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Georgetown Property. After gaining all of the knowledge he could under the renowned chefs of the Ritz Carlton, Chef Ty moved to the regional Italian fine dining restaurant Centro, located in the Bethesda, Maryland where he was recognized in many publications such as The Washington Times, The Washington Post, D.C. Style Magazine and the Washingtonian Magazine. Chef Ty moved from D.C. to pursue his dream of owning a restaurant in his native state of Mississippi. Traveling back to his roots, he found home in Starkville, Mississippi. Here, Chef Ty has managed to bring the best that he has learned back to the Magnolia State. He has been recognized in many publications such as Southern Living Magazine, ESPN Taste of the Town, Mississippi Magazine, The Commercial Dispatch, The Starkville Daily News, Ya'll Magazine, The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, and The Clarion-Ledger. Chef Ty is a chef who takes civic responsibility for what he cooks and serves. He is a believer in using natural ingredients, in even the most complex recipes, and he preaches and practices professional responsibility when it comes to chemicals and hormones in foods. Chef Ty believes all chefs should be aware of what is going on in our environment regarding over fishing, waste management, and the products we buy and sell. Chef Ty believes that Chefs should burden the responsibility of educating others of their impact to the industry.
Press
Ty Thames article in Southern Living
Fried okra dusted in a BBQ seasoning and served with remouldae dipping sauce.
Roasted garlic with spicy Italian sausage, spinach, and herbs, Sambuca drowned crawfish, topped with Parmesan cheese, served with grilled French bread
in-house smoke Delta catfish combined with herbs, spices and cream cheese, fried and served with house tarter sauce
Chopped Romaine lettuce, served with Vardaman sweet potato corn bread muffin, tossed in an in-house made ceasar dressing.
roasted local beets, melon, gorgonazola cheese, house-made bacon, and an undressed tomato served with local salad greens and a roasted tomato vinaigrette.
Granny Smith apples, candied local pecans and gorgonzola cheese served with an apple cider vinaigrette
Saffron infused risotto with baby Gulf shrimp and fresh broccoli, and oven-dried tomatoes topped with chili-infused extra virgin olive oil
Marinated chicken breast, sauteed gulf shrimp, oven dried tomatoes, Andouille sausage served with penne pasta in a cajun cream sauce.
house-made bacon, broccoli spears and imported parmesan cheese in a light truffle cream sauce
Hand cut beef tenderlion served with deme-glaze and topped with a truffle mushroom ragu cream sauce, served with your choice of starch
center cut ribeye served with veal reduction sauce and finished with garlic brown butter and toasted local pecans, served with your choice of starch
Buttermilk and coconut battered statler chicken breast, nestled in a pepper jack macaroni and cheese casserole.
8 oz. in-house ground duck meat, grilled and topped with a truffle foie gras cheese, on ciabbata bun, served with sweet potato fries and side of dijon mustard
Bacon wrapped gulf shrimp over creamed grits and sautéed spinach.
horseradish-crusted delta catfish, roasted garlic, herb and cheese hushpuppies topped with a fresh tomato salad with a tarter vinaigrette.
Maple Farms Seasoned duck breast, served with pomegranate demi-glaze and topped with fried apple spears
Changes with the tide
brown sugar sweet potato brule topped with fresh fruit
Mississippi honey and Maker's Mark bourbon white chocolate sauce
Stuffed with Maple glazed pecan cheese cake filling, and served with Vermont Maple syrup custard sauce.
“Death by Chocolate” Brownie Base, layered with chocolate cake and chocolate mousse, Finished with a layer of chocolate ganache, sitting in custard sauce.
Biscuit with house-made cranberry preserve, house smoked bacon, topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, served with grits and side of fruit.
Topped with vanilla bean ice cream, cherry whipped cream and candied pecans, served with fresh fruit
Served with seasonal berry coulis and almond cream, finished with powdered sugar.
House-made pastrami layered between potato hash browns, topped with two poached eggs and finished with hollandaise sauce, served with a side of fruit.
Topped with caramel cream, and vanilla bean whipped cream, finished with candied pecans and fresh fruit
Two poached eggs over apple-wood smoked bacon, nestled on two sliced vine ripe tomatoes, covered in hollandaise sauce, and topped with spring mix lettuce tossed with fig vinaigrette
Cheddar cheese omelet drowned in crawfish etouffee sauce
Canadian bacon, sautéed onion, and fennel, finished with chives and cheddar cheese
Sautéed mushrooms and onions, filled with cheddar cheese and finished with truffle oil
Mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar cheese omelet
6oz Heart of ribeye topped with fried or poached egg, served with Creole hollandaise sauce
Poached egg over cheese grits, with hollandaise sauce, served along side an “old country” grilled sausage link
Eggs your style, Canadian bacon, bacon, or breakfast sausage, cheese grits, and fruit
Two poached eggs over grilled chicken on french bread, served with creole hollandaise sauce.
Two poached eggs over breakfast sausage and buttermilk biscuits, topped with parmesan cheese and creole hollandaise sauce
roasted garlic with spicy italian sausage, spinach, herbs and sambuca drowned crawfish topped with cheese, served with baked french bread
your choice of chicken or vegetarian quesadilla filled with feta and pepperjack cheese, caramalized onions, fresh tomato, cucumber and tzatziki sauce served inside crispy bread.
molten mozzarella cheese atop soft pita bread seared on the flat top
roasted local beets, melon, gorgonzola cheese, house-made bacon, and an undressed tomato, served with local salad greens and a roasted tomato vinaigrette.
hearts of romaine, Vardaman sweet potato cornbread, and fresh grated parmesan cheese served with a roasted garlic buttermilk dressing.
fried baby Gulf shrimp with Tyler tater sauce
fried crawfish tails and melted swiss cheese tossed with spicy come-back sauce.
fried catfish filet with Tyler tarter sauce.
smoked turkey breast served with molten parmesan and pepperjack cheese, sliced tomato, topped with house-made brown gravy on french bread.
pounded chicken breast, sauteed onions and mushrooms, melted swiss cheese and garlic aioli.
8ox. hand-pattied burger, house-smoked bacon, roquefort cheese, and garlic aioli on french bread served with your choice of side.
bacon-wrapped Gulf shrimp served over creamed grits and sauteed spinach.
grilled chicken souvlaki served with sauteed onions and peppers topped with a red wine vinegar sauce over your choice of starch.
demi-glaze, garlic brown butter and toasted West Point pecan medallion served with your choice of starch and seasonal vegetable.
cornmeal-battered and fried catfish served in a garlic, tomato and saffron broth on a bed of whipped potatoes.
served with roasted garlic greek vinaigrette over your choice of starch and seasonal vegetables.
hummus, cucumbers, fresh tomatoes and sliced banana peppers, topped with mozzarella cheese.
white sauce, grilled marinated chicken tenders, caramalized onions and bacon crumbles topped with mozzarella cheese.
tomato sauce and imported pepperoni topped with mozzarella cheese.
Choice of one entree and two sides served with local sweet potato cornbread
topped with sauteed mushrooms, onions and mozzarella cheese.
have it pan-seared, blackened or fried topped with crawfish sauce.
topped with crawfish sauce.
topped with brown gravy.
served with house-made cocktail sauce.
Pepperjack Mac and Chees
Turnip Greens
Butter Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Vardaman Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Purple Hull Peas
Baked Sweet Potato
Corn Salad
Cheese Grits
Sweet Potato Fries
Regular Fries
Seafood Pot Pie and Po-boy
Seafood Pot Pie and House Salad
Seafood Pot Pie and Cup of Soup
Cup of Soup and House Salad
Cup of Soup and Po-boy
Po-boy and House Salad
choices of poboy include: shrimp, crawfish, catfish, or brick chicken