When Robert St. John talks about food, it’s impossible to separate it from the people and places that shaped him. During a recent visit to Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library for a Book & Authors talk hosted by Starkville Friends of the Library, St. John reflected on his long-standing connection to the city – a relationship that stretches back decades, filled with restaurants, games, and memories of the community that make this corner of Mississippi feel like home.

While “Mississippi Christmas” blends recipes and neighborhood memories from St. John’s Hattiesburg childhood, the Starkville audience got a glimpse of his culinary perspective and local experiences. He spoke warmly of the way food connects people and keeps memories alive, from the home kitchens of his youth to the restaurants he has run across the state.

During the event, Mayor Lynn Spruill asked if he would ever open a restaurant in Starkville. St. John noted that the idea has crossed his mind several times over the years. “There have been two or three times I was ready to pull the trigger on Starkville,” he said. “We were planning to bring Ed’s Burger Joint up here a few years back and just couldn’t work out the property situation, but you never know. One thing I like about coming here is I can go to a game without any work pressure. We have an apartment in New Orleans, which is one of the top two or three restaurant cities in the country. So for me, that’s like mecca. I don’t have (a restaurant) there purposefully, so I can enjoy it. But it doesn’t mean there won’t be one here one day.”

He also shared his thoughts on Starkville’s dining scene when asked about his favorite restaurants. “Oh, come on! I can’t say that… I’ll tell you, though,” he said. “John Bean is a really good friend of mine. I ate at Harvey’s and The Grill, I just met some friends at Two Brothers for lunch. Ty Thames is a great guy, I like him. Oby’s… I’ll answer this way: the one I’ve eaten at the most since 1976 is by far Oby’s, love Oby’s. I don’t want to call a favorite, but the one I’ve eaten at most is good, it’s been there the longest.”

For St. John, food isn’t just about flavor – it’s about connection. The chef emphasized the way shared meals bring people together and carry memory forward. His upcoming recipes in “Mississippi Christmas” continue that tradition, celebrating dishes that reflect love, community, and the southern holiday spirit.

Though the book includes stories from his Hattiesburg childhood – holiday chaos, homemade casseroles, and family traditions – the Starkville reading reminded audiences that St. John’s culinary journey is shaped as much by the places he visits as the meals he makes. From tasting local flavors to sharing a favorite dish, he values the personal connections forged over a table.

Attendees left with more than just signed copies of the book. They carried a sense of St. John’s philosophy: that food is a bridge between past and present, family and community, memory and celebration. Even in a town hundreds of miles from his childhood home, he finds warmth in the local restaurants, familiar faces, and the way a good meal can make any place feel like home.

“Mississippi Christmas” continues to tour across Mississippi this holiday season, offering readers both recipes and reflections that celebrate messy, heartfelt celebrations – and St. John will continue to share some of the more chaotic childhood memories, like the infamous tinsel tradition, in his regular food column that you can find running alongside this piece.

For now, Starkville residents can savor his stories, appreciate his local favorites, and hope that one day, the city might be graced with a new St. John restaurant to call its own.