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the environment is also important to him. White Pillars participates in the “Save Our Shells” project. This non- profit program gathers oyster shells from restaurants and delivers them to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), where they are processed and returned to Mississippi’s Coastal waters to create a favorable environment for future oysters.
It takes a strong team to run such a renowned establishment. Sumrall is joined by his wife, Tresse, and a team of talented chefs, serving staff, and bartenders.
Sumrall’s dedication to serving the freshest, most unique dishes has garnered White Pillars many accolades. Since opening in 2017, he and his cuisine have been recognized and awarded both locally and nationally. In 2020, he was nominated as a semi-finalist by the prestigious James Beard Foundation in the category “Best Chef South.” He was crowned “King of American Seafood” in the Great American Seafood Cook-off in 2021. In 2023, Chef Austin was recognized by the alumni association at his alma mater as an “Ole Miss 40 under 40” recipient. He brought home the gold on Food Network’s Alex vs. America, a cooking competition that pits experts against Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli.
While being on a worldwide stage is great for the restaurant business, it hasn’t gone to Sumrall’s head. When he and
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says he and his family always joked about planning their next meal before they were finished with the one they were eating. That is exactly the sentiment you want when choosing a place to dine in Coastal Mississippi.
Tresse are not at White Pillars, they spend nearly every Saturday morning at the local farmers markets gathering produce and thinking about how they could best prepare it for dinner that night. Even in his free time, Austin’s world revolves around food. He loves to cook dinner for his family, and they end almost every meal with, “...but was that good enough to be served on the menu?” Austin
The future looks bright for the Sumralls. Austin and Tresse plan to open a new restaurant and boutique hotel in Gulfport. While the new property will have a different menu and vibe than White Pillars, the Sumralls are sure to bring the same creativity and enthusiasm to their culinary creations you’ll come to love!
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