Page 52 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2015

DINING exquisite cuisine
story by Ly
photos courtesy of Magnolia House and Lori Beth Susman
cooking in Provence. In addition to Magnolia House, he owns two restaurants in Memphis and will soon open another one on the Oxford Square. And he worked with famous chef John Besh in New Orleans.
“John Besh is one of the most important people in my life,” English said. “He taught me a lot about cooking and doing the right thing. He’s the best chef I know, but more
than that, he’s the best man I know.”
As a chef, English follows the Creole tradition of cooking
more with his heart than his head. He, Magnolia House Chef Cameron Razari and the team work with local purveyors to bring the best ingredients together to present memorable dishes to diners. “We have a great team and we make Magnolia House a celebration of food and life on the Gulf Coast,” English said.
He adds that the goal with Magnolia House was to break the mold and create a restaurant that’s not typical of casino restaurants.
Diners first enter the restaurant’s non-smoking bar which has soft colors and a warm ambiance that sets the tone
for the restaurant’s dining rooms. Bartender Carrie Smith says bar tending at Magnolia House has given her the
ynn Lofton
Magnolia House by Kelly English is a gem of a restaurant offering outstanding dining for
residents and visitors. With the refined décor of a Southern home, Magnolia House is located in Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino in Biloxi. However, it is easily entered from the hotel parking garage without going on the gaming floor.
A Louisiana native, English melds the famous cooking styles of that state with coastal and Southern styles. “I wouldn’t trade anything for having that background,” he says. “Those are big influences with every dish I make.”
When English attended the University of Mississippi,
he found a great food culture in the Oxford area too. His professional goal initially was to go to law school but his love of cooking won the day. “I have no regrets about not going to law school. I’d rather be in a kitchen than an office,” he says. “With cooking, we make people happy and make them smile. People don’t smile going to law offices. My dad’s a lawyer and he says that too!”
At age 36, English already has numerous accomplishments. He studied Spanish cooking in Barcelona and French
52 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2015
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net