Business, Culture and Media 2023

Mississippi's Top 50 Most Influential

John Currence is a James Beard award-winning chef, author, entrepreneur, and owner of City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, MS.

After years of working his way through the restaurant industry, Currence settled in Oxford in 1992 to open City Grocery. In the time since, the City Grocery Restaurant Group has seen several big openings, including, Bouré, Big Bad Breakfast and Snackbar.

Chef Currence was awarded the James Beard Foundation’s award for Best Chef South (2009), was the winner of the Charleston Food and Wine Festival’s Iron Chef Challenge (2009) and a Top Chef Masters contestant (Season 3). Currence is the author of three best-selling books Pickles, Pigs and Whiskey, Big Bad Breakfast, and Tailgreat. He resides in Oxford with his wife, daughter and their beloved boxer.

Mississippi Top 50 is an annual list of the people who are judged to be the most influential leaders in the state. This bipartisan selection of leaders comes from the ranks of elected and appointed officials, economic development professionals, business, media and government affairs. The awards are presented by Magnolia Tribune and WJTV, and sponsored by C Spire, Atmos Energy, Mississippi Farm Bureau, Capitol Resources, and The Payne Group. Awardees were nominated through an open process. Follow MSTop50 on Twitter @MSTop50 or on Facebook to keep up with news and updates about MSTop50 winners and events.

The 8th Annual Mississippi Top 50 will be held March 12, 2025. Nominations are now open through January 15th.

Business, Culture and Media 2023