Behind The Plate
What is “Behind The Plate”?
Behind The Plate (BTP) is a long-format, two-person interview series that inspires and educates viewers about Mississippi's food and hospitality industry. As of now, there are currently three episodes to the first season.
Season 1 - Episodes List
Episode 1: Elvie’s Co-owner and Chef, Hunter Evans
Episode 2: Bravo!’s Sommelier, Chuck Nix
Episode 3: The Flora Butcher’s Owner, David Raines
Driving Concept
BTP was created by the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association (MHRA) as an additional benefit to MHRA member restaurants, and this video series looked to provide valuable marketing opportunities to them. It's the association’s commitment to ensure that each member receives the visibility and support they need to thrive.
The Host
Erin Buchwald, the host and creator behind BTP, brings a rich blend of expertise to the show. Not only does she serve as the Member Services & ProStart® Coordinator for MHRA, but she also boasts an impressive media background. Erin's journey in broadcasting began as a radio station deejay, a role she excelled in for over a decade. Her career highlights include working at a leading radio station in Albany, NY – ranked in the top 63 markets nationwide – and later making a significant mark in Jackson, MS, at one of the state's premier stations, Y101, known on-air as Charlie. Further cementing her media credentials, Erin is a proud alumnus of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she honed her skills with a degree in journalism, with an emphasis in advertising.
On our first episode of "Behind The Plate," Chef Hunter Evans of "Elvie's" restaurant, located in the historic Belhaven neighborhood, joins us for a candid discussion about his experience in culinary school, opening his first restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi, and who pushed him to pursue his passion.
In Ep.02 of BTP, Erin talks to a long-time friend and Sommelier of Jackson's flagship restaurant, BRAVO! Italian Restaurant and Bar, Chuck Nix, a.k.a The Bearded Wineaux. From Alaska to Memphis and finally, to Jackson, Mississippi, Nix shares his journey from rapper "Chuck E. Aight" to Sommelier.
**SHOUT OUT** I wanted to make sure to say a special thank you to Mike Frascogna III (M3) of Frascogna Law (https://www.frascognalaw.com) for allowing me to shoot this interview in their state-of-the-art facility located within their offices (4400 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS). Mike is a long-time friend and supporter of the arts and entertainment industry, as well as the restaurant and hospitality industry, in Mississippi.
In Ep.03 of BTP, Erin ventures to Flora, Mississippi, a small town with a population of nineteen hundred—located on the outskirts of Jackson— where she meets up with Chef David Raines. From Italy to Japan and practically all over the world, Raines recounts how his life journey revitalized the economy of Flora and turned him into the business owner he did not set out to be but instead became.
And that’s my schpiel.
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