It was only a matter of time before Jonathan Beard opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant after providing several years of award-winning food from a foodtruck. Owned by a chef that served in the United States Marine Corps, Crooked Letter Kitchen is a foodtruck that specializes in a Cajun BBQ inspired menu.
Crooked Letter Kitchen is a mobile kitchen based out of Pelahatchie and covers the state of Mississippi. Winner of the Mississippi Magazine Best of Contest for several years now. The lines leading to the truck are filled with new customers and many repeat fans who can’t get enough of the choices offered. While a chef in the United States Marine Corps, Beard trained and developed skills that allowed him to cook good food in a short time with great taste. He describes the Crooked Letter Kitchen as a fantastic foodtruck that is “bustin’ tastebuds”.
The menu is covered with a diverse and sometimes exotic feel. There is the mix of street-savvy foods such as BBQ favorites with brisket, chicken, and indescribable ribs and also the smash burgers, ribeye sandwiches, coffee-infused meats, crawfish etouffee, and a bourbon-infused bread pudding that defines delicious.
Beard fostered the idea, like most entrepreneurs, of making their dreams come true. He wanted to bring his spin on the flavor of food and define an epic foodtruck experience in Mississippi. To begin, he needed a name and a brand, remembering how he learned to spell Mississippi at an early age gave him an idea. So began his desire to give back to the state he called home. Crooked Letter which is the S in Mississippi was his way of keeping his home state at the forefront of his brand. Beard describes his initial start as a hobby that took flight quickly and became a full-time food truck business.
It hasn’t always been a wonderful experience, Beard made a few mistakes along the way. “That is how you learn the process though,” he explains. “You make a mistake, you fix it, and read up about how not to do it again. I talked to others who ran foodtrucks, restaurants, and local vendors who helped mentor and lead me to a better way of doing things. I was given a lot of information from other people’s experiences that helped me with mine. Then I stepped out on faith and continue each day to take it to the next level for my guests.” Beard also credits his family and wife for always being there and helping in the process, “Without them, it wouldn’t have made it this far.”
To talk with Beard is to catch his enthusiasm for cooking and sharing his food with others. He has a desire to give back to the community that helped him along the way and gave him so much. In his younger days, he felt the need to leave Mississippi only to discover that it really was home for him. He has a following on social media who follow the foodtruck and regularly frequent his establishment. Now he wants to make a headquarters and have a better opportunity to serve more people in Pelahatchie.
Beard wants the customers to have the full food experience and leave with a full and happy belly and heart. The Crooked Letter Kitchen Restaurant is scheduled to open on July 24, 2023. The building is located on 401 Hwy 43, in Pelahatchie. Everything is ready. Beard and his wife are almost giddy with anticipation for the opening. The food is right off his current menu and includes special foods for special days. “We will have taco Tuesdays, and my Steak special on Friday nights.”
The menu can be found online at www.CLK-MS.com. The grand opening of the Crooked Letter Kitchen restaurant takes place on July 24, 2023 at 401 Hwy 43 Suite A, Pelahatchie. If you have any questions call (601) 374-1757.
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