Crooked Letter Kitchen serves Rankin County foodies

By Susie A. Wolfe Crooked Letter Kitchen (CLK) is a food truck that specializes in Cajun bar-b-que fusion. Owned by Jonathan Beard whose family is from the Cross Roads area, he moves around Rankin County weekly.  A chef that served in the United States Marine Corp, he serves his own creations partnered with his father, Charles Beard’s, award-winning bar-b-que.     “Food trucks are mobile restaurants that have to get the food out fast,” said Beard. “The biggest issue is space. We have flavor and experience but are unique in our customer service. We treat everyone like family and try to know our customers by their first name.” Beard was featured in a May Clarion Ledger article about on food trucks during the Pandemic said driving into neighborhoods has become the new normal. He said, "We’re not working at the festivals or markets throughout the summer and spring months, we’re going into the neighborhoods where a lot of people are confined to their homes or working from home. When everyone was shut down and people could only get take-out, food trucks were all you had for about three or four weeks."  Crooked Letter Kitchen opened in 2018. Beard worked as a chef for the Marine Corps and as a general manager at several restaurants before opening his own food truck business.  He said he typically spent five to six days a week feeding families in the Jackson Metro Area during the first part of the Pandemic. Beard said business has always been good for Crooked Letter and the response he's gotten since the Pandemic has been overwhelming.  Once customer who worked in Madison, drove to Pelahatchie one night when they were serving late.  After ordering three meals, she said the food is even rated on the local “foodie” web pages. Crooked Letter Kitchen has two full-time employees, Kimberly Beard and Kaitlyn McIntyre, and one part-time, Kim Darrow.  They are also available for parties, weddings, and corporate events. His hashtag is  #bustintastebuds.  Call 601-37-1757 for more information.