Celebrating Culinary + Visual Arts
Join us on May 31, 2025 for an evening celebrating the culinary and visual arts of the Gulf South!
Meet the Chefs
Firefly Supper brings together a select group of stellar southern chefs who have curated a four-course menu to celebrate the culinary and visual arts of the Gulf South.
Alex Perry + Kumi Omori
Alex Perry and Kumi Omori are behind Vestige in Ocean Springs, MS. They embrace seasonality, creativity, locality, and sustainability - combining local ingredients with Japanese flavors and techniques in an ever-changing menu. Their attention to detail and commitment to storytelling through food have earned Perry and Vestige national acclaim, including multiple invitations to the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival and three nominations for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: South.
Austin Sumrall
Austin Sumrall, the chef owner of White Pillars and Siren Social Club, brings a wealth of expertise and creativity to the Gulf Coast culinary scene. His accolades include two James Beard Foundation nominations for Southern Farm to Table Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge, a gold medal winner on the Food Network’s high stakes cooking competition, Alex vs America, and crowned "King of American Seafood" at the Great American Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans.
Micheal & Stephanie Paoletti
Michael and Stephanie Paoletti showcase the best of the Gulf Coast’s ingredients and creativity in their ventures Butcher Baker, Food, Booze & Hiccups and Sweet Enchantments. They combine an adventurous culinary philosophy with premium local components and commitment to their environment; they are recognized by the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Outpost Program for their commitment to sustainability.
Support the Arts and Education
This event is held to support the Museum's mission to empower lifelong curiosity and connection to the natural world through the art of Walter Anderson and kindred artists. Funds from this event will be used to support the Museum's educational programming, preserve its collections, and put on world-class exhibitions celebrating the art and identity of the region.
If you would like to become a sponsor, please see our sponsorship levels below.
