Kountry Kitchen in D’Lo, MS offers a wide variety of freshly cooked vegetables the old fashioned way. Owner Carolyn Chapman pours her heart and soul into the veggies every day she is open.
Known fondly as Miss Carolyn, she was raised sharecropping and learned early about cooking vegetables. She added often her family ate them at every meal. Even now Chapman is apt to have greens and cornbread for breakfast.
“I offer a lot of vegetables; that’s what I’m good at. I’m not good with pies and cakes. We were sharecroppers and people just love my vegetables. That’s the draw. Peas, greens, fried okra from scratch, butterbeans, field peas, cabbage, and corn. It’s just the vegetables they really like.” Chapman offers a variety of proteins as well like fried and smothered chicken, pork chops and catfish fillets. Her customers especially like whole catfish fried and she tries to offer it daily.
Kountry Kitchen was once located in Georgetown where Chapman had a booming business. Then the bridge closed and customers had greater difficulty getting to her restaurant. She searched and found the old D’Lo grocery store owned by Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson available. “I love D’Lo. I like the people, I like the place. It’s just a quaint little town.”
Chapman stated she has repeat customers including some from Georgetown. “This is my fifth restaurant,” she said smiling. She remembers fondly seeing Bert Case and Walt Grayson on a regular basis in Georgetown. That original building burned and Georgetown loved Chapman so much it rebuilt for her.
At 75, Miss Carolyn never intends to retire even though her son would like her to give up the restaurant business. Chapman’s response is blunt and to the point: “Son, I’ll die. I got to have something to get up for. I enjoy cooking and I love to see people eat and enjoy what I made with my hands.”
Kountry Kitchen is located at 102 4th St. D’Lo and the phone number is 601-455-4993. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm ($15) and Sunday 11:00 am – 3:30 pm ($20).
