Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Jackson.
Hi Patricia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Humble Beginnings
Miss Patty was born on Chicago’s South Side, where she got her first job working for a family friend’s restaurant called Ivory’s Shrimp House. She gained valuable experience working in the kitchen, learning skills like cutting potatoes, peeling shrimp, and maintaining a clean workspace. Occasionally, she was allowed into the cooking area to help prepare shrimp, chicken, and fish—a memory she has never forgotten. As an adult her passion for cooking continued to grow, as she hosted many family dinners, receptions and political parties.
After completing college and nursing school, Miss Patty spent 14 years in the corporate world. During that time, she opened an interior design business and a legal nurse consulting practice. While she enjoyed interior designing of homes, some commercial designs and working in the legal nursing field, her dream of opening a restaurant never faded.
In February 2010, her family received devastating news: Miss Patty’s husband, David Harris, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer and was given 12 to 18 months to live. He immediately underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to give him the best chance of survival. Amidst the chaos, she began to consider a business that would allow her to be present for David during his treatment and provide income for the family. A mobile food service business seemed like the perfect solution, something she could operate on days he wasn’t receiving treatment. That year, she transformed an old food truck into a working mobile kitchen.
In June 2012, Miss Patty launched her first gourmet mobile food truck, The Food Patty Wagon. A year later she secured a contract for her food truck to serve food at the University of Houston. Due to increasing demand, in 2015, Miss Patty opened a second truck with the help of her daughter Tekesha Jackson serving as her General Manager, Miss Patty’s Seafood-N-Chicken Cuisine. 2017. Miss Patty was selected by the NFL Super Bowl committee to be one of the food truck vendors to serve food at the NFL Fans Experience at Discovery Green – Downtown Park. KHOU Channel 11 featured her truck on their 10:00 o’clock news show to highlight how the NFL was making a financial impact for small businesses doing the Super Bowl.
In 2021, Miss Patty fulfilled her long-held dream by opening her first brick-and-mortar boutique community restaurant: Miss Patty’s Southern Soul & Seafood Kitchen 8330 West Bellfort Suite B Houston, Texas 77071. The name “Southern Soul” celebrates her roots—her mother and father were from the south; they met and married in Chicago where Miss Patty was born. Miss Patty always said she got her Southern cooking influence from the south and soul from Chicago’s South Side.
Miss Patty gives her success to God, hard work and a deeply commitment to her customers, which is reflected not only in the love and flavor in her food but also in providing exceptional service with reasonable prices. When asked what makes her the happiest about her success she says, “Nothing brings me more joy than seeing customers return for another satisfying meal”.
Today, Miss Patty operates two concessions at the University of Houston’s football stadium and one in the basketball stadium. And by the way, her husband survived the Cancer diagnosis, and he has been her unwavering supporter, every step of the way.
Thanks to the love and loyalty of our customers, Miss Patty is living her childhood dream every day!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road has not always been smooth. There are nights that you want to throw in the towel, or should I say the pot? Staff has always been a struggle. It’s not easy to find someone who shares your values and love for your business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
She creates all the recipes. She specialize in Soul Food and we are known for our Oxtails and Fried Pork Chops. She is most proud of her husband’s and daughter’s support. What sets us apart from others: we are a small boutique kitchen with a soulful design and most foods cooked to order. We serve a warm Butter Cream Cake that is simply delectable.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
The bad luck/bad news of Miss Patty’s husband’s diagnosis created good luck/a blessing which forced her to make a decision, which led to the food truck opening. And the good luck/blessing of her husband’s survival has enabled her to continue to grow our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.misspattys.com
- Instagram: MissPatty’s
- Facebook: MissPatty’s
- Twitter: MissPatty’s
