Mayor Ella Jones' 5 favorite Ferguson spots

Last year, Ella Jones made national headlines when she became the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Ferguson. Even history-makers have to eat, and when it comes to food, Jones is a woman of strong opinions. Born and raised in New Orleans as one of eight children, she enjoys cooking big pots of gumbo or platters of fried fish for family and friends, as well as introducing them to new ways of preparing familiar ingredients, like eggplant smothered with shrimp. “Food brings people together,” the mayor told us. “It’s a time to relax, it’s a time to share your memories, it’s a time to hear the same jokes that have been told year after year. It’s time to see the new addition to the families.” Here, Mayor Jones shares with us some of her favorite places to eat and shop for food in and around Ferguson. 

Drake’s Place
“I love to go there on Friday to get my catfish sandwich. When I walk in, they say, ‘OK, Ella’s here, we know she’s gonna order catfish; instead of french fries, she wants potato salad.’”
701 S. Florissant Road, Ferguson, 314.736.1140, drakesplacestl.com

Ferguson Farmers Market
“We have a great farmers market. I love to go there and get my green tomatoes. I went a couple of weeks ago, and there was a bakery there. I bought some cinnamon rolls, and they were very good. The farmers market is a great place for people to meet up on Saturday mornings and get fresh fruits and vegetables.”
May to October: Plaza 501, 501 S. Florissant Road; November to April: St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 33 N. Clay Ave., Ferguson, fergusonfarmersmarket.com

Ferguson Brewing Co.
The wings and cod sandwich here get high marks from the mayor. “A lot of people go there because of the various beers that they brew, but I’m not a beer drinker. But the food is good there also.”
418 S. Florissant Road, Ferguson, 314.254.7359, fergusonbrewing.com

Old Town Donuts
The mayor is in agreement with Sauce’s readers, who routinely choose Old Town Donuts as their Readers’ Choice favorite in the doughnut category. “I love their chocolate doughnuts. They’re cake, and I love the cake doughnuts, and I like the chocolate ones. It’s not heavily glazed.”
510 N. New Florissant Road, Florissant, 314.831.0907, oldtowndonuts.com

Cathy’s Kitchen 
“I love her gumbo, and she makes a good plate of red beans and rice.” You know if one gumbo master praises another cook’s gumbo, it’s got to be good.
250 S. Florissant Road, Ferguson, 314.524.9200, cjenkinscompany.com