New year, new brunch traditions

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Many Mississippi State football fans traveled to Tampa to cheer on their Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl, but Tampa wasn’t the only town filled with Bulldog support.

The Cake Box Eatery opened for a New Year’s brunch this morning.

They served all the New Year’s eats – like black eyed peas, and greens, and they even opened early because people were waiting outside.

Owner, Mark Taylor, says this brunch has become an enjoyable event for his family.

It all started out with a question last year.

“Well I asked my wife if she was going to cook, and she said no,” said Taylor. “I’m not going to cook in the house and I said well let’s go to the eatery in the research park and we’ll cook.”

Taylor then had another suggestion.

“I said so while were there why don’t we just open and invite everybody to come have lunch with us and we did and it was very successful,” said Taylor.

The Cake Box Eatery has since moved to a location closer to Mississippi State University on Russell Street, and with Mississippi State football playing in the Outback Bowl around lunchtime, he thought opening his restaurant for local fans would be a good idea.

“Well that’s one of the other reasons was the game was on,” said Taylor. “And that’s a good way to watch the game, have people to watch it around you and eat and have a good time so that was the plan.”

This plan brought in many Starkville residents who came for good food and camaraderie.

For Bulldog fans, they filled their bellies while supporting their home team.

“I love being here on New Years with this good food and all of our special traditional New Year’s foods,” said Swayze Gardner. “And especially watching the Bulldogs play and supporting them it’s just a great atmosphere to sit and eat and support the dogs.”

Some customers also left feeling empowered and ready to take on the new year, but it wasn’t the football game that fueled their fire, it was the food.

“This is just fantastic,” said Barry Stewart. “You can get your, all your New Year’s eats in the black eyed peas, the greens, the pork, you can be covered for the year. It’s like I’m wearing armor.”