Smokes & Ears

Smokes & Ears tells the story of the Big Apple Inn in Jackson, Mississippi. Known as “Big John’s” by its faithful customers, the Big Apple Inn’s defining duo of pig ear sandwiches and hot smoked sausage sandwiches (known as “smokes”) has kept folks coming back again and again for over 70 years, and counting.This short film was produced and directed by Joe York at the University of Mississippi’s Media & Documentary Projects Center in association with the Southern Foodways Allliance. The film debuted at the 2009 Southern Foodways Symposium as part of an awards ceremony recognizing Geno Lee, owner of The Big Apple, as the 2009 Ruth Fertel Keeper of the Flame Award Winner.