Salute Italian Restaurant continues 17-year tradition of serving New ...

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - Kicking off a new year is always busy for Salute Italian Restaurant owner Rob Stinson.

He’s known on the Coast for serving up Italian cuisine. On New Year’s Day, Stinson serves a special holiday treat: black-eyed peas and cabbage.

“Even though it isn’t traditionally Italian, it works,” Stinson said.

This is a 17-year tradition at Salute where Stinson embraces his customers each year with a New Year’s dish that comes straight from the soul.

“We’re the family gathering place,” he said. “It gives everyone a chance to say, ‘Hey, we’re in a new year, let’s kind of put all the past behind us.’”

Jodi Bennett and his wife Cari said this was their tenth New Year’s Day coming to Salute for some black-eyed peas.

Bennett said he has high hopes for a blessed 2025.

“2025 will be fantastic,” Bennett said. “Just everybody’s prosperity, the economy getting better, just everything about going into a new year.”

Daniel Jarrard says his only wish is to see more peace and happiness in the world in 2025. He also said the food and atmosphere at Salute has him back for another New Year’s Day.

“I hope the world can become a happier place, I guess,” Jarrard said. “The food was so good. We had planned to come back this year from that point on.”

Stinson said his goal is to fill his customers with warmth and wisdom to start the new year.

He believes 2025 will be a good economic year for his business and the rest of South Mississippi.

“Every year, it has gotten busier and busier we happen to be at the right place at the right time on the Gulf Coast,” he said. “It’s a perfect place both to retire and to build a family. You know, we’ve got great schools. We’ve got everything that you need to have a wonderful future right here on the Coast.”

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