Anna Lee checking out her Yumtown Instagram page. Photo by Kaelyn Sreenan.

Kaelyn Sreenan
Oxford Stories
kvsreena@go.olemiss.edu

@Yumtown, an Instagram dedicated to food lovers, was born when food lover Anna Lee came moved to Oxford for college. Freshman year, Lee created the Instagram account @Yumtown that now has 1,709 followers.

When asked how the name came about, she laughed hysterically. “When my friend and I would eat something good, we always used to say ‘yumtown,’ and then the name just kind of stuck,” she said.

The @Yumtown Instagram bio has a catchy note that reads: “Hop aboard the train to Yumtown, USA.” Atlanta native Lee said she has always been around good food and has traveled many places. Restaurants receive Yumtown recognition when the food is so good it deserves a picture.

The account has 625 posts of food from all over the world. However, Oxford has heavily influenced the account. Post locations include Chancellor’s House, Big Bad Breakfast, Tarasque, Jinsei, Grit, Oxford Canteen, Frank and Marlees, Bottle Tree Bakery, Boure, The Taco Shop, Rafter’s, and McEwens.

A photo Lee took of her breakfast at Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford. Photo by Kaelyn Sreenan.

Recently, Lee attended the grand opening of Moe’s Original BBQ on the Square. She ordered fried shrimp with corn, and mac and cheese. It didn’t disappoint.

Lee said many asked her how the food was when she posted a photo on Instagram. This helped the local business, because it was free publicity.

Lee’s boyfriend, McIntyre Johnson, said the account is motivational. “The account always gives us a good reason to go eat somewhere,” he said.

Johnson said his favorite eatery is a secret Italian place called Tarasque with pastas, salads and deserts. On Oct. 1, Lee posted a picture of the delivery food.

Photo of Lee taken on the Ole Miss campus. Photo by Kaelyn Sreenan.

Lee said it’s exciting when other food accounts like, comment or repost her posts. She hopes @Yumtown becomes a major food account one day.

Johnson said Oxford has many innovative restaurants that are diverse. He’d like to see an upscale, hand roll sushi place similar to those found in New York City.

Lee said Taylor Grocery is her favorite restaurant because it serves the most authentic and most photogenic Mississippi food.

“It’s a relic of Oxford,” she said. “Everything about it – their food, atmosphere and people – are just great.”

She also enjoys The Sizzler on Highway 7, a restaurant around when her parents attended the University of Mississippi, that serves steak and soul food.

Lee said having a food Instagram is a fun way to be creative, and it is her own thing, so she can do whatever she wants with it. She said most feedback is positive, and she receives about five to six text messages per post.

“It’s a great conversation starter,” she said, “and I love that all of the food posts remind me of all the good times I have had with family and friends.”

Since moving to Oxford, she has added more account followers.