Check Out Jessamine Starr’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessamine Starr.

Hi Jessamine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been in the catering business for the past 16 years. Starting with Good Food Truck, which is still going strong and has since evolved into a catering company (though plenty of meals are still served from the truck). I was also the owner of Ett, a one-seat restaurant tucked away in the woods during the pandemic, which was voted Atlanta’s oddest restaurant in 2020.

Two years ago, I opened Perennial Table, a crudité, charcuterie, and appetizer company that highlights local, highly seasonal florals and greenery woven directly alongside the food. Perennial Table is hors d’oeuvres and décor all wrapped up in one.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a small business owner is full of challenges. There are so many problems that are impossible to foresee—you really have to be ready to constantly pivot, improvise, and learn from your mistakes. I’ve made too many mistakes to list, but with each one I’ve tried my best to take stock of what went wrong and how I could have done it better. On top of that, there are always things in flux that are completely outside of your control, so you have to be ready for surprises.

I try to enter each event as prepared and calm as possible so I’m ready to act quickly when needed. After 16 years in business, I’m at least lucky enough to have gained experience and an awareness of potential mishaps. When it comes to challenges that are out of your control, I think it’s incredibly important to stay flexible with your original business plan or idea. Re-evaluate the room, your customers, and your own needs, and adjust accordingly—or even try out a “wild” idea on a whim. You never know where things might lead.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
’m truly in love with my newest venture, Perennial Table. Every table feels like its own moment in time, because each one is shaped entirely by the season it’s created in. Since all of the florals and greenery are locally grown or foraged, I often don’t even know exactly what I’ll be working with until the day of the event—and I love that element of surprise. It keeps the process fresh, intuitive, and a little magical.

I think of each table as both a compositional painting and a puzzle, where color, texture, and balance all have to come together just right. The lush, ever-changing palette of local greenery, produce, and fruit is endlessly inspiring, and I have so much fun finding new ways to display it every single time. No two tables are ever the same, and that’s the point.

What I love most is that the final result is both beautiful and fleeting. The table becomes a piece of edible art—meant to be admired, shared, and enjoyed in the moment—before it disappears. There’s something really special about creating something so intentional, seasonal, and alive, and that’s what keeps me excited to come back and do it all over again.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Atlanta is known as the city in the forest and I think that really holds true. There are so many hidden wild gems within Atlanta. The city cohabitates with the natural world in a very special and unique way.

Pricing:

• Perennial tables base range $9-$18 per person
• Good Food Truck pricing varies usually falling around $22 per person depending on menu

Contact Info:

• Website: Perennialtableatl.com and GoodFoodTruckatl.com
• Instagram: @Perennial_table @goodfoodtruckatl
• Facebook: @Perennialtableatl @goodfoodtruckatl
• Yelp: Good Food Truck

Image Credits
me- Jessamine Starr