Jampa's Lakehouse Grill and Tap

Like all restaurants, Jampa's has a story behind it. What makes Jampa's so incredibly unique is that it is named after the proprietor's grandfather, who is affectionately called "Jampa" by his family and all who know him.Jampa (P.J. McDaniel) was born in 1922 in Nashville, Tennessee, but quickly moved to Memphis where he was raised and spent his youth until he was twenty-four. Many of his early cooking influences came from this time period because as Jampa Puts it, "They just had good food and great BBQ in Memphis." As a part of the "Greatest Generation, " Jampa volunteered for the Navy and served during WWII on the Marshall and Admiralty Islands as an aviation mechanic. Jampa recalls, "We'd cook up our favorite meals whenever we could to bring a little bit of home to our camps so far away." After the war, he settled down and married Mammie (Robbie Gene Linville) in Longview, Texas where he raised a family of four. Mammie and Jampa are still married after sixty years and you can still find Jampa standing over the pit cooking for the family on special occasions. He is a perfectionist when it comes to his sauces. With decades of experimentation, and influences that come from both Tennessee and Texas, he has perfected his "Jampa's Saucy" and "Jampa's Hot" sauces. These famous sauces were Jampa's secret until he finally shared the recipes with his grandson during a 4th of July celebration in 2007. The family decided his cooking legacy should be shared by more than his blessed family and friends leading to the creation of Jampa's Lakehouse Grill & Tap. Jampa's recommendations to his grandson when developing this classic American restaurant (after Jampa told him to get a real job!) were to, "Take it easy, cook it slow and don't give away the secret to his sauces." His lifetime of family cooking is portrayed in every aspect of Jampa's restaurant.