Cooper Currin Hudson is the Co-owner and Catering Director of Mama’s Boy restaurants with her partner, Alicia Segars. She was born in Columbia, South Carolina and moved to Athens in 1993 to attend the University of Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and minored in Spanish. Cooper lives with her husband Gregg who is a Dining Manager at University of Georgia Food Services, their three year old daughter Currin and dogs, Hank and Lucy. She enjoys running, traveling, dining out and get togethers with friends.

 

 

What inspired or led to your current career?

 

 

I think we always say everyone wants to live in Athens right? And, at the time there were not a lot of jobs so you had to create your own. Alicia and I had both worked together at Last Resort and here we are.

 

 

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens, and what do you love there?

 

 

It is impossible to pick one! I like a lot of restaurants in Athens. I love The Last Resort. They do a fantastic job and have for years. I always eat the salmon and grits. I love The National and Seabear Oyster Bar, and I can eat my weight in oysters. I love La Michoacana for their ice cream.  They have a location in Cali N Titos on the East Side Athens and another location in Hull, Georgia. They also have popsicles which is where I get putting popsicles in wine. I like all restaurants so it is so hard for me to pick one.

 

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

 

 

That is such a hard question. I think the big one right now for me that I cannot get off my mind is Big Sur, California for a race. There is a marathon and half marathon right there on the water next to the cliffs and it would be amazing. My thing is I could go anywhere and be happy as long as it is something new and different. But, overall if I could go anywhere maybe the South of France. Maybe both.

 

 

What is your favorite movie, or the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?

 

 

I am one of those people that only watches a movie one time. I am not cool when it comes to movies. There are two movies I can remember watching more than once, Pulp Fiction and Sweet Home Alabama. I have seen it like six times. I thought it was hilarious.

 

 

What advice do you often give to your child and why?

 

 

A lot of things. Mainly, treat other people the way you want to be treated. But, also with her being a girl it is really important to me to cultivate a sense of self-esteem and self-worth.  I often remind her that if someone is not nice to her it is not because of her, it is because of them. We talk about that a lot.

 

What is something that is on your “bucket list”?

 

Most of my bucket list items are travel-related. Gregg has never been to New York, I would love to take him. I want Currin to see as many things as she can. But, for me personally without the two of them involved, I would love to do the fifty half marathons in fifty states. I would love to do any big race with grand scenery that I get on an airplane to go to with friends or a friend.

 

If you could see anyone at The Georgia Theatre, dead or alive, who would it be?

 

Bon Jovi.

 

What is your favorite thing to do in Athens?

 

Ideally, it would be a nice day. I would go to happy hour with friends, have a nice dinner and then go see music at The Georgia Theatre. I do not know who, but you would tell me who was cool to go see, right?

 

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?

 

A lot of people are surprised to learn that I live on a cattle farm. Also, I like dogs more than I like people.

 

What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word “home”?

 

Relaxing, family and dogs.