operates. the concept of southern hospitality still exists here. no matter what color you are, what political party, there is a warmth here where people want you to come in. they want to show you a part of their culture they re proud about. they call it the mighty mississippi for a reason. i think that goes beyond the current. it s about the impact this river has had on what we become as a nation and what we decide to become as a nation. i m carlton mccoy, raised in inner city d.c., educated in kitchens around the globe. these days i make a living as a master sommelier. i m a nomad, driven to move in and out of different cultures, different worlds. to celebrate diversity by embracing what makes us both unique and the same. after all, we carry our travels with us to our next destination. that s what life is all about. let s do this. i grew up in washington, d.c., raised by my grandmother who is from virginia. so i always felt i had one foot in the south. but as a young child,
grandma is here as well? yes, sir. this is what happens when i distract you. keep talking. everybody from mississippi and look at their chips and look at my chips. it s the experience, man. casinos are part of mississippi culture now. it is, yeah. this is the best place to come when you want to take somebody out to relax, get something good to eat, you know what i m saying, have a good time. where do you tell them to go to eat? well, mainly to our buffet, you know what i m saying, the bistro. he s on camera. the bistro, you know. it s this. it s the best. this guy is such a great bullshitter. calvin, i might have to hire you, man. put him in a tasting room in napa. sell the hole vintage in one day. taste a moscato all year. can all risk it a little bit. we re going all in.
so you know that thing you do when you land in a new place. you re excited and you go a little hard on the paint on night one, forget to pace yourself? yeah, that s what i m doing right now, jumping in with both feet. nick and i head over to natchez, play a little cards on the river. my name is calvin darnell mcknight jr. from natchez, mississippi. i was born and raised here. me personally, i go to the casinos, it feels like i m walking into the coliseum. the romans used to right before the big battle, they kind of rushed. you walking in, and the blood start pumping and adrenaline, because i feel like tonight is the night. i m going to make that happen tonight. the interactions i have with my cousins. people have so many different vocal animations when they win or lose, it feels like to you that you re in a boxing match with them. they had 20, you had 21. oof, it feels like i did a left hook on them.
all in, we going all in. this is very much going against every instinct of my body to save this chip. scared money don t make no money. let s go. give me your best card. ooh. ain t no good. a bunch of face cards in there. don t do that, calvin! don t do that, calvin. i thought you liked us. come on. he took us good, man. you took yourself. as long as i can provide people with the experience, i can sleep well at night. nomad with carlton mccoy is brought to you by the all new lexus ls600. experience amazing. go to cnn.com/nomad. to discover more on his journey across the world, where food, culture and art collide.