NATCHEZ — Britton Gammill admits she did not set out to make the best tamales in the state, even though she and her husband Jimmy spent weekends perfecting their recipe in their home kitchen more than 27 years ago.

The same recipe with which they opened Fat Mama’s Tamales in 1989 is the recipe readers of Mississippi Magazine consider the best in the state for 2016.

“We made the best that we were capable of at the time,” Gammill said. “We have been in the running every year they have had the contest. We are tickled to win the award.”

Fat Mama’s is just one of several categories in which Natchez is mentioned on the magazine’s Best of Mississippi 2016 list. The annual July/August edition reveals the results from a reader survey of the state’s favorite restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and more.

This year, Natchez won best weekend trip for the second year in a row, beating out Oxford, Bay St. Louis, Biloxi and Ocean Springs.

Dunleith Historic Inn was named as a finalist in the Best Bed and Breakfast category. The City of Natchez and nearby Windsor Ruins near Lorman were named as finalists for Best Historic Site.

“It is good news for (Fat Mama’s) and good news for Natchez,” Gammill said.

Britton and Jimmy Gammill have since handed over the business to their son David, but Britton can still be seen most morning sweeping the sidewalks and tending to the landscape.

The restaurant also won the award in 2013 and 2014.

Interim Tourism Director Jennifer Combs said Fat Mama’s award is a great example of what Natchez has to offer.

“I am thrilled for Fat Mama’s and for the city,” Combs said. “The more people know about the wonderful things in our city, the better it is for all of us.”