Mildred "Mama Dip" Council Mildred Council may have been known to the world by her childhood nickname, Dip (inspired by her long arms), but her reach has been so much longer. Mildred Council started her renowned restaurant, Mama Dip's, on a meager $64, but her food story goes back a lot further. The youngest daughter of seven children, Mildred "Dip" Cotton was such a good cook that her father let her take over the role at age 9 after her mother died. About Southern Living Southern Living, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, celebrates the food, homes, places, and culture of the South. We reach 7.2 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.