I’d be remiss if I didn’t share some of the amazing culinary experiences I had on my summer trip to North Carolina. As somewhat of a foodie, I was eager to experience some of the great restaurants of North Carolina.
I started with Chef and the Farmer. For those of you who watch PBS, you may have seen the show A Chef’s Life, which chronicles the story of this rural farm-to-table restaurant in Kinston, NC. It’s a remarkable story of how a single family can rebuild a community. Before Chef and the Farmer opened in Kinston, it was a town in decline. Having formerly relied on the tobacco farming industry for its economic base, when the tobacco companies changed their procurement processes, many in the community lost their livelihoods. Vivian Howard, a Kinston native, returned to open Chef and the Farmer, revitalizing a failing town center and attracting significant tourist traffic.
While there we also visited Mother Earth Brewing and The Boiler Room, Chef Vivian’s oyster bar. Check out these photos from the trip!
Their front sign and beer garden windmill.
Their front patio (with my friend Sonia and her boyfriend Russell in the foreground), front bar, oyster bar, french fries with poutine, and fresh oysters being shucked!
Chef and the Farmer Kitchen, Flash Fried Collard Greens (literally the best thing I’ve ever eaten), Braised Pork Shoulder with Blueberry Compote, Whole Brook Trout (the freshest fish I’ve ever tasted), and Buttermilk Pie with Blueberry Compote.
Here are some of the other amazing restaurants I visiting while in NC:
Menu, Wine, Chandelier, Pad Thai, the best macarons even (not pictured)
Pinball Machines, A Cool Community Reinvestment Strategy, A Crazy Bathroom Stall Door
Amazing drinks, the Front Window, the BEST Macaroni and Cheese I’ve ever tasted, Carrot Cake with Walnut Maple Ice Cream, Leftovers
