New Jersey Native Picked to Helm Southern Institution Crook’s Corner | Eater Carolinas

"Situated at the end of Franklin Street where Chapel Hill bends into Carrboro, this storied Southern restaurant opened in 1982 and helped pioneer the farm-to-table movement while popularizing the modern iteration of shrimp and grits. Founded by Gene Hamer and chef Bill Neal, it was later guided for decades by chef Bill Smith and has remained a regional institution through multiple leadership changes. In 2021 a New Jersey–born chef with a background opening and running kitchens in the Triangle stepped in as executive chef, bringing new dishes such as a farro risotto with butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, arugula, and Parmesan, while keeping the signature shrimp and grits untouched. The transition has been collaborative, with Smith returning to mentor in the kitchen and co-owner Shannon Healy emphasizing that the restaurant must evolve to stay relevant; the new chef also plans to deepen ties with local farmers markets to preserve the venue’s strong connection to the local food system." - Matt Lardie