Chef and the Farmer

We have loved watching A Chef's Life on PBS and learning about North Carolina agriculture and food traditions. We have been trying to get to Chef and the Farmer (the restaurant that the show is about) for a long time and finally made it happen during my birthday week. Reservations have to be made pretty far in advance and it's also 1 1/2 hours away, in the middle of nowhere. We got a babysitter for several hours on a weeknight and had such a great time. The food lived up to the hype and we tried as much as we could. We didn't get to see Chef Vivian but we did see her husband Ben who wandered around the restaurant, posing for photos and talking with fans. I'm hoping to return in the summer or fall and see how the menu changes.

The bread plate was really good with some delicious spreads. We also loved the flash fried collards. They were crispy just like chips. Maybe the only way I'll ever like collards.

We tried the Tom Thumb which was really yummy. We had watched an episode all about this dish.

The wood roasted mushrooms and kale were delicious. We especially loved the fried sweet potatoes. 

Ben tried the shrimp and grits and I tried the quail. I loved the winter vegetables served with mine. 

You can see celebrity Ben standing behind Ben.

We tried THREE desserts which was the best decision. They were all fantastic. We were so full that we could only eat a bit of each one. A chocolate chevre cheesecake with a fig compote. Coconut creme caramel with pineapple and cayenne pecans. Benne cake with lemon and cardamom.