Chef TK hosts pirates table event

Pumpkins and skeletal decorations covered the tables of the west end dining hall patio last Thursday as Chef Tahkirr Spencer, who goes by “TK”, hosted his second Captain’s table. The event, which occurs about once a month since its inception in January, gives 25 students the chance to experience a selection of fine dining created by the chefs at East Carolina University. One chef hosts each event and crafts the menu for the upscale three-course meal. All the students have to do is show up and take a seat.

Buc-ee’s eyes second NC location

North Carolina could be getting its second Buc-ee’s.

This North Carolina Mennonite Bakery Has People Driving Hours For Fresh Bread And Whoopie Pies

Out on a quiet country highway near Grifton, folks line up before the doors open at 7 AM, and some of them have driven across half of eastern North Carolina to be there. The prize is homemade bread, a bakery counter full of take-home treats, and a hearty breakfast served inside a working farm store.

Greenville eatery earns 2026 Michelin Guide recognition

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - A Greenville restaurant is receiving high praise from an internationally respected restaurant guide. Native Fine Diner has been selected as a Michelin Guide Recommended Restaurant. In the recently published Michelin Guide American South, Native was commended for its upscale comfort dishes. The downtown spot is owned...

This 10-Table North Carolina Steakhouse Serves Only Ribeye, And People Wait Hours To Get In

Somewhere in Wilson, North Carolina, there’s a steakhouse that looked at the entire concept of a menu and said, “Nah, we’re good.”. The Beefmastor Inn has exactly one thing to sell you, and somehow, that’s all it takes to fill every seat in the place and send people home talking about it for years.

Get Greenville, North Carolina Locals Talking About Pork BBQ And They’ll Point You To This Cash-Only Joint

Ask anyone in Greenville where to find real pork barbecue, and the answer usually comes fast. It is not a fancy dining room with cloth napkins or a long menu. It is a tiny counter on a country road, with a line that often forms before the doors even open. The menu is short, the prices feel like a throwback, and the meat sometimes sells out before lunch is over.

This Small North Carolina Town Built A Whole Food Tradition Around Pickles

What makes a town drop a giant pickle instead of a glittering ball on New Year’s Eve? In North Carolina, cucumbers have serious main-character energy. Every December 31, a glowing pickle descends into a giant jar at 7 p.m. sharp. Midnight is apparently far too late for this kind of dill.

9 Small-Town North Carolina Biscuit Joints Locals Have Loved For Generations

In North Carolina, a good biscuit can settle arguments, start road trips, and pull a whole town out of bed before sunrise. The best ones usually come from small counters, drive-thru windows, and busy little cafes, not fancy dining rooms. This list covers nine biscuit spots in towns from the...

Pitt County Health Inspections: Oct. 14-20

Pitt County Environmental Health inspected 22 area restaurants between Oct. 14-20. Three restaurants received a B grade. Scores ranged from 85 to 100. Visit this story on reflector.com to read the full listing of reports. PIRATE’S DELI Address: 810 E. 10th St., Greenville Inspection date: Oct. 14, 2026 Final score: 86; Grade: B Violations: 3 demerits: Proper cold holding temperatures. Time/temperature control for safety foods in the prep cooler next to the grill ranged from 43 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit; three containers of diced chicken ranged from 43 to 55 degrees.3 demerits: Proper date marking and disposition. Boiled eggs, smoked salmon and milk were not dated.2 demerits: No bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. The owner was observed handling hamburger buns with a bare hand.1.5 demerits: Food separated and protected. Cut bananas and cut fruits and vegetables were found uncovered, and a cut apple was in contact with the exterior of a milk jug. BAB AL-YEMEN CUISINE Address: 300 S.E. Greenville Blvd., Greenville Inspection date: Oct. 19, 2026 Final score: 85; Grade: B Violations: 3 demerits: Proper date marking and disposition. Several time/temperature control for safety foods were found without date labels.2 demerits: Toxic substances properly identified, stored and used.

Fried Chicken That Beats Any Chain Is Waiting At This No-Frills Roadside Spot In Wilson

Some of the best fried chicken in North Carolina does not come from a drive-thru with a famous logo. It comes from a plain building along a busy highway in Wilson, where the doors open at 9 in the morning and the parking lot fills up fast. Families have been...

Greenville chef Luke Owens receives Michelin recommendation

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The Michelin Guide American South has named chef and owner Luke Owens of Native Fine Diner in Greenville, as Michelin recommended. Native Fine Diner is located at 907 Dickinson Ave in Greenville, and is a place that celebrates the farmers, fisherman, traditions, and culinary heritage that defines the region. “I’ve always […]

Sweet Potato Biscuits Have Made This Kinston, North Carolina Smokehouse A Required Detour For Decades

Bottles of vinegar sauce riding home in the back seat are usually the first clue that a lunch stop went better than planned. A sprawling, slightly old-fashioned barbecue house in eastern North Carolina has been sending travelers away with full bellies and souvenir sauce for generations. From the outside, it...

The South "meats' global south celebrates cuisine

'A game changer': Meeting held for Rocky Mount residents to learn more about planned Buc-ee's

Buc-ee's held a meeting Thursday with Rocky Mount residents as the company looks to grow its presence in North Carolina. The meeting at the Frederick Turnage Municipal Building gave residents their first look at site plans for the large gas station and food store in their community. According to Buc-ee's,...

Taste of the Inner Banks returns to Chowan County

One of Edenton’s fan favorites, Taste of the Inner Banks, returned with a celebration of northeastern North Carolina cooking that also served as a fundraiser to help feed residents across the region. The event was held on the historic 1767 Chowan County Courthouse Green with about 20 regional restaurants offering samples of their signature dishes. All ticket sales went to the Food Bank of the Albemarle, according to Leslie Hogan, who worked on the fundraiser. Admission to the taste-off was $20, with ticket sales limited to 500. Attendees were also asked to bring nonperishable food to the event for distribution through the regional food bank. Chef Ricky Moore, owner of the Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham and winner of the James Beard Foundation’s 2022 Best Chef, Southeast award, was on hand to judge the event’s contest for best presentation at the taste-off. The James Beard Foundation recognizes excellence in cooking, restaurants and hospitality for the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. Moore was scheduled to select the Outstanding Dish Award and present the People’s Choice Award. The beneficiary of the fundraiser, the Food Bank of the Albemarle, works with 100 nonprofit and community organizations

This North Carolina BBQ Joint Still Smokes Meat The Old-Fashioned Way And Locals Love It

A replica of the U.S. Capitol dome sits on the roof of a barbecue restaurant. Yes, a capitol dome. On a barbecue joint. The dome went up in 1984, a few years after National Geographic called the place the barbecue capital of the world. I like how the owners took that title literally and built a monument to prove it.

Chamber: Six-hundred tickets sold for Oyster Roast

Nothing brings folks together in eastern North Carolina like an oyster roast. Just ask the attendees of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce’s 34th annual Oyster Roast. Chamber officials sold 600 tickets for the Thursday gathering, and 562 people attended. That was the official count from Chamber Vice President of Operations and Events Taylor Anderson. “We are excited to share that this was the largest event in the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce’s history,” Anderson noted. The gathering, which was held at Smith’s Pavilion of Dortches event venue off Halifax Road, offers attendees traditional steamed oysters and shrimp options, as well as fried chicken strips and fried fish filet, along with side dishes including cooked baked beans, coleslaw and hush puppies. The gathering helps support the Chamber’s business advocacy efforts and the programs, resources and opportunities the pro-business and civic organization provides to members throughout the year. Leon Nixon Catering catered the event while Liquid Pleasure provided the music. Early in the evening, Smith’s Pavilion of Dortches Venue Manager Linda Davis said she loves the sight of the long line of people waiting to get food. “I know that it’s going to be a nice time for everyone

Lenoir County Farmer's Market update October 17, 2026

Make a little time for local this weekend. Explore this week’s vendors, upcoming community events, and six winning recipes from the Lenoir County Fair Casserole Cook-Off.