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Entries in Bill Smith (3)

Tuesday
May042010

Bill Smith to Cook at James Beard House

DateTuesday, May 4, 2010 at 10:07AM | by AuthorAndrea Griffith | Comment2 Comments

First, the not-so-good news: No Chapel Hill winners emerged from last night’s James Beard Awards. Although Andrea Reusing of Lantern and Bill Smith of Crook’s Corner were nominated for Best Chef of the Southeast, Sean Brock of McCrady’s in Charleston, S.C. went home with the prize.

But it’s still an honor to be nominated among such a prestigious group of people. Other winners included Chef Daniel Boulud’s Daniel in New York City for Outstanding Restaurant. Crook’s was among the semi-finalists in this category, but didn’t make it to the final round. And Tom Colicchio of Craft in NYC won Outstanding Chef. I watch enough Top Chef to know that Boulud and Colicchio are big deals in the food world.

Now for the really good news: Bill Smith of Crook’s has been invited to bring a taste of the South to the James Beard House in Greenwich Village on June 15. The self-taught chef’s menu for the special dinner will include mango, mint, watermelon and tomato salad; green peach salad; soft-shelled crab with basil, garlic and two slaws; collard-stuffed North Carolina corned ham with cucumbers and onions; banana pudding and honeysuckle sorbet, among other things. He’ll bring cheeses from Chapel Hill Creamery and Celebrity Dairy, ham from Cane Creek Farm and flowers hand collected (for his honeysuckle sorbet) from Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Reservations for the 7 p.m. dinner are available through the James Beard Foundation by calling (212) 627-2308. The cost is $165 per person – but, for friends of Crook's, that’s reduced to $125 when you use the code “thyme.”

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Friday
Mar052010

Two Chapel Hill Chefs in the Semifinals for James Beard Awards

DateFriday, March 5, 2010 at 11:39AM | by AuthorAndrea Griffith | Comment3 Comments

Two mainstays of West Franklin Street are up for a big honor, one that's been called the Oscars of the food world.

Andrea Reusing of Lantern and Bill Smith of Crook's Corner are semifinalists for the James Beard Awards Best Chef of the Southeast, along with Ashley Christensen of Poole's in Raleigh and Scott Howell of Nana's in Durham. Crook's Corner is also up for Outstanding Restaurant, as is Durham's Magnolia Grill.Jamil Kadoura of Mediterranean Deli dines at Crook's Corner with his wife, Angela. (Photo by Briana Brough.)

The nominees were chosen from a list of 21,000. The five finalists for each category will be unveiled March 22, and the winners will be announced May 3.

Our January/February issue features an article about where respected foodies like to eat. One of the more memorable comments came from Jamil Kadoura, owner and chef at Mediterranean Deli. Kadoura said Crook's Corner's shrimp and grits were the best he'd ever had. "They should call it Bill and Smith after Chef Bill Smith," he said. "I swear to God."

How's that for an endorsement? Good luck to our chefs!

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Tuesday
Feb022010

You'll Never Guess William Friday's Contribution to Thursday's Art from the Heart Auction

DateTuesday, February 2, 2010 at 12:12PM | by AuthorLisa Rossi | CommentPost a Comment

Bill Smith, the chef and owner of Crook's Corner, doesn't just cook shrimp. 

He paints them. 

He's one of the more than 120 artists who have painted or offered a photograph for the Art from the Heart fundraiser for the Chapel Hill Museum and Kidzu Children's Museum. 

William Friday, former UNC system president, was the only person who didn't contribute art. Instead, he donated a signed copy of his book and a bunch of his homemade peanut brittle.

"Apparently his peanut brittle is legendary," say's Kidzu's Executive Director Cathy Maris. "He decided [that] was his best gift to us."

Needless to say, I am intrigued, very intrigued. 

A gala and silent auction of the art pieces (and peanut brittle) will be held Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (tickets are $30 a piece or $50 per couple). I will be there.

Last year, the event raised more than $19,200 for education programs at the museums. 

I've been scrolling through some of the art pieces made by members of our community. Here are a few that I expect to get top dollar ...!

Smith's shrimp.This is a funny one from Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran.And former UNC System President William Friday donated something like art: his homemade peanut brittle! And a signed copy of his book, of course.

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