Chef Vivian Howard Reopens NC Spot

The acclaimed Chef & the Farmer in Kinston, North Carolina, didn't just reopen; it was completely reimagined. After a two-year hiatus, the celebrated restaurant has returned as two distinct concepts: a casual, counter-service spot and an intimate, high-end tasting experience, both of which opened in the winter of 2024. The more accessible of the two, The Counter at Chef & the Farmer, offers a streamlined menu of what Howard calls "craveable Southern food." Diners can expect inventive takes on classics, such as Blueberry BBQ Chicken Enchiladas, a signature Butterbean Burger, and a dish playfully named Sweet Potato on Steroids with vegetable green curry. This new format occupies the space that was formerly the restaurant's wine and gift shop. For a more exclusive experience, Howard introduced The Kitchen Bar at Chef & the Farmer. This intimate setting offers a seven-course tasting menu for a small number of guests with reservations. Howard herself is at the heart of this experience, cooking and sharing the stories behind the dishes with diners. The decision to close the original Chef & the Farmer in 2022 after a 16-year run stemmed from what Howard described as an "unsustainable business model." The pressures of running a destination restaurant, made famous by the PBS series "A Chef's Life," had distanced her from the kitchen and her guests. The new concepts are designed to be more sustainable and allow her to be more directly involved. This revival is part of a larger trend of high-profile restaurants making a comeback. In San Francisco, the historic Big Four restaurant reopened in March 2026 after a multi-year closure, with a menu updated by chef David Intonato. Similarly, defunct restaurant chains like Steak & Ale and Chi-Chi's are being resurrected with new locations.