Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to
Find restaurants in your region. Western Central Eastern Asheville — The Blackbird Restaurant This family-owned farm-to-table restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Southern fare with
Find restaurants in your region. Western Central Eastern Asheville — The Blackbird Restaurant This family-owned farm-to-table restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Southern fare with
This family-owned farm-to-table restaurant offers a modern twist on traditional Southern fare with dishes like the shrimp and grits.
You have to try: The Farm Breakfast — a plate of local eggs with stone ground grits or Sunday potatoes, apple wood smoked bacon or sausage, and a buttermilk biscuit.
Born in downtown Asheville more than 15 years ago, Tupelo Honey has spread its love for biscuits and honey to more than a dozen locations across the country. photograph by Tim Robison
Asheville, Charlotte, & Raleigh — Tupelo Honey
The team at Tupelo takes pride in crafting scratch-made Southern food from responsibly sourced ingredients — like the picnic chicken salad, made from antibiotic-free chicken.
You have to try: The Shoo Mercy Griddle — a plate of pancakes or French toast topped with spiced pecans, plus two strips of bacon, buttermilk fried chicken, and two eggs.
The windows historic Stepp House was reimagined into a restaurant that serves breakfast all day. George W. Stepp, the home’s namesake, was a cabinetmaker who worked on the Biltmore Estate and served as mayor of Black Mountain from 1908 to 1911 and from 1915 to 1917.
Hendersonville — Fireside Restaurant & Pancake Inn
This gem of a restaurant is known for superior service and specialty pancakes — like spiced apple cinnamon — with homemade maple syrup.
You have to try: The Mountain Style Breakfast – a hearty selection with bacon, sausage, or ham; two eggs; fried potatoes, shredded hash browns, or country grits; and homemade buttered toast.
A view of the Chef’s Table, and Fried Broccoli Baffle with lemon zest, sea salt, and vegan aioli. photograph by Café Rule & Wine Bar
Hickory — Café Rule & Wine Bar
Despite the name, Café Rule is all about, well, breaking the rules. They like to approach familiar foods in innovative ways — like the cheesy grit fritters with jalapeño jelly.
This country cooking restaurant and general store is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet and its homemade Smokey Mountain Gravy — a traditional Blue Ridge recipe that uses simple ingredients: bacon grease, flour, milk, salt, and pepper.
You have to try: The buttermilk biscuits smothered in the aforementioned famous gravy.
With menu items like collard greens, macaroni and cheese, grits, and potato salad, Dame’s offers true Southern comfort food, but they’re, of course, known for their chicken and waffle offerings.
You have to try: The Carolina Cockerel — three fried chicken wings over a classic, sweet potato, vegan, or gingerbread waffle with your choice of shmear and side.
Dame’s Chicken & Waffles 823 Bass Pro Lane Cary, N.C. 27513 (919) 234-0824
On the Carolina Coffee Shop’s menu, “Classic BLT” is code for “triple decker.” photograph by Anna Routh Barzin
Chapel Hill — Carolina Coffee Shop
Founded in 1922, Carolina Coffee Shop is the oldest continually running restaurant in North Carolina and has been serving up dishes made with fresh, local produce long before it was fashionable — like the nuts and berries salad with mixed greens, blueberries, strawberries, goat cheese, red onion, toasted pecans, and raspberry vinaigrette.
Diners at this down-home Southern restaurant can treat themselves to savory Southern comfort food — like the fried green tomato and okra basket, or a hot pan of sweet potato cornbread served with honey ginger butter.
At Hummingbird, brunch tastes best on the patio. Try the tartine: seeded levain bread topped with béchamel, rosemary ham, mushrooms, Manchego cheese, arugula, and a sunny-side up egg. photograph by Alex Boerner
Raleigh — Hummingbird
Menu items — like the peacemaker po’ boy and the charbroiled oysters — at this intimate eatery were influenced by chef Coleen Speaks’s years in New Orleans.
You have to try: The Hummingbird Breakfast — with eggs, choice of bacon or sausage, toast, and home fries or grits.
This American bistro-style deli and bakery offers a specialized brunch cocktail menu that includes made-from-scratch Bloody Mary’s and rum punch with freshly squeezed orange juice.
You have to try: The chef-created seafood omelet, which is made with the chef’s choice of the freshest seafood available each week.
Baker’s Kitchen is best known for breakfast, but the restaurant’s chef, Duke Kroger, has been expanding its lunch menu, too. photograph by Baxter Miller
New Bern — Baker’s Kitchen
The recipe for this restaurant’s famous butter syrup is kept strictly under wraps, but it’s not a secret that it makes the best dishes even more delicious, especially the fluffy Belgian waffles.
Founded by brothers Michael and Ben Powell, Drift offers hearty and healthy brunch options — like their Market Bowl Breakfast, with a fried egg, roasted sweet potato, quinoa, avocado, roasted tomato, and greens, or the house-made pecan walnut granola with seasonal berries, honey, and yogurt.
This bistro, in the Castle Street Arts District, makes its dishes — like homemade tuna salad on thick sliced wheat and black bean Benedict — with the freshest ingredients and a healthy dash of love.
Each year, Our State celebrates the very best in North Carolina craftsmanship with the Made in NC Awards. Meet the talented artisans who won top honors in 2022 — and watch them at work.
A Forsyth County chef grew up working in his family’s seafood restaurants, but he dreamed of running a steakhouse. Now, his grill has become a neighborhood staple.