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• by:
• Smith, Bill

It’s that good, and it has sustained its reputation since visionary chef Bill Neal opened the restaurant with partner Gene Hamer in 1982. After Neal passed away, Bill Smith took over the helm and for more than a decade has brought his intuitive and inspired approach to cooking to an ever-growing crowd who’ve come to associate dining at Crook’s with a belief that every meal is reason for celebration.

Smith’s recipes are marvelously uncomplicated—the new bistro food of the South, showcased in dishes like Tomato and Watermelon Salad, Fried Green Tomatoes with Corn and Mustard Beurre Blanc, Cold Stuffed Pork Loin with Artichoke Spread, Scallops with Spinach and Hominy, and his signature dish, Honeysuckle Sorbet. Arranged by season, these recipes capture the flavors of the freshest foods and the spirit of one of the South’s liveliest and most innovative kitchens.