Six years ago, Vivian Joiner and Stephanie Tyson opened a restaurant in the Arts District of Winston-Salem and changed the look and feel of downtown. With a seriously Southern menu, everyone was clamoring to dine at the small, well appointed restaurant on Trade Street. I was one of those folks and I was thrilled to have real Southern cuisine right there with easy on street parking. Born in Alabama, I couldn't wait to get some fried green tomatoes and any kind of sweet potato. I was certainly not disappointed!
Now, Stephanie the chef, is changing her menu 2 or 3 times a year with seasonal produce and new ideas. They're open for brunch now and do Stephanie's version of Eggs Benedict, but all of them start with a sweet potato biscuit. The Big Benne is a stack of the sweet potato biscuit, sliced rib eye steak, poached eggs, country ham bordelaise, tomatoes and hollandaise. Stephanie footnotes it with (It's okay, it's only once a week!).
At lunch you can even get a Sweet Potatoes Hot Brown. If you're not in the Kentucky know, that's a very popular dish around Kentucky and the Derby. Stephanie's version is sliced turkey with mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese sauce, all atop a sweet potato biscuit.
A lot has happened in the Arts District in the last 6 years. Not only has ISP Sports opened their headquarters across the street but above that are condominiums. Vivian says they see the residents from the neighborhood on a regular basis, some daily and some weekly, but they see them all in this great neighborhood restaurant.
Stephanie called me yesterday to tell me what she's planning to bring for Taste of the Town and I hope I do it justice here: She's preparing succulent roasted pork, country ham with her country ham bordelaise gravy over sweet potato stuffing and she's even bringing dessert. I can't wait to try her mint julep tarts! Sounds like Derby fare to me!
You had better get to the Taste of the Town early (4pm) because I imagine there will be a line at the Sweet Potatoes booth. This is their first year attending and we are thrilled to have them! Check out their website at www.sweetpotatoes-arestaurant.com to see everything on their menu. And of course stop by their restaurant for a delicious Southern meal.
Look for my update on the Kentucky Derby coming Friday as well as the results of our Kentucky Style Pie contest! I'll see you in 3 days!
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