Biography:

Vivian Howard is a farm girl originally from Deep Run, NC who expects the unexpected but occasionally still finds herself surprised. Her smile, laugh, and loving nature are straight from the sweet strawberry patch. Vivian built her culinary career in New York City where she worked with the likes of Wylie Dufresne (wd-50) and Jean George Vongerichten (Spice Market). ‬But don't let the farm girl fool you; when you see that wrinkled brow, and her eyes turn stormy, remember that she expects nothing but the best from her ingredients, her cooking, herself, and everyone around her. Vivian takes great pride in the fact that 70 percent of the foodstuff at Chef and the Farmer is local, but she's even more proud of her twins Theo and Flo.

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Ben, Vivian’s husband and business partner, is a self-described “North Shore Jew from Chicago, living on a hog farm in North Carolina.” He is a painter who worked in restaurants to supplement his artist’s salary, and met Vivian when they both served at Voyage in New York City. Shortly after meeting Ben, Vivian told her roommate that he was “kind of arrogant” but thought he would make a significant impact on her life. Ben says that it was Vivian’s beauty that initially drew him in, “cause I’m a pretty visual person.” Ben runs the front of the house and has made it his mission to transform his staff into wine experts. 

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Wes is the third generation to raise trout at Sunburst Trout Farms, which was founded by his grandfather, Dick Jennings, in 1948. Wes is the company’s sales manager.  

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Mary has been a volunteer at Mary’s Kitchen for the last eight years. She was drawn to the work since it is a ministry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, which started the kitchen more than 30 years ago. The kitchen serves lunch seven days a week to between 125 and 150 people.

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Iris, Vivian’s niece, is an ardent baker, particularly of cupcakes and brownies, which are her favorite foods. "I have a sweet tooth!" Originally born in Kentucky, Iris lived in both Connecticut and Kinston before calling Tampa, Florida home. She visits Kinston often and a highlight of a recent trip including baking side-by-side with Chef and the Farmer’s pastry chef, Kim, at the restaurant. With her dark eyes, hair, and complexion, Iris thinks she looks more like Vivian (or “Aunt Bibby,” to those in the know) than her mother. Iris is also a lover of books and music, and spends a lot of time lately playing volleyball with her friends.”

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Casey gave up a 15-year career as a commercial banker to join Vivian and the crew at Chef and the Farmer as a line cook. Casey says the most satisfying part of making the move nearly a year ago is “working with such a notable and talented chef and being part of a team who pride themselves on bringing people joy. I love learning how to make new foods and becoming a better cook. I love getting to travel and being in the heat of the moment with my team.” Casey now serves as culinary assistant at VHQ and will hit the road with Vivian as she embarks on her first book tour.  

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August 2015 will mark one year that Holley Pearce has served as Chef Vivian’s personal ‘coordinator of chaos.’  Hailing from a little town called Amory Mississippi, the universe plopped Holley at the end of the bar at Chef and the Farmer where she sat drinking dirty martinis and eating grits until one evening, after learning of Vivian’s book deal, she offered her services as personal assistant. Holley began working the next day as a part of the ACL team, which includes a bunch of badass women and a few good men.

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John Currin Howard is a successful farmer and father of four daughters. He gets things done and can sum up a complicated situation in one line. In recent years, John Currin, as he is known by his community, has made it his MO to be the best grandparent on the planet. 

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Scarlett is, as her first name suggests, a southern belle through and through. A farmer's daughter, Scarlett became a farmer's wife and school teacher. With the birth of her first daughter, she retired from teaching school only to become a full-time advice giver. She too is an excellent grandparent and next-door neighbor.

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Warren, who supplies the restaurant with everything from flowers to sweet potatoes, comes from five generations of farmers. Warren and Vivian share a unique farmer-chef relationship. He gives her the freedom to ask him to plant a specific crop, but Warren can trust that she will remain flexible. “It might not work out with that particular plant. Vivian knows that because she comes from a farming background.” Everyone knows him around town by his bare feet. “There is something about having my feet in the dirt.” When this easy-going, barefoot farmer isn’t tending to his crops, he is likely to be camping and fishing in beautiful Beaufort, NC. 

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