Meet the new chef of Crook’s Corner, the third in the storied restaurant’s history

Posted Oct 19, 2018
As Friday dinner service winds down, Bill Smith and his newfound protege, Justin Burdett, sit at the Crook’s Corner bar. In January, Burdett will become the third chef to lead the Crook’s kitchen, replacing Smith, an award-winning chef and author who will step out of the kitchen after more than 25 years. Smith took over from founder Bill Neal, an icon of Southern food. (Durham Herald-Sun)

Related: Campus Connections

AI research at Carolina
From computer science to journalism, health sciences to social work, researchers are applying AI to the world’s problems. Carolina already boasts a deep knowledge of...
Sun Mar 22, 2026

From an indigo hue to Carolina Blue: the history behind UNC's school colors
Many students, fans and alums have proudly proclaimed that UNC is home to "the better blue." Carolina Blue became a widely used noun in the...
Sat Mar 21, 2026

Entrepreneur, UNC alum gives back, a bagel at a time
Alex Brandwein left UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in May 2020 with two big accomplishments: an MBA and a lease for a bagel shop a few...
Tue Mar 17, 2026

20 years after seeds were distributed to children, Davie Poplar's legacy still grows
At nearly 400 years old, the Davie Poplar has stood on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus for as long as the University has existed. But its legacy...
Mon Mar 16, 2026