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

Video: Carolina Insider - Interview With Former Denver Nuggets Coach and Tar Heel Dad Michael Malone
Former Denver Nuggets Head Coach, Michael Malone, also a proud UNC Volleyball parent, joins Jones Angell and Adam Lucas to talk about what it took...
Mon Apr 6, 2026

Eight UNC students selected as 2026 Carolina Blue Honors Fellows
Eight students from the University of North Carolina were selected as recipients of the 2026 Carolina Blue Honors Fellowship to pursue unique and self-initiated summer...
Sun Apr 5, 2026

Local staple Carrburitos approaches 30 years in business
In April of 1997, a new eatery in Carrboro would emerge, swapping the Texas regionality for a truly California-style experience. Known for their generous portions,...
Sat Apr 4, 2026

UNC's Gedas Bertasius uses basketball to train computers
Today, the same instincts that once helped Gedas Bertasius scan a basketball court — where the pass is headed, how the defense might collapse —...
Tue Mar 31, 2026