Southern Roots

Spring Council learned to cook at her mothers elbow; here, she shares the recipes and kitchen wisdom passed down through three generations of Black restaurateurs.Mama Dips Kitchen, the iconic regional restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was founded by Mildred Mama Dip Council in 1976 with $64 saved up from working as a cook for local white families. Mildreds children, including her youngest daughter, Anita Spring Council, grew up in the restaurant, spending time as dishwashers, waiters, and shortorder cooks. They continue Mama Dips legacy today, with Spring at the helm of the original restaurant, which continues to be a pillar of the local community. In 100 delicious recipes grounded in oral recipesharing traditions, Spring brings an updated and thoughtful approach to classic Southern food, including Pimiento Cheese Biscuits, Fried Green Tomato Parmesan, Smothered Fried Chicken with Andouille Sausage, and Goat Cheese Pound Cake.Southern Roots provides a window into the vibrant story of the African American community in Chapel Hills Northside neighborhood and the powerful legacy of a large, loving, and hardworking entrepreneurial family who made many sacrifices to succeed.