You may have heard The Fearrington House Restaurant just turned 30. Thirty! It’s a pretty amazing accomplishment (especially considering that most restaurants don’t make it past a few years). But yes in May 1980 the restaurant opened in the former Fearrington homestead, a white columned colonial house set on a hill near Chapel Hill.
As my father, proprietor R.B. Fitch, recalls: "When we started the restaurant, our goal was to provide a dining experience that was not just 'eating a meal' but encompassed exceptional local cuisine, service, gardens, ambience, art and so on. The most remarkable dining experiences my late wife, Jenny, and I had occurred when all these things came together."
One of the secrets to providing this sort of experience has been a stable and dedicated management team. Dutch-born Maitre d’ Joris Haarhuis is a familiar and friendly face to guests, having been here 18 years! Austrian native Theresa Chiettini coordinates all, as General Manager; she’s been here 10 years. Colin Bedford has been executive chef for 18 months but has been here a total of five years. And the same owner continues to set direction and foster an environment in which teamwork and collaboration thrive.
This rare continuity has provided the opportunity for the restaurant to focus on things like menu development, a great wine program, local sourcing, and AAA Five Diamond service.
I’ll talk more about this special anniversary and how we’re celebrating it in future postings, so stayed tuned!