Bill Neal (1950-1991), who founded the Chapel Hill restaurants La Residence and Crook's Corner, was considered one of the nation's most talented young chefs. His influence continues today as chefs and home cooks across the country turn to his traditional southern recipes for guidance and inspiration. Neal was author of Bill Neal's Southern Cooking, coauthor of the Good Old Grits Cookbook, and editor of Through the Garden Gate, a collection of gardening essays by the late Elizabeth Lawrence.
