Vivian Howard has opened a new restaurant in Kinston

TV host and chef Vivian Howard has quietly opened a new restaurant.

The Counter at Chef and the Farmer is located inside what used to be Howard's famed Chef & the Farmer restaurant. Howard closed the place during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

The counter-service concept has a menu that leans on some of her classic menu staples like Blueberry BBQ Chicken and other casual dishes. It is open noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 

The Counter is the latest venture from Howard, who hosted the award-winning show "A Chef's Life" on PBS. She also operates Viv's Fridge - smart refrigerators that are filled with take-and-bake meals prepared in the Chef & the Farmer kitchen. The fridges are located throughout the area. 

Howard also owns two South Carolina-based restaurants - Lenoir and Hot and Handy.