Southern Sportsman Restaurant near Greenville, NC
Is this place still open? I remember it from years back; was owned & operated by Franc White, who had a sportsmans TV show that was aired in NC (and perhaps the southeastern US). Never went to the restaurant, but I understand they served exotic game dishes along with traditional fare. Anyone on here ever go there and care to share their experiences?
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Just wanted to pass this note along, that Franc White, The Southern Sportsman (tv show) and restaurant owner/operator died earlier today (June 7, 2012). Franc had moved to New Zealand after closing the restaurant and his show ended, but I understand he had moved back to the States a few years back. RIP to a fine man, I hope he's taking a host of kids fishing right now.
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As confirmed by others the SS has been closed was years. I lived in Farmville from 1982-1996 and had many an enjoyable meal and evening there. To me one key for the success and popularity of this restaurant (people would come from all over Eastern North Carolina as well as transits going up and down I-95 to dine there) was the Partner & Chef as well as a friend, Bobby Carraway. Since leaving Bobby had a great restaurant in Kinston which was wiped out by the floods of Hurricane Floyd. As Low Country Jon correctly said Bobby is now the owner & Chef at Broken Eagle in Kinston on 220 N.Heritage St. The food is excellent and if you Chowhounders are in the area please give it a try!
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Unfortunately it is closed but I had the pleasure to eat there several times. My favorite was a dish named Merry Ol Sole. I also remember seeing the two Delorean sportscars mentioned below. One was plain stainless and the other was stainless tinted red I believe. Here is a link you may be interested in http://francwhite.com/2.html
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Low Country Jon
Jun 6, 2008 08:09 AM
Your query led me on a web search that turned up this thread: http://www.wral.com/entertainment/blo...
According to one poster, there is a restaurant in Kinston called the Broken Eagle that is owned by the former restaurant partner of Franc White.
This thread led me down memory lane. Not only did I grow up watching Franc White's show on TV, my family lived across the street from him for several years. His famous Irish Setter, Fracas, and our own family dog, an ill-tempered peekapoo, were absolute enemies. Our dog raised an unholy racket anytime Fracas was in scent range. In addition to his zebra-striped plane, Franc also owned two gullwing Delorean sportscars for awhile (think "Back to the Future"). We used to joke the second one was for parts.
Franc was a local TV celebrity in a way that would be hard to duplicate these days, with 200 cable channels to choose from. It was hard not to envy a man who found success doing things he clearly loved--fishing, hunting, flying, cooking. How many kids Down East wanted to be the Southern Sportsman when they grew up? It crossed my mind more than once.
Good memories of a simpler time.
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