Fleming Street: Cooking with Love, Serving Humanity

Spencer, NC - March is Women’s History Month. I love hearing the stories of all the famous women who have broken glass ceilings and stained glass ceilings and all kinds of barriers to achieve greatness. But there is greatness in even women who are not famous. There are wives and mothers and daughters and nieces and granddaughters out here changing the world. Not necessarily the wide world but the world they live in every day. One such woman is Quinta Ellis, a former educator and current restaurateur. From the time she was a little girl, she wanted two things: to own a restaurant and be the first female NFL head coach. She hasn’t reached the coaching goal…yet, but she is certainly walking in her destiny with the restaurant. After seeing articles about her soft opening shared on social media, I decided to go and show some support. I reached out to Ellis and asked if I could interview her. She generously agreed to meet me at the restaurant on her day off.

Even in repose, with no customers, there was a feeling of home about the place. The décor is simple and elegant. As you enter the restaurant, immediately to the left is a wall that features some of the recipes from which Ellis draws her inspiration. They are her grandmother’s recipes in her grandmother’s handwriting. This leads to the welcoming feeling that hits you when you walk in the door. Ellis credits her grandmother with fostering her love of creating with her cooking. Beautiful art created by local artists adorns the walls. The art is for sale. This speaks to Ellis’ desire to foster community. In living out her dream, she is creating opportunities for others to live theirs as well. Ellis did her theological master's work with a focus on social justice and non-profit work. The community table that sits in the middle of the restaurant speaks to her desire to create a beloved community. She believes in the divinity of food and coming together around the table as sacred.

The menu boasts such items as Collard green dip, Deviled Eggs with Bacon Jam, and Beef Tenderloin & Gnocchi. There is also a Grilled Cheese on sourdough with grilled onions, collard greens, and bacon Jam. For my lunch, I chose the grilled chicken sandwich. It is a chicken sandwich that is more than a chicken sandwich. The chicken was grilled and seasoned to perfection. There was a lovely sear on both sides of the breast, but it was tender and juicy. The gouda was melted in a halo of flavor that trapped the seasonings nicely between the chicken and the cheese. The sandwich rested on a grilled brioche bun, but it was the Bacon Jam for me. Ellis loves to experiment with creating her own sauces, and there is something in that bacon jam that elevated that chicken sandwich to levels of deliciosity that I simply must try again.

This restaurant also carries a cacophony of confections that would delight even the most sensitive pallet. From cupcakes to cobblers, Fleming Street Bakery & Southern Cuisine is a wonderful dining experience for the entire family. Let us show love and support to this community-conscious restaurant, where gathering at the table is sacred and the food is divine.