Member Spotlight - July 2007

Karen and Ben Barker

Karen and Ben Barker are the owners and culinary geniuses behind the award-winning Magnolia Grill in Durham. They met on their first day of class while studying at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After graduating in 1981, the couple headed south, working together at La Residence in Chapel Hill and Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro before opening Magnolia Grill in 1986.

Magnolia Grill has won numerous national awards, as have the Barkers themselves.  In 1999, Ben won the James Beard award as Southeastern Chef of the year. In 2000, Karen was chosen Best Pastry Chef in America. In 2006, Magnolia Grill once again made Gourmet magazine’s Top 50 restaurants list at #11.  The restaurant was one of five restaurants nominated for the Outstanding Restaurant in America award from the James Beard Foundation in 2007.  Karen and Ben are the co-authors of Not Afraid of Flavor: Recipes from Magnolia Grill.  Karen also authored Sweet Stuff: Karen Barker's American Desserts.

Along with their passion for cooking, Karen and Ben share a commitment to saving open spaces in the Triangle and have been members of TLC for eleven years.  The Barkers feel that conserving land in the Triangle is a vital cause to embrace and they believe that TLC is accomplishing an important task in protecting the area’s natural beauty.  To share their passion with others, in March they hosted a special dinner at Magnolia Grill to introduce TLC to many of their friends.

Karen and Ben live in Chapel Hill with their son, Gabriel.  Originally from Alamance County and Brooklyn, New York, respectively, Ben and Karen enjoy walking with their chocolate lab, Xena, in the protected woods along Morgan Creek near their home.  “It’s nice to have that peace and tranquility before greeting 200 people for dinner!” says Ben.  Karen describes Ben as a “bird nerd” and says that they enjoy watching owls, turkeys and hawks near their home. 

 - Marisa Bryant, Membership Coordinator

Member Spotlight Archives

April 2008 - Jon Stucky

March 2008 - Ken & Roz Winter

February 2008 - Pearson Stewart

January 2008 - Don Stephenson

December 2007 - Amy Mackintosh & Tom Kagan

November 2007 - Lao Rubert & Steve Schewel

October 2007 - Andrea Reusing & Mac McCaughan

September 2007 - Gail and Tommy Bridges

August 2007 - Sarah & Chris Capel

July 2007 - Karen & Ben Barker

June 2007 - Adam Meyer

May 2007 - Liz Pullman

January 2007 - Julia Elsee

December 2006 - George McRae and Laura Young

November 2006 - Danny and Caroline Kadis

October 2006 - Stella Boswell and Craig Heinly

September 2006 - Robert & Pearl Seymour

August 2006 - Amin Davis