Print
Restaurants

Bald Head Island Lands New Vivian Howard Meal-stocked Refrigerator

By Jenny Callison, posted Jun 29, 2022
The new Viv's Fridge, a takeout refrigerator by chef Vivian Howard, is located near Noonie Doodle Sweets & Treats and the Maritime Market on Bald Head Island. (Photo courtesy of Viv's Fridge)
Want a good meal but you're too busy or tired to cook? Don't feel like going out to eat? Vivian Howard has a suggestion for you.

The Kinston, North Carolina-based chef and host of two PBS cooking shows has launched Viv’s Fridge, a smart refrigerator stocked with prepared family meals, according to a news release Tuesday. The first three Viv’s Fridges are located in Kinston, Bald Head Island and Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

Howard will stock the refrigerators with “restaurant-quality entrees, snacks, sides and desserts in a convenient ready-to-eat or heat-and-eat format,” the release stated. Among the offerings: Vivian’s spiced pecan pimento cheese; butterbean hummus with bread-and-butter squash pickles; tomato pie; barbecue blueberry chicken enchiladas; beef short ribs braised in red curry watermelon and served with gingered cabbage and banana-leaf wrapped coconut rice grits; a 10-layer chocolate cake. Prices range from $30 to $75, according to the release. 

Viv’s Fridge operates like a high-tech vending machine: customers swipe their credit card on the side of the machine and the door opens, allowing access to a variety of seasonal prepared dishes and snacks.

The chef and host of “A Chef’s Life” and “Somewhere South” on PBS said the idea of Viv’s Fridge came from her wish not to have to cook or dine out every night while on vacation with her family. It also fits with her expansion preferences.

“I wanted delicious food with less effort and expense,” Howard said in the release. “That’s why the first Viv’s Fridges will be located in North Carolina vacation destinations or along the way to them,” Howard said. “These last few years made me take a hard look at my restaurant operations. I realized my business would be more sustainable if we were less dependent upon the limited number of hours our restaurants are open. As a cuisine-driven restaurant, I wanted to expand our reach without expanding our footprint.”

The Bald Head Island Viv’s Fridge is located outside Noonie Doodle Sweets & Treats at 6 Maritime Way. In Kinston, the unit will be open Friday outside Howard’s restaurant, Chef &The Farmer, 120 W. Gordon St. The Emerald Isle location will follow soon, the release stated.

Howard’s long-term vision for her namesake cooling units involves increasing the number of locations and adding to the inventory with culinary offerings from other notable North Carolina chefs. To learn more, visit vivsfridge.com or facebook.com/VivsFridge/.
 
 
 
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Drewsmith copiersplus headshot

A Little More Communication, A Lot More Cohesion

Drew Smith - Copiers Plus
Burrus rob headshot 300x300

The ESG “Halo Effect”: Raising the Bar for Public Companies’ Commitment to Environmental and Social Change

Robert Burrus - Cameron School of Business - UNC-Wilmington
Headshots march websized 2

How Often Should You Get a Roof Inspection?

David Grandey - Highland Roofing Company

Trending News

Surgery Practice Buys Cameron Land To Build New Facility

Cece Nunn - Mar 17, 2023

Endowment CEO Outlines Strategic Plan Framework

Jenny Callison - Mar 17, 2023

In The Current Issue

Swinging Big With Custom Golf

Cameron Lee sees a lot of parallels between golf and life: You have to make good decisions, evaluate risk versus reward, be smart and be hon...


Brunswick Rides Wave Of Tourism Boost

This spring, new TV advertisements for Brunswick County’s island beaches will run in markets across the mid-Atlantic region, including citie...


Southport Brisket By Way Of Texas

Open since April 2014, Southport Smoke House has been introducing guests to owner Troy Knight’s home state of Texas brand of barbecue: beef...

Book On Business

The 2023 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2022 Power Breakfast: Wilmington's Most Intriguing People - George Taylor