Anita "Spring" Council

Spring is the author of the Publishers Weekly Starred selection Southern Roots, a work celebrated as an "important portrait of an American culinary landscape" and a "tender homage" to her family's legacy.

Anita Spring Council continues the legacy of her mother, the legendary Mildred “Mama Dip” Council, at Mama Dip’s Kitchen in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Growing up in the iconic restaurant, she learned firsthand the recipes and kitchen wisdom passed down through three generations of Black restaurateurs.

In her debut cookbook, Southern Roots: Recipes and Stories from Mama Dip's Daughter, Spring brings an updated and thoughtful approach to classic Southern food. Through 100 delicious recipes, she provides a window into the vibrant story of the African American community in Chapel Hill’s Northside neighborhood and the powerful legacy of a hardworking entrepreneurial family.

Today, Spring is a celebrated chef, philanthropist, and community pillar, sharing a heartfelt journey of life, family, and celebration through the lens of food.