continued from page 19
Eggs Up Grill
Ashley’s Harvest Moon Bakery - Cafe
Owner Ashley Hiester only made a few changes when she purchased Harvest Moon Bakery — Cafe from its original proprietor last summer. She kept the delicious family recipes by chef Travis Umphlette, locally-roasted coffee and warm, welcoming atmosphere. Adding displays of local art on the walls, a handful of new, signature menu items and rotating specials infused a growing sense of community. “I added things people love, like our avocado toast, which is really popular,” says Hiester. “We want to be in tune with the community, which is very healthy. We also added some vegetarian and vegan options. “We take people’s suggestions to heart.” One of the most distinctive offerings is the popover, which is used in the Cafe Breakfast Sandwich and the B.L.T.C. (bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese sandwich) in place of bread or a biscuit. Hiester describes it as “a light fluffy roll made with an egg-based batter.” Try the Sweet Moon Potatoes, another recent menu addition, which are seasoned, roasted sweet potatoes topped with a lemon garlic aioli, one of those special side items with as much flavor as the main course. Hiester, a recent graduate of North Carolina State University, described jumping into a business during a global pandemic as “drinking from a firehose,” but as she’s grown accustomed to the role, the cafe has felt the support of local residents. “A lot of our customers are regulars. I’ve gotten to know many of them by name.” 128 BASS LAKE ROAD HOLLY SPRINGS NC, 27540 (919) 285-3003 HARVESTMOONBAKERYCAFE.COM
The egg counter reads 300,460 behind the serving counter at Eggs Up Grill in Holly Springs. That accounts for the number of hand-cracked eggs since the eatery’s opening. Owner Scott Johnon says the total is updated weekly, and it’s easy to imagine how high the number will climb. With classics like breakfast platters, omelets and benedicts, and unique offerings such as the Good Morning Burger and Founder’s Hash & Eggs, the friendly neighborhood diner dishes up an impressive quantity of eggs. “The founder and his father came up with the recipe,” says Johnson of the hash and eggs. “It’s unique to us. The hash is crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. You don’t find hash and eggs everywhere.” The restaurant’s full menu is available from 6:00 FOUNDER’S HASH & EGGS a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and you’ll often see customers enjoying a burger at 6:00 a.m. or pancakes at noon. It’s no wonder with offerings such as tempting Peaches & Cream Pancakes — caramelized peaches, cream cheese frosting and powdered sugar. “Our Cinnamon Swirl French Toast is amazing, prepared with cinnamon swirl bread made just for us,” says Johnson. Johnson also owns the Fuquay-Varina location of Eggs Up Grill, a franchise he fell in love with because of its cheerful, family atmosphere. PEACHES & CREAM PANCAKES “We’re neighbors serving neighbors. We are all people who live, shop and work here,” he says. 4216 LASSITER ROAD, HOLLY SPRINGS (919) 495-4530 1436 N MAIN ST, FUQUAY VARINA (919) 285-4463 EGGSUPGRILL.COM
continued on page 22
21
