CHAPEL HILL, NC – If you’ve ever stepped foot in Chapel Hill, you likely know the name Mama Dip. Mildred “Mama Dip” Council was a culinary icon who turned $64 and a big dream into one of the South’s most beloved restaurants. From its humble beginnings in 1976, Mama Dip’s Kitchen grew into a legendary establishment known for its welcoming atmosphere and unforgettable Southern comfort food. Nearly 50 years later, her legacy continues—thanks to her granddaughter, Tonya Council, who is now proudly carrying the torch with Tonya’s Café.
A Grandmother’s Love and a Legacy of Grit
Mama Dip got her start with the help of Chapel Hill’s only Black real estate agent at the time. With $40 for food and $24 for change, she made breakfast, bought lunch ingredients with those profits, and dinner with the lunch sales. By day’s end, she had $135—and Mama Dip’s Kitchen was born.
But it was never just about the food. Her restaurant became a community hub—a place where everyone from locals to celebrities to college students found warmth, soul, and good eatin’. The wooden tables, the rocking chairs on the porch, and the scent of simmering green beans cooked “to death” made it an unforgettable experience.
The Bond Between Mama and Tonya
From childhood, Tonya Council was by her grandmother’s side—shelling pecans, flipping eggs, and soaking in life lessons that would one day shape her own path. As a teen, she waited tables, learned the business, and listened intently as Mama Dip shared how to thrive as a Black woman entrepreneur.
That passion turned into action when Tonya created her signature Pecan Crisp cookie, inspired by her grandmother’s famous pecan pie. The cookie’s success launched Tonya’s Cookies in 2009, now a nationally distributed line of gluten-free Southern treats made with North Carolina-grown pecans.
From Cookies to Cafés: The Culinary Empire Grows
Tonya’s entrepreneurial spirit, nurtured by Mama Dip, continued to blossom. In 2017, she opened Sweet Tea & Cornbread, a retail shop specializing in Southern gourmet products and North Carolina-made gifts. Two years later, she expanded with Sweet Tea & Cornbread Café inside the NC Museum of History. There, she served up tradition-infused dishes with a modern twist—like Fried Okra and BLGTs (Bacon, Lettuce & Green Tomato).
Tonya’s talents have also caught national attention. Her Cream Cheese Pound Cake was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2024, earning a spot on the media mogul’s highly anticipated holiday gift list. The cake, celebrated for its rich, buttery flavor and a hint of lemon, is a modern take on a beloved recipe passed down from her grandmother…