About Spring Council

. . . SPRING COUNCIL CHAMPIONS AND EVOLVES Chapel Hill’s rich Southern food traditions through the legacy of her mother, Mildred “Mama Dip” Council—founder of the iconic Mama Dip’s Kitchen in North Carolina.

As the youngest of Mama Dip's eight children, Spring grew up immersed in authentic Southern cooking. She began her career running the dining room at Mama Dip's restaurant, later expanding her role to Owner and Product Manager. For over five decades, she helped transform Mama Dip's into a beloved destination for traditional Southern cuisine, celebrated for its hospitality and cultural heritage.

The Southern Foodways Alliance recognized Spring and her sisters with their prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for their extraordinary contributions to preserving regional culinary traditions—one of the highest honors in Southern food heritage.

Beyond the restaurant, Spring has shared her elegant approach to Southern cooking at major culinary events including the Bayhaven Food & Wine Festival in Charlotte, Asheville's Chow Chow Food and Culture Festival, and Alabama Chanin's Friends of the Café series. Her original recipes have been featured in Chapel Hill Magazine, Table, Inc., and developed in collaboration with North Carolina's iconic beverage, Cheerwine.

Spring's professional affiliations include membership in the James Beard Foundation, Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI), and the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). She is also a longtime member of Toastmasters International, which has informed her engaging presentation style at speaking engagements and cooking demonstrations throughout North Carolina.