Restaurant Owner and Author to Bring her 'Bible of Southern Cooking' to Norcross

Growing up in Savannah, GA, Billie Van Dyke was surrounded by good Southern cooking from an early age. As soon as she had the chance, she began putting all that she had learned to work and opened her own catering business in Social Circle, GA where she lived with her late husband Louis. 

In September 1985, a local Social Circle restaurant in a small three room house closed its doors. At that same time Billie sadly put her first grade grandson who she was caring for on the school bus. In talking to her neighbors at the bus stop, all of whom knew of her catering business, she was encouraged to buy and re-open that restaurant.

On that very day, she and Louis called the owners, went by and looked at the place. By 4 p.m. were the proud new owners. Van Dyke said that she was somewhat concerned because she “knew how to cater but didn’t know about running a restaurant.” But on Thanksgiving Day they were up and running. Their restaurant would soon be a success.

As time passed and word spread, they grew and moved to larger quarters; first to the American Legion in Monroe to run Billie’s at the American Legion and then into a space that was originally a Bonanza Steak House.

In 1990, a turn-of-the-century Greek Revival mansion, which had laid vacant for 20 years, came onto the market. Although much remodeling was needed to fit the space for a restaurant, the Van Dykes purchased the house and Billie’s Blue Willow Inn Restaurant opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1991.

They served 280 people on the first day. Van Dyke said they were so busy that, “we had to keep going over to our other restaurant to pick up more food.”

During these early restaurant years people time and again asked Van Dyke if she had a cookbook. With so many requests coming in they eventually came out with their first, sefl-published cookbook, "The Blue Willow Inn Cookbook."

With the popularity of both the restaurant and the cookbook Van Dyke has come up with a second book titled "The Blue Willow Inn Bible of Southern Cooking." She says that this book not only includes her recipes and related stories but recipes that folks have sent her over the years. She picked out the very best ones and the stories behind these recipes to include in her new book.

On Saturday July 9, from 2-4 p.m., Van Dyke will be at the Norcross Welcome Center to sign copies of her latest bible, answer culinary questions and share samples of her delicious desserts. 

When I asked her what she enjoys about the restaurant and writing cookbooks, Van Dyke explained that she, “loves serving people and loves the simplicity of Southern cooking.”

She said that she loves it when someone tells her that their “Blue Willow Cookbook is well-worn,” her highest compliment.