Last weekend, I was invited to the ‘soft opening’ of Jean’s By the Sea, a brand new restaurant that Kate Elia just opened.

Two years ago, Kate was an EMBA student at Kenan-Flagler’s B-School where we met when I was coaching her.

She envisioned a restaurant that would be a place of community.

A place where kids could come and play.

A place that served extraordinarily good-tasting food.

When I popped in to lend a show of support, no sooner had I looked at the menu, but in walked Ted Zoller, the professor who leads the entrepreneurial program at KFBS.

And then Melissa Geil walked in, a UNC professor and one of my fellow coaches on Kate’s team.

We’d all separately turned out to show up and ended up having an impromptu dinner party.

If you’re in Durham, you can find Jean’s By the Sea at 617 Hicks Avenue.

And you’ll probably get to say hello to Kate.

I can personally vouch for the “Sandy,” a perfectly fried piece of cod on a rich brioche bun topped with just the right amount of pickle and sauce.   And the hushpuppies!  So good.