Food is love.
Elois Lettley is the owner of Occasions, a thriving country-cooking restaurant in Burlington, North Carolina. Growing up learning how to cook from her mother, Elois developed both her culinary skills and her passion for uniting people from all corners of Alamance County through food.
After graduating high school, Elois left the tobacco farm she grew up on and moved to New York with one of her sisters. It was here that she was introduced to the restaurant industry. Eventually, Elois and her husband moved to North Carolina to raise their two children, but they struggled to adapt to the slow pace of life. Then, Elois decided to open a restaurant of her own. Carrying the skills her mother taught her into her business, Elois opened Occasions with the knowledge that, “very seldom you can find a restaurant that’s going to give you pinto beans and collard greens.”
Some of the most impactful memories of her career have come from the groups that she has hosted at her restaurant. Elois takes pride not only in her excellent cooking, but in the 28 years that she has served the people of Alamance County by providing a space for everyone to gather.
Elois continues to run this hub for community life with the belief that “food is love” and finds joy in comforting and connecting with every person who walks through the door. Her story encourages others to pursue their dreams and highlights how the talents of one individual can bringing a whole community together.