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Memoir-style cookbook debuts on the heels of On the Square’s 21st anniversary.
“If you build it they will come.” … So was the mentality of Inez and Stephen Ribustello when they took a chance on opening a restaurant in downtown Tarboro 21 years ago. Flash-forward to the present and the culinary- and community-inclined couple are looking back on a few decades of delicious memories via their memoir-style cookbook, On the Square, now available to purchase online or at the restaurant. In front of the release, we chatted with Inez about the stories and recipes she’s been cooking up. onthesquarenc.com
How did you select the stories? I started by diving into how different Tarboro’s landscape was 21 years ago and thinking back to when Stephen and I first came to Tarboro as a couple. I ruminated on the time we spent there—from just a couple to parents of two kids—and how we navigated running a business as a growing family, along with shedding light on the intricacies of running a business in a small town.
Why a memoir? On the Square is what brought me back to Tarboro permanently. [The restaurant] had every reason not to work… but it did. We want to honor the community who helped us learn and gave us so much grace. The memoir style made sense. It felt correct to share the story through my personal journey.
Any recipes stand out? The chicken scallopine is hands-down one of the most requested dishes; the wild mushroom ravioli is the reason I married Stephen (when he made it for me in Brooklyn in 2001); and the shrimp boil and BBQ pork ribs are great entertaining recipes that are simple and outstanding at the same time.
Why is On the Square a must-read? It’s vulnerable, personal and it talks about relationships you build with people you might never know otherwise. Our story is about revitalizing a place that was getting left behind—and I think most people enjoy a good comeback story.
Any last minute garnish to add? If you put a little love and TLC into your community, you can be a magnet for growth. Small towns in rural NC are beautiful gems whose biggest asset is the people who live there and want them to thrive—and I hope people find the story of On the Square moving enough that they will want to make the visit, the move or investment so that small-town economies can thrive and stay strong and vibrant.
*Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
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