PINETOPS — Peggy Hinton of Rocky Mount is staying busy these days.

Really, really busy.

Hinton, a 1973 graduate of SouthWest Edgecombe High School, works at Hines Equipment in Rocky Mount, has owned and operated a successful catering business for the past 15 years, works as a wedding planer and director and, since April, has opened a new restaurant, Top of The Pines Cafe at 112 SW 1st St. in Pinetops.

"My phone rings a lot," said Hinton. "But when your in business, you want to keep your phone ringing."

A native of Eastern North Carolina, Hinton grew up in the kitchen of her father's restaurant in Rocky Mount.

"My father was a wonderful chef," said Hinton. "He had a barbecue restaurant and oyster bar in Rocky Mount.

"I didn't have much of a choice but to learn about cooking."

Over the years, Hinton took her love of food and a knack for organization and started catering and planning and directing weddings.

Hinton said that the two work hand in hand together.

"Food is such an important part of a wedding," said Hinton.  "I really love to be able to present the food in an elegant way.

"I enjoy those little touches that make the day more special."

Hinton said that she opened the new restaurant to help compliment her growing catering business.

"It's nice to be able to put it all under one roof," said Hinton.

As with her catering menu, Top of The Pines features all original, home-cooked dishes with lunch and dinner specials that change daily.

"We try to change the menu up as much as we can," said Hinton. "I like to change up dishes with the seasons as well."

Since opening on April 19, Hinton said that business in the restaurant has been good.

"Things have been great," said Hinton. "The town has really received us well.

"I've been blessed to have made so many dear friends in Pinetops over the years, and they have all been so supportive."

Hinton said that the catering side of her business has continued to grow as well.

"We had a really busy summer," said Hinton. "We had one Saturday that we catered three weddings, which totaled more than 1,000 people, and we did a 875-person wedding this summer as well.

"But that's what we love to do, and you have to have a passion for this to do it"

Hinton said that she credits her success to a great staff and a strong support structure of family and friends.

"I have the greatest staff around," Hinton said. "And my husband Mike is the most wonderful and supportive man I know.

"And I have to give thanks to my mother, Juliette Howard, who helped teach me to cook and still helps me here in the kitchen."

Hinton said another friend, Tommy Roberts, owner of Flowers by Roberts in Pinetops, was instrumental in helping Hinton in opening Top of The Pines.

"Tommy is such a great friend," said Hinton. "He and I have been working together on weddings and caters for years.

"I couldn't have done this without him."

Hinton credits Roberts with not only decorating the restaurant, but in coming up with the name as well.

"The story goes that the Town of Pinetops got its name when a little girl rode through on a train and said she couldn't see anything but the tops of the pines," said Roberts. "I just went with that idea."

Roberts said that he has no doubt that Hinton's new venture will be as successful as her other endeavors.

"She is amazing," said Roberts. "She can really get things done."

Hinton said that she hopes to expand the 32-seat restaurant in the future, to include an covered patio addition. She also makes the restaurant available for parties, meetings and events.

"We had the Red Hat ladies in here one day," said Hinton. "That was like free entertainment."

Top of The Pines Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays.

For more information on the restaurant  or for Hinton's catering services call 827-1520.