Getting Frank About Pimento Cheese

Frank Bernard Yarborough believes in loving people through sharing his artisan cheese spread.

Inspired by a century-old family recipe passed down from his great-grandmother, Maggie Finch, the 64-year-old Cary resident honors his family legacy through Frankie B’s Pimento Cheese. He handcrafts the delectable spread in small batches at a local commercial kitchen.

“I grew up eating pimento cheese sandwiches that my grandmother and my mother would make,” Frank recalls, adding that the women in his family would also provide the beloved pâté of the South at weddings, funerals, and other special occasions.

As the years passed, Frank evolved the recipe, tinkering with it only to elevate the quality of its components. He then began giving containers filled with orange goodness to friends, neighbors, business clients, and fellow church members. It resonated so well that people insisted he make the product available for purchase.

After years of tinkering with a century-old family recipe, friends told Frank Bernard Yarborough he should sell his signature pimento cheese — so he did.

Nowadays 8-ounce tubs of Frankie B’s are accessible on the business’s website, and they can be picked up at Frank’s home in downtown Cary. You can also find the pimento cheese at select local merchants.

Besides the popular Classic flavor, additional variations include habanero-infused Spicy and the well-liked Spicy Bacon, which features applewood and center-cut selections of pork.

“I’m very particular, and I insist on maintaining consistency with the ingredients,” Frank says, revealing that he uses high-quality Cabot Creamery cheese and Duke’s Mayonnaise to make his concoctions stand apart.

According to Frank, there are “1,001 ways to enjoy Frankie B’s.” He relishes eating it cold on two slices of Wonder bread or heating it up open-faced on sourdough from La Farm Bakery.

“One of my neighbors likes putting it in his scrambled eggs,” he says. “And the Spicy Bacon is absolute money on a grilled steak.”

Known for his hospitable nature and commitment to maintaining Cary’s heritage, Frank lives in his grandfather’s historic Colonial-style house on South Academy Street. He is also a longtime baseball coach for Miracle League of the Triangle, an organization providing positive life experiences for individuals with special needs and their families.

Frank recently retired from full-time work and hopes his new enterprise will continue to flourish.

“I ran a technology firm for 28 years, so this is an entirely new endeavor for me,” he says. “I have given away so much pimento cheese over the years, which is such a joy because I love sharing it with people, but now I am figuring out if I can make it a sustainable business.”

With assistance from longtime friend and Raleigh-based marketing and branding specialist Steve McCulloch, Frank is well on his way to finding success.

“I never even liked pimento cheese before trying Frankie B’s,” Steve says, “but now I’m a huge fan and am glad to help promote it.”

In addition to Steve’s support, Frank’s wife, Jan, helps with packaging, labeling, and refrigerating the containers, while his youngest son, 31-year-old Jack, serves as an enthusiastic brand ambassador.

“Jack has Down syndrome, and he’s my best sales guy,” Frank says with a smile. “We’ll be out somewhere, and Jack will start talking to a total stranger. He’ll ask, ‘Do you like cheese?’ and the next thing you know he’s giving the person a Frankie B’s business card.”

Last year, Frank participated as a vendor in Cary’s popular Pimento Cheese Festival. He sold all 1,500 containers he had prepared.

“My plan this year is to make 2,000 containers available, and I’m convinced we’ll move every bit of it,” he says. “I expect to have a booth in front of my house as well as at the festival.”

Be sure to see Frank and his crew on Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the eighth annual Pimento Cheese Festival in Downtown Cary Park. Festival attendance is free.

frankiebsplease.com

Frankie B’s Pimento Cheese enters this year’s lineup at Cary’s annual Pimento Cheese Festival, where vendors present dishes showcasing the Southern delicacy. Saturday, April 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Cary Park.

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