On a sunny, spring day Tina Vaughn sits at a table folding crisp, white linens for her evening guests. She is relaxed and comfortable in the dining room she describes as home.

“When you dine at Carolina Blue you are a guest in our house,” says Vaughn, speaking of the 35-seat restaurant she and Chef Chip Smith opened four years ago at The Marketplace in Southern Shores. She describes the setting as “simple European-accented elegance.” And elegant it is, with candlelight illuminating the tables and wall sconces showcasing the French artwork. At the door sits a huge urn of roses; soft jazz filters over the chefs’ activities in the open kitchen. You don’t have to be a gourmet to recognize good taste.

One wonders if Vaughn is a North Carolina native. “Oh no, I grew up in Alexandria, Virginia,” she says. “I never really discovered the Outer Banks until I came here with Chip on a vacation five years ago.”

It was a circuitous route, via New York City, Los Angeles, and Hollywood. “I left Virginia for New York at age 17 to be a Rockette,” says Tina. “I was a dancer, a performer, I wanted to be on the stage.”

She was introduced to the restaurant world because of necessity. “Between gigs I worked in restaurants to help pay my bills,” she explains.

But being an actress was her goal. She was off to Los Angeles and Hollywood to add commercials, movies and television to her resume. Eventually, Tina landed back in New York, this time as a dining room manager of Larry Forgione’s An American Place. It was here that Chip Smith, a recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, fed this starving actress and won her heart with his culinary magic.

And what a pair. Vaughn and Smith complement each other like a fine wine complements a beautiful dish. “I knew from the day we met that I had to learn the restaurant business — he was just that good,” Vaughn says. “After stints at the Watergate in DC and the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia, it was time for us to venture out on our own.” Would it be to the mountains or the ocean?

“We wanted a quiet style of dining — not hip, not happening — just an old school approach with the accent on the chef,” says Vaughn. “We felt we found our niche here at the beach.”

Naming the restaurant was easy. Her eyes sparkle and she beams from ear to ear, “The chef’s eyes are the color of a Carolina blue sky…hence the name Carolina Blue.”

Vaughn’s laughs are as deep as her smile is wide. She’s effervescent, like the bubbles in a glass of champagne. Transcending all of this is her gracious, affable manner. She is the consummate hostess, mingling with the guests, pouring wine, and creating a memorable dining experience.

“My job is easy!” she says with a laugh. “I get to bask in the happiness of the chef’s food!”

Ah, the food. In the spacious, open kitchen Smith turns out the European-influenced dinner fare that’s primarily French, with a sprinkling of Italian and Spanish. As he marries the tastes of local, fresh, and in-season ingredients, his philosophy is purity. As in their lives, there is a lack of pretense in the food.

While Smith’s responsibility is the cuisine, the dining room is Vaughn’s domain. He is high on his praise of her. “Tina makes it work, she is the conscience of the restaurant,” Smith says. “She also has a wonderful palate.” To enhance Smith’s dishes, Vaughn’s sophisticated palate is demonstrated through her wonderfully appropriate wine choices. Trust her knowledge: it’s impeccable.

Here at the ocean’s edge, Vaughn embodies the French joie de vivre, or joy of living. She appreciates where she lives. “Kitty Hawk is giving us the stage in which to do what we love to do — taking care of people while enjoying our lives,” she says. “This island is being such a gracious host, we can only hope to return the favor.”

To reciprocate, Carolina Blue “brings a little bit of travel to the Outer Banks without [our guests] ever having to leave. A little bit of France, a slice of Italy, and a taste of New York-cosmopolitan without the buildings,” she adds.

However, the spirit of adventure lurks. Perhaps another bigger dream will surface?

“Oh yes!” answers Vaughn. “Somewhere down the road we’d love to live in France. I’m a French wannabe you know.” The couple loves the French way of life, living each day to its fullest, spending mornings at the market selecting the freshest of ingredients, and enjoying long, lazy lunches with friends — it’s a gourmand’s dream.

For now, Vaughn’s gifts of graciousness, charm and hospitality are as welcome as the sea breezes on a spring day. Thanks Tina, for choosing the ocean over the mountains. Wherever you set sail, when food and wine enliven your heart, may friendship surround your table.