http://www.gogoraleigh.com The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:01:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.3
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/02/17/north-carolina-scores-big-in-beard-semifinalist-list/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2016/02/17/north-carolina-scores-big-in-beard-semifinalist-list/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:03:15 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7711 With Duke/UNC coming up, you know it’s also time for the biggie in food, the James Beard Award Semifinalist announcement (pdf). The biggie for the area is Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen who got one of the 20 nomination for “Best Chef: US”. Christensen’s “Death and Taxes” got one of the 25 national nominations for Best New Restaurant. North Carolina recently been a regular in the nominations list for Best Chef: Southeast, but this year was incredibly strong with NC chefs getting 8 of the 20 nominations for a 6-state region that includes Charleston and Atlanta. (NC, SC, GA, WV, TN, KY) Best Chef: Southeast Nate Allen, Knife and Fork, Spruce Pine, NC Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale, Decatur, GA Jeremiah Bacon, The Macintosh, Charleston, SC Brian Canipelli, Cucina 24, Asheville, NC Kathy Cary, Lilly’s, Louisville, KY Scott Crawford, Standard Foods, Raleigh, NC Steven Devereaux Greene, Herons in the Umstead Hotel, Cary, NC Kevin Gillespie,...
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With Duke/UNC coming up, you know it’s also time for the biggie in food, the
James Beard Award Semifinalist announcement
(pdf). The biggie for the area is Raleigh’s
Ashley Christensen who got one of the 20 nomination for “Best Chef: US”.
Christensen’s
“Death and Taxes”
got one of the 25 national nominations for
Best New Restaurant
.
North Carolina recently been a regular in the nominations list for Best Chef: Southeast, but this year was incredibly strong with NC chefs getting 8 of the 20 nominations for a 6-state region that includes Charleston and Atlanta. (NC, SC, GA, WV, TN, KY)
NC wasn’t empty-handed when it came to specialty awards, either. There were 20 Outstanding Baker nominations and Phoebe Lawless (Scratch Bakery, Durham) and Lionel Vatinet (La Farm, Cary) were nominated. Finally Cynthia Wong (Rhubarb, Asheville) picked up one of the Outstanding Pastry Chef nominations. No NC nominations came for Restaurant, Restaurateur, Service, Bar Program, Wine Program, Wine Sprits or Beer Professional, or Rising Star Chef.
Here is how the Triangle area fared against other cities:
The James Beard Foundation will pare down the list and announce their list of Finalists on Tue, March 15.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/01/oktoberfest-coming-to-booth-amphitheatre-this-weekend/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2015/10/01/oktoberfest-coming-to-booth-amphitheatre-this-weekend/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2015 12:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7679 One of Cameron Village and North Hills’ great traditions from yesterday was Oktoberfest. Hark! the event lives on now at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. The event begins Saturday and will feature entertainment, a variety of German foods, biergarten, football-viewing tent with TVs, sanctioned beer-judging competition and more. The schedule for the two-day event is as follows: Saturday, October 4 Noon – Gates open with Chuck Piercy as emcee; Kinder Platz Kid Zone open 1 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, including keg tapping with Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and other dignitaries Live Music and dancing from the Little German Band throughout the day 1:30 p.m. – Stein Hoist I Contest 2 p.m. – Ladies’ Hammerschlagen (nail-driving competition) I Contest, followed by Men’s Hammerschlagen I Contest 3 p.m. – Stein Hoist II Contest 4 p.m. – Wiener Dog Races, Best Dressed Dog Contest 5 p.m. – Best Dressed of the Day Contest (Ladies, Men and Children); Egg...
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One of Cameron Village and North Hills’ great traditions from yesterday was Oktoberfest. Hark! the event lives on now at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. The event begins Saturday and will feature entertainment, a variety of German foods, biergarten, football-viewing tent with TVs, sanctioned beer-judging competition and more. The schedule for the two-day event is as follows:
Saturday, October 4
Sunday, October 5
Tickets for Saturday are $20 for 16 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 15, free for 5 and under.Sunday tickets are $15 for 16 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 15, free for 5 and under. Two-day tickets for 16 and up are also available for $30. Beer Judge Tickets (including commemorative glass and unlimited beer sampling for the day) available for $45. Discounts available for seniors, as well as active and retired military. To purchase tickets, visit the Booth Amphitheatre Box Office, call 1-800-514-3849 or visit http://triangleoktoberfest.org/buy-tickets/
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/12/01/tupelo-honey-sets-new-casual-standard/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/12/01/tupelo-honey-sets-new-casual-standard/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:32:22 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7569 The long-awaited opening of Tupelo Honey Café is finally here. The much hyped, Asheville-based restaurant opens its 8th store in the new residential building at 425 Oberlin Road (across from where Balentine’s was). Fans of the restaurant’s other locations will be familiar with the menu, a Southern take on breakfast, casual dinner entrees, and excellent side veggies, all scratch-made. Dinner entrees are mainly priced in the teens, however a couple of nicer entrees exist in the twenties. We had a chance to sample some items at the original Asheville location as well as the new Raleigh location, and the experience is well-conveyed, with much more elbow room in Raleigh. One of the can’t-miss items for breakfast is the Sweet Potato Pancake. Sweet potatoes are the one food that make me gag, which is why I was so surprised to have my socks knocked off by this cinnamon, peach butter, and spiced pecan-enriched creation. The pancake is about the size of a personal pizza, and is one...
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The long-awaited opening of
Tupelo Honey Café
is finally here. The much hyped, Asheville-based restaurant opens its 8th store in the new residential building at 425 Oberlin Road (across from where Balentine’s was).
Fans of the restaurant’s other locations will be familiar with the menu , a Southern take on breakfast, casual dinner entrees, and excellent side veggies, all scratch-made. Dinner entrees are mainly priced in the teens, however a couple of nicer entrees exist in the twenties.
We had a chance to sample some items at the original Asheville location as well as the new Raleigh location, and the experience is well-conveyed, with much more elbow room in Raleigh. One of the can’t-miss items for breakfast is the Sweet Potato Pancake. Sweet potatoes are the one food that make me gag, which is why I was so surprised to have my socks knocked off by this cinnamon, peach butter, and spiced pecan-enriched creation. The pancake is about the size of a personal pizza, and is one of the best breakfast foods I’ve ever had.
Tupelo Honey has a nice selection of sandwiches, yes, but creative twists separate this restaurant from others. The BLT with a fried egg was excellent, however the bread is what really made the sandwich. Also worth seeking are the BBQ Egg Rolls, a delicious fusion of Far East and Deep South.
It is rare to see a restaurant that excels at breakfast do the same for dinner, and Tupelo doesn’t disappoint. We tried the fried chicken, which easily glides in as Raleigh’s best. Also excellent was the Pork Chop with Braised Figs. While the meat was slightly overcooked (probably taken to 175 degrees by training cooks), the fig/red wine sauce was truly delicious. This preparation of figs danced a delicate line of bitter and sweet in each bite.
Finally we tried the Shrimp and Grits, which was only a mild success. The goat cheese grits in this dish are smooth and creamy without knocking the palate over with fat (an Achilles heel in so many restaurants). The “spicy roasted red pepper sauce” over delivered on spice, being hotter than anything in Chipotle’s salsa lineup. That coupled with the over abundance of red peppers might have some diners disappointed. We felt the dish needed just another layer of flavor, whether from a touch of parsley, spinach, or even scallions. (For an $8 premium, the dish can be made to Cheesecake Factory-levels of huge with more shrimp, and the addition of onions, mushrooms, spinach, and bacon – definitely rounding out the dish for flavor but pushing it into the “dish for two” realm.)
Side dishes at Tupelo Honey are across the board outstanding. We couldn’t get enough of the fried okra, actually surpassing the pan-fried, cormeal-encrusted masterpiece my Brevard grandmother once made. Another eye-opener is the Cheesy Smashed Cauliflower, a fascinating mashup of minced cauliflower, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and garlic (pictured to the left of the BLT sandwich). Not to be missed, as well, are the shoestring fries, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and “BBQ Spice”. The spice is subtle, leaving the parmesan to do the heavy lifting here.
The restaurant features two drinks worth trying. The Rosemary-Peach Lemonade is excellent, yet a bit heavy on the rosemary, while the Blueberry Punch is an outstanding, sparkling blend of blueberries, pineapple, apple flavors. These drinks are $3.50 and unfortunately do not come with free refills.
Each meal comes with a complementary course of homemade biscuits. Tupelo puts a welcome twist with accompanying, delicious blueberry jam and honey.
Finally for dessert we ordered the excellent Pecan Pie, topped with a light application of perfectly blended caramel sauce. Banana Pudding is the other dessert, rounding out an excellent Southern experience.
The 6,500 square foot restaurant is thoughtfully decorated with works from four Raleigh artists (Matt McConnell, Linda Dallas, Brandon Cordrey, and Jeremy Maronpot), each depicting a part of the area’s flavor using rough, classic, rural materials. The only somewhat modern piece is the magnificent honeycomb light fixture with blown glass “honey drips”, found at the restaurant’s entrance. There are 180 seats, including a large sidewalk dining area that features a comfortable nook with a fire pit and upholstered seating. The bar, located oddly o
n the far end of the dining room, features 22
Stone Brewing
brands.
The restaurant’s design is long on capacity and short on lounging space. The restaurant is going to be slammed, and I don’t know where people will wait for tables (We waited 50 minutes for lunch in Asheville, and I anticipate dinner service wait times of at least 1.5 hours for many weeks to come).
Another problem we encountered is the booth seating dimensions. The cushions are probably 3” deeper than common designs, firmly pressing into the back of my knees. Booth seats are so high that my feet barely touched the floor. I am 5’9”, and those shorter than I had dangling feet and sleepy legs by the meal’s end. Luckily the problem is not in the booth’s frame design, but rather the cushion itself.
The price point is a smidge high for casual dining. With no alcohol, the dinner bill after tax and tip usually ends up being $25-$30 per person. That said, the portions are very large, so many leave with a doggie bag. (I, on the other hand, chose to make myself miserable by eating everything in sight).
Tupelo Honey’s design brings a real challenge to Raleigh. It is a true urban design in a suburban area of the city. Parking is extremely limited, so the restaurant reportedly will have valet parking. There are few spaces available in surrounding neighborhood streets, and virtually every surrounding business tows for non-customers (USPS, McDonalds). Many will park in Harris Teeter’s lot, and this will present problems for that store’s already limited parking offering. A mediocre restaurant would not make it in this location.
The parking issue won’t put a dent in the restaurant’s bottom line, but what it will represent is a huge demarcation between the two cultures in Raleigh. Old Raleigh people want to drive up to a restaurant’s front door, and don’t accept valet services. Hayes Barton Café is a real challenge to this crowd, for example. However the younger, newcomer set will freely accept these challenges as the norm, and won’t allow access to be a factor in determining the success in the new Oberlin corridor. As a Raleigh lifer, I didn’t recognize a soul at the restaurant’s soft opening. We noted that we didn’t “feel like we’re in Raleigh”, and that’s not likely to change.
Tupelo Honey is a fresh welcome as it doesn’t remind me of any other restaurant. It doesn’t have a Pulp Fiction feel to it, doesn’t imitate other modern restaurants with cold, hard decorating and we’re-so-cool electronica music, and doesn’t feel pretentious. Tupelo Honey feels real, and delivers on quality , perfectly representing a new standard for the New Economy, an era that champions casual excellence.
Note: Tupelo Honey will operate with only dinner hours for the first two weeks.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/11/17/wicked-taco-bringing-fresh-mex-to-western-blvd/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/11/17/wicked-taco-bringing-fresh-mex-to-western-blvd/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7547 A new fresh-Mex concept restaurant is set to open on Western Boulevard this coming Spring. The restaurant, Wicked Taco, will open its first store in Blacksburg, VA in January. Raleigh’s will be Store #2. The impressive menu includes tacos featuring rotisserie turkey mole, barbeque brisket, steak, pork carnitas, pulled chicken, citrus-marinated shrimp, fried pollock, and tostada-breaded shrimp. While the menu also features frequently found salads and sides, it features what will be the much-anticipated arrival of Breakfast Tacos to Raleigh. The restaurant is going into the former KFC location across from Amedeo’s and next to Cook-Out. The owner said the building is in fantastic shape, so construction should begin soon. Plans include a couple of garage doors on the front opening the dining room to a patio. The price point will be similar to Chipotle, but the restaurant will be open for breakfast and...
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A new fresh-Mex concept restaurant is set to open on Western Boulevard this coming Spring. The restaurant,
Wicked Taco
, will open its first store in Blacksburg, VA in January. Raleigh’s will be Store #2.
The impressive menu includes tacos featuring rotisserie turkey mole, barbeque brisket, steak, pork carnitas, pulled chicken, citrus-marinated shrimp, fried pollock, and tostada-breaded shrimp. While the menu also features frequently found salads and sides, it features what will be the much-anticipated arrival of Breakfast Tacos to Raleigh.
The restaurant is going into the former KFC location across from Amedeo’s and next to Cook-Out. The owner said the building is in fantastic shape, so construction should begin soon. Plans include a couple of garage doors on the front opening the dining room to a patio. The price point will be similar to Chipotle, but the restaurant will be open for breakfast and late.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/09/09/firstwatch-coming-to-glenwood-avenue/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/09/09/firstwatch-coming-to-glenwood-avenue/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2014 02:08:43 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7519 In a few months the state’s first location for FirstWatch will open in the former Boston Market location on Glenwood Avenue. The 126-store chain features a fresh selection of breakfast and lunch options including omelets, “Power Bowls”, waffles, eggs, soups, sandwiches. The “daytime café’s” branding is upscale, somewhat along the lines of Panera Bread and Corner Bakery, so don’t confuse this place with Waffle House. The restaurants’ hours are 7am – 2:30pm, so the help wanted pitch is “No night hours, ever!” The store space is currently gutted so it looks like a project that will likely open late in the Fall,...
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In a few months the state’s first location for
FirstWatch
will open in the former Boston Market location on Glenwood Avenue. The 126-store chain features a fresh selection of breakfast and lunch options including omelets, “Power Bowls”, waffles, eggs, soups, sandwiches.
The “daytime café’s” branding is upscale, somewhat along the lines of Panera Bread and Corner Bakery, so don’t confuse this place with Waffle House. The restaurants’ hours are 7am – 2:30pm, so the help wanted pitch is “No night hours, ever!” The store space is currently gutted so it looks like a project that will likely open late in the Fall, perhaps.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/05/19/crawford-leaves-herons-for-new-hospitality-group/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/05/19/crawford-leaves-herons-for-new-hospitality-group/#comments Tue, 20 May 2014 02:09:50 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7469 More big news from Raleigh’s culinary scene…. Scott Crawford, the chef at Heron’s (in The Umstead) for the last 5 years, has left the restaurant and has joined with John Holmes of Hobby Properties to form the Nash Square Hospitality Group. The group has two concepts underway, Standard Foods and The Nash Tavern. Standard Foods will be a grocery store/restaurant located in Person Street Plaza (map it) and will open in the Fall. The store will contain an 80-seat restaurant serving casual Southern cuisine (eg. chilled Strawberry Soup with yuzu and jalapeno, Fresh Bacon with Boiled Peanut Chowder, marble potatoes & leeks, Tomato Popsicles with spicy pickled okra, fried Rabbit with succotash, Pork Cheeks with pickled peppers & apricot mustard, puddings, pies and peach-ginger sorbet). The grocery end of the concept is slated to feature a whole animal butchery, brown butter, duck fat, demi-glace, stocks, and a fresh seafood selection. Nash Tavern will be a full-service...
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More big news from Raleigh’s culinary scene…. Scott Crawford, the chef at Heron’s (in The Umstead) for the last 5 years, has left the restaurant and has joined with John Holmes of Hobby Properties to form the Nash Square Hospitality Group.
The group has two concepts underway, Standard Foods and The Nash Tavern. Standard Foods will be a grocery store/restaurant located in Person Street Plaza ( map it ) and will open in the Fall. The store will contain an 80-seat restaurant serving casual Southern cuisine (eg. chilled Strawberry Soup with yuzu and jalapeno, Fresh Bacon with Boiled Peanut Chowder, marble potatoes & leeks, Tomato Popsicles with spicy pickled okra, fried Rabbit with succotash, Pork Cheeks with pickled peppers & apricot mustard, puddings, pies and peach-ginger sorbet). The grocery end of the concept is slated to feature a whole animal butchery, brown butter, duck fat, demi-glace, stocks, and a fresh seafood selection.
Nash Tavern will be a full-service restaurant on Nash Square, and is slated to open in 2015. It will feature Modern American fare and will have private event space.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/05/05/ashley-christensen-wins-best-chef-in-southeast/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/05/05/ashley-christensen-wins-best-chef-in-southeast/#comments Tue, 06 May 2014 01:31:08 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7459 A huge congratulations for Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen who tonight was named “Best Chef in the Southeast” at the James Beard Awards! Christensen first made a name for herself in this market with her food at Enoteca Vin, but then moved on to open the Raleigh Times Bar with Greg Hatem. After leaving the Times Bar, she opened her best-known restaurant, Poole’s Diner, which set the tone for her interpretation of classic comfort foods. Keying on resonating trends at Poole’s, Christensen branched out to open Chuck’s, Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Fox Liquor Bar, and Joule Coffee. The endlessly energetic Christensen will soon expand her territory with the opening of Death & Taxes and Aux Kitchen. This marks the first Beard award winner for Raleigh and another for the Triangle region. Raleigh’s proud of Ashley for finally getting this prestigious award and helping to cement this area as one of the best culinary markets in the...
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A huge congratulations for Raleigh’s
Ashley Christensen
who tonight was named “Best Chef in the Southeast” at the
James Beard Awards
! Christensen first made a name for herself in this market with her food at Enoteca Vin, but then moved on to open the Raleigh Times Bar with Greg Hatem. After leaving the Times Bar, she opened her best-known restaurant,
Poole’s Diner
, which set the tone for her interpretation of classic comfort foods.
Keying on resonating trends at Poole’s, Christensen branched out to open Chuck’s , Beasley’s Chicken + Honey , Fox Liquor Bar , and Joule Coffee . The endlessly energetic Christensen will soon expand her territory with the opening of Death & Taxes and Aux Kitchen.
This marks the first Beard award winner for Raleigh and another for the Triangle region. Raleigh’s proud of Ashley for finally getting this prestigious award and helping to cement this area as one of the best culinary markets in the country!
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/04/15/need-help-discovering-great-cookbooks/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/04/15/need-help-discovering-great-cookbooks/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:40:34 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7452 If you have ever found yourself overwhelmed in the cooking section of a bookstore or at Amazon.com, you aren’t alone. There are hundreds and hundreds of cookbooks out there and it is difficult to discern the good from the bad. One of the best ways to improve your cookbook collection is to look at what cookbooks the great chefs are using. One of the most exposed and interesting selections in the area is at Rise, the biscuit/donut shop in the Southpoint mall complex. It’s a fun look; rewarding to see some of your favorites, but also a great chance to add to your own list or your gift...
]]> If you have ever found yourself overwhelmed in the cooking section of a bookstore or at Amazon.com, you aren’t alone. There are hundreds and hundreds of cookbooks out there and it is difficult to discern the good from the bad.
One of the best ways to improve your cookbook collection is to look at what cookbooks the great chefs are using. One of the most exposed and interesting selections in the area is at Rise, the biscuit/donut shop in the Southpoint mall complex. It’s a fun look; rewarding to see some of your favorites, but also a great chance to add to your own list or your gift lists.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/04/11/city-barbeque-brings-delicious-range-of-styles-to-cary/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/04/11/city-barbeque-brings-delicious-range-of-styles-to-cary/#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:05:46 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7451 While it isn’t the home of Eastern North Carolina barbecue, Raleigh is definitely in the territory. The chopped, vinegar-based pork style of barbecue is how we were raised around here and anything else is dog food, right? Well…. Other styles of American “barbecue” have come and gone, with mild to moderate success. Houston-based Luther’s brought a heavily smoky Texas brisket to Raleigh in the mid-80s, however the flavors were just too strong to shake for the rest of the day. Red, Hot, & Blue has only had moderate success, as has Dickeys. City Barbeque, a Columbus, OH based operation is the latest contender on the block, and it just might be good enough to make the impact others are seeking. Instead of sticking to one style of preparation, City has decided to go with a sampling of styles from across America’s mid-section: Texas-styled brisket and sausage, Alabama-style pulled Chicken, St. Louis Ribs, and Carolinas-Styled pulled pork. With three sauces for the meats, I...
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While it isn’t the home of Eastern North Carolina barbecue, Raleigh is definitely in the territory. The chopped, vinegar-based pork style of barbecue is how we were raised around here and anything else is dog food, right? Well….
Other styles of American “barbecue” have come and gone, with mild to moderate success. Houston-based Luther’s brought a heavily smoky Texas brisket to Raleigh in the mid-80s, however the flavors were just too strong to shake for the rest of the day. Red, Hot, & Blue has only had moderate success, as has Dickeys. City Barbeque , a Columbus, OH based operation is the latest contender on the block, and it just might be good enough to make the impact others are seeking.
Instead of sticking to one style of preparation, City has decided to go with a sampling of styles from across America’s mid-section: Texas-styled brisket and sausage, Alabama-style pulled Chicken, St. Louis Ribs, and Carolinas-Styled pulled pork. With three sauces for the meats, I was able to turn any of these meats into a style I wanted.
The sausage was good, but not quite as good as what I had in my recent trip to Austin. However the brisket is actually more enjoyable. The ribs and pork were both delicious, as well. What made my meal stand out, however, was the feeling I had after eating it. Most of the time barbecue doesn’t agree with me. Either the food is overtly greasy and/or has an intense smoke flavor that I can’t shake for the rest of the day. Not so with City Barbeque. Not only did the food agree with me, but I didn’t even have a greasy sensation on my tongue that afternoon. That’s truly remarkable!
The huge list of sides at City Barbeque are as good as the meats. I was able to sample corn pudding, slaw, potato salad, french fries, Texas-style baked beans, and green beans. They ranged from good to some of the best I’ve ever had. The potato salad was excellent, however the french fries, with the perfect amount of kosher salt, are among the best I’ve ever had (including my meal last week at Flip Burger, Food & Wine’s pick for Best Fries in the U.S.).
The string beans are worth a discussion by themselves. They are cooked in homemade chicken stock along with “bacon” – not the fatty stuff from the grocery store but rather a thin, ham-like version. The result: the best stringed beans I’ve ever had. The texture is perfect, the salt level is perfect, and there is no resulting grease slick!
The restaurant is located in a replacement building in the parking lot of the Trader Joe’s shopping center in Cary. This is an ideal location, as their patrons are likely not going to be people whose palate for BBQ is limited to only Eastern NC style. That shouldn’t deter Raleigh people from making the 20 minute drive, however. It’s worth the drive, for sure. (and when you are done you can swing by the Meat House in the shopping center next door and take something home to cook another night).
City Barbeque will stage their grand opening tomorrow (4/12) with a “rib cutting” ceremony at Noon.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/28/big-green-egg-event-coming-to-wake-forest/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/28/big-green-egg-event-coming-to-wake-forest/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7401 Want to cook like these people in your own back yard? You can! Komado cooking dates back over 3000 years ago in China. The egg-shaped ceramic cookers cook meats evenly without drying out the meat. Because of their design, temperatures in these cookers can be controlled quite well, allowing for low-and-slow cooking. Tomorrow the Town and Country store in Wake Forest will be hosting a Big Green Egg demo. The event will feature free samples including pizza, stuffed mushrooms, cookies, shrimp poppers, and smoked pork butt. Expoerts will be on hand to answer questions about the different products available, and will offer a 10% discount on eggs. The event runs from 10am-3pm. map...
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Want to cook like these people in your own back yard? You can!
Komado cooking dates back over 3000 years ago in China. The egg-shaped ceramic cookers cook meats evenly without drying out the meat. Because of their design, temperatures in these cookers can be controlled quite well, allowing for low-and-slow cooking.
Tomorrow the Town and Country store in Wake Forest will be hosting a Big Green Egg demo. The event will feature free samples including pizza, stuffed mushrooms, cookies, shrimp poppers, and smoked pork butt. Expoerts will be on hand to answer questions about the different products available, and will offer a 10% discount on eggs.
The event runs from 10am-3pm.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/22/finding-that-great-ncaa-tournament-pregame-meal/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/22/finding-that-great-ncaa-tournament-pregame-meal/#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:03:05 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7390 Visiting Raleigh for NCAA Tournament action on Sunday and looking for good food? You came to the right place. While some of Raleigh’s best options for tournament-centric eats are not open, there are still a ton of great locally-owned places. The PNC Arena is in West Raleigh, however all of these places are within 15 minutes of the arena traffic plume. (more on that at the bottom. Depending on your route in, some places are better choices than others if timing is tight) $ Armadillo Grill - Quickie SW food. I still love this place - DT Mami Nora's - Rotisserie chicken done with Peruvian flair – NR Guasaca – Columbian arepa outlet is NC’s best - WR $$ Chuck's - Gourmet burgers by Ashley Christensen, finalist for James Beard Awards' 2014 Best Chef in the Southeast - DT Torii Noodle Bar - Great little Japanese noodle/sushi place. One of the best bargains in Raleigh. (WR, at the Crabtree Mall entrance) BurgerFi - small national chain with...
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Visiting Raleigh for NCAA Tournament action on Sunday and looking for good food? You came to the right place. While some of Raleigh’s best options for tournament-centric eats are not open, there are still a ton of great
locally-owned
places.
The PNC Arena is in West Raleigh, however all of these places are within 15 minutes of the arena traffic plume. (more on that at the bottom. Depending on your route in, some places are better choices than others if timing is tight)
DT = Downtown
NR = North Raleigh
WR = West Raleigh
("Off 40" – these locations are found on the way to the arena from Charlottesville).
Parking for the main lots at the arena will have traffic spilling out to Edwards Mill Road and Wade Ave/I-40 East (between the airport and the arena) causing significant delays. My recommendation is to skirt these areas and see what you can do to get to the intersection of Hillsborough St. and Youth Center Drive in Raleigh. YCD ends at the NCSU football stadium entrance, where there is ample parking with better traffic flow than the main lots. In a sense, you are approaching the complex from the South instead of from the Northwest. map it
PNC Arena Parking Fee: $20
Game Times: Tennessee-Mercer, 6:10 , Virginia/Memphis, ~8:40
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/20/the-definitive-guide-to-pnc-arena-dining/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/20/the-definitive-guide-to-pnc-arena-dining/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7365 Headed to the PNC Arena for NCAA Tournament action this weekend? You’ll likely find yourself hungry. Thankfully the arena has good food to reward that hard work pulling your team through! Best Options Sausage Cart – The options of three Italian-style sausages with onions and peppers stands as an option rivaling any at the state fair. (Concourse, Sections 106, 121) Chicken Wrap – (The Deck, Section 111) House Chips – (The Deck, Section 111) French Fries – Vinegar available at condiments stand. (Section 107 concession stand in West Priority Lounge). Tacos – Dos Banditos (Concourse, Section 111) Mucho Nachos – Dos Banditos (Concourse, Section 111) Fresh Popcorn – (Concourse, Sections 119 & 130) Ice Cream – Fresh waffle cones! (Concourse, Section 115) Steak & Cheese Cart – Usually has a moderate/long/slow line (Concourse, Section 121) Carvery Cart (turkey, roast beef) – (Concourse, Section 121) Cheap Hamburger –...
]]> Headed to the PNC Arena for NCAA Tournament action this weekend? You’ll likely find yourself hungry. Thankfully the arena has good food to reward that hard work pulling your team through!
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/20/20-best-dining-options-near-pnc-arena/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/20/20-best-dining-options-near-pnc-arena/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:45:58 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7364 Tomorrow is the day NCAA tournament action returns to Raleigh. The city will open up to fans from Charlottesville, Myrtle Beach, Memphis, Washington (DC), Boston, Knoxville, and Macon (GA). Friday’s action features four games in two sessions. The afternoon doubleheader session begins at Noon and the evening doubleheader session begins at 6:55pm. With the afternoon session ending at approximately 5pm, this gives visitors almost two hours to find dinner, and while there aren’t many items within a walkable distance from PNC Arena, some of the best food in North Carolina can be found a short drive from the arena. Let’s explore these by distance. Walkable PNC Arena Club – This facility will not be open during the NCAA Tournament events. Backyard Bistro - There are only two walkable options from the arena. Backyard Bistro is the good option. A former Damon’s location, the locally-owned Backyard Bistro features a terraced dining room with four giant TVs. I highly...
]]> Tomorrow is the day NCAA tournament action returns to Raleigh. The city will open up to fans from Charlottesville, Myrtle Beach, Memphis, Washington (DC), Boston, Knoxville, and Macon (GA). Friday’s action features four games in two sessions.
The afternoon doubleheader session begins at Noon and the evening doubleheader session begins at 6:55pm. With the afternoon session ending at approximately 5pm, this gives visitors almost two hours to find dinner, and while there aren’t many items within a walkable distance from PNC Arena, some of the best food in North Carolina can be found a short drive from the arena. Let’s explore these by distance.
Backyard Bistro
– There are only two walkable options from the arena. Backyard Bistro is the good option. A former Damon’s location, the locally-owned Backyard Bistro features a terraced dining room with four giant TVs. I highly recommend the burger, as the meat is brought in from the nationally renowned
Angus Barn
daily. The other option is Wendy’s. The problem with Backyard Bistro is that if the restaurant is full, there really isn’t time for fans to return to their cars and drive anywhere decent.
Head North on Edwards Mill Road for one long block and you’ll discover Edwards Mill Village.
Heading West down I-40 to Harrison Avenue we find some outstanding dining options. Allow extra return time, as I-40 will offer extreme delays on the return.
Bella Mia
– One of the best pizza restaurants in the state. Coal-burning oven style. $$$
An
– one of the state’s best Asian restaurants. It is located in the shopping center next to Bass Pro Shops. However An is going to take about an hour and a half, so plan accordingly. $$$$
Heading into Raleigh on Wade Avenue
Lake Boone Trail/440 Area
Crabtree Valley Mall
Torii Noodle Bar
– Don’t let the traditional trappings of a mall dissuade you from Torii. As I’ve written many times here, it is one of the best bargains in Raleigh. Full-service, but casual. No TVs or outdoor dining. $$
Crossroads
* * *
For fans not returning to the evening session, I recommend heading to downtown Raleigh, one of America’s most vibrant, walkable, and safe downtowns on a Friday or Saturday night. Most of the good restaurant action in the last decade has been in downtown. There are numerous noteworthy offerings, however here are five for starters ( alphabetical order ):
Warning: We’ve had much cold, rainy weather, and people have cabin fever. Adjust your schedule accordingly because the restaurants in Raleigh, especially downtown, are going to be packed this weekend. Wait times well over an hour will be common on Friday and Saturday nights.
We hope that your stay in Raleigh is fantastic, regardless of how your team fares!
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/03/cowfish-named-a-nrn-breakout-brand/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/03/03/cowfish-named-a-nrn-breakout-brand/#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:48:01 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7345 Nation’s Restaurant News last week published a list of restaurants across the nation to watch. The 10-restaurant survey picked Cowfish as one of its next “Breakout Brands”. The Charlotte-based, 2-store chain was founded by Elizabeth City-native, NCSU-grad Marcus Hall. The burger/sushi concept’s Raleigh store is located in North Hills’ Park District....
]]> Nation’s Restaurant News last week published a list of restaurants across the nation to watch. The 10-restaurant survey picked Cowfish as one of its next “Breakout Brands”. The Charlotte-based, 2-store chain was founded by Elizabeth City-native, NCSU-grad Marcus Hall. The burger/sushi concept’s Raleigh store is located in North Hills’ Park District.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/28/food-porn-visits-torii-noodle-bar/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/28/food-porn-visits-torii-noodle-bar/#comments Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:41:33 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7342 Today’s Food Porn excursion takes us to the home of Raleigh’s best dinner deal, Torii Noodle Bar. Torii sits next door to P.F. Chang’s at Crabtree, and at first blush was built to catch runoff from the neighboring restaurants’ long wait queues. In fact, Torii is more of a casual extension of the Kanki. Torii offers multiple noodle dishes and sushi items. I am quite fond of the Wantan – Men Ramen bowl as well as the TonkoTsu pork noodle bowl. This is great cold weather food, especially the Katsu Curry (pork curry rice). Recently, though, I discovered that the rice bowl dishes are almost exactly the same dishes that people are being served downstairs at the Kanki. The dish is a heaping portion rice, your choice of meat, and some broccoli. The rice bowl comes with a side of either Japanese soup or ginger salad, which are exactly the same dishes as those downstairs. The meat choices are Chicken, Steak, or Shrimp, but the prices are what blew me away: Chicken is $8 and the...
]]> Today’s Food Porn excursion takes us to the home of Raleigh’s best dinner deal, Torii Noodle Bar . Torii sits next door to P.F. Chang’s at Crabtree, and at first blush was built to catch runoff from the neighboring restaurants’ long wait queues. In fact, Torii is more of a casual extension of the Kanki.
Torii offers multiple noodle dishes and sushi items. I am quite fond of the Wantan – Men Ramen bowl as well as the TonkoTsu pork noodle bowl. This is great cold weather food, especially the Katsu Curry (pork curry rice).
Recently, though, I discovered that the rice bowl dishes are almost exactly the same dishes that people are being served downstairs at the Kanki. The dish is a heaping portion rice, your choice of meat, and some broccoli. The rice bowl comes with a side of either Japanese soup or ginger salad, which are exactly the same dishes as those downstairs. The meat choices are Chicken, Steak, or Shrimp, but the prices are what blew me away: Chicken is $8 and the other two are $10. Yes, that dish pictured, with an appetizer salad with Kanki’s delicious ginger dressing was eight dollars . There isn’t a better deal in Raleigh, and given the recent changes for the horrible at Sarku (in the food court), there isn’t a more convenient way to get a quality serving of Japanese food for a modest price.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/27/food-porn-visits-bella-mia/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/27/food-porn-visits-bella-mia/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7334 Tucked in a shopping center across Harrison Avenue from SAS in Cary is the Triangle’s best pizza. Bella Mia has a refreshing pizza menu, complete with items like broccoli, fresh basil, and excellent prosciutto. The high-quality ingredients hit a delicious dough, and go into Bella Mia’s coal-fired oven to make a delicious final product. Pictured is the Sausage, Broccoli, and Smoked Mozzarella Pizza....
]]> Tucked in a shopping center across Harrison Avenue from SAS in Cary is the Triangle’s best pizza. Bella Mia has a refreshing pizza menu, complete with items like broccoli, fresh basil, and excellent prosciutto. The high-quality ingredients hit a delicious dough, and go into Bella Mia’s coal-fired oven to make a delicious final product.
Pictured is the Sausage, Broccoli, and Smoked Mozzarella Pizza.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/26/food-porn-visits-mami-noras/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/26/food-porn-visits-mami-noras/#comments Wed, 26 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7331 In 2007 Durham-based Mami Nora’s hit the scene and was an immediate success. The fast-food Peruvian Chicken outlet expanded over here to Raleigh in 2010, and was met with the same reception, and for good reason! Mami Nora’s marinated rotisserie chicken is cooked with lump charcoal, and is one of the best quick bites in town. I recommend ordering a side of soft corn tortillas, rice, and beans and making little tacos. If this were one of those Southwestern places, they would have some tomato-based sauces. Alas this is not, but there is an extremely hot green chili sauce that is delicious. I wrote about how Mami Nora’s could add some cheese and some salsas and take over the world. Diner have two options: bring your own bag of cheese and salsa, or better yet, just show up for Taco Tuesdays!...
]]> In 2007 Durham-based Mami Nora’s hit the scene and was an immediate success. The fast-food Peruvian Chicken outlet expanded over here to Raleigh in 2010, and was met with the same reception, and for good reason!
Mami Nora’s marinated rotisserie chicken is cooked with lump charcoal, and is one of the best quick bites in town. I recommend ordering a side of soft corn tortillas, rice, and beans and making little tacos. If this were one of those Southwestern places, they would have some tomato-based sauces. Alas this is not, but there is an extremely hot green chili sauce that is delicious.
I wrote about how Mami Nora’s could add some cheese and some salsas and take over the world. Diner have two options: bring your own bag of cheese and salsa, or better yet, just show up for Taco Tuesdays!
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/25/food-porn-visits-firebirds/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/25/food-porn-visits-firebirds/#comments Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7324 One of the best chains in America is the Charlotte-based Firebirds, a mid-level steakhouse. The 35-store outfit is priced to compete with the ubiquitous Outback Steakhouse, however the level of quality in every way is superior. Today’s entry is the Chili-rubbed Delmonico Steak with a Loaded Baked Potato. This steak cut is a bit of a fatty one, however the chili rub on this piece of meat is outstanding, as is the quality of the bacon on that potato! While the hamburgers are disappointing, other sure-fired winners at Firebirds are the BLT Salad, the Grilled Tenderloin Salad, Colorado Chicken Salad, and the ribs (which are some of the Triangle’s best). One of the best deals in Raleigh is the half rack of ribs from the kids menu. the $8 meal comes with two sides (nutritionally relevant choices include a salad, fruit, green beans, veggies, and mashed potatoes), milk/soft drink, and a small pack of Oreos. For about a dollar more you can get a baked potato as one of the sides....
]]> One of the best chains in America is the Charlotte-based Firebirds , a mid-level steakhouse. The 35-store outfit is priced to compete with the ubiquitous Outback Steakhouse, however the level of quality in every way is superior.
Today’s entry is the Chili-rubbed Delmonico Steak with a Loaded Baked Potato. This steak cut is a bit of a fatty one, however the chili rub on this piece of meat is outstanding, as is the quality of the bacon on that potato! While the hamburgers are disappointing, other sure-fired winners at Firebirds are the BLT Salad, the Grilled Tenderloin Salad, Colorado Chicken Salad, and the ribs (which are some of the Triangle’s best).
One of the best deals in Raleigh is the half rack of ribs from the kids menu. the $8 meal comes with two sides (nutritionally relevant choices include a salad, fruit, green beans, veggies, and mashed potatoes), milk/soft drink, and a small pack of Oreos. For about a dollar more you can get a baked potato as one of the sides. It’s one of my daughter’s favorite meals in any restaurant.
Firebirds has locations at North Hills, Morrisville, and Southpoint Mall.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/24/food-porn-visits-taverna-agora/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/24/food-porn-visits-taverna-agora/#comments Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7321 Today’s Food Porn tour takes us to Taverna Agora, the crown jewel of Lou Moshakos’ LM Restaurant Group. The Greek taverna sits in a former Miami Subs location out Glenwood Avenue, but you would never know it as their food stands up pretty well to Greek restaurants like the excellent Kyma in Atlanta and the incredible Stella’s in Richmond. Featured in today’s photo is the Chicken Fettucini (lemon chicken fettuccini with sautéed spinach, garlic,tomatoes, and fresh herbs in a white wine lemon sauce with Manouri cheese, $14). This dish is a full-on winner. The grilled pork chops dish, however, is phenomenal, and one of my favorite items served in Raleigh’s great selection of restaurants. A couple of other tips: The Greek Village Salad is excellent, but does not come with lettuce by default. Ask for lettuce if you want a Greek Salad like the ones served in most Greek restaurants. Avoid the Athenian...
]]> Today’s Food Porn tour takes us to Taverna Agora , the crown jewel of Lou Moshakos’ LM Restaurant Group. The Greek taverna sits in a former Miami Subs location out Glenwood Avenue, but you would never know it as their food stands up pretty well to Greek restaurants like the excellent Kyma in Atlanta and the incredible Stella’s in Richmond.
Featured in today’s photo is the Chicken Fettucini (lemon chicken fettuccini with sautéed spinach, garlic,tomatoes, and fresh herbs in a white wine lemon sauce with Manouri cheese, $14). This dish is a full-on winner. The grilled pork chops dish, however, is phenomenal, and one of my favorite items served in Raleigh’s great selection of restaurants.
A couple of other tips: The Greek Village Salad is excellent, but does not come with lettuce by default. Ask for lettuce if you want a Greek Salad like the ones served in most Greek restaurants. Avoid the Athenian Chicken.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/21/food-porn-visits-kimbap/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/21/food-porn-visits-kimbap/#comments Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:06:42 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7312 Today’s Food Porn tour takes us to downtown Kimbap, a fast casual Korean restaurant in downtown Raleigh. Pictured is the Bibimbap, a mixed bowl of rice with bulgogi (beef), seasonal vegetables, kimchi, and a sunny side up egg. The sauces at Kimbap are excellent, but the pork dumplings are the best I’ve had anywhere....
]]> Today’s Food Porn tour takes us to downtown Kimbap , a fast casual Korean restaurant in downtown Raleigh. Pictured is the Bibimbap, a mixed bowl of rice with bulgogi (beef), seasonal vegetables, kimchi, and a sunny side up egg. The sauces at Kimbap are excellent, but the pork dumplings are the best I’ve had anywhere.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/20/food-porn-visits-zoes-kitchen/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/20/food-porn-visits-zoes-kitchen/#comments Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:43:01 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7307 Today’s Food Porn tour takes us to Zoe’s Kitchen, a Greek/Southern fast-casual restaurant. This particular item is one of their nicest, the Steak Kabobs. For $11.50, the dish comes with two steak kabobs (of pretty decent quality), red bell peppers, onions, grilled potatoes, and roasted vegetables. Other winners at Zoe’s include their Greek Salad, Pimiento Cheese, Rice, Chicken Orzo Soup, and Greek Chicken Marinara (on orzo) . Zoe’s has three area locations: Oberlin Rd (at Wade), North Hills East, and Park West Village (Morrisville)....
]]> Today’s Food Porn tour takes us to Zoe’s Kitchen , a Greek/Southern fast-casual restaurant. This particular item is one of their nicest, the Steak Kabobs. For $11.50, the dish comes with two steak kabobs (of pretty decent quality), red bell peppers, onions, grilled potatoes, and roasted vegetables. Other winners at Zoe’s include their Greek Salad, Pimiento Cheese, Rice, Chicken Orzo Soup, and Greek Chicken Marinara (on orzo) .
Zoe’s has three area locations: Oberlin Rd (at Wade), North Hills East, and Park West Village (Morrisville).
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/19/triangle-racks-up-beard-nominations/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/19/triangle-racks-up-beard-nominations/#comments Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:46:46 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7299 A hearty congratulations goes out to all of the area chefs named today to the 2014 Semifinalists list by the James Beard Foundation. Out of the 433 national nominees, 9 are in the Triangle area, joined by 3 others from the rest of North Carolina for a total of 12 in this state. No restaurants from Charlotte, the Triad, or Wilmington were nominated. Only 6 nominees went to each Virginia and South Carolina, while 11 went to Georgia. Austin, Texas? They got just 3. The North Carolina-based nominees for 2014 are: National Categories Outstanding Pastry Chef (20 nominations awarded): Phoebe Lawless, Scratch, Durham Outstanding Restaurant (20 nominations awarded): The Fearrington House Restaurant, Pittsboro Outstanding Restaurateur: Giorgios Bakatsias, Giorgios Hospitality Group, Durham (Kipos, Parizäde, Village Burgers, and others) Rising Star Chef of the Year: Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville Regional Categories Best Chef: Southeast Colin...
]]>
A hearty congratulations goes out to all of the area chefs named today to the
2014 Semifinalists list by the James Beard Foundation
. Out of the 433 national nominees, 9 are in the Triangle area, joined by 3 others from the rest of North Carolina for a total of 12 in this state. No restaurants from Charlotte, the Triad, or Wilmington were nominated. Only 6 nominees went to each Virginia and South Carolina, while 11 went to Georgia. Austin, Texas? They got just 3.
The North Carolina-based nominees for 2014 are:
Best Chef: Southeast
The 2014 James Beard Awards will be held in New York City on May 2 and 5.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/19/food-porn-visits-casa-carbone/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/19/food-porn-visits-casa-carbone/#comments Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7296 One of Raleigh’s great, old family joints is Casa Carbone. The family once owned the great Italian restaurant Villa Capri in Ridgewood Shopping Center. Eventually the family found a new home “out Glenwood Avenue” in Oak Park Shopping Center, where they have continued to build an extremely loyal, older, and quiet following.. Casa Carbone is one of the best places in the Triangle to get Italian veal dishes. Featured in today’s entry is Veal Piccata which comes with a side of pasta and a salad. I requested Fettucine Alfredo. One of Casa Carbone’s delicacies is the bread, which is delicious with that brown sauce!...
]]> One of Raleigh’s great, old family joints is Casa Carbone. The family once owned the great Italian restaurant Villa Capri in Ridgewood Shopping Center. Eventually the family found a new home “out Glenwood Avenue” in Oak Park Shopping Center, where they have continued to build an extremely loyal, older, and quiet following.. Casa Carbone is one of the best places in the Triangle to get Italian veal dishes. Featured in today’s entry is Veal Piccata which comes with a side of pasta and a salad. I requested Fettucine Alfredo. One of Casa Carbone’s delicacies is the bread, which is delicious with that brown sauce!
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/18/food-porn-visits-red-monkey-tavern/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/18/food-porn-visits-red-monkey-tavern/#comments Tue, 18 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7293 I had always heard that Red Monkey was put there to catch the runoff from the long waits for tables at the Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s. We had a coupon, though, so we tried it. As expected the salads tasted like they came out of a food service bag, and my wife’s hamburger was just OK. However my dish was a real knockout: Duck Enchiladas. The red chile sauce was outstanding and gave this dish the punch that so many Mexican dishes in the area lack. At $17, this dish is one of the best bargains in the Triangle....
]]> I had always heard that Red Monkey was put there to catch the runoff from the long waits for tables at the Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s. We had a coupon, though, so we tried it. As expected the salads tasted like they came out of a food service bag, and my wife’s hamburger was just OK. However my dish was a real knockout: Duck Enchiladas. The red chile sauce was outstanding and gave this dish the punch that so many Mexican dishes in the area lack. At $17, this dish is one of the best bargains in the Triangle.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/17/food-porn-visits-busy-bee-cafe/ http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2014/02/17/food-porn-visits-busy-bee-cafe/#comments Mon, 17 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/?p=7289 Yesterday we took in the Sunday brunch at the Busy Bee Café in downtown Raleigh. The menu selection was somewhat limited, however what was offered was excellent. My wife got the Crab Eggs Benedict which was a good dish, though the crab meat was cold. My dish was much better: Pulled Pork Hash. The dish starts with pulled pork that thankfully doesn’t offer as much vinegar kick as expected. Then they add onions, tomatoes, potatoes, a fried egg, and hollandaise sauce. All in all a really nice dish, plus a fantastic waiter.. Keep up the good work, Busy Bee!...
]]> Yesterday we took in the Sunday brunch at the Busy Bee Café in downtown Raleigh. The menu selection was somewhat limited, however what was offered was excellent. My wife got the Crab Eggs Benedict which was a good dish, though the crab meat was cold. My dish was much better: Pulled Pork Hash. The dish starts with pulled pork that thankfully doesn’t offer as much vinegar kick as expected. Then they add onions, tomatoes, potatoes, a fried egg, and hollandaise sauce. All in all a really nice dish, plus a fantastic waiter.. Keep up the good work, Busy Bee!
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