Food Porn visits: Bahama Breeze
One of the Darden food group’s best properties is Bahama Breeze, a Caribbean-themed, 38-store national chain restaurant. Be prepared to wait for a table, though, as Bahama Breeze seems to be always crowded. Pictured here is one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had in North Carolina, Bahama Breeze’s Blackened Chicken Pasta. The cream sauce is somewhat heavy, but isn’t so rich or overwhelmed with garlic that the dish gets monotonous. Add some parboiled asparagus, and you have a delicious entrée.
With the pasta I’ve also selected a photo of the Yaka Hula Hickey Dula, a delicious Hawaii-inspired concoction of pineapple juice, Meyer’s Dark, and Bacardi 151.
Also recommended: Bahama Breeze’s ribs are in my Top 5 of the Triangle.
Food Porn visits: Bida Manda
One of my favorite restaurants in the Triangle is downtown’s Bida Manda . The restaurant’s theme is Laotian, which finds itself somewhat between Chinese, Thai, and Indian. Pictured is the outstanding Amphone’s Chicken Curry. Also suggested: the Laotian Sausage-stuffed Peppers.
Food Porn Visits: Guasaca
OMG, have you been to Guasaca ? The Venezuelan-inspired arepas are the most interesting quick bite around. Pictured (L->R) are a chicken arepa, a shredded beef arepa, and a cup of Guasaca sauce, a Venezuelan cousin to guacamole.
Food Porn Visits: Weinberg’s Deli (RIP)
Until mid-2013 North Raleigh’s Weinberg’s Deli served the area’s best Reuben sandwich as well as a fantastic Rachel. Pictured here is the Heidelberg, if I’m not mistaken. It was a heart-attack on a plate, but delicious for some occasional European decadence. We’ll miss you, Weinberg’s.
Food Porn Visits: An
Awwwww yeah babe. Today the tour takes you to An , the outstanding locally-owned Asian restaurant in Cary. The lunch portion of the Red Snapper is flat-out incredible (and gorgeously prepared)
Are You Ready for Some Food Porn?
Now that football season is over, we can get on to America’s second-favorite pastime, Eating. For the rest of February you’ll feel like one of Pavlov’s dogs, all thanks to gogoraleigh.com. The Triangle is bursting with delicious food, and while there are great sources of food writing, gogoraleigh wants to bring the area’s culinary choices to you in a different way, in pictures.
Let’s get this thing rolling with a delicious dish at Torii Noodle Bar in Crabtree Mall. This is Torii’s Pork Curry Bowl. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish, and it’s perfect for winter.
Wine Authorities Opening Raleigh Location
Durham wine shop
Wine Authorities
will open their Raleigh location at Person Street Plaza (Person/Franklin Streets). The store focuses on “drinkers of everyday wine”, with price points below $50. In fact, the majority of the selection is under $15.
From the press release:
Wine Authorities has also won customers with the Enomatic – an Italian wine dispensing machine – ideal for sampling and tasting wines before purchasing. (1 ounce tastings range from 80¢ to $5) The Durham store was the first in the Triangle area to offer 12 wines for tasting throughout the day with the automated wine dispensers; the new Raleigh store will serve 24 different wines daily and boasts a larger lounge area. Wine Authorities will also serve local craft beers on tap, including Trophy Brewing, Crank Arm and the highly allocated Ponysaurus, once it’s available.
The store is planning a Mid-November opening.
State Fair Introduces Free Pass for Lunch
Ever wanted to lunch at the fair but were turned off by the full-price admission fee? This year the N.C. State Fair introduces the Lunch Pass. After 11:30, one can buy a Lunch Pass admission card for $9 (cash only) at Gate 9 (Trinity Rd) and get a full refund if he/she exits Gate 9 by 1:30pm. The program only runs on weekdays, so Opening Friday, and Monday thru Friday are included.
Great to see the fair thinking of new ways to get more visitors involved. The two hour time period should provide ample time for most, while some might even have time to ride a ride and give that lunch up in a flash!
Man vs. Food (Durham) to Air Again Tonight
The episode of
Man vs. Food
shot in Durham will be run tonight on Travel Channel (TWC 1354) at 9pm. From the Man vs. Food website:
In this episode, Adam created the 2009 Doughman race and a team called the MvF Food Fighters to take on a series of events for the overall title!
The final leg of the race was consuming four Sunny Side-Ups, maple cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting! They placed a dissapointing [sic] 19th place.
Southern Living Taps Durham as South’s “Tastiest Town”
Good news, Durhamites! Southern Living concluded its voting for the Tastiest Towns contest , and you won! Author Paula Disbrowe describes the city as “A scrappy scene of artisans devoted to coffee beans, brews, and the craft of humble foods.” Congratulations!
Coopers 75th Anniversary Coming Saturday
Tomorrow (3/9) Clyde Cooper’s will be celebrating the institution’s 75th Anniversary with an outdoor BBQ competition. In the empty lot next to the restaurant, the following pitmasters will be battling for BBQ supremacy:
- Randy & Debbie Holt – Clyde Cooper’s BBQ
- Sam Jones – Skylight Inn
- Zack Goodyear – Saucemans
- Clay Folgers & Floyd Knolls – Wilmington Grill
- Mike Robinson
- David Burch – Smokey Dave’s BBQ
- Frank Steinbach
- Mike Bullock
- Ches McDowell
The event runs from 11am – 4pm and tickets are $5. Voting ends at 2:30, with awards at 3pm. Parking is free in the adjacent parking garages. 50% of proceeds go to SPCA of Wake County.
OC Bar & Grill Coming to Oberlin
A new bar and restaurant is finally coming to the vacant restaurant space in the Oberlin Court project.
The OC Bar & Grill
will open within a month, and its
menu (pdf)
shows a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, grill items, and pastas all generally in the $8-$15 range.
If the food is good
…this will be a huge hit in a part of Raleigh craving more family-friendly menus.
Alton Brown Coming to DPAC
On April 18, Food Network’s Alton Brown will come to the DPAC in Durham.
Tickets go on sale
on Friday (2/8) at 10am.
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