If you live in Raleigh and want to try some fresh and wonderful food based on Venezuelan cuisine, head on over to Guasaca, which recently opened off of Lake Boone Trail, right down from Rex Hospital. Believe me; you’ll be glad you did!

According to Guasaca’s website, the restaurant was “born out of the belief that it is possible to offer food that is delicious, affordable, fresh and healthy, all at the same time.” Well guess what? Guasaca lives up to all of this, and more! Needless to say I am thrilled that this new restaurant is less than three miles from home. It is set up somewhat like a submarine sandwich store – you stand in line and once you get to the counter you choose your ingredients. The line has always moved quickly when I’ve been there and the service is some of the friendliest I’ve seen anywhere.

You may wonder what the word “guasaca” means (I did.) After looking it up on the Internet I discovered that it’s basically a chunky guacamole with pico de gallo added. After trying Guasaca’s version I understand why they named the restaurant after it — it is some of the best stuff I’ve ever tasted. Just give me a couple of orders of this and I’ll be your best friend for life. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Make sure you get a side order of this with your main meal — for $2.65 you get a single serving af guasaca plus chips.

You also may be wondering what exactly an arepa is. An arepa is a corn cake made of ground maize (or flour), water and salt, which is fried into a thick bread and is a staple in Venezuela. At Guasaca, you can build your own arepa or try any of the seven signature ones. So far I’ve had three of the signature arepas, and have loved all of them.

The Vegetarian Arepa ($3.90) comes with black beans, caramelized onions, guasaca sauce and a choice of plantains or cole slaw (I had the plantains which were so yummy). This is my favorite of all of the signature areapas and the combination of the ingredients is phenomenal. It makes your mouth want to do a happy dance.

The Chicken Arepa ($3.90) has grilled chicken, black beans, pico de gallo, cheese and cilantro sauce. This arepa is also a winner. The grilled chicken is juicy and the pico de gallo is bursting with fresh flavors.

I also like the Pork Arepa ($4.10), which has braised pork, black eyed peas, pico de gallo, white cheese and mustard sauce. Do not leave off the mustard sauce – it really makes a difference and ties the ingredients together.

I can’t wait to try the rest of the signature arepas and then move on and build some of my own.  By the way, one arepa plus a side of guasaca and chips is quite filling. Trust me on this. If you’re still hungry after one, go back through the line and order a second one, but I really don’t think you’ll have room.

If you don’t want an arepa (and I can’t imagine that), try one of the bowls or salads instead. I built my own salad that consisted of shredded beef (Mechada), black beans, pico de gallo, cheese and guasaca sauce (which cost a little bit extra but well worth it), with a side of cilantro sauce. Great, fresh and filling. The Mechada was flavored perfectly. I noticed that many people were getting their bowls with rice (you have a choice of white or brown) instead of the lettuce. I think this option would be especially good with black beans and caramelized onions, at least for starters.

Guasaca has a number of tables inside and also outside seating with several tables with umbrellas, which is nice on a beautiful day. The food is wonderful, the service is excellent and the price is right. Located at 4025 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, N.C., it is open daily from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Put this on your list places to try in Raleigh, and visit soon – you’ll be glad you did!

Ratings

• Price: Excellent. Lots of fresh food for a price that won’t break the bank.
• Service: 5.00. I’m not sure if the staff is on happy pills, but everyone is nice and helpful.
• Food: 4.95.  The guasaca and vegetarian arepas are addictive. Fresh and flavorful.
• Recommend: Yes, yes, yes!
• Kid friendly: Sure. I think they’d have fun choosing their own ingredients.

1= hater, 2=poor, 3=adequate, 4=above average, 5=superb

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

I love pimento cheese and chances are if you’re from the South, you do, too. There’s nothing more comforting than a warm and gooey grilled pimento cheese sandwich and a bowl of yummy soup or some homemade chips. I recently shared my recipe for Kel’s Reduced-fat Jalapeno Pimento Cheese, which is quick and easy to make and tastes great.

However, sometimes I want to order a grilled pimento cheese sandwich when I’m on my lunch break, so lucky for me a number of area restaurants offer this classic on their menus. Here are my Top-5 favorite places in Raleigh to get a great pimento cheese sandwich, hot off the grill.

Relish Café and Bar (5625 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27612) I got the Vegetarian pimento cheese sandwich, which has cucumbers and roasted red peppers on wheat ($8.00) and is awesome. I love the addition of the crunchy cukes to this sandwich, which pairs great with Relish’s tomato soup. Pimento cheese is one of Relish’s specialties, and I can see why – owner/chef Sharon May does it right with her blend of Pepper Jack and cheddar cheeses, pimentos, red onions and a few other ingredients. Other items on the menu that have pimento cheese include more grilled sandwiches, the Old Southern burger and fritters. You also can get this served with crackers as an appetizer. Yum, yum, yum!

Poppyseed Market Café & Wine Bar (8801 Lead Mine Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27615) ($8.50) This sandwich is excellent but messy. Made with white cheddar and pimentos, there is no mayonnaise in this yummy pimento cheese, which has won chef Julia McGovern accolades. It’s amazing how creamy it is without the mayo. And the homemade chips that come with it are great! As usual, chef Julia delivers another home run with this specialty of the house.

Nofo at the Pig (2014 Fairview Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27608) ($8.50) This stuff rocks, and is made with Duke’s mayonnaise according to my server. I added the crispy bacon for an extra $1.00 – there was certainly lots of it. Pimento cheese and bacon, what can be better? Nofo’s recipe includes white and yellow cheddar, Duke’s mayo, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper and pimentos. Nofo sells this by the container upstairs in its gift shop.

Boondini’s Sandwich Superstore (7403 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27615) Boondini’s pimento cheese ($4.25) is excellent. I chose the sourdough bread and received a perfectly grilled sandwich with a ton of pimento cheese. Nice and creamy, but definitely not too much mayonnaise. I recommend trying this sandwich with one of Boondini’s delicious homemade soups.  Great food at a great price!

Sunflower’s Café (8 W. Peace St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603) ($6.95) This grilled sandwich was very messy but very good. Sunflower’s pimento cheese is made with Pepper Jack, but it is not too spicy and has an excellent flavor. The sunflower bread that it comes on is great. Make sure you get extra napkins for this one!

If you can’t get to one of these restaurants and don’t feel like making your own, you can pick up some tasty pimento cheese at Whole Foods Market, Earth Fare or The Fresh Market – all are quite good and will keep several days in your refrigerator.

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”  ~  old English idiom

I probably drove by the Community Deli (901 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh, N.C.) a thousand times before finally stopping in a couple of weeks ago. The building itself is fairly nondescript – nothing really special to entice me to try it. Community Deli is close to Cameron Village Shopping Center, so if I’m hungry, I usually go to one of the many good restaurants there. But I kept noticing the daily special sign, with sandwiches, burgers or hot dogs at great prices. So I finally decided to give it a try and have been back several times in the past couple of weeks for the good deli food and the friendly, friendly service.

The interior of the Community Deli is nothing special – a couple of coolers full of drinks and beer, some soda machines, deli cases, the counter where you order and a small pub table with no chairs that is stuck in a corner. There are a couple of tables outside that have umbrellas, which I occasionally see occupied on nice days. Parking is minimal, but I’ve always been able to find a space on Van Dyke Ave.

You place your order with the extremely nice people behind the counter, and then wait for your name to be called. Even though the food is made to order, I’ve never had to wait long.

My favorite sandwich so far is the “Piled High BLT” ($3.69), which has lots of nice crispy bacon. I got mine on rye toast, and yes, it was piled high. Go on Tuesdays and it’s only $2.99.

On “Wiener Wednesdays” you can get a hot dog with mustard, chili and onions for $1.00. Yep, $1.00. The chili is really good.

The BBQ pork sandwich ($3.49 regularly, $3.00 on Thursdays) is eastern-style barbecue piled high on a soft bun, with optional slaw that is tasty. I actually got this on a Monday, when cheeseburgers made from fresh, hand-pattied ground beef are on special for $2.65. The place was packed with people ordering the burgers, which I will definitely try in the future.

I’ve also tried the Cajun Chicken Sandwich ($4.59, except on Fridays when it’s $3.79). This sandwich is good, but I think it could use some more heat. It comes with lettuce and tomato on a nice, fresh bun.

Sides to the sandwiches are extra, and include seasoned fries that look and smell awesome (I haven’t tried them yet), onion rings, fried okra or chips.

Community Deli also serves breakfast all day and offers a variety of sandwiches, biscuits, bagels and English muffins as well as breakfast plates and omelets. You can even get fried bologna with egg and/or cheese. So far all I’ve only tried the country ham biscuit ($2.99), which was good with nice, salty ham – a nice way to start the day.

While the sandwiches and biscuits are good, my favorites at Community Deli are the homemade seasonal soups ($3.29 for a 12-ounce cup). The chicken pastry soup is yummy and thick. Just add some salt and pepper and you’re ready to go. This goes great with the BBQ sandwich.

The Veggie Beef soup is thick and full of a variety of vegetables and ground beef – it hits the spot on a cold day.

The Brunswick stew is delicious and has shredded chicken, chunks of tomato, corn, limas, green beans, peas and potatoes. Wonderful flavors, and better than many Brunswick stews I’ve had in BBQ joints.

My favorite soup so far has been the chicken gumbo soup, which is out of this world. It has  chicken, tomatoes, okra and seasonings. When I first saw it I was a bit skeptical since it didn’t have any rice in it, but once I started eating it, the rice was not missed at all. The only thing this soup needs is a spoon in it!

The Community Deli has been around since 1973, and is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5 pm, and on Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. Call-ahead orders are welcome (919.896.6810) and the deli accepts Visa and MasterCard. And don’t forget about the daily specials.

If you have not visited The Community Deli for breakfast or lunch, do so next time you are near Cameron Village. It is definitely a great little neighborhood gem!

Ratings

• Price: Excellent, especially the daily specials.
• Service: 5:0. Superb! Everyone is so nice and friendly.
• Food: 4.0. Nothing fancy, just tasty, good, Southern deli food.
• Recommend: Absolutely.
• Kid friendly: Only if you can grab one of the few tables outside since there’s no inside seating.

1= hater, 2=poor, 3=adequate, 4=above average, 5=superb

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

In May I asked my readers what were their favorite places in the Raleigh area for brunch. I received numerous recommendations and have tried to eat at most of the places suggested. So finally, after many months of research, I’ve come up with some of my favorites. I’ve divided them into two separate posts: Buffets (read about them at: http://kelleychisholm.com/2012/12/13/raleighs-best-brunches-part-1-buffets/) and Menu-Only Ordering. This part focuses on places that serve brunch only from their menus, and many offer it both on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s always good to check with the restaurant first for its hours and to see if you need to make reservations.

Here are my Top Five Raleigh brunch spots, plus a handful of honorable mentions (and one place that didn’t impress at all.)

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey (237 South Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601) 11:30-4:00, Sat. and Sun.

Instead of trying the popular and, from what I hear, excellent chicken and waffles, I opted for the Eggs Beasley ($8.75). This dish consists of poached eggs on collards on cornbread with onion gravy. OMG – I was so happy with my choice – what an unusual but wonderful combination of flavors! I got there about 11:50 on a Saturday and sat at the bar, which had probably five to seven open seats. By the time I left there all of the seats in the place were taken, with at least 25 people waiting outside. I had a mimosa, but the bartender let me try a sip of the homemade Bloody Mary mix, which was awesome and what I’ll get next time. Ashley Christensen scores again with yet another popular downtown destination!

Nofo at the Pig (2014 Fairview Rd.,  Raleigh, NC 27608) 10:00-3:00, Sat. and Sun.

I started with great Bloody Mary with excellent garnishes that included celery, green beans, cherry tomatoes, green olives and limes in a pepper-rimmed glass.

I ordered the Eggs Florentine ($10.95), which was a bit different than what I usually am served. This wonderful dish had spinach patties that sat on sliced tomatoes, topped with perfectly cooked poached eggs and hollandaise sauce and came with a side of fresh fruit and biscuits. The food was excellent as usual (see my previous review of Nofo at: http://kelleychisholm.com/2012/02/06/close-to-home-nofo-the-pig/)

I went on a Saturday around 1:00 and had no trouble getting a table, but hear that it fills up on Sundays right after church, so plan ahead.

Busy Bee Café (225 South Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601) 11:00-3:00, Sat, Sun. and Mon.

Busy Bee serves brunch along with its regular lunch menu, and the brunch changes weekly. I recommend the Cheesy Grit bowl if it’s on the menu – delicious! This consisted of yellow stone-ground grits mixed with pepperjack cheese, topped with sautéed bacon, bell peppers, onions, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce ($12.00).

The eggs were cooked perfectly and my mimosa was excellent with fresh orange juice. There was a DJ playing funky music – it was kind of loud where we were sitting, but not so much in the back.

Irregardless Café (901 West Morgan St., Raleigh, NC 27603) 10:00-2:30 Sat and Sun. Reservations for large parties on Sat., no reservations on Sun.

Irregardless is my one of my overall favorite restaurants in Raleigh, for brunch or otherwise. Its brunch comes with assorted breakfast breads, fresh-squeezed orange juice and a choice of coffee, tea or milk. I got there at 11:45 on a Sunday and the dining room was packed, but luckily there was room at the bar where I received excellent and friendly service. There was jazz guitarist playing nice music and occasionally singing the blues – a great atmosphere for a wonderful brunch.

I ordered the Huevos Rancheros — two sunny side eggs served on corn tortillas with black beans, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and guacamole ($14.00). This was out of this world and quite popular, judging from all of the orders I saw coming out of the kitchen. But that should come as no surprise to those of you familiar with Chef Gordon’s food, which is fresh and always delicious.

Coquette Brasserie (4351 Lassiter at North Hills Ave., Raleigh, NC 27609) 10:00-3:00, Sunday only.

As I mentioned in my review of Coquette (http://kelleychisholm.com/2011/04/10/restaurant-review-coquette-brasserie-raleigh-n-c-%e2%80%93-ooh-la-la/) a while back, it offers bottomless mimosas ($10.00) with Sunday brunch. I recommend the spinach and chèvre quiche ($8.00). It is excellent – light and creamy and perfectly seasoned. It came with a basket of assorted breads and soft butter, and a Mesclun greens salad with shallots and champagne vinaigrette dressing.

I love the atmosphere of Coquette and have always had good service there. We went the other day around 1:00 p.m. and were told there would be an hour wait – it’s quite popular so plan accordingly!

Honorable Mentions

I also really like Cameron Bar and Grill, Relish Café and Bar and North Ridge Pub, all of which offer brunch in addition to their regular menus on Saturdays and Sundays. Tribeca Tavern has a nice Sunday-only brunch. All have good atmospheres, food and service.

No Big Wow Factor

One place that received quite a few recommendations but that I was not crazy about was Brigs. Maybe that’s because brunch just isn’t that special since it serves breakfast all week, but definitely because I cannot enjoy a mimosa or Bloody Mary – no alcohol permits. The atmosphere is nothing to brag about and the sound system is tinny, almost bordering on annoying. The food was OK, although one of my eggs was completely overcooked (as shown) in the Eggs Florentine I ordered. Luckily the other one was how it should be – nice and runny.

The hash browns were good and our server was pleasant (although she did mess up a few things on our order.) It’s fine for a weekday visit, but not my idea of a great weekend brunch.

So there you have it — great places to have brunch in Raleigh, either to enjoy their buffets like part of the one shown below at Buku or else to order from the menu.

I’ve had a lot of fun researching this topic, so don’t be surprised to see another part to this series next year. A few places I plan on trying soon include Babylon and Jibarra – any other suggestions?

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

In May I asked my readers what their favorite places in the Raleigh area for brunch are (and congratulations to Jennifer K. for winning the $25 gift card to Target for her suggestion.) I received numerous recommendations and have tried to eat at most of the places suggested. So finally, after many, many months of research, I’ve come up with some of my favorites. Because I like so many places I tried, I’ve decided to divide this post into two separate parts: Buffets and Menu Only.

This part concentrates on some the buffets I visited in Raleigh, which are only open on Sundays. I actually prefer ordering from a menu rather than going to a buffet, mainly because I tend to eat too much because I want to try everything in sight. I then wind up feeling miserable for a few hours. Oh the things I do for this blog!

Here are four of my favorite Raleigh brunch buffets.

Paparazzi Ristorante Italiano (8450 Honeycutt Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615) $19.95, children 12 and under $9.95. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Paparazzi has traditional breakfast fare such as Eggs Benedict, made-to-order omelets, fresh fruit and nice crisp bacon, breakfast breads, etc. It offers a variety of chilled salads, including an awesome mini Caprese salad that is fresh and goes great with the yummy pizzas that are made in wood-fired oven or with one of the offerings from the pasta station. There is also a carving station (on my visit it had ham and beef) as well as a dessert section where you can get cheesecake, cannolis, etc.

Coffee, tea, juice, sodas and bottomless mimosas come with the meal, or you can visit the Create Your Own Bloody Mary Bar ($5.00) Overall this is my favorite Sunday brunch buffet. I like the variety and quality of food, the atmosphere of the restaurant, the way they buffet is laid out and the service. Oh, and those bottomless mimosas!

Buku (110 East Davie St., Raleigh, NC 27601)$19.95, children under 12 $9.95. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Buku has a wide variety of offerings including the usual breakfast food such as eggs, homemade pastries, bagels with works, sausage, bacon, etc. as well as omelet, waffle and carving stations. You can also dish up globally inspired cuisine. On our trip this included Mediterranean fare with grape leaves, hummus, etc., Chinese food with dumplings and spring rolls, Indian offerings, vegetarian burritos, etc. We’ve been a few times and the place is always packed. Brad likes the array of desserts – I’m always too full to try them. This was Brad’s favorite buffet (he tried all of them except Paparazzi.) Mimosas are $7.50 – the pour is nothing special. Bloody Mary’s ($8.00) are made with Absolut pepper vodka. Coffee, tea, juice and sodas start at $2.50.

I recommend that you make reservations to ensure a seat – this place is quite popular and the buffet line moves slowly at times, partly because of the crowds and partly because of its layout. Outside seating is available. Service overall is OK.

The Oxford (319 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601) $15.50, children 10 and under $7.50. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Oxford has a nice spread of breakfast and lunch items on its brunch buffet. It has your traditional scrambled eggs, or at least I think it does – the pan was empty each time I went to the buffet. Oh well, the fruit was fresh and the bacon was nice and crisp — the best I’ve had on a buffet. I also had biscuits with sausage gravy that was awesome. Brad had a made-to-order omelet with ham and cheese that he liked. There is also a pancake/waffle station and a carving station.

I tried the fried chicken, which was great. So was the mac and cheese – the top of it was browned perfectly. I had a small salad with some fantastic bleu cheese dressing – we’re talking big chunks of bleu cheese. Brad had had a red velvet cupcake concoction that he thought was yummy – unfortunately I did not have room.

Oxford’s Bloody Mary bar ($5.00) has lots of good garnishes such as celery, cukes, olives, horseradish, hot sauces, etc. You can have Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix or homemade juice (although they were out of the homemade mix – it must have run off with the scrambled eggs.)

We sat outside, which was nice for a mid-October day. The service was good, not outstanding, but server was pleasant enough. I would go back.

Tir Na Nog Irish Pub and Restaurant (218 South Blount St., Raleigh, NC 27601) $11.95, children $6.95, children under 5 free. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

I’ve been to Tir Na Nog’s brunch buffet a few times over the years and have enjoyed each visit. It has a breakfast and lunch bar, carving station, omelet station, salad bar, dessert bar and one of Raleigh’s first Bloody Mary bars, with great garnishes and a bunch of different hot sauces.

We took the kids and they definitely got their money’s worth (especially with the bacon they consumed and the desserts they shoveled down.) I had to agree with them on the bacon – nice and crisp! I tried most of the salads, which were all flavorful and fresh, and had some pico de gallo that was out of this world. Good pour on my mimosa as well!

I love the atmosphere of this place, the service was quite good and the price is so reasonable, especially compared to other buffets.

Suggestions?

OK, so here’s my brunch list so far. Please stay tuned for Raleigh’s Best Brunches: Part 2, where I recommend a number of places that you order from the menu, some of which serve brunch on Saturdays as well as Sundays. I’ll be posting that in the next week or so.

BTW – there are still a few brunch buffets in Raleigh that I want to try, including Babylon and Hibernian. Other suggestions are welcome!

 Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

I was craving Greek food the other night, so Brad and I headed over to Taverna Agora (6101 Glenwood Avenue Raleigh, NC 27612), our favorite Greek restaurant in Raleigh. I love the “rustic ambience” of this place – it is so warm and inviting. There’s a great outdoors patio that is open most of the year, weather permitting. I’ve never sat outside since I like the atmosphere of indoors dining room (sorry for the dark pic), but maybe next time.

We started with the spanakopita ($4.95), which was awesome. This appetizer consists of spinach, feta cheese, dill and onions, wrapped in phyllo pastry. The phyllo was flaky but not dry, and the spinach and feta stuffing was plentiful and awesome. These things were huge – much larger than what I’m used to. Great appetizer!

The wine selection is nice with many Greek choices. Brad ordered the Metoxi Chromitsa Red ($48.00), a Cabernet Sauvignon-Limnio with a rich aroma and smooth taste. It paired quite well with both of our entrees.

Brad got the grilled pork chop ($16.95) which was to die for.

It was stuffed with garlic, spinach and feta cheese, and finished with rosemary vinaigrette and served with rice pilaf and vegetables. The pork was cooked to perfection – nice and juicy. Yum, yum, yum, yum yum!

I promised myself that I would order something beside my usual moussaka ($11.95), which is out of this world and a great comfort food. I had a hard time choosing between several items on the menu, but finally chose the braised lamb shank ($21.95), which is house specialty. The lamb is braised in a tomato red wine sauce with a hint of cinnamon. It came with potatoes, red cabbage and broccoli. The portions were plentiful and the lamb was fork tender, melt-in-your-mouth crazy good.

We were too full for dessert, but I can heartily recommend the traditional baklava.

If you haven’t been to Taverna Agora, put it on your list. It is open for dinner seven days a week, starting at 5:00 p.m. The prices are nice, the atmosphere is festive, service is always good and the food is fantastic! Opa!

Ratings

• Price: Reasonable — lots of food at a good price.
• Service: 4.25: Consistently good.
• Food: 4.75: Awesome as always!
• Recommend: Absolutely — the best Greek restaurant in Raleigh!
• Kid friendly: Maybe, especially earlier in the evening.

1= hater, 2=poor, 3=adequate, 4=above average, 5=superb

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

There’s just something about creamy chicken salad that makes it one of my favorite sandwich fillings. I like mine mixed with fresh chicken (preferably white meat) celery, onion, lite mayo, salt and pepper – that’s about it, although every now and then sliced grapes and sweet pickles can slide into the mix. I’m not too picky about the bread it’s served on (rolls, sourdough, rye, wraps, etc.) as long as it’s good and fresh. Or I can eat it right out of the container, plain.

Several months ago I posted my favorite Chunky Chicken Salads in Raleigh, with the promise to follow up with the best creamy chicken salads in the area. I could research this topic forever (and probably will) so I finally decided to get on with it and publish my favorites so far.

Poppyseed Market (8801 Leadmine Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27615). If you’ve never been to Poppyseed, I totally recommend it – either for takeout or dine-in. Chef/owner Julia McGovern offers a number of specialty sandwiches, salads, entrees, desserts, wines, etc. in this gourmet deli/café/wine bar. You may know Julia when she was chosen as sous chef to Angus Barn’s executive chef, Walter Royal, on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” program in 2006 (they won!) But I digress – on to the chicken salad, which is awesome. Roasted chicken is mixed with onions, celery, light mayo and Dijon mustard and served on a flaky croissant for $8.75, which includes homemade potato chips (yum!) and a pickle. There are so many great offerings at Poppyseed, and this one is definitely one of my favorites (along side Chef McGovern’s pimento cheese, which is an upcoming post, for sure.)

Cameron Bar and Grill (2018 Clark Avenue Raleigh, N.C., 27605) I love Cameron Bar and Grill’s mimosas and I love its chicken salad. It is fresh and creamy, and has sliced red grapes, which gives it a sweet taste. Order it on sourdough bread for $7.00, and it comes with your choice of fries, hot chips, fruit salad, slaw, garden salad, etc. CBG is one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh’s Cameron Village, whether for lunch, dinner or late afternoon drinks after a hard day of shopping.

Justin’s Grill (1322A Millbrook Rd., Raleigh, N.C.  27609). Located in the Quail Corner’s Shopping Center, Justin’s serves Mediterranean and American deli food. The staff is extremely friendly. The menu describes its chicken salad as “our grandma’s tasty recipe with tender chicken.” Yes, the chicken is quite tender and its flavor comes through because there is little mayo and tiny bits of celery. This chicken salad is more of a spread, and they put a good sized scoop of it on your choice of bread. Chips are included, all for $5.25. Great price, great sandwich!

Snoopy’s (various Raleigh locations). Yes, the hot dog place. The one that is just as busy late night as it is at lunch has great homemade chicken salad. I had no idea until my friend Pam told me about it, and I’m so glad she did – this stuff is delicious! It’s on the sweet side and has eggs, pickles, celery and mayo. I got the Homemade Chicken Salad Club ($5.99) that came with two cheeses, bacon, lettuce and tomato. Fries/chips are extra. Great stuff!

Pharaoh’s Grill (4421 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27609). This chicken salad is creamy, fresh and made from all white meat chicken, with pickles and mayo. A chicken salad sandwich on your choice of bread is $6.49 and chips/fries, etc. are extra. The North Hills location is tiny and usually crowded at lunch, so go early or late. There is also a location in Raleigh’s Museum of History, with the same menu. You can purchase the chicken salad by the half-pound or pound as well.

There are two store-made chicken salads that I buy most often when I don’t make my own, and they are Fresh Market’s Rotisserie Chicken Salad ($8.49/lb.) and Whole Foods’ Classic Chicken Salad ($9.99/lb.) Both are pricey, but they are fantastic with fresh chicken mixed with mayo, celery, onions, etc., and you can most certainly pass them off as homemade (just saying.) However, if you do want to make your own, try Kel’s Creamy Chicken Salad, which I posted earlier this year. The recipe can be found at: http://kelleychisholm.com/2012/04/15/kels-homemade-creamy-chicken-salad/

So there you have it, my favorite creamy chicken salads in Raleigh. If I left one of yours off my list, please let me know – this is one food I never get tired of trying!

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Follow Kel’s Café on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kelscafe

Early this summer Brad and I were on Glenwood South, trying to figure out where we wanted to eat when we happened upon Krave (510 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, N.C. 27603). Krave opened in late May in the space that was formerly the Red Room. Like the Red Room, Krave serves tapas, but also has added many sleek updates to the bar and restaurant as well an after-hours lounge on Friday and Saturdays, where the menu is available throughout the night and the DJ’s spin their original blend of acoustical magic until 4:00 a.m.

Our meal was excellent, and  a couple of weeks later there was a Groupon offer to Krave, which I jumped on. We finally returned this past weekend and once again enjoyed some excellent food in a great atmosphere.

On our first visit, Brad ordered the Krave Fire Shrimp ($9.00), which is by far our favorite item on the menu. The shrimp are lightly fried and tossed in a zesty Thai chili sauce and served with spicy Asian slaw. Wow! The slaw complements the shrimp perfectly and the flavors explode in your mouth. Get this when you go!

We split the Sardinia Flatbread ($11.00), which comes with prosciutto and capicola hams, provolone and parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Quite tasty – the flatbread makes a great base for the generous amount of spicy hams and yummy cheese.

I ordered the Crab-Stuffed Avocado ($11.00), which consists of a blend of jumbo lump crab meat, avocado, onions, peppers and celery; served in an avocado shell with tortilla chips. This was so fresh and the crab and avocado work well together (sorry, my picture does not do this small plate justice – it is soooo good!)

When we returned to Krave to use our Groupon, we decided to try all new dishes this time, although it was hard not to order the fire shrimp.

Brad had the Krave Eggrolls ($9.00) that are prepared in a Southwest style with chicken, cheddar and jack cheese, black beans and peppers; served with avocado ranch dressing. He thought the eggrolls were quite good, but would have liked to have some salsa on the side for dipping.

Brad also ordered the Curry Chicken Wings ($9.00). According to the menu, these are “freshly cut osso-bucco style chicken, baked and then flash fried” and served with six different choices of sauces. These ”wings” were huge and Brad was impressed with the amount of meat on them. He thought the chicken was tender and moist, but wasn’t crazy about the curry sauce. He thought it tasted good but it just wasn’t spicy enough for him. I would tend to agree – I couldn’t even smell the curry, which is unusual, especially at a small table for two.

I ordered the Paris Flatbread ($11.00). After having the Sardinia version that was so good I wanted to try this meatless one. Great choice! It came with wild mushrooms, caramelized shallots and Boursin cheese with a truffle oil drizzle. Again, the flatbread itself was wonderful, and the combination of the mushrooms and Boursin was delightful – earthy and creamy.

To go along with the flatbread, I also had the Classic Caprese salad ($8.00). I’ve been on a Caprese salad kick this summer and this one was refreshing with its fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. I have to admit I thought Krave could be a bit more creative in the actual presentation of it –the Caprese salad I make looks much more appealing.

Brad had a Mexican Mojito ($12.00) on this visit, made with Don Julio tequila, cilantro, ginger and lime that he liked a lot. I had a glass of French Sauvignon Blanc ($8.00) that paired well with my Paris flatbread. On my next visit I will probably try one of Krave’s signature martinis – I saw quite a few of them being served to various tables while we were there.

The servers use iPads to take orders, which allows them to show pictures of the dishes and pay by credit card right at the table (at least the first time – I think with the Groupon our server had to ring us up the traditional route.)

Krave is a trendy, chic restaurant with great food, and I’m sure that it would be a frequent late-night destination if I was still in my 20s or 30s. I’ll happily just stick to dinner at this point in my life.

Ratings

• Price: Not bad      Portions are nice for the price, especially the wings.
• Service: 4.00        Consistently good on both visits.
• Food:   4.75           Tasty, fresh, innovative. Fire Shrimp get a 5.0!
• Recommend:        Definitely.
• Kid friendly:         Nope. I haven’t seen a kid on either visit. And I hope it stays that way, with apologies to my two.

1= hater, 2=poor, 3=adequate, 4=above average, 5=superb

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Kel’s Cafe of All Things Food

Beaufort is a quaint little town in North Carolina. Three hours from Raleigh, the historic district has a great waterfront with some fantastic restaurants and bars, unique shops and great scenery. If you’re lucky, you may see some of the wild horses grazing on Carrot Island, which is just across the waterway. You can sign up for various water tours and cruises at the dock, or just kick back and watch the boats come and go at this charming little town by the sea.

If we stay in Beaufort instead of nearby Emerald Isle, we usually choose the Inlet Inn or the Beaufort Inn. During the summer, both require a minimum 2-night stay on the weekends. Neither have pools, which is their only drawback. I have also stayed at the Pecan Tree Inn, a great little bed and breakfast place if that is your thing (I’m not a big fan of B&Bs, but this one is nice.)

Unfortunately, you have to drive to the beach, but it is not too far away, approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on time of year and traffic. We like to go to Fort Macon, which is a great place to watch the boats go by, but no alcohol is allowed since it’s a state park. If you want to enjoy some adult beverages, head down Highway 58 and park at any of the public beach access places.

Brad and I recently celebrated our 10^th wedding anniversary and stayed at the Beaufort Inn.

When we decided to get married, we were torn between holding our ceremony in Beaufort or Blowing Rock, N.C. We wound up getting married in Blowing Rock at the beautiful Chetola Resort, which was a good thing since it was sunny and gorgeous that day in the mountains, unlike Beaufort where it was raining like cats and dogs. However, Beaufort will always hold a special place in our hearts and we visit whenever we can.

Here are some of the places that I heartily recommend that we went to on this last visit:

Blue Moon Bistro (119 Queen Street, Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

We decided to have our anniversary dinner at the Blue Moon Bistro and it was a great choice! Brad thoroughly enjoyed his rare yellow fin tuna, which was one of the specials and came with fresh succotash on the side. He said his fish was cooked perfectly (rare) and loved his meal. I ordered the Caprese salad (also a special) and it was as great as it looked.  This needs to be a permanent fixture on the menu, at least when the ingredients are in season.

I also had the shrimp scampi ($24.95) which was some of the best I’ve ever tasted. What made it so good was the addition of locally grown tomatoes and sweet basil. This stuff rocked!

Blue Moon Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants ever – every meal I’ve had has been top-notch. The only improvement this place could make is not having the tables so close to each other, especially the tables for two. But the food truly does make up for it.

Royal James Café (117 Turner St., Beaufort, N.C.  28516)

This is a great little place to shoot pool, enjoy tunes on the jukebox and just chill out. Nothing fancy here, just some ice cold beer and decent bar food. The cheeseburgers (which come with special chili sauce, mustard and onions) are fantastic and cheap, cheap, cheap at $2.25! Add some fries ($1.25) and you are set.

Cru Wine Bar (120 Turner St., Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

The Cru Wine Bar is a combined wine store, wine bar and coffee shop. It has the area’s best selection of wines and specialty beers that you can enjoy in its bar or carry out. Cru recently began to serve liquor and has daily drink specials. As far as food, you can order Escazu’ artisan chocolates and tasty light fare that includes pizzas, quesadillas, hot soups, sandwiches and more.

Cru has live music on the weekends. This is a laid back place and a must visit whenever you are in Beaufort!

The Dockhouse (500 Front St., Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

This is a Beaufort institution and appropriately named as it is right on the dock. If you are lucky you may get to see the wild horses on Carrot Island, which is just across the canal. There is nothing pretentious about this place. The food is okay, nothing special, really, but the Bloody Marys are fantastic.

According to our server, the Bloody Mary mix is homemade, with fresh cracked pepper and a good amount of horseradish. This is a great place to listen to live music, especially in the summer. Or just sit and soak in the view, like this one from the upstairs deck.

Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant & Pub (425 Front St., Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

My dear friends Anne and Carlton introduced me to Clawson’s many years ago when we were headed to the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving and decided to make a couple of pit stops in Beaufort and Ocracoke Island on the way. Clawson’s has a small but good selection of beers on tap (eight of them to be exact) and luckily it has one of my favorites – Dead Guy Ale. I seriously miss its shrimp salad pitas that I have tried to replicate and blogged about earlier. The bar is non-beachy – lots of dark wood, exposed brick, etc. Foodwise, try one of the dirigibles (huge potatoes stuffed with various ingredients), any of the wraps or the crab cake burger. Good food, fun bar with lots of history!

Aqua Restaurant (114 Middle Lane, Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

This is Clawson’s sister restaurant and just a bit off the beaten path, just behind Front Street. Aqua is known for its tapas, small and big plates, wine and martinis. I love to get appetizers here – this time we enjoyed oven baked coconut shrimp with mango chutney ($6.00) – excellent! It has a decent wine list and on Fridays all bottles are 33% off. Aqua prides itself on offering fresh, local products and supporting local fisherman and farmers.

Beaufort Grocery Company (117 Queen St., Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

This is another of my favorite restaurants in Beaufort. We usually eat dinner here, but on this visit we had Sunday brunch for the first time. Awesome! I had the Eggs Florentine ($10.99), which were great – the spinach was garlicky and tender and the hollandaise sauce was perfect. I was able to order my eggs how I wanted them (soft). It came on parmesan red neck rusks, a nice alternative to the traditional English muffin.

I had to wait until noon to get my mimosa ($6.00), but it was worth it with freshly squeezed orange juice and a nice pour. Brad had the Omelet Down East ($10.99), a three-egg omelet with ham, scallions, cheddar and Swiss cheeses. We each got hash browns instead of grits. Both meals came with fresh fruit, a cinnamon roll and coconut pound cake that was extremely moist. Both of us had food left over. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, I highly recommend this place!

Front Street Grill (300 Front St. # 5, Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

Another one of my favorite Beaufort restaurants – I love this place! We were lucky to get a table next to a window overlooking the water. I’ve been eating here for years and love its current location. Brad had a filet with mashed potatoes and yummy sautéed spinach ($27.95), which he thoroughly enjoyed.

I had the Seafood Jambalaya ($22.95), which had shrimp, lump crab, smoked sausage, etc. over jasmine rice. Nice presentation and the flavors were quite good. We mentioned we were celebrating our annivesary and they brought us a  chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream with raspberry swirl – yum!

Front St. Grill also has outside seating, right on the water, and is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. In addition, there is an outside waterfront bar that serves light fare and drinks all day, in season.

Backstreet Pub (124 Middle Lane, Beaufort, N.C. 28516)

A trip to Beaufort would not be complete without having a beer or three at this dive bar. It is THE best dive bar ever! This is a local hangout, with live music upstairs, year round. I love the little enclosed patio, where I had my share of beers with the late and greats Charlie Murray and G. Keith Whitley. Hey T.O., if you read this, road trip next Memorial Day if I’m there – I’ll drive!

Other places in downtown Beaufort that we like but did not visit on this trip include Ribeyes Steakhouse (yes, it’s a chain with decent food), the Spouter Inn and Finz Grill. I was sad to see that Sharpies closed. It had great burgers and a one of the best wedge salads I’ve ever enjoyed. It’s now a Mexican place that I plan trying on a future visit.

Before I end this post, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to the Beach Tavern.

BT is not in Beaufort but in Atlantic Beach. It’s a must stop after a day at the beach when you are heading back to Beaufort. I’ve been going to the Beach Tavern since I was in college and still love its satisfying (and cheap) hot dogs and ice cold beer! This is another great dive bar that is friendly on the budget.

So, next time you find yourself on N.C.’s Crystal Coast, make time to stop by Beaufort, if not to stay then at least for a meal or drink at one of its many fine establishments and a walk around the quaint waterfront.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Kel’s Cafe

*Note – photos of Aqua, Beach Tavern and Clawson’s are from their respective websites – my pics did not turn out.

One of my favorite lunch places in Raleigh is Sunflower’s Café (8 West Peace Street, Raleigh, N.C.  27603), which is located next to Peace College and in front of the Seaboard Station shopping area. I am not alone – Sunflowers is usually packed during the week, especially from 12:00 to 1:00, as long lines form at the counter where you place your order. While I love Sunflowers’ chicken and tuna salads, it is my go-to spot when I’m on a vegetarian diet, due to its extensive offering of delicious meatless sandwiches. Everything I’ve tried has been fresh and tasty.

Sunflowers first opened on Glenwood Avenue (where the Hibernian Pub is now) in 1983 by Deborah and Clay Ferebee, and later moved to its current location on Peace Street. It is bright and cheerful on the inside and has some outdoor seating to enjoy when the weather is nice. According to Sunflowers’ website, “Our specialty has been in the area of healthy sandwiches, salads and soups, with a growing catering clientele. Our regular customers particularly value that we offer a large variety of vegetarian sandwiches in addition to an expansive non-vegetarian menu.” As a regular customer, I completely concur.

Here are some of my favorite sandwiches, in no particular order:

Chicken Salad - This awesome chicken salad ($6.95 with chips) was the first thing I ever ordered, years ago when Sunflowers was located at its old location. I have been a raving fan ever since. It consists of chunky bits of house-roasted chicken breast, pecans, grapes and mayo on your choice of bread. I recommend trying it on Sunflower’s sunflower bread.

Tuna Melt - The tuna melt comes with a side of chips for $6.50. It is served grilled on rye bread with avocado, cheddar cheese, romaine, tomatoes, mayo and house mustard. The tuna salad has pickle relish, eggs, mayonnaise and onions in it, and even though I normally steer clear of the relish and eggs in my tuna, this salad was quite good and creamy. Overall, a wonderful combination of flavors – I especially like the cheddar and avocado.

Portobello Ellen – This hearty mushroom sandwich ($6.95 with your choice of chips) is served on grilled Italian sourdough bread and has sliced roasted bellas and onions, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and a mild horseradish sauce. This sandwich is messy and yummy – I like the addition of the horseradish, which gives it a little kick.

Vegetarian Focaccia – The bread and cheese are what make this sandwich ($6.95 with your choice of chips) oh, so good! It comes with Swiss, havarti and provolone cheeses on focaccia with cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, house mustard and balsamic vinaigrette.  Not only tasty but healthy, too!

Avocado Pesto Melt – Another messy and yummy sandwich! It comes with fresh avocado slices, pesto mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and red onions, grilled on sunflower bread for $6.95. The cheese is warm and gooey – grab some extra napkins!

Sunflowers Cafe is open for lunch Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner Wednesday-Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. I have not tried dinner yet, but it is certainly on my list.

Ratings

• Price: Medium. No more expensive than comparable places, especially for tasty food.
• Service: 4.00.  You order at the counter, where everyone always has been friendly to me.
• Food: 4.75. Everything I’ve tried so far has been fresh and wonderful.
• Recommend: Absolutely, especially to my vegetarian friends.
• Kid friendly: Sure, probably more so on Saturday when there are fewer crowds.

1= hater, 2=poor, 3=adequate, 4=above average, 5=superb

Eat, drink and be merry!

Kel’s Cafe of All Things Food

Ahhhh – good old chicken salad, a true comfort food. Whenever I can’t decide what to order for lunch, it is one of my go-to meals. I see chicken salad falling into two categories: chunky and creamy. I love both of them. I prefer chunky chicken salad on a bed of fresh salad greens, with crackers or even on its own, although I occasionally will have it on bread. On the other hand, creamy chicken salad belongs on some sort of good, artisan bread or else maybe as a dip for celery and carrot sticks.

This post is about my favorite chunky chicken salads in Raleigh. Three are from restaurants, one from a specialized grocery store and one is my own recipe. All are wonderful – it’s like chicken “salad” for the soul.

Neomonde Bakery and Deli (3817 Beryl Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27607)

I recently blogged about Neomonde, and one of my favorites offerings is its chicken salad ($6.99 per pound.) I’ve been enjoying this chicken salad for years – it has nice chunks of chicken with celery, golden raisins, walnuts, low-fat mayonnaise, parsley and spices. It is great on its own or stuffed inside of Neomonde’s sesame pita bread.

Sunflowers Café (8 West Peace Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603)

The first time I had this delicious chicken salad ($6.95) was when Sunflowers was located at its old location on Glenwood South, and I have been hooked ever since. It consists of chunky morsels of house-roasted chicken breast, pecans, grapes and mayo on your choice of bread. It’s listed as a favorite of one of the owners, Clay, and I understand why – it’s been consistently great over the years. Try it on Sunflower’s sunflower bread, or by itself – either way, you’ll be going back for more!

Winston’s Grille (6401 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27615)

While this is somewhat pricy at $10.50, you do get quite a bit of food, all of which is fresh and yummy. This chicken salad is made with big chunks of chicken, sliced grapes, onions, pecans, celery and mayonnaise, and it is delicious. It comes with seasonal fruit and some tasty rolls. The fruit was extremely fresh and the rolls were nice and hot. Paired with a glass of white wine, this makes a great dinner on a hot summer evening.

The Fresh Market’s Waldorf Chicken Salad (various locations)

If I need to take a dish to a luncheon or party and run out of time to make something myself, I often turn to this chunky chicken salad from Fresh Market ($7.99 per pound). In addition to big pieces of chicken, it has celery, sweet red grapes, pecans, mayo, spices and poppy seeds. I bring some small cocktail bread or crackers to serve it with and I’m usually asked for my recipe (I do give The Fresh Market all the credit, of course!)

Kel’s Curried Chicken Salad on Kel’s Cafe of All Things Food

I recently blogged about my own chunky curried chicken salad, and love the sweetness of the raisins and grapes, the crunchiness of the nuts and the spiciness of the curry. It is well worth making if you want a different spin on chicken salad, especially since this is something you won’t find on most restaurant menus.

So there you have it – my favorite chunky chicken salads in Raleigh. I will be posting about Raleigh’s best creamy chicken salads soon, so please stay tuned, and let me know what your favorites are.

Bon appétit!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Kel’s Cafe of All Things Food

Coming to Downtown Raleigh!

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is pleased to announce that Bida Manda Laotian Restaurant and Bar will be opening in Summer 2012. The business will lease space from Empire Properties at 222 S. Blount Street across from Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. The Alliance is excited to help welcome another unique and dynamic restaurant to our ever growing downtown.

Vansana Nolintha, and his sister Vanvisa, are the owners of Bida Manda. “The name of the restaurant is the Sanskrit ceremonial term for father and mother. We want to honor our parents in Laos who taught us everything we know about people, food, and hospitality. Our belief is that Bida Manda will become a gathering space for our community, a venue to share our culture, and above all else, a place to celebrate our exquisite yet unknown Laotian cuisine. Our downtown  is evolving into a vibrant community and we are grateful to take part in its progress and to contribute to its food and cultural diversity,” states Vansana.

According to David Diaz, CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, “We look forward to the ribbon cutting this summer!  Downtown’s momentum continues!”

My company just had its picnic at Angus Barn’s Pavilions and until I got the invitation in the mail, I didn’t even know it existed. I’m so glad that I know about it now! To be honest, I had no intention of blogging about this, especially since it was a rainy and untypically cool day for a late April day and, well, it was a company picnic. That is, until about 10 minutes after we got there. What a great place to hold an event, either corporate or private. Beautiful setting, superb service, excellent food. It’s a well-hidden gem behind the famous “barn” that houses the main restaurant, and I would jump at the chance to go back!

According to Angus Barn’s website, “The Pavilion seats 350 with additional space for 150 on the enclosable patio which can be quickly tented. Perhaps no other Raleigh area dining and event facility has a structure more adaptable to changing weather. It takes a mere 12 minutes to slide the removable walls of glass and cedar away and create a beautiful, open-air setting. If cold weather calls for a toasty environment, warm yourself inside by the skyscraping fireplace so tall that a person measuring 6’2” could stand in it.” The Pavilion is rustic, charming and cozy.

Plus it has a “Big Ass Fan” (seriously – look at the picture, that’s what it’s called) that is just too cool. And yes, it is huge.

Right outside is a beautiful lake that has a one-mile walking trail around it to enjoy when the weather is agreeable.

And even though it rained, the kids weren’t bored. There was the game truck, plus they played laser tag in the drizzle. They didn’t care. And some of the older “kids” had fun with corn hole!

But let’s turn to the food. Since our event was a picnic, we had traditional picnic-type fare, including burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, chicken wings (buffalo and barbecue), corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and ribs.

Oh my, the ribs – they were the hit of the picnic. Personally, I was not surprised, because the last few times I’ve eaten at Angus Barn I’ve opted for the ribs instead of steak because they are so, so, so delicious. On the way to the picnic I was hoping they’d be served and was thrilled when I saw a stacking heap of them. So were many of my coworkers!

There were some great desserts – awesome banana pudding and little velvety chocolate chess pie tart thingies.  And don’t let me forget about the table of hors d’oeuvres that included Angus Barn’s famous cheddar cheese spread and crackers. Yum.

But I do have to admit what thrilled me even more was that we were served by “Royal-ty.” That’s right, executive chef and Food Network’s Iron Chef winner, Walter Royal, was there, on a Sunday afternoon, serving up coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and lots of smiles. Lexi and Gabe were rightfully impressed (so was Aunt Kelley!)

Speaking of service, it was all great, just what you would expect from Angus Barn, and maybe even better. Top notch – we were all treated royally.

Thanks to FMI for a great company picnic and thanks to Angus Barn for your hospitality, great food and outstanding service. A number of my colleagues hope we can hold our holiday party here!

Eat, drink and be merry!

Kel’s Cafe of All Things Food

by Ron Wen http://trianglenc-restaurants.com/

As a season subscriber to Durham Performing Arts Center’s (DPAC) Broadway series, I’ve gotten to know the area really well when it comes to restaurants. Between the DPAC and the Durham Bulls, this revived neighborhood can get really busy, which is actually a great thing! With all the people flowing through the area, new restaurants and bars have popped up to take care of those hungry folks. Great eating options ranging from Mexican nouveau, casual Italian sandwiches, gourmet burgers and seasonal urban chic. So if you’re headed out to catch a show or game, there’s plenty of great food options within a walking or short driving distance of DPAC!

With most shows starting at 7:30 to 8:00 pm and ending at after 10pm you can certainly do dinner after the show but I for one, would find it hard to enjoy things with a rumbling tummy. And while you’ve got some uber-convenient options right at the American Tobacco Campus (Tylers, Mellow Mushroom, Cuban Revolution), I prefer to grab a bite away from the main DPAC drag. Mellow Mushroom is a favorite of mine but from what I’ve seen it can be jam-packed in Durham. I can’t imagine what it’s like before a popular show like Wicked. Tylers has decent pub grub but it’s not a great option for a night at the theater in my opinion. You might be better off just doing beer and cocktails here. And Cuban Revolution?! Online reviews have been ALL OVER the place for this restaurant with regards to food and service so I’d prefer to avoid it for a big night out.
View Best Restaurant, Dining Deals Around DPAC! in a larger map

So what’s my strategy for the DPAC? While season ticket holders get free private parking, I prefer to just head on over to Main Street between 5 – 6pm. You’re allowed one hour of parking until 6pm when it becomes free for the evening. So at 5pm there are typically free spaces (possibly with meters) that you can park in all night. If Main Street is full, try Chapel Hill Street or Parrish Street. It’s rare when I can’t find something within a couple of blocks near Main Street. As a bonus, you avoid traffic jams in a parking structure on the way home.

Once you’ve found a space, you’ve got some great restaurants within four blocks of Main Street and Mangum: Revolution, Piedmont, Dos Perros, Toast, Piedmont and Rue Cler! The easiest option is also probably the most expensive: Revolution. It’s a pretty little spot, very urban and chic with a seasonal menu and mere blocks away from DPAC. On theater nights, Revolution will get booked out so certainly make a reservation. Otherwise a seat at the fancy bar may be an alternative option. They serve the full menu and it’s a great place for small plates and classic cocktails. The dinner choices range from ahi poke to mussels, paparadelle to diver scallops. Revolution is definitely a place to impress your date and get the night started off with a bang!

Further north you’ll find Dos Perros, a fairly new nuevo latino-Mexican restaurant. On one side you’ll find a cozy bar area and the other, a very simple bare-bones dining room. But make no mistake about Dos Perros, it’s all about more unusual Mexican dishes from a variety of regions of the country. I’ve tried out their chicken mole poblano and empanadas, good stuff! Sitting at the bar with a cocktail and some appetizers is a great way to get your evening started. The restaurant is still finding its way with the menu but I think Dos Perros is a fine option for Mexican and the ambiance is cool and casual.

Some other good choices in the Main Street area are the Piedmont Restaurant and Rue Cler but both will require a bit of a walk to DPAC. Piedmont is similar to Revolution, it’s focused on seasonal Italian-French food. Decor is rustic European and pleasant. Service can be a bit hit or miss and at their price points, I find that a bit disappointing.

Rue Cler is a solid French bistro with great service. They’ve also got a very affordable ($30) three course prix fixe menu, perfect for theater night. Mix and match from the seasonal menu or from the a la carte portion to your heart’s content. Recently I had a lovely lentil soup, braised asparagus and steak frites with bearnaise sauce as my prix fixe meal. Either restaurant is a fine option, just keep the stiletto’s at home for ease of walking!

Now if you’re willing to drive a bit before or after the show, you’ve got some fantastic options further down on Main and Ninth Street. Pop’s Italian restaurant has moved into its new space at 605 W. Main Street and serves up home-made pasta, wonderful brick oven pizza and their classic: chicken under a brick. Over on Ninth Street you’ll find the under-rated Blu Seafood which is comfortably casual but you can also dress it up here. All their dishes are handled with a deft touch, I’ve had their signature crab mac n cheese, a great calamari appetizer along with delicious desserts. It’s definitely worth the drive from DPAC for a civilized dinner at either spot! Just give yourself enough time to find parking and hoof it over to the show.

One newer option that puts you steps away from the DPAC entrance is the lovely, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe. Yes, they’ve got tons of televisions. Yes, they serve pitchers of beer. But Tobacco Road Sports barely qualifies as a sports bar given its upscale decor, lovely full bar and solid service. While it may be difficult to get a table on show night, the area around the bar is first come, first served, order at the bar. And if THAT area is full, you can even sit at the patio on the other side of the bar! There’s plenty of space here but being so close to DPAC makes Tobacco Road Sports a very popular dining spot.

Tobacco Road Sports specializes in eclectic pub food so you’re sure to find something tasty here. Start with their buffalo chicken egg rolls or lettuce wraps to get things going. Try out the nachos drizzled in cheese sauce and add some chicken or shrimp to bling it out, fantastic! Their burgers are solid or go for their triple slider plate: hamburger, barbeque and corndog! After you’re done, take a leisurely short stroll past the fountain over to DPAC, you can’t be any closer than Tobacco Road Sports…

And don’t forget about Bull City Burger & Brewery and Dame’s Chicken and Waffles which I reviewed separately. Bull City Burger & Brewery spins out fresh beer brewed on the premises along with top-notch gourmet burgers. Most everything is made in-house at Bull City Burger. And Dame’s brings two of your favorite foods together with a Southern twist, who can say no to fried chicken and/or waffles? A couple of newer spots for a simple and hearty meal, no jacket required…

In the end it all just depends on your mood: fancy and frilly or tasty and simple! Getting in for an early dinner around DPAC is typically not that hard unless there’s something very popular showing. But in all honesty, sometimes I’m just in the mood for some small plates and apps before hitting the show. It can be a bit easier than doing a full, three course meal if you’re pressed for time. Just don’t go to the DPAC hungry because outside of some cookies, gelato, candied nuts and adult beverages, you won’t find much to tide you over for three hours! And it’s really hard to enjoy a show when you’re famished, take advantage of the great dining options in the area, bon appetit!

Revolution (Modern Eclectic)
Toast (Italian sandwiches, paninis)
Dos Perros (Nouveau Mexican)
Piedmont (Seasonal Continental)
Rue Cler (French)
Pops (Italian)
Blu Seafood (Seafood)
Tobacco Road Sports (American)
Bull City Burger & Brewery (American)
Dame’s Chicken and Waffles (Southern Soul)

[cardoza_wp_poll id=1]

The Mint Restaurant

Enjoy fine dining, a wonderful wine list, and sinful dessert menu at The Mint, 219 Fayetteville Street.  Chris Hylton, the Culinary Director of The Mint Restaurant, started his culinary career in Los Angeles, CA and most recently came to Raleigh from Washington, DC.

Tasteful wine selections

The atmosphere is unique with authentic vault doors and other bank-related memorabilia reminiscent of the building’s former occupants, but with a pleasant comfort.  If you prefer al fresco dining, the outdoor patio is lovely and feels like a New York café.

If you’re attending one of the many wonderful events at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, such as Jersey Boys, take the short walk to The Mint before or after the show.    You can leave your car parked where it is and stroll just four short blocks down Fayetteville Street directly from Progress Energy Center to The Mint.  You will leave “feeling like a million!”  www.themintrestaurant.com