December 23, 2010
Shane Ingram has firmly established himself as one of the top chefs in the Triangle, as his Four Square in Durham has been on Greg Cox’s top 25 lists for years. It’s been over ten years since Ingram opened Four Square, and this past summer, he opened a new place — ONE Restaurant (or, as they like to do on the website, [ONE] Restaurant — not sure if they get a penalty for excessive use of brackets).
Here’s what I know about [ONE]: It’s in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont Village. It appears to have an open kitchen. Its price points are somewhat high for what seems to be a relatively casual place, but they’re not outrageous by any means. The menu does not appear to be overly ambitious on first glance, but then looking at the accompaniments to the main dishes, you start to think that the menu is intentionally understated. And then you remember that this is Shane Ingram’s place. You know it will be pretty damn good.
And so, Greg Cox will be reviewing ONE tomorrow. Interestingly, Cox gave Four Square only 4 stars last year, hitting it hard for some service issues, but praising the food. The Yelpster crowd is very mixed on its assessment of ONE. I don’t really rely on the opinions of Yelp’s reviewers, but there was enough dissent here to throw me for a loop. I really think Greg will like ONE, giving it at 4 stars. I doubt, however, that he will be willing to give it that extra half star, and I wonder if he’ll dock it half a star. That’s the difficulty of this prognostication business. So I’m going to go with 4 stars, but I’ll be hedging a half star on either side.
Here are the odds.
5 stars — 7 to 1
4.5 stars – 3 to 2
4 stars — 1 to 1
3.5 stars — 3 to 2
3 stars — 4 to 1
2.5 stars — 7 to 1
2 stars — 14 to 1
1.5 stars — 20 to 1
1 star — 50 to 1
Place your bets, and let me know what you thought of [{(ONE)}].
*******************************
Edit, December 24, 2010 — It’s a 4 star review for ONE. [REALLY].
4 Comments | 
Chapel Hill, chefs, General, Restaurant Roulette | Tagged: Four Square, Greg Cox, News & Observer, ONE Restaurant, Restaurant Review Roulette, Shane Ingram | 
Permalink
Posted by Varmint
October 12, 2010
Yes, I love the Southern Foodways Alliance. Yes, I’m a member. And yes, I’ve even been nominated to be on its Board of Directors. So it should be no surprise to you that I’ll do just about anything this organization asks of me — not just because I’m a good soldier, but because there’s nothing this organization does that I don’t support. Whether it’s a fundraiser for their film or oral history initiatives or for scholarships for burgeoning food writers, I’m going to spread the word.
This time, however, it’s different. This time, the event is to celebrate a cookbook. A fantastic, spiral-bound, community cookbook, suitably named, “The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook.” The cookbook is divided into chapters that represent the region’s iconic foods: Gravy, Garden Goods, Roots, Greens, Rice, Grist, Yardbird, Pig, The Hook, The Hunt, Put Up, and Cane. It’s been edited, written and compiled by some of my favorite people in the world, including April McGreger, baker and pickler extraordinaire of Farmer’s Daughter in Carrboro, Chapel Hill’s great cooking instructor, Sheri Castle, and Sara Roahen, author of the fantastic book on New Orleans, “Gumbo Tales.” Heck, I even submitted a recipe for the book — and yes, it is a recipe for cooking one type of varmint.
To celebrate the release of the book, there are not one, but two events planned for this weekend in Chapel Hill.
The first event is this Friday, October 15th, at Foster’s Market in Chapel Hill (750 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd). This event is a book signing and is free to the public — and, yes, there will be a little bit of food there.
The second event has a lot of food, and this is a ticketed event. It will be on Sunday at 4:00 PM at Chapel Hill’s 3CUPS (227 South Elliott Rd.). If you just want to come and eat, it’ll cost you $25. If you want one of these awesome cookbooks (all the cool kids have them), then that will cost you an additional 15 bucks. That’s less than the Amazon price! So, you get a soon-to-be iconic cookbook, lots of great food (with both cake and pie, as there will be a debate about which is better), lots of social interaction with writers, and all on a Sunday evening! And because it is 3CUPS, there will be wine. Tasty, wonderful wine.
So, get off your butt and head to Chapel Hill this weekend to buy a book — the best community cookbook ever! And if you need more information, just check out the SFA’s Blog.
5 Comments | Books, Chapel Hill, Cooking, Events, Food writing, General, Recipes, sfa, Southern food, Southern Food Culture | Tagged: 3CUPS, April McGreger, Cookbooks, Foster's Market, Sarah Roahen, sfa, Sheri Castle, Southern food, Southern Foodways Alliance, Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
August 5, 2010
Yeah, you read that headline right, and before you get too excited about this possible claim, realize that I’m not saying The Fearrington House is definitely the best restaurant in the Triangle, but it is certainly a contender. It’s that good. But first, a little story of my relationship with this great Chatham County place. Read the rest of this entry »
9 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Chapel Hill, chefs, General, Restaurants | Tagged: Chatham County, Colin Bedford, Country Inns, Dean Smith, Fearrington House, Jenny Fitch, Restaurants | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
June 24, 2010
I’ve heard many people tell me that it would be a great job to be a restaurant reviewer, where you actually get paid to eat out and write about it. I thought along the same lines several years ago until I actually got to know a few people who reviewed restaurants for a living, including our own Greg Cox. And one of the reasons I wouldn’t want that job is because in a market like this, you eventually have to write a review on a restaurant like Shula’s 347 Grill. Now I have nothing against Don Shula, the former coach of the Miami Dolphins (I grew up a Dolphins’ fan until I saw the light with my beloved Green Bay Packers), and I know he has steakhouses all across the country. I also like steak. But the problem with a place like Shula’s 347 Grill is that it’s pretty much the same as any other steakhouse in any city in the country. Look at the menu and find me one dish that you haven’t seen in a bunch of other places. So the problem with a place like Shula’s 347 Grill (and by the way, the 347 comes from the number of wins Shula had in the NFL) is not with the food, but with the review. I mean, how do you write something interesting about a place that you’ve seen time and time again? That’s the challenge for Greg Cox, and although I’m sure he’ll write a nice review, I’m also confident that it wasn’t his favorite assignment of the year.
But onto the review. I think that when it comes to steakhouses, it’s all about the beef and the value for Cox. First, the steaks have to be really damn good, or the place will not get a great review. Second, the place has to provide food at prices that don’t shock the consciousness. I’m pretty sure that Shula’s has decent steaks, but I have no clue about the value of the place. How expensive are the sides? If they’re pricey, is there a reasonable justification for the expense? I don’t know the answer to these questions as the Shula’s online menu provides no prices.
But if I had to bet, I’m thinking that Shula’s is going to be a solid 3.5 star review. The Angus Barn and Sullivan’s were both awarded 4 stars, whereas Fleming’s only got 3 stars. What’s the difference between these? I haven’t a clue — and that’s part of my point above, where steakhouses are so similar that trying to state one is better than the next is quite difficult.
Anyhow, here are this week’s odds:
5 stars — 60 to 1
4.5 stars – 20 to 1
4 stars — 4 to 1
3.5 stars — 2 to 1
3 stars — 3 to 1
2.5 stars — 7 to 1
2 stars — 15 to 1
1.5 stars — 45 to 1
1 star — 210 to 1
Have you been to Shula’s? Is it a touchdown or a fumble (ugh, sorry about that)?
****************************
Edit, June 25, 2010 — Greg Cox gave Shula’s 347 Grill 3.5 stars. And that’s all I have to say about that.
2 Comments | Chapel Hill, General, Restaurant Roulette | Tagged: Chapel Hill, Don Shula, Greg Cox, News & Observer, Restaurant Review Roulette, Shula's 347 Grill | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
April 7, 2010
This is a blatant rip-off of a recent piece in the Seattle Weekly, but I don’t give a damn. Here are a few local restaurants that could be a sex shop if you didn’t know any better. Sure, I may be making fun of some foreign language issues, but I’ll get over it if you do.
7. Humble Pie — Frankly, any place with the word “pie” in it will qualify here, but this Raleigh institution fit the bill.
6. Wang’s Kitchen — This is a silly, slightly politically incorrect take.
5. Fu Kee Express — See above, but this one is a lot funnier. If you need a quickie . . .
4. Buns — So simple. Sir Mix-A-Lot would like it here.
3. Woody’s — Anyone with this name deserves a spot here.
2. Twisted Noodle — I really don’t want to think too much what might go on in this place.
1. Jerk Masters — They’re the absolute best when it comes to a nice jerk.
Honorable Mentions: Pho Cali (come on, say it out loud), Roast Grill (actually, just for their “Hot Weiners” sign), Casalinga (sounds dirty to me), Hot Pot, Globe.
4 Comments | Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Sex Shops, Triangle Restaurants | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
January 21, 2010
This Sunday and Monday, a number of Triangle-based restaurants will be donating 10% of their proceeds to two charities for the relief efforts in Haiti. This effort was initiated on Facebook by local chefs and foodies, and as of the time of this post, there are 20 restaurants participating. Here’s the list of confirmed restaurants:
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
Watt’s Grocery (Durham)
Bogart’s American Grill (Raleigh)
Crook’s Corner (Evening Service Only – Chapel Hill)
Cup A Joe (Chapel Hill)
HI5 (Raleigh)
Joe Van Gogh (Durham)
Michael Dean’s Seafood Grill (Raleigh)
Milltown (Carrboro)
Panzanella (Carrboro)
Red Room Tapas Lounge (Raleigh)
Saladelia Cafe (Durham)
Saxapahaw General Store (Saxapahaw)
Southern Rail (Carrboro)
The Mash House (Fayetteville)
Twisted Fork (Raleigh)
West End Wine Bar (Durham)
MONDAY, JANUARY 25
ACME Food and Beverage Co. (Carrboro)
Cup A Joe (Chapel Hill)
Cypress On The Hill (Chapel Hill)
Foster’s Market (Durham/Chapel Hill)
GlassHalFull (Carrboro)
Globe Restaurant (Raleigh)
Joe Van Gogh (Durham)
Lantern (Chapel Hill)
Mad Hatter’s Bakeshop and Cafe (Durham)
Neal’s Deli (Carrboro)
Parker and Otis (Durham)
Pop’s (Durham)
Rockwood Filling Station (Durham)
Ruckus Pizza Pasta and Spirits (Cary)
Rue Cler (Durham)
Sandwhich (Chapel Hill)
Six Plates Wine Bar (Durham)
Toast (Durham)
Tyler’s Restaurant and Tap Room (Carborro, Durham and Apex)
West End Wine Bar (Chapel Hill)
Zely and Ritz (Raleigh)
More information on this fantastic effort can be found on this Facebook page or this new blog that’s been started. The blog says that 10% of profits will be donated to the charities, but that is a misprint. It is 10% of sales. So go to brunch on Sunday and then to dinner on Monday. And spread the word!
(Edited to reflect changes to participating restaurants at 8:15 AM, 1/23/10)
9 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Cary, Chapel Hill, chefs, Durham, Events, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Charity, Dine Out for Haiti, Dining, Haiti, Restaurants, Triangle | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
September 25, 2009
We’ve all participated in food drives where you donate canned goods or other shelf-stable items to go to a food bank. It’s a great gesture, and I’m sure that lots of people get fed that way, but these are, by there very nature, processed foods.
I’ve never really seen a food drive involving fresh food, until now.
The Carrboro Farmers’ Market is holding the “FoodShare Challenge” tomorrow, September 26, from 8 AM until noon, where patrons of the market are encouraged to donate an extra bag of fresh food to feed the hungry. The Farmers’ Market has always been active in helping with hunger causes, donating over 7,500 pounds this summer, but on Saturday, the goal is for customers to donate over 1,000 pounds in a single day.
Andrea Reusing of Chapel Hill’s Lantern Restaurant, has provided generous support to this cause, as have a number of local organizations and businesses.
For more information on the FoodShare Program call or email Margaret Gifford at 919.967.6464 or mgw@well.com, or Sarah Blacklin at 919.280.3326 or info@carrborofarmersmarket.com.
2 Comments | Chapel Hill, chefs, Restaurants | Tagged: Andrea Reusing, Carrboro Farmers' Market, Feed the Hungry, Hunger, Lantern | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
July 8, 2009
The News & Observer’s Andrea Weigl has put together a list of the top 50 food items/icons in the Triangle, and boy, what a list it is! And you know what? There’s no way in hell I could have come close to doing such a great job. Now mind you, there are a lot more than 50 things on this list as Weigl has a number of groupings, such as women chefs (Andrea Reusing, Amyu Trnquist and Ashley Christensen) as a single listing.
So go to the multi-media presentation and check out the listing. What did she miss? What should not be included?
Edit: Oh my goodness, this blog got a mention as #42 on the list! Thanks, Andrea!!!
15 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Cary, Chapel Hill, chefs, Durham, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Andrea Weigl, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Food, News & Observer, Raleigh, Top 50 in the Triangle | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
May 18, 2009
Bill Smith, the Beard-nominated chef at the place where Southern cooking was re-born, Chapel Hill’s Crook’s Corner, has graciously donated a cooking class for 10 people for the Band Together silent auction on June 6. The winner of this item and 9 of his or her friends will cook in the restaurant’s kitchen on a Monday night this summer, where Smith will teach them how to make some of Crook’s classic dishes. Alternatively, Smith could offer instruction on a single theme, such as the different ways to cook a duck (confit, pate’, roastd breast, etc.). The winning bidder will work out the details with Smith. And then everyone can taste their hard work in the bar area of Crook’s.
This is another example of the amazing generosity of the Triangle’s chefs in helping out the Lucy Daniels Center, the designated charity of Band Together. Get your tickets now and bid on some great culinary experiences.
Leave a Comment » | Chapel Hill, chefs, General, Restaurants | Tagged: Band Together, Bill Smith, Crooks Corner, Lucy Daniels Center | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
April 29, 2009
The second annual Triangle Restaurant Week will be held across the Triangle on May 11-17. Restaurant Week has been a fixture in other cities for years, where restaurants offer a three-course menu for a low, fixed price. For the Triangle event, lunch will cost $15 and dinner will be $25. Many restaurants typically provide a special “Restaurant Week” menu, but other places allow diners to order off the menu, recognizing that they want their customers to experience the full menu. As I learn more details, I’ll report back here.
Last year, Restaurant Week only included restaurants in Raleigh, but the event has truly expanded by including a number of Durham and Cary-based establishments.
Some of the restaurants that I would consider checking out include Four Square, 18 Seaboard, Jibarra, Il Palio, Frazier’s, and Sitti. There are currently 48 places that are participating this year, which is fantastic growth. Go to the Triangle Restaurant Week website for more information.
6 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Food, Restaurants, Triangle Restaurant Week | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
February 17, 2009
Damn it, Chapel Hill gets all the luck. This small town is already full of great chef-driven restaurants. Places like Lantern, Bonne Soiree, and Elaine’s. Then there are the old, great stand-bys like Crooks, La Residence and whatever they’re putting out at the Siena. And now there’s a new kid in town: Cypress on the Hill. I just learned about this place today thanks to a tip from one of my readers, and based on the menu, I’m looking forward to a trip to my old college town to give it a try. Chef Alex Gallis has been Chef de Cuisine at Magnolia Grill for the last five years, and his menu shows his training under Ben Barker: locally-sourced ingredients prepared with a Southern touch. But I also see that Gallis isn’t afraid to explore new concepts, using Asian ingredients (soba noodles, mizuna, pickled ginger) and techniques, too.
Restaurants with a Southern cuisine have struggled a bit in the Triangle lately, but I’ve come to believe that college towns are where they will still work. If the food is as good as it appears, I suspect that Cypress on the Hill (COTH? — er, maybe not) will be hanging around for awhile.
Cypress on the Hill is in the old Trail Shop on West Franklin Street, next to Ham’s. They’re open for dinner Monday through Saturday. Dinner and dessert menus, which change weekly, are available online.
308 West Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
919.537.8817
9 Comments | Chapel Hill, chefs, Restaurants | Tagged: Alex Gallis, Chapel Hill, Cypress on the Hill, Food, Restaurants | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
January 26, 2009
You have a chance to be on television if you head down to The Pit on Wednesday, as the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food show will be filming there. The crew is supposed to arrive around 3:00 PM, hanging out with Ed Mitchell and his staff, and then they’ll try to get a feel for the place as Mitchell hangs out with customers around 6. In honor of this special filming, The Pit is offering two specials:
- a double combo with Carolina Ribs and Chopped Hog with two sides for $14.99 (normally $19.59)
- all you can eat Chopped Hog and two sides also for $14.99 (not normally offered)
Host Adam Richman and his crew will also be at Mama Dip’s and the Roast Grill — where Richman will be eating 15 “hot weiners” along with 15 buns, a half pint of mustard, one pint of chili sauce and three drinks (small bottles of Coke, I presume). The show is scheduled to air at 10 PM on March 18.
7 Comments | Barbecue, Chapel Hill, chefs, Events, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Adam Richman, Ed Mitchell, Food, Mama Dip's, Man v. Food, Raleigh, Roast Grill, The Pit, Travel Channel | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
November 20, 2008
Andrea Reusing, chef of Chapel Hill’s wonderful Lantern, recently signed on with publisher Clarkson Potter for worldwide rights to a new cookbook. According to a trade publication news release, seven different publishers were competing for the rights to the book. The cookbook will feature over 100 recipes organized by season, with an emphasis on cooking with local ingredients, one of Reusing’s focuses at Lantern.
This is no “Lantern Cookbook,” however. “I wanted to do a book about cooking at home, focusing on using local ingredients,” Reusing told me. “I wanted to create a snapshot of our local food community and not focus on any single ethnicity. I want this cookbook to be used, with food stains on the pages. I don’t want it to sit on a coffee table.”
The book does not yet have a title, and unfortunately, won’t be out until the fall of 2010. But the writing has begun. Her first draft is due in a year, and trying to write while managing a restaurant and parenting two small children will be quite a challenge, but nothing should surprise us anymore about Reusing. As we wait for the cookbook to come out, we’ll all just have to go to Chapel Hill and get the real goods right from the source.
1 Comment | Books, Chapel Hill, chefs, Food writing, General, Restaurants | Tagged: Andrea Reusing, Chapel Hill, Cookbooks, Food, Lantern | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
September 20, 2008
Andra Reusing, chef of Chapel Hill’s fantastic Lantern restaurant, is prominently featured in the October edition of Gourmet. This is not a simple little fluff piece. This is a HUGE article featuring nearly a dozen recipes from the restaurant. Tons of photos. We’re talking major publicity here. Reusing has been on a roll lately, being written up in Food & Wine, the NY Times, and the fairly new glossy, Garden & Gun. Sure, she’s got a great publicist, but without her cooking ability, Reusing wouldn’t attract the attention of anyone.
This is the second chef who started at Raleigh’s Enoteca Vin to get a spot in one of the major food mags, and we’re all very lucky to have such culinary stars in our midst. I’ve never met Reusing, but I’ve eaten her cooking, and damn, it’s fine. And the fact that she’s so commited to sourcing local ingredients, including heirloom pigs, makes it even better.
So run out and get a copy of Gourmet (the article isn’t online, apparently) and make a couple of recipes. Then head over to Lantern and compare your cooking with Reusing’s. And be humbled.
1 Comment | Best Of the Triangle, Chapel Hill, chefs, General, Restaurants | Tagged: Andrea Reusing, Chapel Hill, Food, Lantern | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
June 9, 2008
Many gastronomes have a food “epiphany,” and I’m no exception. It was either 1985 or 1986, and my roommate and I went to Crook’s Corner for the first time. Crook’s was still run by Bill Neal, the “godfather” of Southern cooking, and I remember that meal like it was yesterday. She crab soup. Pimento cheese. Shrimp and grits. And a dessert that has become my primary summer staple — a four berry cobbler featuring sweet butter biscuits.
I talked to Bill Neal a fair amount back then, when I’d sit at the bar, being completely clueless about food and slowly soaking things in. I was a major science geek — working on my Ph.D. in molecular pathology of all things — but I had a love for history. And Bill Neal was certainly a food historian. Read the rest of this entry »
6 Comments | Chapel Hill, chefs, General, Recipes, Southern food | Tagged: Berries, Bill Neal, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cobbler, Dessert, Food, Fruit, Raspberry, Strawberry | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
April 27, 2008
Jason Perlow, who is in the Triangle for several months, has a fantastic podcast with Jujube’s Charlie Deal. Give Jason credit, he really takes the time to get the story and is an excellent interviewer. Check out the great photos of Jujube’s food and the great interview with Charlie.
Leave a Comment » | Best Of the Triangle, Chapel Hill, Podcasts, Restaurants | Tagged: Charlie Deal, Food, Jason Perlow, Jujube, Off the Broiler, Podcasts | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
February 16, 2008
Ballots for the 2008 James Beard Awards have been sent to the judges, and there are a number of Triangle chefs and restaurants on this very long list. Just being on the ballot is an honor (OK, the founder of the Chipotle chain is there, so maybe not such an honor), although these have rarely been leaked to the public before.
Here are the locals who received a mention:
Best Chef: Southeast
Scott Howell, Nana’s
Andrea Reusing, Lantern
Chip Smith, Bonne Soiree
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Jeremy Sabo, South
Outstanding Restaurant
Magnolia Grill
Best New Restaurant
Watt’s Grocery
3 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Chapel Hill, chefs, Durham, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Food, James Beard Awards, RTP, Triangle | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
February 12, 2008
Over the past year or two, we in the Triangle have experienced a mini-boom in the number of chef-owned restaurants. Poole’s, Watt’s Grocery, Piedmont, Rue Cler, Bonne Soiree, and others. To the foodies of the world (and I include myself in that group), one gets a great buzz to eat at a chef-owned restaurant in the first few days after it’s opened. Chef-owned establishments are considered ultra-hip, and I even try to get to know the chefs, because that just makes me hip, too. Heh.
But when a new restaurant opens that isn’t owned by a chef, it just doesn’t get the same press. And I’m as guilty as anyone in that regard. I really started to understand my own bias when it came to Herons restaurant in the Umstead Hotel. I found myself unenthusiastic because Herons was, well, a hotel restaurant. And with The Mint just opening in downtown Raleigh, I certainly didn’t welcome it with much enthusiasm and even told some friends that I really didn’t have much interest in trying it. Was that lack of fervor due to its size, its controversial connections with the city of Raleigh, the menu, or because it seemed to be a place owned by a faceless investment group rather than a known chef? Would I have given as much attention to The Pit if it were just Greg Hatem’s company opening it, without the involvement of Ed Mitchell? Read the rest of this entry »
23 Comments | Cary, Chapel Hill, chefs, Durham, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Chef-owned restaurants, chefs, Food, Restaurants | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
January 8, 2008
Bill Smith, the chef at Crook’s Corner, is a very good friend and one of the more interesting people you’ll ever meet. He rides his bicycle to work everyday. He travels to Quebec every year to celebrate his birthday. He has gotten so close to his Mexican kitchen staff that he now takes at least one trip to Mexico each year. He keeps a notebook of just about everything he’s ever done. He co-founded the Cat’s Cradle (and still loves to go hear live music). He’s really a great cook and wrote one of the best cookbooks in the past year, Seasoned in the South. Bill and I traveled the Mississippi Delta back in October, looking for great hot tamales. He was a great travel companion, full of fantastic stories. Recently, he’s started something new: he’s a blogger! His blog, A Year in the Kitchen, gives a great perspective of his world — not just the ins and outs of running a restaurant, but the world around him — his staff, his family and his friends.
So check out Bill’s blog. And don’t be afraid to comment there, either.
1 Comment | Chapel Hill, chefs, Food writing, General, Restaurants, Southern food | Tagged: Bill Smith, Chef blogs, chefs, Crooks Corner, Food blogs | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
January 4, 2008
Greg Cox of the N&O announced his top 20 restaurants in the Triangle today. No big surprises, except he really listed 30 when including his top newcomers and best bargains. He also named Fins his restaurant of the year.
Some comments: Two Urban Food Group restaurants on the list, with Frazier’s and Vivace. Seven out of the top 20 are in Raleigh, six are in Durham. five in Chapel Hill, and one each for Cary and Morrisville. Only one of the top newcomers or bargains, however, are in Raleigh.
Finally, I found it interesting that he listed his top choices alphabetically, except for Jujube, which he listed last. Last minute change of thoughts? Overlooked something so obvious? Who knows?
List after the break.
Read the rest of this entry »
5 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Chapel Hill, Durham, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Greg Cox, News & Observer, Research Triangle, Restaurants | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
