October 31, 2011
I got back from the Southern Foodways Alliance’s annual Symposium, where the focus this year was on the “cultivated South.” And this is what I did:
- I hung out with a poet who knows how to spin verses on deviled eggs.
- I tasted the first olive oil produced east of the Mississippi in over a hundred years.
- I watched an opera. An opera about collard greens.
- I drank a Manhattan with the country’s leading cocktail authority.
- I ate a foot-long, heirloom radish.
- I made a hard apple cider float, with great cider from Foggy Ridge in Virginia and freshly made vanilla ice milk.
- I learned about the growth of community gardens in the parking lots of Atlanta.
- I helped raise $270,000 from some amazing generous individuals.
- I sang “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” with an owner of a popsicle shop.
- I sipped punch from a bathtub.
- I had lunch with the original publisher of Spin magazine.
- I ate a slice of wild boar prosciutto.
- I saw an amazing set of food-themed photographs from an incredibly talented young lady.
- I snacked on boiled peanuts while watching a film about, what else, boiled peanuts.
- I tasted far too many different bourbons than I can remember.
- I had some of the best fried chicken, while staring in awe at the customer beside me who devoured 8 pieces in 10 minutes.
- I took home a packet of pimento seeds, which I will plant in the spring.
- I sadly learned about the demise of the native mirliton, but also was happily informed of one man’s quest to bring it back.
- I spooned fig and bourbon preserves onto a country ham biscuit, confirming a match made in Southern heaven.
- I rode on a school bus with a woman who wore a different Elvis t-shirt every day.
- I had lunch with a fishmonger who brings seafood from the Gulf of Mexico to the West Coast.
- I discovered that people will come up with crazy variations on common games, such as “Sexual Jenga.” And no, I did not play it.
- I realized that I would like to have a bento box for lunch every day.
- I smiled after a talented friend “blinged up” my name tag with Hello Kitty stickers (and more).
- I chatted with one of the best chefs in the Triangle, only to learn that our families are from the same neck of the woods.
- I was proven wrong: someone does make a good fried pickle.
That’s what I did this weekend, and this was just the tip of the iceberg. What did you do?
Leave a Comment » | 
Events, General, sfa, Southern food, Southern Food Culture | Tagged: sfa, Southern Foodways Alliance | 
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Posted by Varmint
September 15, 2011
For the third year in a row I’m throwing my own Tacos and Tequila birthday party on the 25th. This old man is turning 48, and there’s nothing I like doing more than cooking for friends and family.
I typically make four different types of fillings for soft tacos, a red meat, a poultry, a seafood, and a vegetarian option. Sometimes I might make two red meats, depending on my mood.
I’m thinking about pork belly carnitas as one option, and maybe lamb for another red meat. Chicken? Not sure what to do. Suggestions welcome for that and the seafood selection. We fried a LOT of shrimp last year, but I may go with catfish this year. I just haven’t decided.
I have my friends bring tequila, beer and dessert. I do everything else. And if I’ve actually met you in person, and you didn’t get an invitation, let me know. If we’re not too crowded, you’re welcome to join us.
And really, if you have any ideas for an interesting taco type, let me know. I’ve really not decided on anything yet.
10 Comments | Cooking, Events | Tagged: Birthdays, Tacos | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
September 13, 2011
It seems that VarmintBites has turned into nothing more than a means to publicize fundraisers, but when one is on the Board of Directors of two different organizations having food-related fundraisers, well, you can understand.
So, this Sunday and Monday we’re having another Stir the Pot, those fantastic events hosted by Ashley Christensen to benefit the Southern Foodways Alliance. I’ve attended most of these events, and they’re a ton of fun, but this week is different.
This time, the guest chef of Stir the Pot is John Fleer, Rock Star. Yes, that’s the term used by John T. Edge, the Executive Director of the SFA. That’s a term I’ve heard Ashley Christensen use for him. Could it be because he was the celebrated chef of Blackberry Farm, one of the best inns in the country? Or that he left Blackberry at the height of his career and notoriety so he could do something that allowed him to spend more time with his familly? Like work at Sunburst Trout or take over as chef at Canyon Kitchen in Cashiers, NC.
Yes, those are good reasons to call him a rock star (and I’ve had his food — it’s rock star quality). But the real reason to call him a rock star is that he acts like one, and I have pictures to prove it. It’s been 4 years since I took these photos, and at the time I said they wouldn’t see the light of day, but I’m changing my tune. I’ve got pictures of Fleer chugging Southern Comfort. I’ve got pictures of him stealing a kid’s bicycle (OK, he just rode a bike laying on the street). No, I don’t have a photo of him passed out, but I can try.
The problem is, you don’t get to see these photos unless you attend one of the Stir the Pot events. The fancy, five-course dinner with wine pairings prepared by Chef Fleer is at Poole’s Diner on Sunday night at 7 PM. The Monday evening potluck is at Ashley Christensen’s home (Brunswick stew, beer by Foothills Brewing, a drink by Fox Liquor bar, and wine donated by Eliza Kraft Olander. The Sunday dinner is $150 per person plus tax and tip, whereas the Monday potluck is $35 per person plus a side dish or dessert that celebrates your sense of place, wherever that may be.
Reservations are required and space is limited. Call Poole’s Diner at 919-832-4477 to reserve your spot for either or both nights.
So go ahead and sign up. And maybe these photos will end up on display.
1 Comment | Best Of the Triangle, chefs, Events, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: sfa, Southern Foodways Alliance, Stir the Pot; John Fleer | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
September 12, 2011
You like Herons restaurant in the Umstead, don’t you?
And you love the Shimmer Wall, Marbles Museum and the cool ring sculpture on the lawn behind the North Carolina Museum of Art, right (it’s called Gyre, for what it’s worth)?
Well, what would you think about an event where that particular artist, Raleigh’s own Thomas Sayre, and the Herons’ chef, Scott Crawford, combine forces for a once in a lifetime event? An event where Chef Crawford, and some other amazing guest chefs (including Colin Bedford from the Fearrington House and Matthew Medure of Jacksonville, FL) create food inspired by Sayre’s art? Where the chefs and the artists come together and talk about how they inspire each other?
This event — Expressions, A Celebration of Food and Art — is happening on Friday, September 23rd at the Umstead Hotel and Spa. This event benefits the Lucy Daniels Center, and I need you, my readers, to step up and buy a seat or two. You’ll be the recipient of some amazing food and wine that will knock your socks off. You’ll learn about the creative process for chefs and artists. And you’ll be helping out an amazing organization — the Lucy Daniels Center — the Triangle’s leading provider of mental health services to children.
I’m begging you to come to this event (I’m the chair of the board of the Center), and you won’t regret it. Heck, if you buy a seat at this dinner, I’ll double your value. I’ll cook a special dinner for anyone who buys a seat and mentions that they heard about it through VarmintBites. So, that means you get the dinner at Herons and then a dinner at my house. Yes, the Herons dinner will be better, but mine won’t be too shabby, either. We’ll have to work out the logistics, but if 24 people buy seats and mention my site, then I’ll have to figure out a way to cook another dinner for 24. Yes, I might have to break it into three dinners of eight, but we’ll get it done.
To buy tickets online, go here: https://jtsuther.wufoo.com/forms/expressions-registration/ And when you list the guests, mention “Referred by Varmint” to be added to the dinner list. We’ll follow up with you.
If you have questions, call the Center at 919-459-1611 and ask for Patti Wilt.
Leave a Comment » | Best Of the Triangle, Cary, chefs, Events, Restaurants | Tagged: Colin Bedford, Fearrington House, Herons, Lucy Daniels Center, Matthew Medure, Scott Crawford, Thomas Sayre, Umstead Hotel and Spa | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
August 12, 2011
OK, admit it. Ashley Christensen is a rock star. Not just Raleigh’s rock star, but she has national attention now. We’re just lucky to have her here.
So when Ashley Christensen supports a cause, like she does with her Stir the Pot events for the Southern Foodways Alliance, it must mean a lot to her. And because I’m a member of the board of directors of the SFA, well, dammit, I want you to join Ashley, me and a bunch of other great people this Sunday and Monday.
If you want some kick-ass, high end food and wine, get a reservation for Sunday’s special dinner at Poole’s featuring chef Ed Lee of Louisville, KY’s 610 Magnolia. This guy can flat out cook, so this will be an incredible dinner (with fantastic wine, of course). The dinner will cost you $150 plus tax and tip, but the money goes to the SFA’s documentary film initiatives.
But in this economy, I understand if you can’t swing a big ticket item like Sunday’s dinner. So just plan on joining us at Ashley’s lovely home Monday evening for the “Industry Potluck.” Make something tasty, and then bring it and a check for $35, and you’ll get to rub elbows with a lot of local food celebs, including chefs and food writers.
So, what’s your excuse? Pick up the phone and call Poole’s at 832-4477 to make your reservations. See you soon!
3 Comments | chefs, Events, Raleigh | Tagged: Ashley Christensen, Ed Lee, Southern Foodways Alliance, Stir the Pot | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
June 9, 2011
Ashley Christensen, chef and owner of Raleigh’s Poole’s Diner, will be on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” on July 24 at 10 PM. Christensen chose Iron Chef Bobby Flay as her competition, which was recorded some time now. Although some news leaked out that Ashley was on Iron Chef, the details have been highly confidential, including the outcome. I believe she is the second local chef to appear on the show, as Walter Royal of the Angus Barn beat Cat Cora in 2007 several years ago.
6 Comments | chefs, Events, General, Raleigh | Tagged: Ashley Christensen, Bobby Flay, Iron Chef America, Poole's Diner | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
November 4, 2010
As I wrote earlier, Ashley Christensen of Poole’s Diner is preparing a very special barbecue dinner to benefit the Lucy Daniels Center. This won’t be any ordinary barbecue, however.
Ashley cures the pork for 3 days, with a special rub of salt and other herbs and spices. This turns the pork into the most amazingly succulent swine you’ll ever taste. But then she slowly smokes that pig over nut wood (typically pecan) for hours and hours, until a nice, crust is formed and the meat is redolent of that sweet smoke. Of course, she has her own take on sauce.
You know it will be good. No, you know it will be the best damn barbecue you’ve ever had.
But there will also be beer. And we’re talking about beer that was created to be served with barbecue: Fullsteam’s Hogwash, which is a hickory-smoked porter. We’ll also be serving the Fullsteam Carolina Common, a lighter beer for those who prefer it that way.
And as far as side dishes are concerned, you won’t be disappointed. Don’t expect some limp green beens or dried out corn sticks. There will even be a special Brunswick Stew. And banana pudding so good, it’ll make you want to smack someone. I mean, kiss them.
We will have some of Ashley’s roast chicken for those who don’t eat pork. And if you’ve had that chicken before, it’s the best. Anywhere.
But I need you to buy tickets to this dinner. Yeah, it’s pricey, but it’s for an amazing cause. The Lucy Daniels Center is the Triangle’s leading non-profit provider of children’s mental health services. Why is this a big deal? Because in this economy, with so many people unemployed, it’s harder than ever on children. And parents don’t have the resources to pay for the help their kids’ needs. The Lucy Daniels Center provides some sort of financial assistance to 90% of the families who receive care. A large portion of those families receive care for free.
So I ask you — No, I BEG you — please go to the Lucy Daniels website and buy tickets to the dinner. Or call Patti Wilt at 919.459.1611. You’ll have a great meal. You’ll enjoy the beer. And you’ll know you’ve done something very special for families in need. And there’s nothing better than that feeling. Not even the banana pudding.
Buy tickets thru PayPal here: http://www.lucydanielscenter.org/page/pooles-diner-to-host-q-for-kids-fundraiser-november-7
Or call Patti Wilt at the Lucy Daniels Center at 919.459.1611
Adults are $75, kids under 14 are $35, and all but $25 is tax deductible. Sorry, no beer for the kids.
1 Comment | Best Of the Triangle, chefs, Events, Family and Food, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Ashley Christensen, Barbecue, Fullsteam, Lucy Daniels Center, North Carolina Barbecue, Poole's Diner | 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 30, 2010
I’m going to make this a very short post: go to the Cary or Glenwood Avenue Chipotle Tuesday (August 31) evening with this flyer, and 50% of the proceeds go to the Lucy Daniels Center. I’m the Chair of the Center’s Board, so please think about doing this. It’s a worthy cause, and Chipotle is pretty good for a chain.
Don’t forget the flyer!
Chipotle_fundraiser
1 Comment | Events, General | Tagged: Chipotle, Lucy Daniels Center | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
August 6, 2010
As I’ve previously written, my wife and I host an interactive dinner party for my law firm each summer. The primary purpose of this party is to ensure that everyone in attendance plays some role in the production of the dinner, whether it’s prepping, plating, busing, or shaking cocktails. That way, we put people in situations that are a bit different from our office environment, such as when a first year associate is telling our managing partner that he’s screwing up the composition of the plate. It’s a multi-course affair, and with the exception of one year when I did Louisiana-inspired food, I’ve made Italian fare. That’s because Italian is easy, particularly for a big crowd.
This year, however, I’m doing something different — Southern food. Some of my chef friends gave me some ideas for dishes, and then I got other inspirations from items that are fresh at the market. Here’s my tentative menu (the dinner is on the 14th), listing who provided or inspired the idea. If no one is listed, then I’ve sort of pulled that one together from multiple sources. I’d appreciate comments and suggestions, particularly if there’s a way to make it easier on myself. There will be 34 guests this year. Eek!
Cocktails
Blackberry Collins –Vodka infused with Lyon Farms Blackberries, House-made Sour, Club Soda (inspired by Karen Barker of Magnolia Grill, but I’m likely using this for the SFA Potluck on Monday) -OR-
Whiskey Barrel Punch — Bourbon, pomegranate, lemon, Angostora bitters, sparkling wine
Hors d’Ouevres
Smoked deviled eggs with trout caviar – Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner, Raleigh, NC
Country ham and cheddar pretzel bites – Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville, KY
Dinner
Roasted Figs, Celebrity Dairy Goat Cheese, Allan Benton’s aged country ham
Green tomato soup with lump crab, Benton’s bacon and tomato relish – Ben Barker, Magnolia Grill, Durham, NC
Creamed Collard and goat cheese ravioli with smoked turkey consommé– John Currence, City Grocery, Oxford, MS
Shrimp n’ corn – NC Shrimp with creamed corn, duck cracklins, okra
Lamb Loin, Pink Eye Pea and Zucchini Salad, Tomato-mint jam
Dessert
Brown sugar pound cake with roasted peaches and molasses crème fraiche – Karen Barker, Magnolia Grill, Durham, NC
I may throw in an intermezzo course of a slice of watermelon with heirloom tomato and some Pheta from Chapel Hill Creamery, inspired by Bill Smith’s great salad at Crook’s Corner.
2 Comments | Cooking, Events, General | Tagged: Cooking, Dinner Party, Entertaining, Southern food | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
August 5, 2010
I had the pleasure of attending the Stir the Pot event at Poole’s Diner a couple of months ago that featured the cooking of Charleston chef and wonderboy Sean Brock, and what a great event it was. It was great because Brock and Chef Ashley Christensen put together some fantastic food, mixing the traditional and the contemporary. It was great because Matt Fern hooked us up with some incredible wines. It was great because I got to eat and mingle with chefs, food writers, and folks like me who love food.
But it was truly great because this event supported the Southern Foodways Alliance. I’ve written about the SFA a number of times, but this is an organization that truly understands what food is all about. It isn’t about adding notches to your restaurant belt, showing how many of the hottest places you eaten. It isn’t about the hottest or latest trend. What it is about is the role of food in our society. It’s about the camaraderie of individuals who care about food. It’s about what food — and particularly Southern food — means to me and you and anyone else who cares about what he or she eats. I’ve made dozens of great friends through the SFA. I know so much more about food because of the SFA. I’ve convinced chefs that they need to get involved in the SFA, and once they did, they haven’t stopped thanking me. And even though I’m not a chef or food writer or TV producer, I’m still accepted by those who are. It’s a non-judgmental organization.
And this Sunday and Monday, you can help the SFA while having some incredible food. Ashley Christensen and Poole’s Diner will be having their second round of Stir the Pot, featuring the talents of Alex Raij and Eder Montero, the wife and husband owners of New York’s Txikito, the city’s only Basque restaurant and El Quinto Pino, the city’s best tapas place. These are big-time New York chefs, and just because you haven’t seen their faces all over the Food Network, they’re the real deal. And we’re lucky to have them.
On Sunday, Poole’s will be hosting Raij and Montero for a wonderful dinner, which will start at 6:30 PM with lots of sparkling wine (Spanish, I’m betting) and creative Spanish finger foods. This will be followed by a 5 course dinner, with wine accompaniments. The cost is $150, plus tax and tip. I know our dining budgets are tight these days, but remember, you’re also supporting an incredible organization with the SFA. You’ll also get to have discussions with the chefs.
On Monday evening from 6-9, Ashley Christensen will be hosting a potluck at her home. The potluck is for everyone–restaurant industry folks, writers, beverage enthusiasts, home cooks and people who with a general love for food and its history. A main course of black cherry smoked beer can-roasted chicken and wine to match will be provided, along with some fantastic beer from my buddies at Fullsteam Brewery and signature cocktails from the mixologists at Foundation. Just bring a dish for the potluck (I’m bringing some vodka that has been steeping in blackberries for 2 months) and a check for $35 payable to the Southern Foodways Alliance.
Please call Poole’s at 832-477 to make reservations for either or both of these great events.
Leave a Comment » | chefs, Events, Raleigh, Restaurants, Southern Food Culture | Tagged: Alex Raij, Ashley Christensen, Eder Montero, El Quinto Pino, Matt Fern, Poole's Diner, sfa, Southern Foodways Alliance, Stir the Pot, Txikito | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
April 13, 2010
If there were ever a match made in heaven, it would be whole hog North Carolina barbecue with local swamp-trash rockers, Southern Culture on the Skids. But it ain’t heaven, it’s Davie Street in downtown Raleigh this Saturday at the second annual North Carolina ‘Cuegrass Festival. I love how they state that the festival features the “bluegrass music by Southern Culture on the Skids.” Er, SCOTS is not a bluegrass band. SCOTS is not anywhere close to a bluegrass band. But SCOTS is a perfect band to play at a festival featuring Southern food, and particularly barbecue (fried chicken and banana pudding would be great, too). Now there are some legit bluegrass bands playing at ‘Cuegrass, so fans of banjo picking and fiddle playing need not worry about getting your fill of tunes.
The festival is put on by the folks at The Pit restaurant in Raleigh, and it’s a huge fundraiser to support the W.C. Breeze Family Farm, a 270-acre educational farm near Hillsborough devoted to sustainable agriculture, and the North Carolina Future Farmers of America , a student farmers’ education group. Barbecue sandwich plates, beef brisket sandwich plates, and beer (great local stuff) each will sell for $5. Pretty simple, and pretty reasonable (where’s that nanner puddin’??). And who knows, maybe Greg Hatem, Ed Mitchell and the other folks at Empire Eats will expand this festival to bring in other pitmasters from across the country, as is the case with the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. We need that type of party here in North Carolina!
North Carolina ‘Cuegrass Festival
Saturday, April 17
11 AM to 4 PM (Rain or Shine)
328 W. Davie St., Raleigh, NC
Free entry
www.cuegrass.com
1 Comment | Barbecue, Events, General, Raleigh | Tagged: Barbecue, Ed Mitchell, Festivals, Raleigh, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Pit | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
March 24, 2010
Whenever restaurants and chefs give back to the community, by participating in fundraisers, I like to toot their horns. When it’s my friends who are doing this, I really let the world (well, the world that is the Triangle) know. Here are two great examples.
Ashley Christensen of Poole’s Diner is very passionate about giving back to the community. I’ve asked her to donate her time for fundraisers, and she’s always come through. She’s particularly devoted to the Frankie Lemmon School and Foundation, but this time around, she’s not cooking for a cause, she’s going to sit her butt on a fitness cycle and spin away, trying to raise TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to support the building of a children’s playground. She’s less than a thousand dollars from her goal, so please go to this site and make a donation.
Another good friend is Parker Kennedy, the owner of downtown Raleigh’s Caffe Luna. I first met Parker in the weeks before he first opened, over 10 years ago. Caffe Luna was opening in a location that was cursed, many said, as multiple restaurants opened and quickly closed in that spot. Caffe Luna is now one of the most successful restaurants in Raleigh, and many restaurants subsequently opened in the area, and thrived. I think Caffe Luna’s success laid the ground work for many of these other places.
What you may not know about Caffe Luna is that they also give back to the community. They have raised untold thousands of dollars for Shaw University. They’re big supporters of the Raleigh Arts community. And now they’re doing a big fundraiser for the people of Haiti. Next Tuesday, March 30th, Caffe Luna will feed all comers at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh from 6 to 8 PM. Dinner includes pasta, salad, wine, beer, tea and dessert. Caffe Luna is donating 100% of the food and beverages and is not keeping one penny. Marbles is donating the space. The cost is $30 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. All proceeds will go to the Hope for Haiti Foundation, a non-profit based in Cary. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.firstgiving.com/benefittosupporthaitifamilies. Heck, even Firstgiving isn’t taking a cut from this. Right now, they haven’t sold many tickets, and maybe that’s because people think that Haiti has raised plenty of money, but that’s not the case. They need help, and this is an easy way to provide it.
So let’s help these establishments, when they’re giving back to the community. We’re the beneficiaries of their food, and we need to help them when they’re doing the right thing.
2 Comments | chefs, Events, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Ashley Christensen, Caffe Luna, Frankie Lemmon School, Haiti, Parker Kennedy, Philanthropy, Poole's Downtown Diner, Raleigh | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
February 4, 2010
Come join me at Fleming’s Steakhouse at the Crabtree Valley Mall next Wednesday, February 10, from 5 to 7 to drink some wine, eat some appetizers, and support the Lucy Daniels Center.
I know, I know, Fleming’s is a chain restaurant. And it’s a steakhouse. But geesh, they really do give back to the community with their ”Wine Wednesdays” that support a different charity each month. This month’s designated charity is the Lucy Daniels Center, the area’s largest non-profit provider of mental health services to children (and I’m on the Board).
Here’s the deal: Fleming’s will have 5 different wines available by the glass at the bar. A glass of wine will cost you 10 bucks. You’ll also get some complementary appetizers. And 100% of that 10 bucks goes to the Lucy Daniels Center. Sooo, if we get 100 people there, each buying 2 glasses of wine, we just raised a couple thousand bucks for this extraordinary organization.
So, come on out. And bring your friends.
1 Comment | Events, General, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Charity, Fleming's Steakhouse, Lucy Daniels Center, Mental Health, Wine | 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
November 16, 2009
Ashley Christensen, Bill Smith, and Smoked Chicken Wings
I’m sipping a cold beer on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, lazing about on a screened-in porch in rural Mississippi. The conversation goes from football to Brazilian forestry camps and then to food. Ah, the conversation always gets back to food, and that’s because I’m surrounded by chefs, who I’ve learned, love to “talk shop” more than just about any other professional I know. These chefs include three winners of the prestigious James Beard Award, one who was recently nominated, and another who will likely win in the next few years. Chefs love to talk about food, and so do I, so I feel right at home on this early November day. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | chefs, Events, Food writing, General, sfa, Southern food, Southern Food Culture | Tagged: Ann Cashion, Ashley Christensen, Ben Barker, Bill Smith, Brett Anderson, City Grocery, Crooks Corner, Fullsteam Brewery, Holy Smoke, John Currence, Karen Barker, Leslie Kelly, Lynn Hewlitt, Magnolia Grill, Phoebe Lawless, Poole's Diner, Sean Wilson, Southern Foodways Alliance, Taylor Grocery | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
October 5, 2009
Poole’s Downtown Diner is hosting a special fundraiser for a special organization, SAFEchild, on Sunday, October 18th from 6 to 9 PM. Y’all know plenty about Poole’s and chef Ashley Christensen, how she’s been featured in the national press, how she’s been invited to cook with the top chefs in the country — with an invitation to cook at the posh Blackberry Farm for the Southern Foodways Alliance’s “Taste of the South” in January. I write about Ashley a lot because she’s a fantastic cook, a better person, and a dear friend.
And now she’s supporting one of my favorite organizations in the Triangle: SAFEchild.
Never heard of them? Well, you should. SAFEchild is Wake County’s only non-profit private agency working to prevent child abuse. They offer nearly a dozen different programs, focusing on everything from helping new parents deal with the sudden changes in their lives to working with men who suffered abuse and are now struggling to fight the urge to act out violently against their own children. The frustration of parents’ struggles often is manifested in violence against children, and with so many families hurting economically in these trying times, the children suffer even more.
SAFEchild is a voice for those children, and this is an opportunity to combine your love for food with a contribution to a good cause.
So think about what you’re doing on the 18th, and if you’re free, consider heading to Poole’s, where you’ll have some amazing food and wine. There’s a minimum donation of $150 per person, but that includes all the food you can eat, plus wine. While you’re there, you also might learn a lot about SAFEchild and the wonderful things they’re doing for our community. And if you do have plans, please consider making a donation. Every little bit helps.
Click here for more information on the SAFEchild dinner at Poole’s Diner.
1 Comment | chefs, Events, General, Raleigh | Tagged: Ashley Christensen, Poole's Diner, SAFEchild | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
August 12, 2009
I’ve been a fan of Restaurant Week, where restaurants in a city come together to offer low-priced three-course lunches and dinners once or twice a year. My history may be a little weak, but I believe Restaurant Week started in New York City in the mid-80s, where Danny Meyer and others offered special lunch prices to entice diners to try their restaurants. In particular, over the years, Meyer’s restaurants allowed diners to order off the regular menu at dramatically discounted prices. I remember going to lunch at Eleven Madison Park (which just got a 4th star from the NY Times), having three incredible dishes, and paying only 20 bucks for that pleasure. Moreover, we received some chocolates to take home and a 20 dollar gift certificate for any subsequent meal at EMP. This was just one example of what Danny Meyer did to make a lasting impression with his guests, and that was pretty much the theme of Restaurant Week.
Well, beginning on August 24, downtown Raleigh will be having its own Restaurant Week, and after looking at the menus, my primary thought is, “How the hell is this a good value proposition?” Let me give you an example. For $30, you can go to the Irregardless Cafe and get a 3-course meal. Let’s say you’re a vegetarian, so based on the Irregardless Restaurant Week menu selections, you could order hummus, the portabella polenta, and the blackberry and peach crisp. Sounds pretty good and not entirely unreasonable for the $30. But if you went to Irregardless tonight (see their menu here), you could get that hummus for $5 and the portabella polenta for $13. That’s 18 bucks. Unless their desserts typically cost more than $12, you end up spending MORE money during Restaurant Week. WTF????? Even if you went with the higher priced items, such as the Greek Salad at $7 and the small plate surf & turf at $16, the dessert would have to be more than 7 bucks to make Restaurant Week a good value. That’s not what Restaurant Week should be about.
The Irregardless Cafe isn’t the only one guilty of this transgression. From what I could ascertain, Duck & Dumpling and 42nd St. Oyster Bar have similar pricing issues.
Another problem I have is when the Restaurant Week menu is not just limited, but it offers no choices whatsoever. Examples include 18 Seaboard (at least they’re only charging $20), Second Empire (where grilled salmon is the only entree), 518 West, and Humble Pie (although they do offer separate $20 and $30 menus). Many other places offer no more than two choices for each course.
Then there’s a place like The Mint, which has a daily $30 menu, so the RW menu is nothing special at all.
Who gets it right? Well, Posta Tuscan Grille has some interesting choices, and seeing they typically charge 30 bucks for their baked sea bass, which is on the RW menu (although portion sizes may be smaller, which is OK with me), this is a great deal. Red Room might have the best values with their $20 menu. You’ll save at least ten dollars going to Sono during Restaurant Week. The Big Easy offers 11 different entrees for RW, and with them charging only 20 bucks for their three courses, there are some definite bargains to be found. Solas could be a solid value, depending on what you order.
Jibarra and Bogart’s don’t give you a lot of choices, but they’re charging only $20, which would save you some money.
A place like Caffe Luna handles this week a bit differently, where the entrees offered are not typically on their menu, and at $20, this will inevitably be a better value than a regular visit.
In the end, my primary question is this: Why do we have Restaurant Week? I thought it was a mechanism to get people to try restaurants. Yes, it puts a hurt on profit margins, but this is an investment in the future success of each establishment. Build up some goodwill during Restaurant Week, and if you do it well, then you’ll establish some new loyal customers. Unfortunately, too many restaurants treat Restaurant Week like a big burden, and if that’s the case, they shouldn’t participate.
16 Comments | Events, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Raleigh, Raleigh Restaurant Week, Restaurant Week | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
April 27, 2009
As my readers know, this blog is about food, and it is incredibly rare when I post something that isn’t about food. I also try to avoid the politics of food, because I want my blog to be about fun. Today’s entry certainly has some food-related aspects about it, but it’s not the primary purpose behind my post. But I assure you that today’s topic is all about fun. And doing the right thing.
I’m looking for items to be donated for a silent auction. I’m looking for experiences to be donated, too. Here’s the deal: As I’ve written before, I’m the Vice Chair of the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, and that has nothing to do with food. It has everything to do with young children getting help for mental health problems, and with the economy the way it is, more kids need the help and fewer families are able to pay for it.
Band Together is a Triangle-based nonprofit organization that has nothing to do with food, either. Each year, they choose a local charity and hold a huge, kick-ass concert, with the net proceeds going to the charity. Last year, the designated charity received $109,000. This year, the designated charity is the Lucy Daniels Center. The concert is on June 6 in downtown Raleigh, outside the Lincoln Theatre. This should be a very fun concert, featuring Rusted Root, the Rosebuds, Chatham County Line, and an indoor after-party with Hobex. General admission tickets are 20 bucks in advance and 25 at the door. It might cost you a few more bucks to get into the after-party with Hobex.
Still nothing about food, right? Well, let me fix that right now. VIP tickets to the show will cost you $125, but that added cost has some tangible benefits. For example, you’ll get all the beer and wine you want to drink (within reason, of course), and you’ll get to eat the great food provided by the chefs of the Urban Food Group restaurants. Yup, Coquette, Vivace, Frazier’s and Porter’swill be providing all that food. Oh, and you’ll get air conditioned bathrooms, some comfy seats, and elevated viewing area.
But wait, there’s more food information. There will be a silent auction at the event, and we will have a number of food-related auction items. How about Fullsteam Brewery making a beer just for you, customized to your personal tastes, and then delivering 5 gallons of it to you with a unique label and 10 t-shirts with that label? Or an in-home knife skills class by Chad Ward, the author of An Edge in the Kitchen? Or an in-restaurant cooking class with a well-known local chef? That’s just the beginning.
And I want more items for the silent auction!!! Please let me know if you would be interested in donating something to our auction. Gift certificates are welcome, but we’d really love experiences. I mean, there has to be a chef out there who would let someone work in their kitchen on a slow night? And if you’re not in the food business, we’re happy to accept other items and experiences (ever wanted to ride on the Zamboni at a Hurricanes’ game? You can if you’re the winning bidder).
So help me out. Buy tickets to the Band Together show. Or better yet, buy VIP tickets. And if your business is looking for a way to give back to the community, consider a sponsorship. Finally, of course, we’d love for you to donate items to the silent auction.
And they don’t have to be food-related, unlike this blog.
——-
Band Together for the Lucy Daniels Center
bandtogethernc.org
June 6, 2009
Featuring Rusted Root, the Rosebuds, Chatham County Line and after-party by Hobex
Downtown Raleigh at the Lincoln Theatre
8 Comments | Best Of the Triangle, Events, Family and Food, Raleigh, Restaurants | Tagged: Band Together, Chad Ward, Charities, Chatham County Line, Coquette, Frazier's, Fullsteam Brewery, Hobex, Lincoln Theatre, Lucy Daniels Center, Mental Illness, Porter's, Raleigh, Rusted Root, Silent Auction, The Rosebuds, Urban Food Group, Vivace | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
April 14, 2009
Two worthy organizations are having food-related fund-raisers in the coming days, and I hope you might support them while enjoying some good stuff to eat and drink.
Hidden Voices is a non-profit organization that explores who we are as a society through the voice — whether through stories or oral histories or individual performances. Over the years, Hidden Voices has explored life in prison, the paths of Latino immigrants, and the pain of domestic violence, among others. This Friday, Hidden Voices is hosting A Taste of Home, a fundraiser to tell the story of the meal from different perspective — from the homeless person’s park bench to the dining room in a child’s foster home, or the cafeteria tray in a shelter. The appetizers and desserts will be provided by 30 or so local chefs, including Karen Barker, Amy Tornquist, Drew Brown, and Mel Melton. Tickets are $50 for an individual or $75 for two. Students can get in for $25 each by contacting me for details.
SAFEchild is a Raleigh-based charity focusing on the prevention of child abuse. Since its founding in 1992, SAFEchild has worked with more than 7,500 parents and has reached some 70,000 children. On Wednesday, April 22, SAFEchild and the Fresh Market will be hosting their Fine Wine Gala, where over 50 wines from over the world will be paired with prime rib, shrimp, and other hors d’oeuvres, along with cheeses and desserts. The event will be held from 7-9 and tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple.
We all need to eat, and instead of spending 40 or 50 bucks to hit your favorite restaurant, why don’t you go to one of these events instead? Charities are really hurting right now, at a time when the services they provide are more important than ever. So please think of attending one or both of these worthy events.
3 Comments | Events, Family and Food, General | Permalink
Posted by Varmint
