The Sushi-lympics

I used to hate sushi, the rice vinegar, the raw fish, I just didn't get the appeal. Then, I went to Japan... In Japan the appeal of sushi suddenly made sense,and my early courtship with sushi began. Back in the States I felt like the sushi didn't match up. The fish wasn't as fresh or sliced as finely. However as of late, with an abundance of sushi restaurants in the Raleigh area, I've sought out the best sushi around. In honor of the Summer Olympics I've tested four local contenders against the criterion of taste, freshness, presentation, roll selection, and service, in an effort to determine the best.

Shiki Sushi (Durham) :

Pros- A massive selection of interesting and inventive rolls.  Delicious, large and filling, and perhaps most importantly...buy one get one free for most of the rolls. Once again, plan on sharing a plate with your dining companion, but if you are with a group you can even order a wooden boat full of rolls, how cool is that!?

Cons- The prices of individual rolls are pretty expensive, if it wasn't buy one get one free it wouldn't be any deal. That being said, watch out, they will charge you for the most expensive rolls ordered by your whole party, and take off the least expensive rolls ordered. So make sure to order rolls that are fairly comparable in price with those of the rest of your group, or try separating checks and orders beforehand and see if that will work for you.

Try the Sear-Sea roll, the Florida roll and the Caribbean roll! Each pictured below.

Mura (North Raleigh) :
Pros- Beautiful presentation of rolls, and good quality yummy tasting sushi served up in a classy modern atmosphere.
Cons- The price makes Mura only possible for a special night out, or when someone else is footing the bill. I suffered through what could have been an insufferable date here at Mura with a guy who argued with me about politics, but the food made it totally worth it. You had better make some advance reservations, because this place is popular. Parking can also be a b*tch.

Sono (Downtown Raleigh):

Pros - Nice presentation, as long as you don't mind sharing your rolls with your date. (This might bother me if I didn't have an even greater desire to try their rolls than to hoard my own.) Pleasant atmosphere and some WONDERFUL service.  (I went on a date here with a guy held up in traffic for 30 minutes so I really spent some quality time with the wait staff.) Free valet parking (of course there really is no such thing as free when you have to tip them, but it can still be cheaper than paying for parking in a lot downtown.)

Cons- Once again the prices are steep.

Sushi Blues (Downtown Raleigh):  
Pros-Some good vegetarian roll selections and the daily buy a roll get a roll free deal can be a great value for your sushi buck.
Cons- The presentation isn't always great, and the quality and flavor isn't as good as elsewhere.


Taking into account the various factors, and that overall I just can't get tuna or salmon as fresh as would be ideal here in Raleigh...my vote is for Shiki Sushi as the go to.  However, don't hesitate to pass up on Mura or Sono for a special occasion.

The Vegetarian Experiment

For almost three months now I've been undertaking a new foodie lifestyle. Ever since reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, I've made the effort to cut out the meat. This has been difficult not just because I love meat, but because I hate tofu. My vegetarian experiment has been less the result of a desire not to consume the flesh of animals and more out of a desire not to ingest the hormones and antibiotics that animals are treated with, and a concern about the conditions wherein these animals are raised. I am open to eating hormone and antibiotic free, free range meats, but because of my tight purse strings I can rarely afford to do so. Therefore, I've spent the last three months finding the best delicious and affordable vegetarian products and options at local restaurants. Bonus! Vegetarian entrees often cost less than meat based entrees, and cutting the meat out of your grocery bill can save you some dough. Some Triangle area restaurants with a great veg selection:

The Borough - Sandwiches and Salads (try their spicy ranch dressing on...well anything!)

Neomonde - Middle Eastern

Aladdin's Eatery - Middle Eastern with a HUGE (like overwhelmingly so..) menu of affordable   healthyoptions.

Unaabi Afghan Cafe - Some great veggie options, who knew?

The Remedy Diner - Large selection of vegan items and some great cocktails to boot! Though they have  items for your carnivorous friends I don't particularly recommend some of them. Seasoning chicken doesn't appear to be their strong suit, but hey, they clearly cater to a largely vegetarian clientel.

Peace China ----Good veg. items, although they have VERY few veg. selections on their lunch special
 menu, something I take issue with. My friends rave about their tofu, but honestly it still tastes like a   sponge to me so I go plain Jane and just get vegetable entrees.

Sunflowers Sandwich Shop - Exactly as it sounds. Good veggie sandwiches, but a bit pricy for sitting in a revamped fast food joint, and they could stand to make their own potato chips... The dinner menu sounds good, but the prices are not frugal foodie friendly.

The Rockford - Fresh sandwiches, quesadillas, a burrito, and salads made with care and served in a hidden hole in the wall with a cute atmosphere.

Bun - Burger place on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. Has a great homemade vegan veggie burger.

Veggie Items I'm obsessed with right now:

1. Morningstar Farms "Sausage" Patties-- I'm not a big fan of meat replacements but with these you'll never miss the real thing! The taste and even the texture is pure pork minus all the grease, fat and calories. Throw one on a biscuit with some egg or crumble one up in an egg omelet.

2. Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burgers-- Don't expect the same texture of a beef burger, but these patties are chock full of vegetables and have a great flavor.

3. Silk Original Soy Milk-- I haven't given up dairy, but I finally got around to trying out Soy Milk, and it's surprisingly yummy.

4. Veggie Sushi Rolls-- Vegetarian and delicious! (Try the crunchy veggie roll at Sushi Blues!)

5. Falafels--Middle Eastern food can be a vegetarian's best friend! Delicious vegetarian salads, dips, wraps, and protein rich chickpea based items like falafels and hummus provide delicious sources of protein minus the meat. For a late night veggie treat, hit up the Pita Pit!

6. Hummus-- Neomonde makes the best!

8. Pesto-- My perennial favorite anyway, besides being delicious, vegetarians can get a dose of protein from the pine nuts. For a cheaper alternative substitute walnuts for pine nuts. Basil is in season now so make up a bunch of pesto now and freeze servings in ice cube trays for later.

9. Giada De Laurentiis products at Target-- I'm particularly enamored with her Vegetable Marinara.  It's packed with carrots, peppers, onions and garlic.  The flavor surprisingly robust to come from a jar, and the price is great. Frugal foodies rejoice!

A Taste of the Town in Garner

Recently, I was invited to attend the "Taste of the Town" event in the nearby town of Garner. While there were no Scotty McCreery themed menu items (think about it Garner!), there was a new Scotty McCreery music video premier and an auction for a giant Scotty billboard at the event, so I was not unsatisfied in that regard or any other. I have several close friends who live in Garner but regularly head to Raleigh to satiate their foodie cravings, so I was eager to see what was available in their neck of the woods. In addition to such Garner staples as Bojangles, Ragazzi's Italian, Tripps, Logans, McDonald's, Cheesecakes Plus, and Chick-fil-a, I was excited to sample the tasty offerings of locally owned and operated establishments like Tookie's Grill, Terra Fin, Aversboro Restaurant and Sports Bar, and Aversboro Coffee. 

Two of my favorite samples for the evening were provided by local catering companies Alaksha's Custom Catering and Unforgettable Food Affairs.  I took a breather from my vegetarian leanings to sample a few select meaty delights, and was glad I did!  The butter chicken with vegetables and rice cooked up by Chef Alaksha Surti of Alaksha Custom Catering was a true highlight.  The butter chicken was fall apart tender in a fragrant mild sauce of creamy tomato and well balanced spices. The rice was perfectly cooked, and having lived in Asia and eaten rice every day I feel that I can make that statement on decent authority. Alaksha's Custom Catering provides office catering and even family dinners, all out of the personal chef's own kitchen.  I wish she had a restaurant!  An entree for four can be whipped up by your personal chef for anywhere from $24 to $36 dollars.  You can visit her website at http://www.alakshascustomcatering.com/. 

My second favorite tasting of the evening was also compliments of a catering company.  Unforgettable Food Affairs put out a lovely spread with an equally lovely table scape.  (Anyone getting married?)  They offered an assortment of cheese spreads, and dips, crudites, chicken salad and my absolute favorite...an AMARETTO FRUIT DIP.  I could have eaten it by the bowlful...and in fact I did get seconds.  Find out more about catering from Unforgettable Food Affairs from http://www.raleighcatering.com/

The next delicious highlight that was truly worth remarking upon, was a sampling provided by Tookie's Grill.  While apparently known for their chicken salad, it was their homemade Pimento cheese with a delicious spicy kick that I found to be their most noteworthy item.  And with a price of $4.25 for a pimento cheese sandwich, it's a price that can scarcely be beat.

I'm a coffee junkie always looking for my next fix, so I like to know where my options are for wherever I may wind up in the surrounding area. I had heard that there weren't any coffee shops in Garner that didn't come with a heaping helping of religion. (I get enough of that when I visit my parents.) Don't get me wrong, I take no issue with religion (my dad is a minister,) but I prefer my coffee to be dark as sin. So I was so pleased to see (and taste!) Aversboro Coffee.   It comforted me to receive my coffee from a kohl lined barista who might fit in at any Seattle punk rock coffee shop. Those are the people I trust for a good coffee after all!  Aversboro brings in freshly roasted beans every two days from their close friends at Cup-A-Joe in Raleigh.

The friendly owner of the local Aversboro Restaurant and Sports Bar informed me that their casual public house and bar food establishment is like a family friendly "Cheers."  I'll be sure to pass their existence along to my Garner friends always looking for a new watering hole. Plus..you can get your fries ON your burger there!

FYI, while I have no idea which of these places Scotty McCreery frequents, certainly he would have tasted some of these hometown favorites.

Taste of Garner Coming Soon!

Tomorrow I will be covering the Taste of Garner event. So stay tuned to see what goodies can be found in the land of Scotty McCreery.

The Durham Food Truck Rodeo

For underfinanced foodies, the food truck phenomenon is a thing of wonder.  Delicious, often innovative and frequently local foods are served up at reasonable prices.  The world is your dining room!  However, food trucks can pose their own set of problems, like how and where to find them. Finding a food truck couldn't h ave been any easier this weekend at the Durham Food truck Rodeo in Durham's Central Park.  I couldn't resist attending to give you, loyal reader, the scoop on some of the best food trucks in the triangle.  There were over 30 food trucks in attendance Sunday serving up everything from the traditional burgers and pizza to gourmet crepes, roasted pork belly, dumplings and everything in between.  I've already been made a fan of the chirba chirba dumpling truck from previous encounters outside of Big Boss Taproom, so I tried to hit up some of the trucks I had been waiting to try.  I started with a piece of the Margarita pizza from Pie Pushers Pizza truck that featured basil pesto, goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella on a thin NY style crust.  Two thumbs up, I'm usually a pizza purest going for the classic cheese Margarita style, but I can always make exceptions when pesto is involved.  My carnivorous companion ordered the pepperoni slice and was equally pleased.  After being dissuaded from the Parlour ice cream truck by its mega line (I'm still sad I didn't get to sample flavors like Vietnamese coffee and lavender vanilla..,) I was consoled by the idea of a dessert crepe from Parlez Vous Crepe.  I ordered the lemon crepe with a lemon meringue pie style lemon filling and opted to add some fresh strawberries in line with the menu's suggestion. Then I waited...and waited...and waited some more.  Delicious looking crepes were received all around me and a growing crowd of people waited for their orders.  It got to the point of absurdity... about an hour for a crepe.  I did finally get it, and it was good, but very little is good enough to be worth that kind of wait.  I understand that food truck rodeos bring foodies out of the woodwork, and lines should be anticipated, but this was ridiculous.  The crepe was good, if you can catch the truck on a slow night, go for it, otherwise be prepared to wait.  My companion ordered a vanilla shaved ice, which was good (although personally I would have gone for something a little more exotic than vanilla.)  Some acquaintances of mine sampled a jerk chicken sandwich and a bacon wrapped hot dog with salsa verde, that both seemed pleased with.  One item had me seriously second guessing my current vegetarian experiment (more will follow on that in a future post,) chile rellenos stuffed with pulled roasted pork and cheese, deep fried in a beer batter and served with ranch or sweet Thai chili sauces.  These were offered up by the Valentino's Italian truck, it may not sound very Italian, but they looked so good I'd let that slide. I had to settle for harassing a person who was eating them into a bite by bite account.  Now go stalk some food trucks!

Life Really Is Sweet at Sugarland

Do you ever get a nighttime craving for something sweet and delicious, despite your mother's advice not to eat too close to bedtime? I do..like every night, and last night was no exception when I was dragged (kicking and screaming, mom I swear..)to Sugarland Bakery location in Raleigh's Cameron Village. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, Sugarland is open at the prime sweets craving times of 10p.m. on week nights and till midnight on the weekends. Sugarland has already graced Chapel Hill with a location, and not to be outdone Raleigh now has it's very own. Now I like cupcakes alright, but honestly they are more pleasing to my eye than my pallette. The whole bakery case was indeed a treat for the eyes. The shelves held beautiful cupcakes that were little works of art, with flavors like Grasshopper and Boston Cream Pie. (Half price cupcakes on Tuesdays!) What Sugarland holds for me is GELATO. I've spent some time eating my way around Italy and gelato alone could probably account for a good five pounds of weight gain (it would probably have been more except that to eat my way through Italy I also had to do quite a bit of walking.) So you may wonder what the difference is between American style ice cream and GELATO. Gelato is more dense than ice cream with less air making it richer and is served at a slightly higher temperature than icecream, making the flavors more intense. I haven't yet figured out whether this means gelato is less likely to give you a brain freeze.. Miraculously gelato has less fat and calories than traditional ice cream, with 90- 160 calories a cup what's not to love? The rotating gelato flavors available at Sugarland range from classics like cappachino or pistachio to flavors more decidedly influenced by our side of the Atlantic like margarita, dulce de leche, or the cinnamon spiked Mexican chocolate. After some ample sampling, I think the Tiramasu may have been my favorite of flavors. Now here is the real kicker, they make frozen martinis from liquor and their fabulous homemade gelatos! I was also pulled in to try the Kentucky Derby Pie, an individual Bourbon pecan pie with chocolate chips and a drizzle of chocolate ganache and whipped cream. I know, sounds like food porn right? I wish it had more pecans, but it was definitely rich, I had to take half of my little pie home with me. The prices at Sugarland are on the steep side, but its still a fun place for a night out with friends or a date. I think I'll be finding more excuses to go to Cameron Village.

 

Coquette, Dinner vs. Brunch

So I've already made my love of brunch fairly clear.  It may be easy to make a delicious brunch at home, but the lower prices at brunch can provide a way for even an underfinanced foodie to try out those high end restaurants where they have been aching to dine.  Following this policy I have taken to enjoying one of my favorite fine dining establishments for brunch rather than dinner.  If you've been to Coquette French Bistro in North Hills, you know that the Parisian bistro setting is spot on.  It's open and airy and oozing French charm.  You may also know that the dinner prices are prohibitively high for all but special occasions for those of us working on a budget.  I've had dinner at Coquette and enjoyed my steak frites, although I expected better for the price. Fortunately, that was on a date where my tab was picked up. For those eating on their own dime (and I'm usually one of them,) brunch is the way to go.  It's not cheap, but it's much more accessible than the dinner prices.  The fresh bread and salted butter they serve is divine...and I don't generally use or even particularly like the term divine.  I highly recommend the eggs benedict and any of the quiches.  The eggs in the quiche have been whipped to a frenzy producing the most airy melt in your mouth quiche with a souffle like texture.  I hate to say skip out on the Croque Monseiur at a French Brasserie, but it was just ok, not extraordinary. The crepes are delicious, but despite how rich they are (and they are sinfully rich,) they aren't enough to fill me up.  I recommend a sweet crepe as a dessert rather than an entree, since it really is a dessert anyway, unless you have a considerable sweet tooth. So get a sugardaddy (or mamma) to take you for dinner, otherwise try Coquette for brunch, and soak up some of the Parisian charm.