by | January 2, 2012

Gonna Party Like It’s 2012

by Laura

We had a great start to 2012 with a New Year’s Eve dinner at the Pit (some of the best BBQ around) and an evening of entertainment at First Night Raleigh.  For $9, we saw not one but two fireworks shows (and cheered on the giant acorn drop), heard some gypsy-style jazz, marveled at some parlor magic tricks, enjoyed some improv comedy, and basked in the mild temps that make New Year’s in the South so pleasant.

Here’s a few local hot spots that we’re hoping to try out in 2012:

  • Scratch Bakery – How could we not like a bakery that chose to host their website at www.piefantasy.com?
  • The Federal – Can’t believe we haven’t tried their burgers – but their short rib gnocchi might be calling my name instead.
  • Toast - Again, it’s pretty much a travesty that we haven’t gotten a chance to try out their panini selection yet.  Must rectify!
  • Gourmet Kingdom – Supposed to be halfway decent Chinese food.  We’ll believe it when we see it!
  • Monuts Donuts – Donuts delivered via bike.
  • Udupi - Still on our authentic Indian food to-do list

Happy Noo Year, everyone – and happy eating in the months ahead!

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by | December 29, 2011

Happy New Year

by Laura

The New Year is almost upon us.  I’m not a big fan of resolutions – why should I start 2012 by beating myself up for all the things I could be doing better?  We already know we should be exercising more, eating healthier, and finding our zen.  But, I do wish that my life could become a little bit like it was back when I was in elementary school. I spent lots of time just exploring the world and enjoying the outdoors.  I read solely for pleasure.  I could spend hours immersed in creative projects (hence, the world’s greatest kid-produced family newspapers and neighborhood plays).  I got to see my siblings every day!  I don’t remember worrying very often.  Plus, nutritious, balanced meals were prepared for me.  And, who needed a treadmill when you spent all day running around a giant backyard and climbing trees?

So, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to try and get some of that eight-year old spirit back.  This time, the Triangle is going to have to help me:

Goal #1:  Find more room for creative pursuits.

This goal is closely related to my quest to develop a quirky professor hobby that future students will find slightly weird but mostly endearing.  Unfortunately, although Yarns, etc. has plenty of opportunities for beginners to learn how to use their wares, their intro workshop only taught me that I suck at knitting.  And, I’ve been longing to learn how to bake bread, but I’m looking for something a little more crafty to obsess over.  Plan:  Finally sign up for an ArtsCenter series in the spring.  Pottery, Jewelry-Making, or Darkroom 101, anyone?  Another great resource for shutterbug types: the continuing education program at Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies.

Goal #2: Spend more time outdoors and less time in front of screens.

Ironically, I begin my comps exams in January, which essentially means six weeks of becoming BFF’s with my laptop.  Followed by another year of dissertation writing.  Hmm.  Anyone got any advice on where to buy a new desk chair?  In the meantime, I’ll try and spend my last few remaining days of freedom enjoying some of my favorite local hikes at Jordan Lake.

Goal #3:  Have healthy food waiting on the dinner table.

My loving husband does his best to make several more-than-decent dinners each week.  The only downside is that his repertoire is limited to about five options.  Maybe I should sign him up for cooking classes?  Only problem is that the options at Southern Season include things like “Making Biscuits:  Four Sticks of Butter or Five?”

Goal #4:  Read for fun.

You all, I tried joining a book club, and I totally recommend the local Meetup group for those of you looking to do the same.  But…for whatever reason, I just haven’t loved their literary selections lately – and isn’t that the main point?  What I really miss is going to the library for non-research purposes.  Remember that place?  Do you think UNC’s undergraduate branch will carry the Babysitter’s Club collection?  If all else fails, Chapel Hill’s Monday Night Book Group is also a possibility.

Goal #5:  Spend more time doing nothing in particular. 

Last semester, I tried to hold Fridays completely open, and of course, they soon got filled with all manner of tasks that I couldn’t stick anywhere else.  This semester, I’m condensing meetings, class, teaching & work into just three days of the week.  I’ll have to spend some of the four remaining days writing, writing, writing – but it will be worth it to have a true division between obligations and more personal commitments.

Now, in a few weeks, when I’ve fulfilled none of these goals, perhaps you would consider signing up for my planned reprise of my 1991 production of Cinderella, where I played most of the main characters, directed and promoted the show (triple threat!) and forced my sister to play Cinderella’s dog, a part created mainly for my amusement. Emily?  You still up for it? ;)

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by | December 2, 2011

About Town, Holiday Style

Noodle's first Christmas....already getting into trouble, circa 2007.

by Laura

It’s December!  Only 2 weeks until my work for the semester is complete and I get to rub my glorious winter break in all of your faces.  You sure did screw up by going the whole “real job” route.  I mean, is having a normal salary really worth it?  I will choose to think otherwise as I bask in the glory of extended vacation!

Meanwhile, around the Triangle, various festivities are underway.  Forget about Rock Center and the White House – it’s not Christmas until you visit Chapel Hill’s very own sparkly, shiny tree!  Plus, don’t forget to stop by the Carolina Inn to see their 12 Days of Christmas display.

For local shopping, this weekend the Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market is hosting their annual craft fair, and the Southern Village Market is doing the same.  On Saturday, Motorco Music Hall hosts a Downtown Market Holiday Block Party in Durham.

Plus, Southern Season will soon put their gourmet treats on sale in time to purchase gifts that say, “I think you really deserve some overpriced chocolate”.  We also recommend The Meat House if you’re looking for something to bring to a holiday party – their savory mango pecan cheesecakes make for an amazing spread.

And, although we might have to be surrounded by Carolina fans in our day-to-day, Duke just does majestic Christmas better.  Visit the Pitchforks in the Gothic Reading Room for some a capella style caroling, or catch Handel’s Messiah or one of the many other holiday concerts in Duke Chapel.   If you must stay on UNC’s campus, Morehead Planetarium offers seasonal concerts under the “stars” throughout the month.

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget that there are plenty of opportunities to make the holidays a little brighter for those who are down on their luck this season.  I like contributing to Adopt-a-Family efforts for Durham Social Services.  I remember how happy my students were when they received surprise gifts from “Santa”, and this is an easy way to spread some of that magic.

Happy almost holidays to all!

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by | November 21, 2011

Turkey Time/Tourist Time

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by Laura

Early Thanksgiving with the family came with a jam-packed meal agenda – dinner courtesy of Whole Foods (unanimously declared to be delicious and hugely worth the cost in terms of time saved), plus NYC eating at Noodles 28 (my Chinese fav), Shake Shack (the one on 44th Street had no line!), Tea & Sympathy (filled with delightful Brits and equally delightful scones), and Eataly (two thumbs up to their pasta restaurant, despite the crowdedness).  And, we still found time to walk through Chelsea Market, the High Line, the Met, and even Occupy Wall Street!  Good thing the nice weather allowed us to stroll off some calories.

Getting all of this accomplished was made a bit easier by having a room at the Marriott Marquis.  I should hate this hotel – it represents everything mega-touristy about Times Square.  Yet, there’s something I’ve always loved about it since I went there with my high school friends on a trip to see Le Miz.  My friend Julie and her Mom were much more NYC savvy than any of us, so they knew that fancy hotel lobbies are your best bet for a bathroom break.  We took the glass elevators up to a floor that had a view of all the chaos below and I realized how very awesome even the lamest parts of New York can be.

And sure, the revolving rooftop bar at the top may be part of that cheesiness, but is there really any harm done by making a couple of loops around while clutching a $20 cocktail with cinnamon & sugar on the rim?   (Harold would say no.)

The power of the Internet also led me just down the block to Times Square Hot Bagels, a little hole in the wall that you would assume would be awful, but turns out to be an offshoot of Columbia Bagels on the UWS – and not too shabby!

Best quotes of the trip:

While Strolling Through the Fancy Period Rooms at the Met:

Me:  Grandma, look, we could retire to this parlour.

Grandma:  Hmm, yeah, there’s a writing desk for your Dad, and a fireplace for us to sit by.  But where’s one of those small pianos?  I mean, where’s the spinnet?  (Very sincerely) This room is lacking!

At Breakfast:

Bagel shop owner:  Shouts at worker to do something.

Worker:  Yeah, right on it, sweet-haart.  (Leans in to us and stage whispers.)  I really should have gone to college, huh?

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by | November 12, 2011

It’s Not Easy Being Poodle

Disheartening news calls for a restorative nap.

by Noodle

I have been looking forward to the new Muppet movie with great excitement.  I mean, finally – a updated film focused on awesome animal characters displaying some modicum of near-human intelligence and an evolved mastery of English.  So, it was with great disappointment that I read the following news release:

http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20544797,00.html

I will review the highlights in increasingly appalling order, the main one being that THERE IS A NEW MUPPET POODLE (joy!) but THAT POODLE IS GIVEN AWAY BY MISS PIGGY (for reals!??).

Also, the poodle is called Foo-Foo.  I mean!  Try giving it a name with a little class. Like my name – which exudes both a sense of adorableness and an association with pasta.

Apparently, Foo-Foo (snort!) does not get along with Kermit the Frog and has something against the color green.  Perhaps Foo-Foo was merely trying to signal to Miss Piggy that she might want to reconsider this whole pig dating a frog debacle. I’m all for free love, but can you imagine what their children would look like?  Not as cute as an amazingly soft and sweet poodle, that’s for sure.

Lastly, need I even mention the greatest oversight of all?  It is true – I was not even considered for the part.  Why create a stuffed poodle puppet when I could be running around set, stirring up trouble and yelling at the hair people for making me look too puffy?

My complaints are many, but I will spare you further details.  From this point forward, I will dedicate my energy to BOYCOTTING the Muppet movie until Foo-Foo’s role is restored and renamed.

This is why it pays to vigilantly follow celebrity gossip – you never know when a poodle’s honor will need to be defended.  Foo-Foo and Noo-Noo in solidarity!

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by | November 6, 2011

3 Days in St. Louis

by Laura

This week took me to St. Louis for an education conference.  Although I had to spend the majority of my time at the Hilton pondering the social foundations of schooling, I couldn’t help but take a bit of time to explore.  Luckily, I was well-located next to the baseball stadium, which is adjacent to several top attractions.  If you find yourself with a few days in Missouri, here’s what I recommend:

1.  Take yourself back to middle school history class and stand on the banks of the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I.   The park that contains the iconic Gateway Arch will lead you down to the edge of westward expansion.

Pro tip:  You can go to the top of the arch, but beware that it will cost you $25.  Many conference-goers opted for the views from the rooftop bar at our hotel instead.


2.  Get yourself some ribs at Pappy’s Smokehouse.

I really wanted to try St. Louis/Memphis style BBQ, and this place is seriously legit – and seriously delicious.  Worth the slight trek!  There was also a pleasant bar next door where we got dessert and giant pumpkin ales while waiting for our cab.

Otherwise, Washington Avenue seemed to be the main street for going out on the town and grabbing some eats – we enjoyed Mango and il Posto, and the architecture took us back to another era.  Closer to our hotel, Charlie Gitto’s was one of the few non-hotel restaurant options.

Pro tip:  Arrive at Pappy’s early – the lines get very long, and they sell out of food quickly.

3.  Unleash your inner kid at the City Museum.

I can’t even truly describe the crazy playground and fun house combo that constitutes this place – an artist’s vision come to life in an old shoe warehouse, filled with slides, tunnels, climbing structures, bridges, sculptures and fantasy lands made from various scraps and odd objects.  Everywhere you went, folks were climbing from floor to floor, popping out of windows, or shooting down multi-story slides to get around.  There was a human-sized version of a hamster wheel, the world’s largest pencil, a walk-in vault, various curiosities, an indoor skate park, a slide made out of rollers, 3 and 10 story slide extravaganzas, a castle, a treehouse, suspended airplanes that you could crawl inside, ball pits, a fire pit complete with marshmallows, a midget driving kids around in a miniature train, caves, an aquarium, a vintage shop, a shoelace factory, a full bar – and zero maps, and very few staff directing your experience.

I have never seen so many people filled with uninhabited joy – and we didn’t even go up on the roof, or check out some of the higher (and scarier) attractions.  One bad head bump later, I can see why they’ve been hit with various personal injury lawsuits – but I totally approve of the spirit of the museum and declare it to be absolutely awesome!

Pro tip:  Wear sneakers and long pants – and if you do get injured, the friendly bar staff will give you an ice pack!

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by | November 4, 2011

Franklin Street Halloween

by Laura

One of the things that Harold most looks forward to each year is checking out the Halloween costumes on Franklin Street.  As it turns out, I have married someone who is hugely into parades and festivals and greatly misses attending all of the NYC events held on 5th Avenue (Israeli Day parade?  Go Israel!  German Day parade? What adorable dachshunds!  Puerto Rican Day parade?  Mi esposa es una cuarta parte de Puerto Rico!)  So, there was no way we were going to miss this year’s costume event even though it was cold and rainy, and it appeared that our usual parking lots had jacked up their prices to $20 a spot.

Instead, we forged ahead and scored a free parking spot after doing some maneuvering around security (which was kind of ridiculous – did we really need a SWAT team looking down on us and roads blocked at every corner?).   And – into the night we went, one “Miss Diagnosed” beauty queen and one pumpkin.  Harold has worn the same pumpkin costume almost every year since 2001.  It’s kind of his signature.  In fact, we discovered that being a pumpkin is so unoriginal and passe, that it’s almost cool again.

Other revelers included Rizzo the Rat (one of my favorite and most under appreciated Muppets), a very tipsy group of friends from Pooh’s Corner, The Lost Island Boys, The 1% (and the 1% milk), a couple of Katy Perry’s and Natalie Portman’s, groups dressed as Scrabble tiles spelling out words, lots of Mario Brothers…more or less the usual.

See below for a few snapshots from Halloween on Franklin Street – one of Carolina’s most characteristic traditions:

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by | November 3, 2011

Apple Cider Donuts

Nom, nom, nom!

by Laura

Last month, we picked out some pumpkins, gourds, and mums in preparation for fall. (Or, rather, Harold humored my desire to create seasonal decorations and agreed that my pumpkin was definitely the perfect one.)  While this was delightful, it got me thinking about another essential fall ingredient – apple picking, which is really just an excuse to go to places that sell apple cider donuts.

Apple cider donuts are kind of the best thing in the world.  And although I don’t even particularly crave any kind of donut very often, I immediately put Google to work and tried to find some in North Carolina.  Except…I guess this is not so much of an apple orchard state and the nearest ones were three or four hours away.  I mentioned/demanded that my Dad should see if there were any near his place in New England, and try to send me a few.

At first, he appeared to be taking this task less than seriously, but applying pressure soon led him to promise that he would make this not just his top priority, but his ONLY priority.  As it should be.  This week, they arrived!  Overnight shipped – probably the most expensive (and delicious) donuts ever.

Harold initially tried to say that he didn’t remember these donuts being “that good”, leading me to conclude that perhaps he’s not actually “that intelligent”.   And to think he went to Duke!  But never fear – he appears to be choking down his fair share.

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by | November 1, 2011

Food Truck Mania

by Laura

I just love how the food truck craze has exploded in the Triangle! Although Raleigh & Chapel Hill have been hesitant to fully embrace these culinary entrepreneurs on wheels, Durham and Carrboro have welcomed them with open arms – as evidenced by the 25 truck fiesta held this past Sunday.

Italian beef brisket and meatball subs...yum!

We wanted to try something new so Harold went for the Korean grub at Bulkogi and I tried the meatball sub at Valentino’s, which was excellent. But the real winner was the hot chocolate from the Parlour – Harold liked it so much he bought a second cup after drinking most of mine, which I had topped off with toffee sauce. And my Mom enjoyed her cider, which she adorned with a scoop of apple pie ice cream. Good work by the Parlour making their frozen treats a bit more fall friendly!

Check out their website & social media updates for listings of their latest flavor experiments and seasonal specialities!

Here’s the list of all the participants, and Carpe Durham’s live map of current food truck locations, along with their Twitter feeds.

Neopolitan cupcake from Honey of a Handcake Bakery.

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by | October 29, 2011

iObsessed

Gratuitous photo of Noodle, taken with Instagram!

by Laura

Yes, I have joined the ranks of iPhone users.  There were a few key factors influencing this decision, namely that Noodle had chewed my Blackberry a few too many times and a growing fear of getting left behind in the tech-savvy dust.  Even my DAD has an iPhone now!  Clearly, I could not allow him to surpass me in sleek gadgetry know-how.

After crowd-sourcing a few suggestions and doing a little online research, I found a ton of free apps that are a combination of awesomely useful and awesomely cool. Here’s what I’ve downloaded so far – all gratis:

Games:

  • Angry Birds
  • Family Feud
  • Oregon Trail
  • Scrabble

(Have not downloaded others because I am too consumed with playing Angry Birds.  Cannot. Get. Past. Level. 4.  Grr!)

Music & Entertainment:

  • Pandora
  • Spotify (allows you to access other people’s playlists)
  • Sound Hound (identifies music being played)
  • Run Pee (tells you when it’s a good time to run to the bathroom during a movie and catches you up on what you missed)
  • IMBD (can look up movie info & local showtimes)
  • SirusXM
  • What’s On? (tracks your favorite TV shows & channels)
  • Remote (allows you to control the iTunes playing on your computer)

News, Books & Lectures:

  • Kindle
  • iBooks
  • New York Times
  • ESPN Score Center (you can set it up to get alerts about your favorite teams)
  • TED Conference
  • MIT Lecture Hall
  • Duke Blue Devils (from GoDuke.com)
  • The Onion
Started to poke around both Kindle & iBooks to compare – liking iBooks better, actually.  More user-friendly and easier access to a bunch of free options!  I believe that classics published before 1923 are available at no charge.

Travel:
  • NextBus (love how this gives you multiple bus options & timing based on your location)
  • AAA Trip Tik (will locate you using phone’s GPS & send assistance)
  • Sit or Squat (finds public bathrooms)
  • Road Ahead (lets you know what’s at each potential exit or pit stop)
  • Where (finds local attractions & dining)
  • Gas Buddy (locates the cheapest fuel)
  • Kayak
  • Tripadvisor
  • Southwest
  • Around Me (looks for the closest ATM’s, food, gas, etc.)
  • Zipcar (unlock your reserved car using your phone)
  • TripIt (consolidates all your reservation info)
  • Free Wi-Fi locator
Navigating the Great Outdoors:
  • Oh, Ranger! (maps out nearby recreational options like hikes)
  • Google Earth
  • MapQuest (although the preloaded Google maps feature works great & also has traffic tracking)
  • The Weather Channel
  • LeafSnap (take a pic of a plant – it will identify it for you!)
Health & Well-Being:
  • Nike + iPod (customizes workouts)
  • Lose It (calorie & exercise tracker)
  • RunKeeper
  • Log Your Run
  • Pilates (series of videos)
  • Sleep Sounds
  • White Noise
Social Stuff:
  • Facebook (duh)
  • Twitter (duh)
  • Bump (allows you to share info w/others by tapping your iPhones together)
  • Skype
  • Google Voice
  • textPlus
  • Textfree
Experimenting with textPlus & Textfree – supposedly both are good ways to avoid the cost of receiving and sending – you guessed it – texts.  There’s also iMessage, which allows you to connect with other iPhone users.  If all goes well, my bill will decrease.

Photo:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Instagram (allows you to apply old-school filters)
  • Flickr
  • Animoto (creates photo slideshows that you can set to music)

Also thinking of getting Camera+ and Night Camera for a small fee – but the standard photo snapping ability that comes with the phone is actually quite good.

Food & Dining:
  • Urbanspoon
  • Yelp
  • Whole Foods Recipes
  • Fooducate (scan barcodes to get nutritional info)
  • OpenTable
  • Epicurious
  • Happy Hours
Shopping & Deals:
  • Amazon
  • PayPal (even lets you deposit checks in your account by scanning with your phone)
  • ShopSavvy (scans barcodes to give you comparison price info)
  • ScanLife (scans those barcode thingys that give you more product info)
  • KeyRing (replaces the need to carry around store loyalty cards)
  • Mint.com (for access to your personal financial info)

Other Useful Tools:

  • HowCast (short how-to videos – I just learned how to make better scrambled eggs!)
  • WordPress (allows me to update this blog)
  • Evernote (organizes your ideas & clips parts of web pages you want to save for later)
  • Dropbox (online file storage & access)
  • Calculator
  • Word Lens (you take a picture of something in another language; it translates it)
  • Nightstand (displays time and weather, has alarm settings)
  • Wikipedia (cool feature – will give you info on whatever you’re located near)
  • Springpad (saves snippets of info you want to remember in various forms & syncs with your computer; similar to Evernote)
  • Fax, Print, Share (from your iPhone)
  • Use Your Handwriting (lets you write on the screen with your finger)

Considering getting a few others that come at a small cost:

  • Sleep Cycle (wakes you up at the optimal point in your REM cycle within a 30 minute range – although I don’t love that you essentially have to sleep with your phone in your bed to allow it to chart your sleep patterns & movements)
  • Super 8 (cool video effects/options)
  • Hipstamatic (another popular photo tool)
  • This American Life (but will likely just download podcasts)
  • How to Cook Everything (from Mark Bittman)
  • BeatBurn (selects songs from your playlist based on your workout pace)
  • One of the various options to securely store all your passwords in one place – although not sure if this is really a good idea
  • Instapaper (seems to take various text like web content and format it so it’s easier to read)
  • Papers (organizes academic journal articles)
  • Live Flight Tracker
  • Cooking Light recipe files
  • Good Reader (makes PDF’s easier to read & interact with)
  • One of the many options for office yoga and/or stretching routines

Any other suggestions?  iMavoidingstudying!

P.S. Yes, Siri is also awesome.  My phone is at my command!  Still exploring its power – and the power of the Cloud.

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by | October 27, 2011

Just When I Thought…

Dessert at Jean-Georges...and after we finished this, they brought us out homemade marshmallows, macarons, and chocolates.

by Laura

…I was over leaving NYC, our 2012 Zagat’s came in the mail.  Did you know you can get a free copy for being a reviewer?

Just to torture myself, I went through and checked off all the stupendously delicious places that we enjoyed during our seven years in NYC and on subsequent gut-busting visits:

Alta, Amy Ruth’s (insane chicken & waffles), Angelica’s Kitchen, Apizz, Aquivit, Artichoke Basille (strangely, there is also a branch in Chapel Hill), Artisanal (the fromagerie is killer), Atlantic Grill, Balthazar (check out their attached bakery for some yum donuts), Baluchi’s, Blockheads, Blossom, Blue Smoke, Blue Water Grill, The Boathouse, Bouchon Bakery, Brasserie (and 8 1/2), Brgr, Brother Jimmy’s (b-ball watching), Bryant Park Grill, Bubby’s, Buddakan, Burger Joint (hidden inside Le Parker Meridien), Cacio e Pepe, Cafeteria, Cafe Boulud, Cafe Centro, Cafe d’Alsace, Cafe Fiorello, Calle Ocho (love the coconut mojitos), CamaJe, Canaletto, Candle Cafe, Candle 79, Canyon Road, Capsouto Freres, Caravan of Dreams, Carmine’s, Casellula, Chef Ho’s, ChikaLicious (a prix fixe dessert experience), China Grill, The Chocolate Room, Cibo, Cilantro, Citrus, City Bakery (hot cocoa & cookies), Coffee Shop, Corner Bistro, Cuba (love the ropa vieja), Dafni, Dallas BBQ, David Burke’s at Bloomie’s, Dawat, Del Posto (can’t afford it now that they got rid of the taverna!), Di Fara (my pizza fav), Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Dock’s, Donavan’s (best Irish pub & burgers), Dos Caminos, E.A.T., Eataly, Eatery, EJ’s Luncheonette, Eleven Madison Park (probably one of the best meals I’ve ever had), El Rio Grande (home of many a post-work margarita), Five Points, Friend of a Farmer, Garbriela’s, Good Burger, Good Enough to Eat, Gray’s Papaya, Grimaldi’s, Hale & Hearty, HanGawi (so serene), Haru, Heartland Brewery, Hill Country, ‘Ino, ‘Inoteca, Jackson Diner (best Indian buffet in the world), Jackson Hole, Jane, Japonica, Jean Georges (lunch is an incredible deal), J.G. Melon, Joe’s Shanghai (soup dumpling king), John’s Pizzeria, Josie’s, Joya, Junior’s, Katz’s Deli, Kittichai, La Flor, La Giocanda, Land, Le Monde, Lemongrass Grill, Le Pain Quotidien, Lombardi’s, Lupa (pasta!), Mama Mexico, Mary Ann’s, Max Brenner, Maz Mezcal, Mercer Kitchen, Mexicana Mama, The Modern, Miss Mamie’s, Morimoto, Mughlai, Nick’s, Norma’s (fancy brunch on crack), Once Upon a Tart, One if by Land Two if By Sea, Orsay, Osteria Laguna, Otto, Oyster Bar, Pampano, Papaya King, Patsy’s Pizzeria, Pigalle, Pio Pio, Po (the original Batali spot), Poke, Pongsri Thai (if you’re in a rush pre-theatre), Popover Cafe, Pret, Quattro Gatti, Rare, Remi, Republic, Rice, River Cafe (pre-proposal!), Rosa Mexicana (Harold’s fav), Saigon Grill, Sala Thai, Sapori D’Ischia, Sarabeth’s, Scaletta, Sea, Serafina, Serendipity 3, Shake Shack, Sinigual, S’mac, Spice, Spice Market, Spicy & Tasty, Sripraphai, Stage Deli, Stanton Social, SushiSamba, Sushi Yasuda, Sylvia’s, Tamarind, Tea & Sympathy (in Little Britain), Tony’s Di Napoli, Trattoria Dell’Arte, Tribeca Grill, Turkish Grill (best spot in Sunnyside), Two Boots, Union Square Cafe, Vatan, Veniero’s, Viand (our spot for 1 a.m. breakfasts), The View, ‘Whichcraft (perfect for outdoor midtown lunch) Yerba Buena, York Grill, Yura, Zabar’s, Zebu Grill, & Zen Palate.

Ack!  There is nothing like NYC dining!  Upsettingly enough, some of my favorite spots aren’t even open anymore – goodbye, Tabla, Peyard, Son Cubano, Asia de Cuba, the Tea Box, & Jasmine’s…sniff, sniff….but thank you, Mumtaz, for reopening (phew!) …and thank you, Noodles 28, for your satisfying Chinese food (and being open on Christmas Eve), and Ottomanelli’s, for making a grilled chicken salad into something divine, and Jolie, for your croque madames, and La Paella, for your sangria and tapas, and Franchia for your tea and bibimbap, and Ess-a-bagel, for having, well, awesome bagels….

See?  This list doesn’t even begin to encompass all the goodness.  Lucky thing I’m visiting again in three weeks. =)

And, all is not lost in the world of Triangle foodies.  This Sunday there’s a food truck rodeo in Durham that’s supposed to feature about 25 or so trucks gathering in our local version of Central Park!

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by | October 24, 2011

State Fair Plan

Kick things off with an apple cider “freezie” and a free hushpuppy or two.

Admire the work of the local gourd association.

Do a couple of laps around the midway in anticipation of eating some more crazy good/crazy bad food.

Be sure not to miss the pig races.

Go on a few scarily squeaky rides.

Check out the animal exhibits and some folks who are very serious about goats.

Grab an apple fritter on the way out – probably one of the healthiest fried options at the fair, due to the presence of actual fruit.  Dream of that fritter all year long, until fair time rolls around again.

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