durhamcookie's Profile
Authentic szechwan option in Durham
I tried them a couple of weeks ago and got shrimp in garlic sauce and dan dan noodles. I wouldn't recommend either one - the shrimp dish was well cooked but disgustingly sweet. The dan dan noodles were heavy on the peanut butter and also very sweet. The vegetable dumplings were not great either - skin too thick. I want to give them another try though, since some of the other reports sound good.
Indian Food Truck in Durham, NC
It's the same bus - they just hang a banner on the side of the Rubio's taco truck. The Indian food was only served during lunchtime and it reverts back to Rubio's in the evening. Unfortunately it hasn't been there recently - apparently run off for not having the proper permit - but should be back when they get that sorted out, according to the folks at Sam's I talked to today (who are missing their good Indian food).
Saffron - Chapel Hill - Coming Soon!
Can't wait! Apparently two other restaurants are coming to East 54 (on NC 54 just east of Glen Lennox) -- a pizzeria (chain restaurant based in Italy), and a Thai/sushi hybrid. There's a little more information at http://www.east54.com/retailers.php
Saffron Indian Cuisine Coming March 2010
www.saffronnc.com
Piola Coming April 2010
www.piola.it
Thai Oishi Coming July 2010
Indian Food Truck in Durham, NC
I've seen it at Sam's Quick Shop several times on my way in to work, but it's never been there when I'm actually looking for food. Would be great to know where it goes to hide! This is the Rubio's taco bus (a red painted Thomas school bus) with a banner hung on the side proclaiming the Indian food.
La Vaquita in Durham, NC - new location open
The taco cow has calved... and it's very good. As I was leaving the Kroger shopping center (intersection of LaSalle and Hillsborough Rds in Durham) today I happened to spot a banner in front of the Best Burrito (the BB sign is still there) announcing the grand opening of La Vaquita II. So of course I came to a screeching halt and went in. The place was deserted at 7 pm -- maybe because though they've been open a month, it only just occured to them to hang up a sign announcing that this was La Vaquita, no longer Best Burrito.
The owner was friendly and recommended I try the enchiladas poblanas ($9.50) or bistec a la mexicana ($9) or pollo a la crema ($9). I got the enchiladas and they were excellent, smothered in a most delicious and complex mole sauce, some of the best I've tried. I sampled a couple of drinks - jamaica (hibiscus flower) and tamarindo. Both tasted freshly made, and, amazingly, were not over-sweetened. Just the right balance of tartness and sweetness. He even brought out a tamarind pod and hibiscus flower to show me what they were made from.
The La Vaquita website (http://lavaquitanc.com/) doesn't have any mention yet of the new location. Prices are a little higher: $2 tacos vs $1.50 at the taco cow. The new location has an extensive menu, slightly different from the online version, and lunch specials.
The new location is an exciting development for those of us who work at Duke! The atmosphere is a bit fast food-like (this location used to be a franchise sub place) but it's great to be able to sample La Vaquita deliciousness and not have to stand up in a parking lot.
Location: 3409 Hillsborough Rd., Durham, NC 27705 (at the LaSalle St. entrance of the shopping center)
Tel: 919-383-8828
Triangle Chinese Update
Went to Super Wok for dinner tonight with my Chinese date. She had a bit of trouble with the Chinese menu because she's not familiar with Szechuan cuisine, so we went with a couple of dishes that the waitress recommended to her -- the 3 pepper chicken and stuffed fried eggplant. (I ignored the waitress's efforts to steer me to the American fusion menu.) Loved the 3 pepper chicken, though it was a little too spicy for my northern Chinese companion. The eggplants were stuffed with pork, battered, fried tempura-style, and served with dipping sauce. Wonderful. I'll definitely go back, though an English translation would have been a big help for both me and my Chinese friend. Thanks, Sinophile!
