ediblerock's Profile
Hot wings in RTP?
Buffalo Brothers off Capital Blvd in Raleigh (closer to the Beltline than 540) has excellent wings, can get them super hot.
Surry Sausage
I think it makes terrific breakfast sausage. It is already smoked and cured I believe, so all you have to do is heat it up.
Looking for Great Pizza in Fuquay-Holly Springs-Apex
The Original NY PIzza in Holly Springs is the best pizza in the area you are asking about, Fuquay/Holly Springs/Apex. Not sure why someone would mention a place on Capital Blvd, which is about 30 minutes away. One thing for sure, avoid Michaelangelo's. Their old place made great pizza; in their new place they use one of those new ovens that sends the pizza through on a conveyor belt. The dough is chewy and has no flavor. Give Original NY Pizza a try.
Fresh pasta store in Raleigh?
Wow, you people are terrific. Blaine, you rock! I ended up buying some pasta sheets from DaVinci's, which look terrific. I have to cut them myself, and they're not red pepper, but they're fresh-not-frozen, so that's good.
Blaine, if I'd seen your post earlier, I would have taken you up on the offer, that is quite generous. I was in 518 today at 5pm to pick up a take-out order to confirm the flavors. Great as always! I was hoping to get my shipment of bacon from Benton's Country Ham by now (www.bentonshams.com), but no go. If anyone know where to find some REALLY good smoky bacon, that would be great. The best hope right now is the Applewood smoked at Fresh Market. The double-smoked German bacon at Southern Season is terrific, but may overwhelm the dish.
Here is the recipe I have as a .txt, saved from Greg's column a few years back. I am clueless as to why they would publish the calorie count :) :
THE CRAB
From 518 Italian CafÈ, Raleigh, NC
8 strips bacon
1 pound uncooked pasta (see Notes)
2 cups wild mushrooms, trimmed (see Notes)
1/4 cup chopped scallions
Dill Cream Sauce (recipe follows)
2 cups cooked lump crab meat, picked over and chilled
Parsley and lemon wedges for garnish, optional
Cook bacon in saute pan over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels, leaving rendered bacon fat in the pan. Chop or crumble bacon and set aside.
Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions, but cook just until al dente; begin tasting for doneness halfway through the recommended cooking time.
While pasta is boiling, saute mushrooms in bacon fat 3 to 5 minutes until soft. Add scallions and Dill Cream Sauce, and heat through. Toss pasta and sauce together.
Divide pasta among 4 plates, and top each with 1/4 of the crab meat and bacon. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges.
Notes: 518 West serves this dish over red pepper pappardelle, but any wide pasta, like fettuccine, may be substituted. Use portobello, shiitake or oyster mushrooms or a combination.
Makes 4 servings.
Per serving:
fats, 60 grams (45% of calories);
calories, 1,189;
cholesterol, 247 milligrams;
carbohydrate, 107 grams;
fiber, 5 grams;
protein, 53 grams;
sodium, 1,242 milligrams
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DILL CREAM SAUCE
From 518 Italian CafÈ, Raleigh, NC
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 1/4 cups clam juice
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
3 1/2 cups cream
2 tablespoons dill
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper, to taste
Put wine, clam juice, chicken stock and shallots in a large pot and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 its original volume (you should have about 3/4 cup of reduced liquid).
Add cream and dill, and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Thoroughly mix cornstarch and water, and whisk into sauce. Boil briefly to thicken sauce, then remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper. Makes about 1 quart sauce.
Raleigh: al fresco pizza?
I second Moonlight Pizza. Their pizza is unlike any other in the area, and the terrace always attracts an eclectic crowd (eclectic=not everyone is under 25).
Fresh pasta store in Raleigh?
I am remaking the "Crab" pasta dish from 518 West - the recipe was published in the N&O some time ago - and I would love to buy some fresh pappardelle pasta to use. It does not have to be red pepper like the original. The only place I used to buy fresh pasta was in Chapel Hill, and they closed some time ago.
Can someone recommend a place to buy fresh, preferably local pasta? It can be anywhere in the area, although closer to Raleigh would be great.
Thanks!
Best cheese steak in the Triangle
I don't know how authentic this is, even though I went to college in Philly for a year, but I want a cheesesteak with onions and mushrooms, and I always get this response: "the onions and peppers are cooked together, can't be separated." I never heard that in Philly. What place here can give you a cheesesteak as ordered?
Mission impossible? Sports bars w/good food and large TVs but not too crowded
I need a place with any game. I would prefer a choice of two or three, but if it has a cheese plate, I am willing to watch the Jets/Giants. Just something one step above burgers/wings/nachos. This may be asking too much, but this is Manhattan.
Mission impossible? Sports bars w/good food and large TVs but not too crowded
I will go one better. I don't really care if the place is crowded, I am looking for a place with a tv where I can watch the NFL next Sunday that serves great food. I am coming to NYC for a conference, and going there is mecca for me food-wise. But I don't want to give up my football to get a great meal on a Sunday! Any suggestions? I will be staying in Midtown, but anywhere from the Battery to, say, 82nd St, is fine by me, if it's the right place.
St. Pete beaches-where to watch Euro 2008?
I am visiting Indian Rocks Beach and would like to find a place to watch Euro 2008 soccer, either any of the beach towns (Clearwater on down to St Pete Beach) or anywhere west of the airport. I am closest to Red Lion, which I love (great wings!), but would like a few other suggestions in case others in my party are not so fond. Can be from a dive on up to fancy, as long as they don't mind my Germany jersey tomorrow when we beat Portugal :).
Thanks!
Good Food near Raleigh's RBC Center
Four miles away is Harrison Ave, Exit #287 on I-40. Less than 1/2 mile down Harrison is Bonefish Grill, Ruth's Chris Steak House (yes, $$$ and not always worth it), An Restaurant (http://www.ancuisines.com/), Cafe Carolina, and Moe's Southwest. I think this is the highest concentration of restaurants near the RBC Center. And if I-40 gets too busy coming back to RBC, you can take the back roads: Harrison Ave, left on Reedy Creek Rd, left on Maynard, next left onto NC 54. Go Canes!
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An Restaurant
2800 Renaissance Park Place, Cary, NC 27513
Bonefish Grill
2060 Renaissance Park Pl, Cary, NC 27513
Moe's Southwest Grill at the Arboretum
127 Weston Pkwy, Cary, NC 27513
Ruth's Chris Steak House
2010 Renaissance Park Place, Cary, NC 27513
Hawg Wild in Cary, NC. Anyone tried it?
http://hawgwildsmokehouse.com/default.aspx
Site is still in progress (no menu yet), but here are the details:
Phone number 919-466-WILD (9453)
Fax number 919-460-7409
Address 243 Grande Heights Dr.
State, ZIP code Cary, NC 27513
E-mail address manager@hawgwildsmokehouse.com
I called today and it is now open. I haven't been yet, but I spoke with one of the owners last week, and they are wood-smoking pork, brisket, chicken, and I think another item or two.
I work close by so I will post a review when I get a chance!
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Hawg Wild Smokehouse & Grill
243 Grande Heights Dr, Cary, NC 27513
Best item on the menu at 518 West Raleigh
I think "The crab" pasta dish is the best item on the menu, but you have to be in the mood for something rich and heavy. The pizzas are also terrific, because as with any good pizza, it's all in the dough. The desserts, especially their homemade ice cream sandwich, is not to be missed.
I have been going to 518 since it opened two weeks after I moved here (Fall 1996), and I have never had a bad meal there (I used to work down the street). I can't think of another restaurant I can say that about, especially one where I've eaten at least 100 times.
The Cupcake Shop - Raleigh
We took an out-of-town friend and my seven-year old daughter there this weekend. They were good, but not great. The cake part was heavier than I would have liked, and I thought maybe they did that to hold all the icing. The flavors were great, but the texture of the cake was average.
Where to buy blue crabs in the Triangle?
The bushel of live #1 Jimmies from The Sea Depot were excellent, heavy and big. There were a fair amount of dead ones when I first sorted them (about a dozen), but the crabs were delivered on Friday instead of Saturday due to a death in the family of the crabber. Lee, said that I could expect the crabs to come on Saturday every time I order them from now on, which I will.
The crabs were $110 a bushel, with a deposit required (cash preferred), but that price may change depending on the time of year and supply. I will definitely order from the Sea Depot again for hard shells.
Where to buy blue crabs in the Triangle?
I decided on the new place in Cary, The Sea Depot (corner of Chatham and Maynard). TR's and a couple other places get in their crabs on Thursdays, so by Saturday too many are dead to make it worthwhile.
The owner of the Sea Depot, Lee, was very nice and told me his crabber will deliver them Saturday morning. #1 Jimmies. I will let you know how they turn out!
Where to buy blue crabs in the Triangle?
I am in Holly Springs, but I work in RTP and am willing to go from Mebane to Clayton to find rusty #1 Jimmies.
Yes, $150 is a lot, VaNC, but my friends in Bawl-tih-moor hun paid $275 two weeks ago for a bushel of #1 Jimmies. As my friend Curtis Sharp says, "Man! That's a lotta bread!"
I saw a short description of Tom Robinson's online, and he is just what I'm looking for; someone who brings in fresh seafood from the coast.
Where to buy blue crabs in the Triangle?
I am hosting a crab feast this weekend, and would like to find a local seafood place where I can buy a bushel of live #1 Jimmies (I will steam them myself). I would like to avoid driving to the coast if possible.
What places would you recommend that you have found reliable? Three places I have already called (your experiences would be helpful!):
Capital Seafood, Raleigh: $150/bushel, prepaid, not guaranteed (the gentlemen said, "if they arrive all dead, they're still you're crabs.")
Earp's Seafood, Raleigh: no large, only mixed medium (m/f), $100
Fishmonger's, Durham: awaiting a call back from the manager.
There is a new place on NE Maynard Rd in Cary for seafood; does anyone know the name?
Thanks!
Knives in the Triangle
I have been getting my knives sharpened at Beck's for 10 years. The couple who runs it are very knowledgeable and friendly. They also have the best selection of Swiss Army knives available. Their prices for the S.A. knives cannot be beat.
RALEIGH BARBECUE WERE IS THE BEST ?
The only barbecue place I know of that serves chitlins is Dillard's BBQ, but it is in Durham. They're closed on Mondays, and you should call ahead to make sure they made chitlins that day: 3921 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 544-1587
Bacon in the Triangle??
Wow, the Red & White. Is it related to the Red & White in Rocky Mount? My NC native friends rave about the R&W's sausage, which is darn good.
jean9, I ordered Benton's bacon right after the Saveur article came out (they are also in the Oct 2006 issue of Gourmet), and it was sublime. Much stronger than store-bought, even Neuske's or Niman's, but a terrific blend of smoke and unctuous fat. Even with the shipping costs, I paid $6.75/lb versus $6/lb for the very good Whole Foods bacon (Wellshire Farms). A huge bargain.
Chapel Hill: Merlion query
I have been there a few times (not in the last six months), and have had consistently good meals there. A good friend lives in the neighborhood (Southern Village) and Merlion is their go-to place when they want a good meal quickly.
I recommend the Singapore Laksa (Rice noodles in spicy, fragrant coconut broth, topped with shrimp or chicken, egg, tofu and a sprinkle of laksa leaves that gives the dish its distinctive flavor), and the Golden Shrimp.
Please post if you have been there recently, I would like to hear if it has changed quality-wise.
Bagels in Raleigh
I have to second NYBD in Crescent Commons in Cary as having the best bagels in the area (I grew up in NY). And yes, they do have bialys!
Holly springs,nc
There are several more options now than just fast food. Homegrown Pizza, at the intersecton of Holly Springs Road and Linksland Drive, has very good pizza, wings, and burgers. They also have wireless and are non-smoking.
A little further west down Holly Springs Road is the Bass Lake Draft House, in the shopping center at Bass Lake Rd (duh). They have a terrific beer selection, and good food (including pickle chips), but the place is very (VERY) smoky.
On Main St near the Town Hall is La Dolce Vita pizzeria, which has been around for over a year.
Also at the new shopping center at Sunset Lake Road and Holly Springs Road, where the Harris Teeter is located, there is a new Rudino's Pizza & Grinders. About one step up from fast food, but pretty good.
BTW, I have lived in Apex/Holly Springs for over ten years, and have never heard a good word about the Ocean Stars restaurant. Most folks I have asked have tried it once and never go back. Cheap, greasy, and lukewarm food seems to be the consensus. Has anyone had something good there? Up the road on NC 55 in Apex is now Skippers Fish Fry restaurant, which has received a good review in the N&O from Greg Cox.
NEWCOMER - BIRTHDAY DINNER IN RALEIGH?
Tablewines, you may be right, depending on how often you've been there. I have only been there a few times, but have had consistently wonderful experiences. My last visit was perhaps a year ago.
As for the atmosphere, it is NOT in the lobby. It is a beautiful open area (separate from the lobby) with exquisite decor, next to the bar. The finest restaurants in New York are usually part of a hotel (reduces overhead, increases foot traffic).
NEWCOMER - BIRTHDAY DINNER IN RALEIGH?
One restaurant that I think is excellent for a birthday dinner (quiet, romantic, formal, and impeccable service) is Il Palio, in the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill.
The service is what you might expect at a four diamond hotel; attentive but not invasive. The tables are spaced properly, the lighting dim but not dark, and the atmosphere is Italian-romantic (=not stuffy).
The menu is comparable to Second Empire and Fearrington, with the wonderful addition of many handmade pasta dishes (a favorite of women, I have found). My descriptions won't do it justice, so check it out for yourself: http://www.ilpalio.com/
Remember that you said price is not an issue. I took my wife there I think three years ago, and we spent $250, with only one medium--priced bottle of wine. Apps run from $7-$12, entrees from $19-$35, and there are also two five-course tasting menus to choose from.
This is a special occasion restaurant. Good luck in your quest!
Rue Cler Review in the N&O today
I have been to Rue Cler several times for lunch, and the food has been wonderful. Frisee (with housemade lardons), croque monsieur, frites, all have been excellent. The frites are served with bernaise on the side, a combination that is so good it may be outlawed in some states. The gruyere on the croque monsieur is fantastic, aged and sharp.
Also, there is a city parking garage directly across the street, and they only charge 60 cents an hour!
FWIW, I spoke with one of the owners recently, and he is planning on installing Wi-Fi.
Rue Cler Review in the N&O today
I have been to Rue Cler several times for lunch, and the food has been wonderful. Frisee (with housemade lardons), croque monsieur, frites, all have been excellent. The frites are served with bernaise on the side, a combination that is so good it may be outlawed in some states. The gruyere on the croque monsieur is fantastic, aged and sharp.
Also, there is a city parking garage directly across the street, and they only charge 60 cents an hour!
FWIW, I spoke with one of the owners recently, and he is planning on installing Wi-Fi.
