fcbaldwin's Profile
KILL DEVIL HILLS
We have a cottage in Duck and one of our favorites is J.K.'s, at mile post 9 in KDH, on the bypass. If you're in the mood for beef, it's cooked on wood burning grills and is wonderful. Consistently good food and service. It's worth the price, IMO.
website: http://www.jksrestaurant.com
BBQ in Richmond!
I've often wondered why Bill's didn't try bringing back "curb service" at a couple of those still-open locations. When I was young they were always very busy on most nights.
BBQ in Richmond!
Any discussion of barbecue in Richmond where Bill's is mentioned ALWAYS goes this way. You either love it or hate it. For me, having lived in or near Richmond for most of my 63 years, I enjoy Bill's. And hokie2009 is right, the sauce is unlike any other, IMO. And I agree that the limeades are great along with the pies. The barbecue, well it's really not barbecue I guess....just a pork sandwich. It's an "acquired taste". I like it. I understand the difference as well.
Outer Banks Anyone?
You're thinking of Colington Cafe.
Here are two up to date threads that you might look at for good info:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/787790
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/360805
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Colington Cafe
1029 Colington Rd, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Need food recommendation for Smithfield, VA area (lunch or dinner)
Yes, it's not far from Smithfield. It's in Surry Ct.House, on Rt 30, not far from the Jamestown-Scotland ferry.
Surry House is a little bit like the Va. Diner on Rt. 460 in Wakefield, but toned down some and somewhat more "genteel".
Peanut soup, ham biscuits, fried chicken, etc. I happen to like it better than the more touristy Va. Diner.
Looking for a Pop/Soda Named Wink
I'll look again for the Collins Mixer, but I can't remember seeing it in the Richmond area for a long time. Where in NC can you get it?
Looking for a Pop/Soda Named Wink
It's a long list of old products that have been screwed with over the years, with many ruined. The brand names have been sold and re-sold, and then bastardized by the corporate idiots who couldn't leave a good thing alone.
Your description of how you remember Wink sounds to me like a product that I no longer see anymore by Canada Dry called simply Collins Mixer, or something like that. It was very tangy and dry, not "sweet" at all really. I, too, wish that were still around.
Looking for a Pop/Soda Named Wink
Have only seen it in 1ltr plastic bottles. Saw it on the shelf at Martin's in Sycamore Square in Midlothian, VA. yesterday.
Need food recommendation for Smithfield, VA area (lunch or dinner)
I haven't been in several years, but the Smithfield Inn, right in the middle of the old town, is fine dining in an old tavern that's been restored. Beautiful spot.
Outer Banks suggestions
We finally were able to go to Paper Canoe during the week of July 4th (2011). Reservations are only accepted for groups of 6 or more and we had our daughter , son in law, and two grandsons (ages 13 and 12) with us.
Paper Canoe is located across from, and just south of the Sanderling Inn in north Duck. The building is totally Outer Banks beachy and right on the sound with a great view from all of the windows. Our waitress was genuinely friendly, knowledgable of the offerings, and gave us great service. All of the food that we ordered was excellent. Catch of the day was Mahi, which son in law and I ordered, and was perfect. Linda had a real specialty of the chef, duck lasagne, and was thoroughly impressed. One grandson had the "big bowl of seafood", consisting of shrimp, scollops, mussels, and topped by a big piece of tuna. He had to fight off the rest of us from reaching over and taking some of it. The other grandson had a steak (I think it was porterhouse). He had a choice of 12 oz or 16oz. He chose 16oz and ate every bit of it. Daughter had a salad. The whole meal was great and everyone agreed. Bottom line, the place is great. We will go back often.
Looking for a Pop/Soda Named Wink
Yes. It will be where the bloody mary mixers and other drink mixers are located. The quantity of stock isn't always plentiful, however. Also, you only see it in those pale green plastic 1qt(approx) bottles.
Looking for a Pop/Soda Named Wink
Canada Dry Wink is a grapefruit juice flavored drink that has been around the Richmond, VA area for many years. I think you can find it at Food Lion as well as possibly Martin's and Kroger.
Statesville, NC Eats
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/549458
You have to read this thread about Keaton's, near Statesville. I've been to this place (several years ago) and it's amazing.
Looking for a good place in Chesapeake Va
A decent local place that we enjoyed last summer (June, 2010) is Pirate's Cove Restaurant, off of Battlefield Blvd in a Food Lion ShoppingCenter.
http://www.piratescoveva.com
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Pirate's Cove Restaurant
109 Gainsborough Sq, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Buy a ham on the Eastern Shore?
That's good info from genevapics above.
I prefer the smoked ones. One of my favorite brands is R.M. Felts Southampton country hams (from Ivor, Va. on Rt. 460).
Outer Banks suggestions
We have a cottage in Duck, so we're down there quite a bit (except summer when it's rented). Our favorite restaurant is Blue Moon Beach Grill around MP 13
4104 South Virginia Dare Trl # 16
Nags Head, NC 27959-9282
(252) 261-2583
In Duck, The Wave Pizza (tell Ryan Frank and Linda sent you) at the back of Osprey Landing rivals the best pizza on the OBX. They have tables out back right on the sound, sunsets are terrific.
Roadside Raw Bar and Grill in Duck has excellent food and the service is good. However we've not enjoyed the experience once or twice when our waiter was obviously hopped up on something.
Blue Point, as others have said, is excellent but expensive, and not a place you'd take toddlers.
Red Sky in Duck used to be one of our favorites, but that was back in '07 before they lost their good chef. I think he's at The Pearl now. We haven't been there yet. After a couple bad meals at Red Sky we stopped going there. Went back last weekend and the service was excellent, but the food was just OK, and it was WAY overpriced.
Duck Donuts (several locations including Duck in Osprey Landing) shouldn't be missed....fresh hot doughnuts are scrumptious.
For coffee beans and the best coffee, Front Porch Cafe in KDH and NH do their own roasting. I always go there first thing for a couple pounds of Ethiopian Harrar.
NEVER GO TO Sunset Bar and Grill in Duck. View of the sound is outstanding, service and food are about the worst on the OBX.
Haven't been to Firefly, the redo of Prime Only. Have heard nothing but raves about it from owners, renters, and locals alike.
Slice Pizza, MP 8.5, was our favorite pizza before The Wave opened in Duck. It may be a toss up, but The Wave's prices are better, and it's only 2 blocks from our cottage.
Owens, MP 16.5 on the beach road in Nags head is a favorite of ours, but it's over 20 miles from us.
Kill Devil Grill, MP 9 3/4, has great food and service. The front part is a diner that I think is on the historic diner list. Their key lime pie will slay you after a wonderful meal of fresh seafood.
Avoid ALL BUFFETS! The worst and dirtiest is Jimmy's, Carolina Buffet and Georges has food you can get anywhere in the country.
King crab legs are NOT fresh and NOT local. Wait till you get home to buy them at your local grocer.
Carawan's Seafood in front of Wall Mart just east of the Wright Memorial Bridge is our seafood shop of choice even though there's one spittin' distance from us in Duck. You can always trust that the fish is fresh. If you see Katherine or Christina, tell them Linda Baldwin sent you.
There's a brand new restaurant in Duck on the left just before you get to the Sanderling called Paper Canoe. It's getting rave reviews, and we're going to try it out weekend after next.
The Life Saving Station at the Sanderling is super with wonderful service. It's a little more formal than most restaurants on the OBX, but they won't turn you away. Just wear a nice shirt and some shoes other than flip flops if you have them. It's expensive.
We tried Aqua S in Duck a few times. The service, sound view, and bread are to die for, but I'm not particularly impressed with the food. Last time we were there I ordered fois gras, and they served it with peanut butter and jelly!!! Ugh. Last summer we had their gazpacho and it just wasn't right, not fresh tasting, more like canned soup. I've heard someone say that the sauce they had on something was nothing more than canned cream of chicken soup. Maybe we'll give it another try, but we're not ready to experiment right now given their high prices.
For groceries, stick with Harris-Teeter.
With a little help from some on line friends, I've prepared a mile post guide that should be helpful while you're there: http://chatterboxtoo.com/MilePosts.htm (case sensitive)
I also have a list of Charter Cable channels:
Alphabetically:
http://chatterboxtoo.com/charterchannels/CharterStandardSingleColumnAlpha.htm
Numerically:
http://chatterboxtoo.com/charterchannels/CharterStandardSingleColumn.htm
If you find you need the digital/high def channels, email me at linda@thebaldwins.com and I'll send you a link to that list.
If you're into bike riding, or interested in other things to do, I have some links at our site:
http://www.chatterboxtoo.com
Linda Baldwin (Frank's wife)
Made to Order Duck Donuts (OBX)
Yep I expect it's been that long. I haven't bought a bottle of wine in prolly 10 years. I remember so well your party, Frank being so put out that he had to write tasting notes. Now if they'd been martinis, he'd have been happy as a pig in ****. It was a GREAT party though!
I haven't read all your posts about OBX, but Frank says he saw one in which you mentioned the tornado warning. Where were you then? We were asleep here at the cottage (Chatterbox Too) on the street that goes east from Duck Rd at the Wings store to the beach. The tornado hit our house and we knew nothing about it until the fireman banged on the door to see if everybody was OK.....blew all our front windows out, glass covered the whole house. And if you were around Duck the next day or so you might have heard of the trailer that was blown across Christopher Drive, over our dune, and slammed into our house and bounced onto Frank's truck. Each of our vehicles had $7K damage. I can't even add high enough to figure the final damage to the house, but structurally it's fine....now. Oh, and the trailer had a new Harley in it!
Wish I'd known you were going to be here. We pass right by a place in Ivor, VA, that cures and smokes country hams. They're the best of the at least 2 dozen we've tried, and I think we pay less than $2/lb. I'd have gotten you one or at least invited you over for some ham biscuits. We buy about 3 a year.
So good to hear from you! What and who am I missing out there for wine dinners?
Linda
Duck Donuts are good as long as they're hot. I don't like them once they've gotten cold though.
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Duck Donuts
1190 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949
Made to Order Duck Donuts (OBX)
Hey Melanie!
Frank just called me and said you were on the OBX. I'm here at our cottage in Duck. I'm just 2 blocks from Duck Donuts. Are you staying in Duck? If somebody sees this and Melanie doesn't, tell her Linda Baldwin is looking for her!!! I'm at 252-261-7983. I'll see if I can find her email address in my contacts. A link to my email address is at http://chatterboxtoo.com
We MUST get together before you leave!!!
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Duck Donuts
1190 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949
OK, so it's not REAL barbecue
I've been going to Bill's Barbecue in Richmond since I was a child. Through the '50's and '60's, they were drive-ins, with car-hops. When I got my driver's license in 1964, I started taking my dates to the drive-in on Broad St near Libbie Ave.
No, the pork is not real barbecue, because it's roasted in an oven, not smoked in a pit over charcoals. It's a minced roasted pork sandwich, with a mild vinegar sauce. And you can add their peppery, vinegary hot sauce at the table if you want.
I happen to still like it. Maybe it's an "acquired taste". Some folks just don't like it; and that's ok. I see negative reviews written occasionally, usually complaining that it's not real bbq.
The only other place that I've ever seen it done this way, sort of, is Doumar's in Norfolk. I like theirs too.
Also, they have fresh squeezed limeades (choose it carbonated). And homemade style pies as well.
I hope they stay in business another 80 years.
Chicken fried steak in Richmond?
I'm not an expert on what's best in this category, BUT.... Karen's City Diner on Broad St (across the street from the main DMV office) offers a decent chicken fried steak smothered in a white sausage gravy with your choice of a couple of sides.
obx - kill devil hills
Hey foodjack,
thanks for the invite to the Tidewater Taste Buds! We might make it one of these times; I've read posts about y'all.
One more place to mention re OBX: Blue Moon Beach Grill at MP13 in a little strip center between the highways (I think it's called Surfside). Very popular with the locals. We think it's excellent.
-Frank
obx - kill devil hills
That bbq in Coinjock (before you get to the bridge over the ICW) is Currituck Barbecue...look for the pink neon pig sign out front.
An old stand-by at MP 4.5 on the bypass is Capt.'n Franks. What's new is that he now has his new "signature" hotdogs made by the people at the Weeping Radish on the mainland. Haven't tried them yet because he just started serving them.
And great for lunch or dinner is Kill Devil Grill at MP 9 3/4 on the beach road--one of our favorites: get the Key Lime Pie for dessert.
foodjack: congrats on the new house in KDH! My wife and I own a cottage in Duck.
-Frank
Pauli Pot...?
I have had one for about 6 months, and I can say it is the most amazing sauce pot I have ever used. You can actually hear the liquid silicone heating up in the bottom. The best comparison I can think of is a double boiler where steam from just simmering water distributes the heat evenly and keeps the temp consistent. I worried about the fact that the sides weren't as thick as, say, A-C thus less ability to keep temp consistent. In my experience this is not true. I've even done corn on the cob in it, and it came back to a boil quickly after the corn was dropped in. I like it so much that I emailed Pauli to see if they were going to make the same pot in smaller versions. They said that's in the works and to get back to them in a couple months.
Linda (using hubby Frank's account)
BBQ in Outer Banks?
Produce Addict, yes that's the one, Corolla Village Barbecue. It's probably the closest thing to real eastern NC bbq that you'll find on the OBX.
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Corolla Village Barbecue
1129 Corolla Village Rd, Coinjock, NC 27923
Specific OBX Questions
A relatively new restaurant that's universally loved nowadays (including by us) is Blue Moon Beach Grill, about MP 13 between the highways in a little strip center called Surfside. Small and not much to look at, it's always busy and do not take reservations. Get there early for lunch or dinner.
We also think that Kill Devil Grill, MP 9 3/4 on the beach road, is perhaps one of the best restaurants on the Outer Banks.
John's Drive-In is one of the places that makes it fun to be at the beach. But so is Cap'n Franks. It's the right atmosphere, and the dogs are good as well as the other offerings such as the "grouper boat." Just try it.
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Kill Devil Grill
2008 S Virginia Dare Trl, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Blue Moon Beach Grill
, Nags Head, NC 27959
Cowlings BBQ on US 460 outside Waverly, VA--anyone been there?
We've been going to Cowling's for many years and find the 'Q consistently very good. They have their own vinegar-based sauce which you add as you see fit. And the onion rings are exceptional ( I didn't know about the coconut pie and will have to try it!). This is a family owned and operated restaurant with the typical "feel" of the genuine barbecue joint that it is. Worth stopping for lunch on US 460 half-way between Petersburg and Suffolk on the east side of Waverly, VA.
Danville VA
Short Sugar's Barbecue on the main drag through town, Rt. 460. It has it's detractors when it comes to discussions about the different types of 'Q out there, but I had lunch there just this past Oct. '09 and enjoyed it. Very popular place with locals. It's a woodburner, too.
OBX: open for chowhounds after the storm?
As far as I know, just about everything on the OBX has returned to normal for this time of year. All of the restaurants are open (that stay open year-'round), some with abbreviated weeks. Just since the mid-November storm (some are calling it the "Friday-the-thirteenth storm") we've been to Roadside in Duck, Flying Fish in Nags Head, and Barefoot Bernies in Kitty Hawk, all very enjoyable. If you're contemplating going out for dinner, you should give the restaurant a call to check on their hours.
Best of Hendersonville 2009
I've only been one time because I live out of the area (central Va.), but I believe it is a family owned and operated hot dog/hamburger/other fast food place. And yes, I understand that it's always packed, a good sign yes? And it's cheap. So, what's not to like about a cheap, good basic food place with fast service? No irony in the name.
Best of Hendersonville 2009
Perhaps somewhat "lower scale" than some of the recommendations for a best-of list, but what about Hot Dog World?
I went there on a local's recommendation and was impressed. The place was jammed, but the staff is fast, friendly and efficient. Home-made soups, etc, the food was good for what it was and the overall "experience" of the place was very good. I'd go back for sure.
