dubedo's Profile
What do you pack for lunch?
I like to make a big bowl of some sort of grain-based salad and take that for a few days. It keeps very well and generally doesn't even need to be refrigerated at work. Examples: quinoa, edamame, almonds, dried cranberries, sesame dressing; wheatberries, black beans, scallions, green peppers, lime vinaigrette. Etc.
Also, a can of soup (I love Amy's Organic), plus a side of cheese and crackers. We have a can opener and microwave at the office.
A collection of finger foods - cut up veggies, hummus, hard-boiled eggs, chunks of feta, olives.
cookbook rec needed for simple, seasonal, sustainable meals
We are growing a lot of our own veggies now and I get a lot of mileage out of my copy of "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" by Deborah Madison. You can come home with any vegetable, fruit or grain and find several recipes starring that ingredient, ranging from very simple to only slightly complicated, as well as basic tips on handling and cooking that ingredient. It is as much reference book as cookbook. I highly recommend it.
Food delivery in Saratoga Springs?
Thank you! Looks like I can send them a Putnam Mkt gift basket with the gift card - absolutely perfect!
Food delivery in Saratoga Springs?
I'd like to send a gift certificate for food delivery to a friend in Saratoga Springs who just had a baby. I don't know the town at all - any suggestions? They are adventurous eaters, no real restrictions. Just need someplace that would be willing to deal with me over the phone (or online).
Thank you!
Market Restaurant in Raleigh
We went to Market a few times when it first opened (after giving it a couple of weeks to work out the kinks). We were so excited that this place was opening within walking distance of our house. Unfortunately, we never had a very good experience. The atmosphere is cool and we didn't have any problems with the service. But the food always seemed to . . . not quite work. The ideas were interesting but the execution was not there. As others have mentioned, the portions did tend to be quite small, and while the prices on some standards were fine the special/entree prices were pretty high for a small and only-ok piece of fish or whatever. I really wanted to like Market, but in the end we got frustrated spending $50 for a dinner that was not quite as good as we could make at home.
Raleigh bachelorette party
I agree with the 18 Seaboard rec. In addition to the side art-gallery space (prob too big for your purposes), they have a smaller private room that might be the right size. Very good food, but with moderate prices.
Jibarra and Buku are also excellent recommendations. Buku might be a little complicated if you are trying to split bills, since its menu focuses on small plates. Jibarra has an awesome cocktail/margarita menu and a fun urban atmosphere, I think it would be a great choice.
I don't think of La Volta as particularly good food - it's fine. But I've only been there for lunch.
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Jibarra Restaurant
7420 6 Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
18 Seaboard
18 Seaboard, Raleigh, NC 27604
Business Dinner - Research Triangle Park
Durham is closest, but even Chapel Hill or Raleigh are probably only about 20 minutes away. Fearrington House, however, is quite a long ways out in the country, probably more of a production than you want to get into. I haven't eaten at Bin 54, but it is relatively close to the highway, so it would be one of the more convenient Chapel Hill options, and I think if you search this board you will find positive reviews.
I have found that Parizade in downtown Durham is very good at this sort of large-group gathering (service-wise), and the food is reliably good. Check out their website and see what you think.
Raleigh area breakfast options?
Remedy Diner, downtown on Hargett Street, might fit your bill. They don't have a long menu of breakfast-type options, but they are offered all day, and they do use fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Also, there is the Flying Biscuit in Cameron Village, which is more breakfast-centric. I have only been there a couple of times when it first opened, and the service was so slow and confused that we haven't been back. But if you like their menu, it might be worth giving them a try now that they have had some time to work out the kinks.
New Jibarra's
I recently took a second visit to the "new" downtown Jibarra's and thought it deserved a Chowhound shout-out. As mentioned above, they have lowered their prices somewhat, now offering a "taqueria" menu with plates around $10-12. While some may treat these as small plates, I have found them reasonable for an entree - or at least, one appetizer plus two taqueria plates = plenty of dinner for two. On our last visit I had the vegetable tacos and my husband had the chile rilleno ($17), which involved goat cheese and black beans and was sinfully creamy and delicious. I have been very glad to find that the lower-priced entrees, including the tacos, show the same care and attention to detail that marked Jibarra in its early (and very pricey) incarnation. My vegetable tacos included a smoky dice of nicely cooked veggies, warm steamed tortillas, and two different salsas. Add some guacamole and a truly excellent margarita, and my husband and I left feeling that we had had an excellent, unusual meal for about the same amount we would spend on dinner at the Raleigh Times. We ate at the bar, which was a little busy (it was Saturday night) but perfectly comfortable.
Also, we have been eating vegetarian, and this posed no problem at Jibarra - there were at least 3 vegetarian entrees, and the ones we chose seemed just as attentively-created and made as the porky meals we have had there in the past.
Gourmet bakery - cakes in Raleigh?
I tasted wedding cakes at Edible Art - they were the best-tasting cakes we tried. (We ended up choosing a venue that came with a cake - otherwise Edible Art would have been my first choice).
Raleigh: al fresco pizza?
Agree with the Moonlight rec, they have a great, large terrace. I wouldn't say their pizza is as good as Lilly's or Vivace, but it's tasty and they have unusual topping options. Our favorite thing on their menu is actually the spaghetti and meatballs.
New kitchen - no range hood?
Thanks, that's interesting. And I should clarify that, as of now, the house has no gas lines - so it'll be an electric range (to my chagrin).
New kitchen - no range hood?
My husband and I are in the process of buying our first house. The kitchen leaves much to be desired but we went in expecting to buy new countertops and -most important - a new stove/range. But today during the inspection we realized that the current range is a downdraft-type - i.e. it is vented down through the cooktop, not up through a range hood. I haven't even seen any downdraft ranges for sale in the stores, and the ones I see online are super expensive. Meanwhile, the overhead fan in my rental house kitchen has been broken for months and it has been no problem - but technically there is a vented range hood there, even without the fan. So, my question: do you need a range hood, really? Could I put a new range in there and not worry about the ventilation? Or am I forced to either buy another downdraft range or have a range hood installed?
New places in Raleigh
I had dinner at Jibarra this past weekend, and it was really delicious. I ate at the old location once, and while I remember the food being pretty good, we waited forever and I was staggered by the prices. I don't know if they have lowered their prices, but it sure seemed like it. It also helped that they have 1/2-price bottles of wine on Sunday. Dinner for 4 with 2 apps and a bottle of wine came to about $85 before tip. The space is huge, maybe a little generic-cool but I think it's better than the old space, more spread out and not so loud or bright.
My husband and I both ordered from the "taqueria" menu, which was quite reasonably-priced ($12-14). I had the vegetarian tacos, which involved a sauteed dice of zucchini, roasted corn, huitlacoche (sp?), maybe something else. It was nicely spiced and browned and delicious, served with two hot sauces, one mild and green, one smokey and very hot. My husband had the carne asada tacos, which involved not only steak but mashed potatoes. The steak was perfectly cooked, tender and still pink. His came with yet a third, different salsa (altogether our meal involved quite a number of different salsas, each slightly different - it was impressive). Our friends also said their meals (a seafood/rice dish and another type of taco) were very good as well.
I have also been to Foundation and really liked it. The space is cool, the ingredients are homemade, the cocktails are very carefully and thoughtfully made. A grown-up but not stodgy place and a welcome addition to the suddenly-hopping Fayetteville Street scene.
Boylan Bridge Brewpub - as a resident of Boylan Heights, I'm glad to see it FINALLY open, and look forward to walking down to hang out on the awesome deck come summer. The beer is good - not spectacular, but good, with 6 varieties currently available. (They also have wine, can't remember if there is liquor). The food is . . . meh. As my husband said, the main message sent by this menu is "Come for the beer, and if you get hungry we'll feed you, but we're not going to put any effort into it." The food isn't gross, but it's pretty much what you could find at the bar in any suburban Days Inn. It's a real shame, surely there are any number of underemployed chefs in the area who could give them a halfway decent menu and source some non-frozen ingredients. But every bar can't be all things to all people, so I'm cutting them a break.
AND Tobacco Road (I've really been making the rounds!). Tobacco Road is a new, big, tv-intensive upscale sports bar on Glenwood South. It's true, they are definitely making an effort with the food. We went to watch a game and I had an arugula salad topped with steak - not your typical sports bar fare and pretty tasty. My friend had the homemade corndogs which were huge, crispy and impressive. Also, it's smoke-free! Hooray! I will definitely be going there for March Madness. (Our other current favorite place to watch games with decent food is the Oxford).
starting a diet tomorrow (well today now actually)
Buy a great big mess of fruit, and always have some around. It's hard because fruit is expensive, especially when you buy a variety. But it's sweet, fills you up, and is a god-send during the after-dinner TV snacking hour. My problem is if we have fruit I'll eat it all day, but to keep it stocked I have to keep going to the store!
Also, try turkey/chicken sausages, they are your friend. Low-fat, high-flavor and protein, family-pleasing.
But seriously. Fill that fridge (and car and desk drawer) with fruit.
Why does my pizza stone stink?
Thanks for the suggestions. I kind of suspected it was the oil, the smell does have a bit of rancidity to it. So annoying. I'll probably just buy a new pizza stone.
Well, let this be a public service announcement to anyone who gets a C&B pizza stone - throw away the instruction booklet! (Now I'm looking at the Crate and Barrel catalog description, and it suggests using the stone for burgers and fish (on the grill) as well as pizza. Why would you do that? And, why would you ever put it in the microwave? Crate and Barrel seems a little unclear on the concept.)
Why does my pizza stone stink?
Yep, that's the stone I have. I wonder if the brushing with oil did something, that's a good question - but it was in the instruction booklet!
Why does my pizza stone stink?
I received a pizza stone from Crate & Barrel as a wedding gift and have tried several times to make pizza on it. It's sold as a "grilling" pizza stone, but I figured it should work in the oven too. (It was the only stone they carried.) I followed the directions to season it before use by brushing with vegetable oil and then baking in the oven at 350.
I always heat the oven first with the stone in it, before putting the pizza on, and every time it fills the house with a noxious chemical odor. There is also smoke, but that could be due to using my not-so-clean oven at such high temps. My husband has begged me to give up on the stone, the smell is too bad, but I keep hoping it will go away. After 3 or 4 uses, though, the fumes are still bad. Has anyone had this experience? Any ideas?
What is a great nutritious filling lunch that I can cook/pack ahead of time for my husband?
Chili! Try the turkey and white bean chili from Epicurious.
I agree on the pasta salad, you can make it hearty with grilled or shredded chicken - like cold pasta with pesto and chicken.
I'm a big fan of turkey sausage, it's healthy, tasty and keeps well. You can make an easy pasta sauce with some italian turkey sausage, we do that often and it tastes even better the next day, or maybe cook up some turkey sausage and peppers and send him with a container of that and a whole-wheat hot dog bun.
Now I feel a little inadequate . . . I haven't cooked up a big pot of something on a Sunday for a while . . .
Best Dining in Chapel Hill
Bonne Soiree is certainly the best, but also the most expensive option. If your budget is closer to $75 than $150, I would recommend Lantern. Emphasis on fresh local ingredients, very good Asian-inspired food, a bit more casual than Bonne Soiree but no less enjoyable in its own right.
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Lantern
423 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Cauliflower? Ummm... Yummmm!
If you look at the NY Times website under the Health section and find the Recipes for Health, they did a whole cauliflower series recently, including a pasta dish with roasted cauliflower, tomatoes and olives. It was basically roasted florets in a quick tomato sauce (canned tomatoes) with kalamata olives, and it was DELICIOUS.
Easy but different salad ingredients?
Arugula with julienned sundried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, and shaved parmigiano or pecorino in a lemon vinaigrette. This is good with grilled chicken as well.
Need ideas for something else now....low fat/low-sugar deserts that actually taste good!
Lately I've been having a lot of Greek yogurt for dessert, fat-free, it's very satisfying and healthy and low in calories. Either flavored (I don't know how much sugar these have), or plain with a drizzle of honey, plus some berries and maybe a sprinkling of granola.
You can also try just keeping high-quality dark chocolate around and having a couple of squares after dinner - depends on if you can stop at just a couple of squares! It's easier with the dark stuff, a little goes a long way.
If you like frozen desserts, check out the Skinny Cow products, especially the ice cream sandwiches - I know they are low fat and low cal, and I think they are tasty. (Again, not sure of the sugar content . . .).
Honey's in Durham nc
I've never been to Honey's before midnight nor have I ever been there sober. Nor has anyone I know. For this reason, you may have trouble finding people to recommend (or even remember) the food.
Greasy breakfast all day. If that's what you're looking for.
Restaurants in downtown for a crowd, but open for Saturday lunch in Raleigh?
I've eaten at Oxford a few times. I would classify the food as "good for a pub." When I choose Oxford my other (mental) choices are Hibernian, Tir Na Nog, maybe the Times (the Times has better food but sometimes I like a little variety). Last night we ate at the bar and I had a nice big microgreen salad with fried goat cheese. My husband had the smoked chicken empanadas, which are very good. Sometimes it's nice to go out for drinks and conversation and be able to have some food that is fresh and non-greasy. Also, you're pretty much always guaranteed a table because it's so huge. The decor is cheesy and theme-y, but as a downtowner I'm glad to have the added option.
Anniversary in Raleigh
If you are willing to leave Raleigh, I highly recommend Bon Soiree in Chapel Hill, for general atmosphere, romance, impeccable service, and of course the food.
If you want to stay in Raleigh, I have had a lovely meal at Frazier's, which also offers very careful, detailed food and attentive service. But, I haven't lived in Raleigh that long and haven't tried many of the other fine restaurants here.
What Frozen Vegetables are in your freezer.....
Peas and edamame (shelled and not) and lima beans. Shelled edamame are great in stir fries, salad, quinoa salad. The peas and limas can also be thrown into any salad , or on their own with salt and pepper and crumbled feta.
I'd like to find a good use for frozen artichoke hearts. (A healthy use that is - they are perfect for spinach-artichoke dip, but that's not in the daily diet.) Frozen stir fry mixes have proved disappointing, they seem to always turn out limp.
Best Coffee Shops in Raleigh area?
I second the suggestion of Morning Times on Hargett Street. They take real care with their espresso drinks, especially if you avoid the 8-9 am rush hour. Good brewed coffee, too. I give them extra points because their small is 8 oz rather than 12, and priced accordingly ($1 for brewed coffee). Twelve ounces may not be enough for some people but it's a lot of coffee and to call it a small is silly in my opinion. (/soapbox).
Late night weekend dining in Crabtree area of Raleigh NC
Edwards Mill road goes along the north side of the mall. Take it west and in a couple of miles you'll come to a strip mall on your right with a grocery store and Starbucks and, more importantly, Bella Monica, a delicious and friendly neighborhood Italian restaurant that is open until 11 on weeknights.
If you want more than just dinner . . . Glenwood Avenue is the main road that passes in front of Crabtree Mall. Take it south (toward downtown). You will first come to the Five Points neighborhood, where you have Lily's Pizza (casual, delicious), Hayes Barton Cafe (fun, incredible desserts, maybe not open that late). If you keep going on Glenwood you will come to Glenwood South, which is what you'd call a "nightlife district" I guess. You'll have Mellow Mushroom pizza on your right (pizza (duh) and sandwiches and good beer); 411 West a few blocks down on the left (Italian, moderately priced, fairly good); and in between a lot of places that I don't know much about, including sports bars and fancy stuff.
So with all those options, take ALL of our advice and
