Sam at Novas's Profile
How to clean a cast iron skillet?
For really crusty stuff, I use table salt. It is cheap,eatable, and is a pretty good abrasive.Dump some salt in the warm pan and scrub with a paper towel. Hot water and a green pad scrubber are about the only other things that I use to clean my stack of cast iron.
Coffee Shop in Morganton
109-A Kaffe? A friend has been working at this place. I trust her but know nothing about the shop.
Bread Mold
I finally tested the breadbox idea. I brought a loaf of French bread home and split the 1.5 lb loaf into two plastic bags, one on the counter and one in a kitchen drawer. Mold appeared on both of them at pretty much the same time. We did try and use them equally so that one was open as much as the other.
Restaurants w/ Event Rooms-Charlotte
The Liberty has a great private area. May not be enough room for 50 for a sit down,but I think that they can handle that many for drinks and apps.
Mexican Homemade Mecca (Charlotte)
You forgot to mention that they are very inexpensive. They also have a Facebook page.
Charlotte BBQ
Here is the Charlotte Observers latest info on BBQ. It is, I believe, incomplete as to wood fired BBQ purveyors. I do believe that shops still using wood have to be found by word of mouth. These places don't have huge advertising budgets and they lean towards being a community place, not really looking to draw in the hoards. One that I know of is the Red Pig in Jerusalem NC. It is located at the intersection of NC 601 and NC 801 just north of beautiful downtown Cooleemee NC. Here is their info: Red Pig Bar-B-Q House
7136 Nc Highway 801 S
Mocksville, NC (336) 284-4650
I have not been that way in a few years, but I did find a recent "yelp" review so I know that they are still around. As good as it used to be? Let me know when you get there.
Bread Mold
Bread is apparently affected by sunlight also. Thus the "old breadboxes" I have no evidence for this as I can not find a wooden,American made bread box. But there must have been some reason that they were around. My bread is good for about a week in North Carolina. It is usually just left in the clear plastic bag that it came in, on the kitchen counter. You might try putting it in a drawer or brown paper bag just to keep the light off it, and let me know if it helps. Freezing is the best long term storage. Good Luck
Any good eats in DAVIDSON, NC?
So glad that you got some straight dope. Let us know where you end up.
Any good eats in DAVIDSON, NC?
Yeah you are correct. Rudy is of Dolce fame I believe. There is another Italian place in Davidson. Owner/chef operated. Reviewed in Obs recently. Too hot outside...mind drawing blank.
Any good eats in DAVIDSON, NC?
Maybe...http://www.campaniacafe.com/ I never ate there. They once were down your way, I think, at the little SS that now has Trader Joes. There is still a restaurant there, but I swear this is where Campania started and I think it is the same owner/chef. Let me know if this info is wrong.
Any good eats in DAVIDSON, NC?
The last that I heard, Tim was no longer Chef there. There is a brew pub up there where I once ate that was OK. North Harbor Club seems to do some interesting things plus a great location. Good Luck.
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North Harbor Club
100 N Harbor Place Dr Ste D, Davidson, NC 28036
Any Charlotteans remember this place
Yeah, I remember it. It was one of the few bagel places in town. I am a southerner and never ate a lot of bagels, but I do remember that they were very good and they introduced me to what a bagel was supposed to be, unlike the stuff that was labeled "bagel" that came from the grocery store.
TIPS, TRICKS & GENERAL KITCHEN WISDOM
Frying bacon in the nude guarantees perfectly cooked bacon...and you only need to do it once.
Sauce (Hot) Recommendations
My favorite for a while has been "Trinidad Habanero Pepper Sauce". I like the extra hot flavor. It is one of the few really hot sauces that I can eat straight from the bottle that I can actually taste the pepper flavor without being tortured. It is distributed by Trinidad Traders, Jacksonville Beach Fl. (904)821 1105. Here is a review of the "Hot", I use the extra Hot. http://www.hotsauceblog.com/hotsaucearchives/author/steve/
What food or food-related items to put in a time capsule?
Personally I believe that corkscrews are going to go the way of buggy whips in the future. They will not all go away but a method of closing wine bottles that does not need a specialty tool to open it is here now with the advance of screw caps. Maybe not twenty years, but I feel sure in fifty years cork screws will be a collectors item. Look at all of the designs and techniques that there are out there just to pull a cork out of a bottle.
Chicken liver - how to use
I love this, except I would use bacon grease instead of butter and serve over toast;-) Go Grandmother!
Looking for specialty shopping sources in Charlotte
Bosna Market on Central Ave is a good source for Balkan food products. This is a grocery, not a restaurant.
2615 Central Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28205-5334
(704) 343-9828
Banh Mi in Charlotte
Thanks,that is good to know. I looked at the veges when I made my decision. They looked fairly fresh. The bread "looked" fresh, but that can be hard to tell. At least it wasn't limp and soggy.
Banh Mi in Charlotte
Last Saturday I had a craving for trying Banh Mi. I have heard so much discussion about it and I love a good sandwich. After a quick look at these postings, I decided to check out Central Ave since I live just a couple of blocks away from Dim Sum. I had heard a little bit about NC Banh Mi and decided that that would be the first stop to see what they offered and if I did not like what I saw, there are plenty of other choices within a few blocks. NC Banh Mi is closed and the space is for lease. I did not notice any other Banh Mi signs on that side of the road, so I went to the Asian market next to Dim Sum. I went in and inquired if they had “sandwiches” “Banh Mi? I was told yes and shown some premade wrapped up buns with some meat inside. I asked about veges and was told yes, they are in the other cooler. After looking at what they had to offer, I decided what the heck. So I bought two (total price for two Banh Mi along with a bottle of srarchi $8.68). The lady that toke my money told me to warm them in the oven before putting the veges on. The little bags of veges included cucumber, carrot, sweet pepper, cilantro, and some other crunchy stuff. After a few minutes in the toaster oven, a dribble of srarchi, and loading on the veges, the first bite was fantastic. I do not know if this was typical or proper for Banh Mi, but for $3 a sandwich on what I thought was really good crusty crust, melt in your mouth crumb, bread I am sold. I hope that the next trip will provide as good as the first.
Ps. I had to check wikipedia for the spelling as there was some inconsistency in the preceding posts. Banh Mi is how wiki spells it fwiw.
Local Honey in Charlotte
There is at least one supplier at the Atherton Mills market. Check here http://www.facebook.com/athertonmillandmarket for who,when,etc.
How do you make your popcorn?
I use my wok with peanut oil. Bacon Grease? I will have to try a little of that with the oil(just for flavor).
Lunch with toddler near Charlotte airport?
You will be heading west on I85 to US 74. If you can hold off eating for a little while, stop in Shelby NC. There is some good BBQ places and one of my favs is the Shelby Diner in "downtown" Shelby. If you can't wait that long, check out some places in Belmont, Cramerton, and some of the other small towns along I85. Most are within a few minutes of the freeway. Others can give you specifics I hope. Enjoy your trip.
Best IPA
My latest favorite is Sierra Nevada Torpedo. Readily available and easy to drink.
Asheville Updates (Jan 2011)
I thought that there was already a Ruth's Chris in Asheville! Is this a second location or has the first one closed?
Breakfast between Charlotte Airport and Sylva?
Try the Shelby Cafe in beautiful downtown Shelby NC. If you are taking US 74 up to Asheville, it is about 45 minutes from the CLT airport. Take the business route 74 to Shelby and look for the courthouse and the square, Cafe is just off the square. Great place to run into the regulars of Shelby.
Vegetarian Grilling: Ideas?
I will grill just about anything that I can get on my small Weber. Favorites are squash, yellow or zucchini, tossed with oil,salt,pepper,whatever spices I like, and put on medium or off direct heat, and cook till done. Apples in the fall, avocados that are just about ripe with a dollop of salsa. Most of this stuff I do not turn, so just like meat, low and slow is good.
"Good God Almighty, I'm Hungry! So Let's Eat!"
50 things to eat in NC
Have you thought about calling Garner Foods in Winston-Salem? Maybe they can tell you of a local restaurant that features a Texas Pete based offering.
Also...Are there any fishcamps left on the riverbanks in NC that are any good? Fried catfish can be really good.
50 things to eat in NC
Try an RC cola and a Moon Pie, preferably bought at the store down at the crossroad in the middle of nowhere in eastern NC, and consumed while sitting out front in 90 degree heat with the flys buzzing around. Best if the cotton fields/tobacco fields are pretty much all you can see. Bleinham(sp) Ginger Ale is a good substitute even if it does come from SC.
I have, in the past, had really good meals just by taking the back roads or the business route thru small towns at lunch time and check for parked cars and trucks at "Mom's Diner".
Makes me hungry just thinking about it. Have fun!
Ice cream and ___________ = a winning combination
Vanilla Ice Cream with Peanut Butter and Lays Potato Chips!
