Neomonde

Neomonde is literally the best Mediterranean food in town (voted by Independent Weekly in 2006). One visit and I was hooked (which then forced me to go twice in one week)! They have two fabulous locations, one in downtown Raleigh, and one in Morrisville. 

All of their dishes are homemade, even their pita breads (the sesame one is my favorite!). They have daily hot specials and cold salads, and of course, the usual dishes you would think of when you think of Mediterranean cuisine (the best hummus in town, amazing baba ghanouj, fresh tabouli, etc.).

My favorite is their Zaatar Pie. They take their specialty pita dough and treat it almost like a pizza. They then add their special Zaatar blend of thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and other spices in olive oil. Then, you have the option of making your pie "delight" by adding hummus or baba ganouj (I've tried it both ways and they are both delicious), lettuce, tomato, olives, pickles,  and banana peppers, topped with their special lemon-tahini dressing. It's an absolutely amazing combination of flavors, all wrapped up in one dish!

Zaatar Pie is at the top, one of their platters is at the bottom.

Another nice thing is that you can make your own platter, choosing four sides. It's a great opportunity to try many different things. Their hummus is the most authentic I've had outside of the Middle East. It has the perfect touch of garlic and tahini, and is lemony with fresh parsley, to give it that extra touch. Seriously, you can't go wrong with whatever you choose. After a fabulous meal, make sure to take some containers home to put together your own delicious lunches over the next few days. 


Don't forget to pick up one of their many baklavas and other Mediterranean desserts for the road. 


I also love that Neomonde doubles as a market where you can pick up any Mediterranean ingredient that you could imagine, which really makes it a one-stop-shop for all your Mediterranean needs. 


You really can't go wrong with Neomonde.

Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls

You know those fancy Vietnamese spring rolls you get at restaurants that are so delicious? Well, believe it or not, they aren't as difficult to make as they may seem! I first had these at a friend's house. We served them family style and everyone made their own rolls. It was so much fun and so delicious, I had to make the whole meal again myself. I made it with Salmon, but you can make it with shrimp, or really any protein or veggie ingredients that you would like. And while typically you'll find spring rolls served as an appetizer in restaurants, these are delicious as the main course. They only take 20 minutes or so to make (or however long it takes the fish to cook, as that takes the longest)! Healthy, filling, and fun to make...you'll really enjoy these! So here we go...


First, I baked the salmon. Just crack a little salt and pepper over the fish, a spritz of lemon and pop it in the oven to bake (typically at 425degrees for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the fish). You can also oven-poach the fish or cook in any other way you like...a miso marinade would also be delicious!


While the fish was cooking, I made the dipping sauce so the flavors could marinade together while I was preparing the rest of the meal. I created the sauce by taste, so here are my approximate ingredients:


1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Garlic Clove chopped and mashed into a paste
3 Tbsp Okonomi or Hoisin Sauce
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tsp Sriracha (or other chili-garlic paste)
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Spritz of lime or lemon juice
About 1/4-1/2 Cup of water to thin out the sauce to desired thickness


Combine all ingredients until smooth and serve at room temperature (you can make the day before and refrigerate, just be sure to pull it out plenty of time before serving).


Then, I boiled water for the rice vermicelli noodles. I'd suggest about a handful of uncooked noodles per two people. It only takes two-three minutes for the noodles to cook.


Finally, I prepared the lettuce leaves and cut a cucumber into thin sticks. If you'd like, I bet these would also be good with herbs like mint and cilantro or scallions...get creative!

When the fish was cooked and all the ingredients were prepped, it was time for the fun part...putting it all together!

Using rice paper spring roll wrappers (which you can find at any Asian Grocery or probably even your local store), roll the stiff wrapper in warm water until it is completely wet (but not soaked). As the wrapper sits on your plate, it will get softer so just start loading! I first put a lettuce leaf on the wrapper and took a helping of the noodles to spread down a line. I'd suggest lining everything up slightly off center so you can get a good roll going. I added some cucumbers and grabbed a few pieces of fish to put inside as well. 

Once I was satisfied with the contents of my spring roll (be careful not to over-stuff it!), I started rolling, just like rolling a burrito! The rice paper will be softened by then and you won't have any trouble. Make sure you wrap it tight, but be careful to to rip it! The rice paper sticks to itself but if you are having trouble getting the paper to seal, stick a finger in the warm water and rub it on the end to make it close. I typically fold up one side before rolling the entire roll so everything doesn't fall out, but whatever works for you!

 

Then, dip it in the peanut sauce! If you're up for some extra spice, add extra sriracha and enjoy! 

It's a lot of fun to make, and perfect for an interesting, hands-on dinner party!

Brasa- Brazilian Barbecue

I love Brazilian Barbecue. My dad introduced us to the wonderful world of Brazilian Barbecue when he was traveling back and fourth to Brazil practically every other week (we almost moved there once). You have to be a major carnivore to like it. Real Brazilian Barbecue consists of every part of every animal cooked in multiple ways. One of my favorite Brazilian BBQ restaurants of all time was called Barbecoa and was located in Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan. I loved it! So when I find a new Brazilian Barbecue restaurant, I have to try it. 

Which brings me to Brasa. It's a Brazilian Steakhouse in Brier Creek. It has a great ambiance that's perfect for a date, and big enough for a carnivorous group party. But it's not all meat. There is an option for their salad bars filled with salad fixings, pasta salads, grilled veggies, even sushi! It's all you can eat and is accompanied by a hot bar with cheesy mashed potatoes, black beans, fried bananas, and more. 

Cold Salad Bar

With your meal, you also get the staple Brazilian cheese bread at your table. It's my favorite! Gooey Manchego cheese baked right into these little bread rolls makes for a soft and chewy, cheesy bite. It's the best. 

Cheese Bread

Then, of course, there's the meat. When you're ready, you flip over your little marker to green. In Brasa's case, it's a rock painted red and green. Green means bring on the meat! And red means you're stuffed. Then your servers will bring around skewers of different meat cuts cooked in a variety of ways. Brasa has over 12 cuts of fire-roasted meat. Everything from ribs to garlic sirloin to sausages and chicken hearts. My favorite (and the specialty of Brazilian steakhouses) is the Picanha.

Picanha

They ask you how you like it and will bring each meat cooked to your taste. Once you've tried them all, you can request your favorites. And don't forget to save room for the cinnamon grilled pineapple. It's sweet and delicious.

If you love meat, you have to try a Brazilian Steakhouse. And if you're in Brier Creek, check out Brasa. You won't be disappointed.

Brixx

Margarita Pizza

Brixx is a brick-oven Pizza restaurant chain, which doesn't seem like a chain. They have a unique collection of wood-fired pizzas that branch off from the original, expected topping combinations. My personal favorite is the Pear and Gorgonzola pizza with carmelized onions and toasted walnuts. It's an unusual, but absolutely fabulous combination of flavors atop a rustic, thin-crust pizza! 

Pear & Gorgonzola Pizza

They also have delicious Italian appetizers as well as pastas, sandwiches and salads for those who aren't in the mood for pizza.

So if you're tired of the usual delivery/take-out pizza joints, give Brixx a try. 

Only Burger from a Truck

Why is it that food seems to taste better when it comes from a truck? At least when it comes from the local celebrities that run Only Burger. Unlike the name would imply, they don't only sell burgers, but they keep it simple and therefore there's not much to trip up someone like me who has a hard time making decisions. Your choices? Your meat (yes, they do have veggie burgers and turkey burgers on most days), your toppings, and whether or not you want fries and a drink with that. It doesn't get more simple than that.

So how do you find this fabulous mobile food joint? Follow them on Twitter for their daily spot updates. Every morning they post where they will be for lunch and dinner, as well as if there are any specials for the day (like fried green tomatoes or carmelized onions to put on your burger). They usually end up at the same places on a regular basis and there's always a long line so get there early or call ahead to make sure they don't run out (which has happened before). 

And what makes this food truck so great? Well, it's the care they put into their food. The burgers are freshly made, placed on a butter toasted bun, and topped with the freshest ingredients. The fries are awesome too; perfectly cut each day to the perfect size. 


Only burger is a local staple. So log on and find out when they will be cooking up a fantastic burger near you!

Scratch is exactly what it's made from

Scratch got it's claim to fame around here from it's regular appearances at the local farmer's markets so imagine the pure delight of everyone when they opened an actual shop with brick walls on a side street in downtown Durham!

There is no typical menu. All their ingredients come from local farmers, made from scratch daily, which means the menu changes daily. There's always something different. Everything from chorizo, tomato and farmer's cheese empanadas to fresh eggplant focaccia. They also have daily side salads and of course, deliciously sweet baked goods. Stop by for a hot cup of fresh-brewed coffee, or my personal favorite: the bowl of hot chocolate. Yes, I said bowl. I'll be spending many winter days hanging out in this quaint little cafe.
 
On this particular visit, I had a butternut squash tart. The savory filling in a typical pastry dough was fabulous. The salad of the moment (as I like to call it) was a beet salad. I've always grown up thinking I don't like beets. I definitely don't like pickled beets. But in the name of the blog, I had to try it. Well, let's just say I'm going to be trying beets more often. This beet salad was almost like a slaw, with a vinegar-based dressing over thinly shredded beets, mixed with a fabulous variety of herbs. It was amazing!

Of course, you can't leave Scratch without having one of their made from scratch desserts. Typically I'd recommend their famous doughnut muffins. Yes, I said doughnut muffins. It's everything you love about doughnuts, combined with everything you love about muffins (mainly the shape and the texture of the muffin top). Tell me that doesn't sound amazing. Well you don't have to tell me because it is. Another favorite (and one of their other usuals) is their chocolate and sea salt tort. It's the perfect salty/sweet combination! But this time, something else caught my eye. The heirloom apple crisp. The apples were the perfect combination of tart and sweet, topped with a delectable crunchy topping. It was the perfect end to the meal, and the perfect beginning to my afternoon food coma. 

Whether you stop in for a bowl of hot chocolate and a fresh-made pastry, or to sit for a delightful lunch, you'll love Scratch!

Merci Beaucoup, Buku

I dare to say that Buku is the most unique restaurant in Raleigh. Buku comes from the "international slang twist" on the phrase "merci, beaucoup" (thank you, very much) and I am thankful (very much) that this restaurant has opened in Raleigh. The premise of the restaurant is an eclectic mix of international street foods, all in one place with a fabulously elegant and modern twist (not to be confused with any type of "fusion" restaurant because that's not it). Basically, to an international foodie like myself, it's heaven on the corner of East Davie and Wilmington Streets downtown. Think of all the regional foods in Disney's Epcot classed up and rolled into one restaurant. 

Walk off the bustling Raleigh streets and step into a calming atmosphere. The decor is very cool with a wall of water behind the bar, beautiful and intricate overhead lighting and pictures everywhere of various international street-food scenes. 


The menu, may be intimidating to some...actually, scratch that...it's probably intimidating to most. On it you'll find many ingredients you've probably never heard of before (don't worry, the waitstaff are very knowledgable in the ingredients and giving suggestions) and combinations that might scare a picky eater, but trust me, Chef William D'Auvray will do you no wrong. You can tell that he spent his early childhood in the Philippines and traveling Asia and that he studied under some of the best chefs in the world including Wolfgang Puck and my personal favorite, Nobu Matsuhisa (founder and chef of one of my favorite restaurants of all time, Nobu, in Tokyo...and other locations around the world). Personally, I think William and I would be great friends, but that's another thing altogether!

Peach & Cucumber Cocktail

Ok, now that I got my school-girl-crush rant out of the way, back to the food...I started out this spectacular meal with the special cocktail of the evening. It was a cucumber and peach cocktail (the beginning to an evening of seemingly odd ingredient combinations that are absolutely fabulous) with gin, sweet and sour mix, and a few other things I can't remember off the top of my head. It was light and refreshing and an absolute wonderful start. With one sip, I felt like I should have been at an exclusive spa on the beach somewhere tropical, relaxing with a refreshing drink. 

Viet Cucumber Salad

Most of the menu is designed for a tapas-style meal, with two or three plates a person sufficing. There are a few large plates too, but I love trying many little things, so that's exactly what we did. I started out with the Viet Cucumber Salad with crisp shallots, chilies, fried peanuts and a sweet rice vinegar. It was awesome. Brought me back to my days living in Asia with those delicious ingredients. It was light and refreshing (perfect pairing to my cocktail, which again made me think seaside spa...this time on the Vietnamese coast, which is beautiful, by the way, but again, that's another post). I impressed my fellow diners with my chopstick skills as I practically inhaled this delicate dish. 


We also shared the Empanadas filled with bay-braised chicken and avocado leaf, farmers cheese and salsa. They were crispy on the outside, and filled with perfectly cooked ingredients on the inside. The mix of ingredients added a fabulously elegant twist to these empanadas. 


For round two, I went with the Koren BBQ. Now, having lived in Asia, you must understand that I am very particular when it comes to Asian ingredients and "typical" Asian dishes (which means something different in Asia than it does in America because no, Japanese people do not eat sushi every day). I know what is and isn't authentic; what's "Americanized" and just out-right wrong. When ordering this dish, I was hopeful, yet skeptical. And the result? Perfection. After taking my first bite and suddenly feeling like I was back in a real Koren BBQ restaurant, I fell in love with William D' Auvray. He really knows how to hand-pick his ingredients and pull out all the stops to maintain the authenticity of his dishes. The shaved prime sirloin was grilled to perfection. The dipping sauce was the best I've had in America (without making my own). The Kimchi was as good as it gets and the sesame spinach was a perfect compliment to the entire dish. 

Koren BBQ

Another fabulously executed dish was the True American Red Snapper, "Indonesian style." It was a beautiful marriage of sweet and spice with cashews, tamarind, Thai chiles, house mushrooms, palm sugar, jasmine rice and stir-fried Asian greens atop perfectly cooked fish. It was absolutely delightful. The Chef is truly after my heart. 

Now for dessert. In all truth I was really too full to order dessert, but one in particular caught my eye and I just couldn't resist...in the name of my blog (or so I kept telling myself) I ordered it anyway. I mean, honestly, could you say no to anyone that said: Creme Brulee Trio...??? I think not! Especially when that trio consists of chocolate, vanilla and ginger Creme Brulee....yes, I said ginger. I couldn't pass it up! And I'm glad I didn't because just look at how beautiful it was:

Creme Brulee Trio

Three perfect "shots" of different Creme Brulees surrounded by [what my sense told me were] mango and strawberry swirls and finished with a dish of fresh strawberries. Seriously, if your mouth isn't watering right now, you must immediately call a doctor because something is wrong! Now, in order of uniqueness (least to most), I will take you through this amazing dish, starting, of course, with vanilla. It was sweet and creamy, chock-full of vanilla bean remnants (which always make a good creme brulee even better when you can see what you're tasting). The chocolate was thick and rich and absolutely decadent. My favorite spoonfuls of the chocolate included some strawberries for that perfect pairing. As for the ginger, you may think it was weird as you try to imagine incorporating a big piece of ginger root in something as sweet and creamy as Creme Brulee, but it was sheer genius. It was like taking a bite of a purified, creamy ginger snap. The ginger wasn't too overpowering and it was perfect against the texture and sweet cream of a typical Creme Brulee. Again, the Chef comes out on top with pairing not-so-typical ingredients to make something spectacular. 

Buku is a not-so-hidden gem in Raleigh. A real treasure chest of your "atypical" ingredients combined in such a way that would ease the fears of any Plain Jane's tastebuds and brings comfort to someone like myself who grew up on typical Asian street food (or other regions for that matter). No matter which one of these categories you fall under (or anything in between), you must try Buku and don't worry about what ingredients you may or may not understand, just put your faith in Chef D'Auvray and do as many foreigners do in other countries: close your eyes and point. You won't be disappointed.

The Pit is not the pits

You can smell The Pit from a block away as the smoke fills the air. You'll know you've arrived when you see the crowd outside the front door. This place is always packed, and with good reason! North Carolina may be known for barbecue (for your northerners and foreigner, that's what we call a style of pork, it's not something you go to for eating hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad), but it's not everyplace that can say their pitmaster beat the Food Network star, Bobby Flay, in a rib Throwdown! Ed Mitchell is famous for his legendary whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue. 

So now that my mouth is watering, yet again, let's get to the food! Don't worry, if you aren't a pork eater there are plenty of other options. Ed's famous BBQ chicken, Texas-style brisket, baby back ribs, smoked turkey and they even have a fabulous vegetarian option that even the meat eaters would love-- barbecued tofu! The variety of side dishes hold their own against the main courses. Everything from mashed potatoes and mac 'n cheese, to sauteed vegetables and fried okra. So how is it? Let me paint you a little picture...

You sit down to a table with fresh out of the oven biscuits, that are exceptionally buttery and flakey with a luscious sweet butter and crispy hush puppies. Try not to eat them all, because you'll want to save room for the main course! 

Chopped BBQ with grits and greens

It's really hard to choose because everything is delicious, and luckily they have platters where you can try two or three of their delicious barbecue treats. We ordered two plates on this particular visit (you know I love sharing and trying different things). The chopped barbecue in the Eastern Carolina style (spicy, vinegar-based sauce) is smokey and delicious. There are two different BBQ sauces (one vinegar-based and one molasses-based) on the table for you to add to your favorite dish...personally, I like to mix them...and they make this dish even better. The collard greens are cooked in the smoked pork and are some of the best greens I've ever had. Their cheddar, bacon grits are creamy and absolutely amazing. 

We also ordered a half-rack of baby-back ribs. They were sweet and tangy, super smokey, and fall-off-the-bone amazing. It's no wonder Ed Mitchell beat Bobby Flay in a rib-off! Just writing about them is making my mouth water. 

The sweet potato fries are one of my favorites (let's face it, who can turn down a fried sweet potato?) and are perfectly crisp. I suggest dipping them in the molasses-based BBQ sauce. Another delicious side-dish choice are the smokey, sweet BBQ baked beans, but let's face it, you can't go wrong with any of your choices on the menu. 

This place is fabulous. If you like Barbecue, you'll love The Pit!

My Philosophy on Cooking

If you use ingredients that you like, it's really hard to go wrong (unless, of course, you burn it, under cook it, or really think tuna and ice cream would go together on spaghetti). For example, the other night I was craving some sort of fresh, lemony, shrimp dish and decided to go with shrimp scampi (of which I don't have a particular recipe for but have made before). In looking through my kitchen, I decided the perfect pairing for my shrimp scampi craving would be a creamy lemon risotto. Not having recipes handy for either of these dishes, I decided to make it up as I went along. I like experimenting in the kitchen and since I do feel I have a basic knowledge of how things are made and what goes well together, I figured I have nothing to lose (and I also have a bunch of delivery options if this happens to be completely inedible). 

I apologize in advance as I do not have official recipes and am really bad at trying to figure out how much of everything I used, but I'll try since I received so many requests for my "recipe." So here we go...

Ingredients needed for lemon risotto (serving 2):
I used about 1 cup of sushi rice instead of arborio 
White Wine- about 1/2 cup
Chicken stock- about 2 cups
Garlic- 2 cloves or to your liking
1 large lemon or two
Parmesan cheese- about half a cup (or more depending on your liking)
Butter- approx. two tablespoons
Olive oil- approx. two tablespoons
salt and pepper to taste

In a deep skillet, I heated the olive oil and added the two cloves of finely minced garlic, which I sauteed for about a minute (or until you can start smelling the sweet fragrance of the garlic...but before it starts to turn brown!) and added the rice. 

I sauteed the rice and garlic mixture for a few minutes, adding the zest of a lemon. Then, I added the white wine and stirred until almost completely evaporated. I slowly started adding the chicken stock about 1/4 cup at a time letting the stock cook into the rice and evaporate before adding another ladle of stock. 


Once all the stock had been incorporated, and the rice was al dente, I added the juice of one lemon and let that cook into the rice. Then, I stirred in the butter, and added the parmesan cheese. 


Season to taste and serve!

For the shrimp scampi, you'll need similar ingredients (which is why this dish goes so well together):
A few tablespoons of olive oil
Two or so cloves of garlic
About 1/4 cup of white wine
A few tablespoons of chicken stock
1 lemon
salt and pepper
Optional: Parsley and my personal favorite, Cajun seasoning
About a pound of shrimp

I cooked the shrimp almost all the way through (you can also use already cooked frozen shrimp or whatever is easier for you). In the meantime, I sauteed the finely chopped garlic in the olive oil. When the garlic started to get fragrant, I added the white wine and chicken stock. Letting it simmer so it would thicken a little. I then added the lemon, parsley, and seasonings. Once the sauce was at a good thickness and taste, I added the shrimp to continue cooking in the liquid.


I poured the shrimp scampi over-top the risotto, added a side of greens with homemade balsamic vinaigrette and had a fabulous meal!


Now I hope that wasn't too confusing or un-followable (I don't even know if I could recreate this meal exactly the same), but the point is you can take ingredients you love and makeup some fabulous meals with a little creativity. Let me know how it goes! I'd love to hear more creative "recipes" and suggestions!

The Pharmacy cures your ailments

The Pharmacy may not have the cure for everything, but it will definitely cure your hunger, need for a drink, or craving for an elegant meal. The old style of the building, which used to be an old pharmacy, is warm and inviting. The food tastes so fresh and has food that ranges in style from French Bistro to Artisan Cafe all with a touch of Southern charm.

Asian shrimp spring rolls and crabcake appetizer

The Pharmacy's claim to fame are their crabcakes, which are wrapped in phyllo dough and fried to a crispy, golden brown. Talk about adding an amazing new twist to an old classic. It's served with a side salad and has multiple homemade sauces to dip it to your liking in a grainy mustard style sauce or a balsamic reduction sauce. Each is the perfect pairing. Luckily, you can order the crabcakes as your entree or an appetizer to start off your meal.

They have a variety of other appetizers and sides including fried vegetable sticks and Asian shrimp spring rolls. 

Special Ravioli

There are daily pasta specials and the quiche of the day, which are always fabulous. On this particular trip, we ordered their pasta of the day, which was a spinach, ricotta and walnut ravioli in a homemade creamy pesto sauce. One bite of this dish and we fell in love! The walnut in the ravioli added an extra dimension of flavor that is unlike anything else. The homemade creamy pesto sauce was perfectly executed...not too creamy, not too overwhelming with the pesto. Being that three of us girls were splitting everything, they were even nice enough to split the pasta dish for us into individual servings.

We also ordered the honey glazed salmon. Talk about amazing! This salmon was perfectly cooked, glazed with honey, lemon, a touch of soy and stone-ground mustard, atop delicious wild rice and served with a side salad mixed in a raspberry walnut vinaigrette. When I'm cooking salmon, honey is not on my mind when thinking about a marinade, but this was fantastic (and will definitely be something I experiment with in the future). 

The meal was delicious. We hardly had room for dessert but considering how delicious everything had been (and being that it was our last meal together for a while), we took that extra step and followed the "there's always room for dessert" philosophy by ordering their homemade vanilla bean creme brulee. It was packed with vanilla bean and had a perfect carmelized sugar topping (you know how sometimes it can be too thick or too thin? this was neither one of those). 

 If you're in Southport, NC, the pharmacy is a place you should try to get to for lunch. You'll love the sweet southern charm and elegant, homemade flavors of the food, paired with good service and a quaint atmosphere.

Mr. P's Southern Bistro

Mr. P's is a bistro on the main drag into "downtown" Southport (I use that phrase lightly since it's such a small town). It's a little brick building and inside there's a down-home country, but elegant feel to the place. I'd personally call it a "Southern Bistro" style. 

Fried Goat Cheese Salad

The servers are exceptionally nice...the typical Southern hospitality. They have a full bar with some fun twists on cocktails. Their appetizers are fantastic. My favorite salad on their menu is the fried goat cheese salad (as you know, I love anything with goat cheese). The goat cheese is rolled in breadcrumbs and lightly fried, served warm atop mix greens, roasted red peppers and toasted, spiced pecans with a light balsamic dressing. It's a great start to a fabulous meal. 

On the menu, there's a huge selection of fresh seafood as well as burgers and their famous Prime Rib. There is always an abundance of additional daily specials so wait for your server to let you in on those delicious secrets before deciding. Come to think of it, I've been there multiple times and can probably count on one hand the number of times I've ordered off of their usual menu. All of their entrees come with grits or potatoes and a choice of their daily vegetables. My favorite side of theirs are their Parmesan Fried Green Tomatoes. They are deliciously tangy, perfectly golden brown, crispy, and absolutely fantastic! 

On this particular night, my friends and I shared a few dishes. We ordered one of the specials that wasn't on the menu: Blackened salmon topped with blue cheese and herbs, a side of pan-roasted red potatoes and (of course) their Parmesan fried green tomatoes. The salmon was deliciously seasoned with spicy Cajun spices and perfectly cooked. The bleu cheese on top was a great coolant for the taste-buds and was also a great pairing for the pan-roasted red potatoes. It's one of my favorites at this restaurant as they usually have some sort of blue-cheese topped fish on special any night of the week.

 Blackened Salmon w/ Bleu Cheese, Herbs, Roasted Potatoes & Parmesan Fried Green Tomatoes

We also tried their shrimp and Andoille sausage gumbo served with fried grit cakes. The grit cakes were awesome! Crispy, fried outside, and creamy inside. The Andoille sausage was perfectly pan seared before being added to the deliciously seasoned gumbo. It was an elegant twist to a down-home, Southern gumbo.

Shrimp & Andoille Sausage Gumbo with Fried Grit Cakes

Mr. P's is a local favorite that has earned it's status as a place you'll want to keep going back to. 

Dead End Saloon

The view from our table

Dead End Saloon is a pub in Southport/Oak Island, NC. Cozy up to the bar or sit out on the porch overlooking the river marsh and pier. You'll definitely see your fill of wildlife from beautiful butterflies to a variety of water birds. While I was there, there were even a couple of dolphins that playfully swam by!

Their menu consists of everything from burgers and sandwiches to quesadillas and buffalo wings, to seafood of all kinds. They have daily food and drink specials with typical pub fare as well as fun twists on old favorites. Their coconut shrimp is served with a fabulous homemade Hawaiian-style dipping sauce that includes coconut and pineapple (it's very ambrosia-esq and could probably be served in a bowl as a dessert, it's so good). Their fish and chips are delightful with perfectly crispy fries and homemade tartar sauce.

Just like the menu says, it's "Fun Dining"

If you're looking for a fun, laid-back atmosphere with food for anyone's taste, head down to the end of Fish Factory road, pull up a seat on the porch overlooking the water, and enjoy some fabulous pub fare.

Sweet! The Cupcake Shoppe

T

The Cupcake Shoppe. The name would make it seem pretty straightforward, even uninteresting or typical...but let me assure you, it is anything but. The Cupcake Shoppe is a quaint little shop on Glenwood Ave. The front is just what you would expect with the little outdoor cafe tables, pink scalloped awning and beautifully decorated cake samples in the window. Walk inside and you almost feel like you've stepped into an old soda fountain shop with their old fashioned cash register, glass case full of beautiful cupcakes, and simple interior design. 

Mint Condition Cupcake

They have thirteen usual flavors but they are hardly your usual, everyday cupcake. The cake flavors are rich and flavorful, and the frosting? Well when it's swirled atop the little cakes at about two inches high and comes in some of the most unique flavor combinations you'll find anywhere, it doesn't get much better than that! Just don't put it down after you've taken a bite because it will fall over from the weight!

They have everything from Plain Jane (really, that's what it's called and includes vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream) to your better than typical Red Velvet to Cinnamon, Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter Cup (chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream). Some of my personal favorites include the coconut cupcake made of fresh coconut cake and vanilla buttercream frosting, rolled in coconut flakes. Or for those that love the perfect combination of mint and chocolate, there's the "Mint Condition" cupcake that consists of chocolate cake, topped with mint buttercream. 

Almond Joy Cupcakes

And every week they have a completely unique flavor combination like Mojito or this week's "Hummingbird Cake" cupcake which consists of pineapple, banana and pecan cake with cream cheese frosting. Last week's flavor was one of my favorite candy bars deconstructed: Almond Joy, with chocolate cake, coconut butter cream, rolled in cocoa dusted coconut flakes and sliced, toasted almonds...Delicious!

If you need a sweet treat after dinner downtown, or a nice dessert for a party, stop by The Cupcake Shoppe. You'll want to keep coming back to try them all!

Toast is anything but Plain Jane

Toast is inspired by authentic Italian sandwich shops. It's a little paninoteca in Durham, but with so much more! 

Panini with Goat Cheese, Honey, Pepper Crostini

Walk into the little shop and talk a look at the chalk board hanging overhead, above the cash register. Mix and match panini, tramezzi, bruschetta, and crostini (and if you don't know what each of those are, don't worry, they explain them on the menu) with homemade soups and delightfully simple salads. All of their menu items are simply designed and have that rustic, Italian feel. With one bite, you are instantly transported to a little sandwich shop in Italy, enjoying your palette-pleasing meal. Their local ingredients, artisan breads, and house-cured meats make it extra special and what they can't find locally, they import straight from Italy. 

What's the best thing to order? Everything is delicious. Try a panini with a green salad or homemade soup or a side of crostini. Or choose a few crostini to have with your soup. The flexibility of the menu really allows you to taste a little of everything. If you're a prosciutto-lover, try their Prosciutto, Mozzarella and Tomato Panino  with a deliciously light and simple green salad tossed with herbs, parmigiano reggiano and in a red-win vinaigrette (shown below). Try the warm olives with  orange, rosemary, garlic and crushed red pepper. The crostini with warm goat cheese, honey, and crushed black pepper is a delicious combination of tang, sweet and spice.  

Toast really is the perfect little paninoteca. 

Brio Tuscan Grille

Although I'm not usually one for chain restaurants due to their hit or miss quality assurance, if you're wanting an Italian restaurant with a large variety on the menu, Brio is a decent place to soothe your craving. 

Seared Shrimp and Orzo

The service is professional and quick. Anyone would find something they like on the menu. They have everything from pastas and salads to seafood and steaks in all varieties. The seared shrimp with orzo was very good. Well seasoned, although a little on the salty side. The lemon vinaigrette atop the sauteed vegetables and orzo was delicious.

Save room for dessert or make sure you shield your eyes from the fabulous-looking dessert tray the waiter brings around. It usually involves little tastes of typical desserts; key lime pie, chocolate cakes, creme brule, tiramasu, cannolis, etc.

If you're shopping at Crabtree Valley Mall and are craving a taste of Tuscany, Brio will hit all the right notes.