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.

The Fare at the Fair

Me and The Fam at the fair!

When you think of the fair, what comes to mind? For me it's the animals and, of course, the food. So while my family was in town this past weekend, we decided to see what was going on this year at the NC State Fair. And, of course, get our fill of the fabulous fair food...and by fabulous, I mean the kind of food you can only get at the fair and are very thankful that it only happens once a year because it's a heart attack in a day's worth of eating! 

 

But first, the non-edible attractions (although that's probably arguable for some of them, but you get what I mean). We entered the fairgrounds near the botany displays and competition results. I was pleasantly surprised at the use of QR codes, being the ad/tech junkie that I am. It was a great way to find out more information and integrate technology in an agricultural (and otherwise seemingly contradictory) setting.  

I also loved some of the local attempts at advertising. A fertilizer that is just bagged manure (in cow-printed packaging) and a knock-off of Chick-fil-A's ads...let's just hope there isn't a huge rights infringement case going on here (sorry, my account management just came through a little bit there)...but you have to give them credit for the humor-factor.

But as boring as it may be to some to see the jumbo veggies, twisted gourds and blooming flowers, I think it's really fun to look at all the beautiful colors and interesting shapes and sizes of everything! 

Then, there are all the farm animals. They're just precious. I just love seeing the cows, baby chicks, and adorable little piglets.

And then, of course, there's the food. The second you open your car door, you can't help but smell the smokers and fryers working away. Seriously, I start craving some key fair fare when it starts getting cooler but I really am thankful this food isn't available to me all year round! And there are so many different things, I couldn't even attempt to try them all!

My favorite is the smoked turkey legs. Yum! They are so good, although the medieval, feasting-king look is very unflattering.

Smoked Turkey Leg

My second favorite thing and a must-have is the roasted corn. But not just any roasted corn, the roasted sweet corn! Add a little seasoning salt or Old Bay and it's fantastic!

My brother is making fun of me for how much I'm enjoying this...

For dessert, some sort of fried something will do. I'm not one for any of the fried candy bars (because as much as I have a sweet tooth, I do have a sweetness threshold and those things would surpass it!), but mom had to get an elephant ear. One trend I noticed this year that I hadn't really seen before was adding a topping to your elephant ear. Everything from fruit toppings, fudge, and Bavarian Cream. My mom couldn't pass up the last one.

Mom eating an Elephant Ear with Bavarian Cream

The Krispy Kreme Burger!

But the big food attraction at the fair that I just couldn't bring myself to stomach (especially after getting all the usual foods that I crave) was the Krispy Kreme Burger...yes, you read that correctly. A hamburger sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme donuts. A nice man, and my newest friend, lovingly let me take a picture of his Krispy Kreme Burger. Taking a picture of it was as much of a taste as I wanted.


Another item that would make most people cringe was the Kool-Aid Pickles. Yes, sour pickles soaked in red Kool-Aid (the actual flavor of Kool-Aid - strawberry or cherry-  is still TBD). My brother just had to try it...yuck!


And to top it all off, there are the shows. My favorite being the racing pigs, but don't forget the Country concerts and of course, the dancing competitions. We ducked into one tent with the clogging and tapping competitions and oh boy, was that an experience! People age 9 to 90 dancing to Blue Grass music. It was hilarious and frightening all at the same time. 

 

Clogging

Here's a little taste of some other contestants in the Clogging competition:

If you haven't been to the fair yet, you have to go. It's always a fun experience...not to mention one of the most fulfilling people-watching experiences. For everyone in NC, make sure you get to the fair before it packs up on October 24th! 

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. 

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!

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!

Nothing beats Farmer's Market Fresh

Seriously, what's better than a breakfast made of the freshest ingredients, straight off the local farms? Not much! Which is why the State Farmer's Market Restaurant is the place to be for weekend brunch! Talk about down-home, good ol' Southern cooking! They have everything from fresh sausage and bacon to waffles and hotcakes to brains and eggs... yes, I said brains. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable and friendly, in their adorable denim overalls.

Granny Cone's Sampler

I went with my fabulous photographer friend, Cynthia (of CynKain Photography). With a huge spread of farm-fresh goodness to choose from, we had a difficult time deciding. Luckily for a foodie like me, they have "Granny Cone's Sampler," which is literally a sampling of all the things we were deciding between: Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, NC Country Ham, Sausage Gravy, Spiced Apples, Silver Dollar Hot Cakes, Grits and Biscuits. 

The biscuits were flaky and buttery. The NC Country Ham, Sausage and Bacon tasted so incredibly fresh, it was some of the best I've ever had. The grits were really creamy and the spiced apples were a perfect end to this fabulous meal. While there was too much food on the sampler for me to finish everything, I think there was a perfect little taste of everything you'd want to try for your first time here. 

Cynthia got a delicious platter of french toast and bacon, which was equally wonderful. 

Being right across from the Farmer's Market, the restaurant is great inspiration to pick up your groceries for the week across the way. The food here was so fresh and delicious and the service was really quick. If you're looking for a down-home, farm-fresh meal, this is the place to go!

Viva Vivace!

Vivace definitely lives up to its name in Raleigh, NC. It's a lively, contemporary Italian trattoria tucked in the back corner of the North Hills shopping area. Expect a wait, or make a reservation relatively far in advance as this place is very popular. With a variety of antipasti and the traditional cured meats and cheeses, there's plenty to choose from to start off your night, whether you want to cozy up to the bar or sit down in the dining room. Their rustic brick oven pizzas are a great appetizer to share amongst a few people or as its own dish. Their traditional pasta dishes range from spaghetti with meatballs to the most sensational seasonal risotto. Their entrees (or Secondi) range from Roman Style Chicken and Veal Saltimbocca to Polenta Crushed Salmon and Grilled Tuna. 

Jen loves Chicken Agnolotti

As for my recommendations? You really can't go wrong. The four-cheese pizza with carmelized onions and portobella mushrooms is absolutely fantastic. The calamari fritti with spicy tomato aioli will impress any calamari fan. To top off the appetizers, the white-bean spread that comes with the rustic Italian bread is deliciously seasoned with a light hint of rosemary. As for the main course? The seasonal risotto is always fabulously rich and delicious. The smoked chicken and spinach stuffed agnolotti with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and a garlic cream sauce is to die for! It's Jen's favorite go-to dish. It practically melts in your mouth! If you're looking for another twist on a classic, the Capellini Fra Diavolo with shrimp, cherry peppers, roasted tomatoes and ricotta is wonderful. This spicy dish is perfectly topped with a dollop of ricotta which adds a creamy smoothness to the dish and soothes the spice. 

Capellini Fra Diavolo

Each dish has a contemporary twist on an old classic. If you're looking for Italian in Raleigh, Vivace is the place to go!

There's nothing humble about Humble Pie

Almost hidden on the edge of Raleigh's warehouse district, is an old brick warehouse with a large "H" on the side. This is the only indication that you have, in fact, found Humble Pie...that and the Tiki Bar on the patio. Walk up the ramp to the hostess stand and decide whether you want to sit inside or outside (when the weather's nice). The decor inside is very artsy and the old warehouse atmosphere is very trendy. 

Sesame-Seared Ahi Tuna with Fried Rice in Asian BBQ

Crispy-Skinned Salmon, Cheese Grits, Tomato Broth

The menu is an eclectic blend of international fusion with southern flair. There's something on the menu for everyone and everything is fabulous. It's tapas-style so two to three plates a person is standard and more than sufficient. I'd recommend ordering a few different things and sharing amongst the table. If you're like me, you'll want to try everything on the menu! The chicken lettuce wraps are light and delicious. The dipping sauce is fantastic and I'd highly recommend you save it for the sesame seared tuna, which is also delicious and perfectly prepared. The fried green tomatoes with roasted garlic aioli are a perfect beginning to any meal. I've tried almost everything on the menu and have never had a bad meal. If you're in the mood for salmon, the crispy-skinned salmon atop cheese grits in a pool of tomato broth is absolutely fantastic. If you're in the mood for steak, the Caribbean-Spice Filet Mignon with a quinoa salad and pineapple salsa is a great marriage of sweet and spice. If you're looking for a fabulous twist on some Mexican fare, you'll love the Braised Short-Rib Tostadas with the Mango salsa and Chimichurri sauce. If you aren't in the mood for meat, the Ricotta and Butternut Squash Stuffed Conchiglioni are to die for! They are served in a sweet roasted garlic and charred tomato cream sauce and garnished with garlic chips. 

Carribean-spiced Filet Mignon with Quinoa, Pineapple Salsa

There are so many great options, it's hard to choose! There are also great drink specials nightly, which they post on their Twitter page. With the great food, great service and a great atmosphere, this is a hot spot in Raleigh!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a...Flying Biscuit?

One of the places that comes to mind when I think "brunch in Raleigh" is The Flying Biscuit Cafe...it's also what comes to many people's minds because trying to get a table for brunch on a Sunday is like trying to roast a turkey the minute the Thanksgiving guests arrive (in other words, be prepared to wait for a long time before you get to indulge). Luckily, there is plenty of outdoor seating and the food makes it well worth the wait. 

Biscuit with Cranberry Apple Butter

On the inside, The Flying Biscuit is as cute and whimsical as its name. After you order, that long wait is finally justified with that first bite of what gave The Flying Biscuit it's claim to fame...the big, fluffy, flakey biscuit, hot out of the oven, topped with their homemade cranberry, apple butter. Now let me emphasize that...I said topped with their homemade...cranberry...apple butter. The delicious apple butter that's enhanced by the sweet hint of cinnamon and the slight pucker that can only be caused by a cranberry infusion. It's absolutely phenomenal.  

And lucky for those who don't want to wait, you can order a dozen of these to go, complete with the cranberry apple butter.

But the goodness doesn't stop there. Wash it all down with a fabulous Mimosa (you'll have to wait until after noon on Sunday due to the North Carolina law) or a Bloody Mary made extra special with pepper vodka and garnished with olives and a pickled okra (my personal favorite). 

Organic Oatmeal Pancakes & a side of "Moon Dusted" potatoes

The menu is diverse but part of the main attraction is the "Breakfast All Day" part of the menu. My favorite? The organic oatmeal pancakes. It's like a bowl of deliciously sweet and cinnamon-y oatmeal (almost like an oatmeal cookie) in pancake form, topped with sweet peaches and warm maple syrup. It's something that seems so unique yet so obvious all at the same time.

Each breakfast entree comes with a very difficult choice of their Oven-Roasted "Moon Dusted" Rosemary Potatoes or their award-winning, creamy, dreamy, southern-style grits. I'll start with the potatoes...they are wonderfully seasoned with just the perfect hint of rosemary (I personally hate when potatoes are over-rosemaried). Because they are oven-roasted, they aren't too greasy, like you'd typically expect from a breakfast side dish. As for the grits...well, the name says it all. They really are creamy, dreamy deliciousness. I'm not a grit person, but these are fantastic. It's really a difficult decision to choose which side to go with. 

The Flying Biscuit Cafe is a fabulous place for Sunday Brunch...just plan on getting there well before you're hungry because with half of Raleigh in on this secret, you're guaranteed to wait...but it's worth it!

Irregardless, it's my new favorite restaurant...

Irregardless Cafe, that is! Picture this: a non-descript building on the corner in downtown Raleigh, but when you walk in, you suddenly enter into a swanky cafe in Paris or somewhere on the Mediterranean. You are seated with a fabulous glass of wine and a menu that would make the best decision maker writhe in pain as they try to determine the one dish they will have to narrow down to. The owner, Arthur, in all his sweetness, stops by every table donning his yarmulke to schmooze with the guests. There's a band playing a wonderful mix of Jazz music on one side of the restaurant, and after the huge rush of guests dwindles down, they clear a dance floor, which quickly fills with couples cutting a rug. The upscale atmosphere seems to contradict the name. Irregardless, the food was amazing.

Morgan Street Chicken

One look at the menu and it will be clear that deciding on your dish will be the hardest decision you make that day. The Morgan Street Chicken with it's Lemon-Tahini dressing (which is good enough to drink!) and encrusted in cashews was delectable. The mushroom and black mussel parmesan risotto was so creamy and perfectly cooked. Everything we ordered was beyond fantastic. 

The service was impeccable. Our waitress profusely apologized for "slow service," which to us, did not seem the slightest bit slow and ended up comping some items to show their appreciation. We were so grateful and it just added to the whole experience to see how much they valued customer service (which is rare to find these days). 

And since there is always room for dessert, you have to try one of theirs. It was fabulous!

This is a restaurant you'll want to keep coming back to as they update the menu regularly with fresh ingredients and everything on the menu looks amazing!


Irregardless is definitely a place you need to put on the top of your list to visit in Raleigh. I'll definitely be making many more trips to try out more of their menu. It has surpassed all other restaurants in the Triangle as my favorite restaurant. 

UPDATE: And the brunch is fabulous too! Everything from their Morgan Street Chicken and other savory dishes to typical (and not-so-typical) breakfast fare like omlettes, challah french toast, pancakes and even blintzes!

Hi, my name is Jessica, and I am a Foodie.

My whole life, I've had a love affair with food. I think it comes from my Jewish mother. It's always about the food. The first question I always get when I go home to visit is, "What do you want to eat?" She's always making something. It's like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" but we're not Greek! Your stomach hurts? Eat something! You have a headache? Maybe you're hungry! I always love to try new restaurants or test out new recipes or hunker down with the Food Network to get some inspiration. I'll try any food once and trust me, I've experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to food.

In Cadiz, Spain, trying the local cuisine.

 (2007)

In addition to food, I love learning new things and having different experiences. That probably comes from the fact that I moved around a lot my whole life. Each new place was a new adventure. A new venue for me to try the local food, learn new things and grow. My passion for Asian cuisine comes from my years of living in Japan (which is also where I gained the courage to literally try anything...Jelly fish anyone?). My passion for a good wine and Tapas (small plates) where I can try little bites of everything came from the time I lived in Spain (which is also where I gained a larger appreciation for the arts and where I learned about working to live, not living to work). My passion for Coastal Carolina (fresh seafood, sun, and beautiful water to be exact) and a perfectly golden Fried Green Tomato comes from my time living in the south (Raleigh and Southport, NC). I've learned a lot from living in so many wonderful places (more than just the three I listed here). It's my passion for food and exploring new things that has really made me who I am today.

But it's not all about the food. I've had many experiences in my life (again, the good, the bad, and the ugly) that have shaped my perceptions of the world and how I live in it. That's what this blog is about. Great food, great experiences, following your passions, and living life the the fullest!